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Committee approves bill to classify roaming bison as big game; sparks debate over grazing, disease and local impacts
Summary
Senate Bill 53, which would classify bison as big game wildlife when they cross into Colorado from Utah, passed the committee on an 8-5 vote after testimony from tribes, conservation groups and CPW supporters and objections from some ranching and local stakeholders.
The Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee voted 8-5 to advance Senate Bill 53, a measure sponsored by Representative Joseph and Representative Velasco that would add bison to the statutory definition of wild big game in Colorado unless the animals are privately owned livestock. Under the bill, roaming bison that cross the Utah-Colorado border would be managed as wildlife by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), with CPW required to develop a herd management plan and, eventually, a licensing structure if a managed hunting season becomes appropriate.
Why it matters: Supporters, including tribal representatives and conservation groups, said the bill protects culturally significant animals and gives CPW the authority to prevent unregulated killings of roaming bison. Opponents—particularly representatives of ranching interests and…
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