FILING - 07/10/2008
Basis and Purpose
Chapter 0 – General Provisions

Basis and Purpose:

Currently, small game hunting licenses, fishing and combination licenses expire on December 31, annually, requiring a hunter to purchase a new license to hunt on or after January 1.  Yet many small game seasons begin in the fall of one calendar year and continue through January or February of the following year, meaning that a hunter must purchase two licenses to hunt throughout the entire small game season.  Beginning in 2009, the Division will adopt a season-based license structure for applicable small game and fishing licenses, which will be valid from April 1 through March 31 of the following year, annually.   These dates would negate a hunter’s need to transfer HIP numbers between expired and new small game licenses.  This change is intended to improve customer service and simplify the license-buying process These dates are also be equivalent to the HIP registration period, and may improve HIP compliance by providing a timely reminder for hunters that a new license requires a new HIP registration.  . 
In order to implement this change, an adjustment period is necessary, in order to account for the period between January 1, 2009 and March 31, 2009.  These regulations extend all applicable 2008 licenses through March 31, 2009.  

The statutory authority for these regulations can be found in § 24-4-103, C.R.S., and the state Wildlife Act, §§ 33-1-101 to 33-6-209, C.R.S., specifically including, but not limited to: §§ 33-1-101, 102, 104, 105, 106-108, 115, and 121; §§ 33-2-104, 105, 106, and 107; § 33-3-104; §§ 33-4-101, 102, 102.5, 103, 116, 116.5, 117, and 119; § 33-5.5-102; and §§ 33-6-107, 109, 112, 113, 113.5, 114, 114.5, 117, 119, 120, 121, 124, 127, 128, 129, 131, 205, 206, 207, and 208. 

EFFECTIVE DATE - THESE REGULATIONS SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1, 2008 AND SHALL REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT UNTIL REPEALED, AMENDED OR SUPERSEDED.

APPROVED AND ADOPTED BY THE WILDLIFE COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF COLORADO THIS 10th DAY OF JULY, 2008.
APPROVED:
Robert W. Bray
Chairman

ATTEST:
Timothy R. Glenn
Secretary