Statutes, codes, and regulations
Colorado Administrative Code
Department 400 - Department of Natural ResourcesDivision 406 - Colorado Parks and Wildlife (406 Series, Wildlife)Rule 2 CCR 406-2 - CHAPTER W-2 - BIG GAME
Article I - GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 2 CCR 406-2-203 - MANNER OF TAKE

2 Colo. Code Regs. § 406-2-203

Download
PDF
Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 1, January 10, 2025
Section 2 CCR 406-2-203 - MANNER OF TAKE

See also #000 in Chapter 0 of these regulations for other applicable manner of take definitions.

A. The following are legal methods of take for all species and seasons listed in this chapter, except as otherwise noted. Any method of take not listed herein shall be prohibited, except as otherwise provided by statute or these regulations:
1. Rifles using center-fire cartridges of .24 caliber or larger, having expanding bullets of at least seventy (70) grains in weight, except for elk and moose where the minimum bullet weight is eighty-five (85) grains, and with a rated impact energy one hundred (100) yards from the muzzle of at least one thousand (1000) foot pounds as determined by the manufacturer's rating, and except for mountain lion where any center-fire rifle using bullets of at least 45 grains and producing at least 400 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle may be used. Provided further that any semiautomatic rifle used shall not hold more than six (6) rounds in the magazine and chamber combined. A fully automatic rifle is prohibited.
2. Muzzle-loading rifles and smoothbore muskets, provided the minimum caliber shall be forty (.40) for all big game except elk and moose when hunting with conical bullets and fifty (.50) caliber when hunting with round ball bullets. The minimum caliber for elk and moose shall be fifty (.50) when hunting with conical bullets and fifty-four (.54) when hunting with round ball bullets. All muzzle-loading rifles and smoothbore muskets from forty (.40) caliber through fifty (.50) caliber must use a bullet of at least 170 grains in weight. All muzzle-loading rifles and smoothbore muskets greater than fifty (.50) caliber must use bullets of at least 210 grains in weight.
a. During the muzzle-loading firearms seasons for deer, elk, pronghorn, bear, and moose only lawful muzzle-loaders and smoothbore muskets may be used by muzzle-loading license holders.
b. During the muzzle-loading firearm seasons for deer, elk, pronghorn, bear, and moose the following additional restrictions apply:
1. Propellent/Powders: The use of pelletized powder systems and smokeless powder are prohibited.
2. Projectiles: Sabots are prohibited. For the purposes of this regulation cloth patches are not sabots.
3. Loading: Firearms must load from the muzzle. Firearms which can be loaded from the breech are prohibited.
4. Sights: Any muzzle-loading rifle or smoothbore musket with any sighting device other than open or "iron" sights is prohibited.
5. Electronic or battery-powered devices cannot be incorporated into or attached to the muzzle-loading firearm.
3. Handheld bows, including compound bows, using arrows equipped with a broadhead with an outside diameter or width of at least 7/8ths of an inch with no less than two steel cutting edges. Each cutting edge must be in the same plane throughout the length of the cutting surface.
a. During the archery seasons for deer, elk, pronghorn, bear, sheep, goat, and moose, only lawful hand-held bows may be used by archery license holders.
b. Bows must have a minimum draw weight of 35 pounds.
c. No portion of the bow's riser (handle) or any track, trough, channel, arrow rest or other device, excluding the cable(s) and bowstring, that attaches to the bow's riser can contact, support and/or guide the arrow from a point rearward of the bow's brace height.
d. Bows can propel only a single arrow at a time and no mechanism for automatically loading arrows is allowed.
e. Equipment using scopes, electronic or battery-powered devices cannot be incorporated into or attached to the bow or arrow, with the exception of lighted nocks on arrows and recording devices on bows that cast no light towards the target and do not aid in range finding, sighting, or shooting the bow.
f. Hydraulic or pneumatic technology cannot be used to derive or store energy to propel the arrow. Explosive arrows are prohibited.
4. Shotguns, no smaller than twenty (20) gauge and firing a single slug.
5. Crossbows, provided the minimum draw weight is at least one hundred twenty-five (125) pounds and has a minimum draw length of fourteen (14) inches as measured from the front of the bow to the nocking point of the draw string and contain a positive mechanical safety device. In addition, the bolt must be at least sixteen (16) inches in length equipped with a broadhead with an outside diameter or width of at least 7/8th of an inch with no less than two steel cutting edges and each cutting edge must be in the same plane throughout the length of the cutting surface.
a. Crossbows are not legal during the archery seasons for deer, elk, pronghorn, bear, sheep, goat, and moose.
6. Handguns, provided they have a minimum barrel length of four (4) inches and comply with the following criteria:
a. Except for mountain lion, use a .24 caliber or larger diameter expanding bullet with a rated impact energy of at least 550 ft. pounds at 50 yards as determined by the manufacturer.
b. For mountain lion only, use a centerfire handgun using bullets of at least 45 grains and producing at least 400 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle, as determined by the manufacturer.

2 CCR 406-2-203

37 CR 19, October 10, 2014, effective 11/1/2014
37 CR 23, December 10, 2014, effective 1/1/2015
38 CR 03, February 10, 2015, effective 3/2/2015
38 CR 07, April 10, 2015, effective 5/1/2015
38 CR 11, June 10, 2015, effective 7/1/2015
38 CR 19, October 10, 2015, effective 11/1/2015
38 CR 23, December 10, 2015, effective 1/1/2016
39 CR 03, February 10, 2016, effective 3/1/2016
39 CR 07, April 10, 2016, effective 5/1/2016
39 CR 11, June 10, 2016, effective 7/1/2016
39 CR 13, July 10, 2016, effective 8/1/2016
39 CR 23, December 10, 2016, effective 1/1/2017
40 CR 03, February 10, 2017, effective 3/2/2017
40 CR 05, March 10, 2017, effective 5/1/2017
40 CR 07, April 10, 2017, effective 5/1/2017
40 CR 11, June 10, 2017, effective 7/1/2017
40 CR 23, December 10, 2017, effective 1/1/2018
41 CR 03, February 10, 2018, effective 3/2/2018
41 CR 07, April 10, 2018, effective 5/1/2018
41 CR 11, June 10, 2018, effective 7/1/2018
41 CR 19, October 10, 2018, effective 11/1/2018
41 CR 23, December 10, 2018, effective 1/1/2019
42 CR 03, February 10, 2019, effective 3/2/2019
42 CR 11, June 10, 2019, effective 7/1/2019
42 CR 23, December 10, 2019, effective 1/1/2020
43 CR 03, February 10, 2020, effective 3/1/2020
43 CR 11, June 10, 2020, effective 6/30/2020
43 CR 11, June 10, 2020, effective 7/1/2020
43 CR 19, October 10, 2020, effective 3/1/2021
44 CR 03, February 10, 2021, effective 3/2/2021
44 CR 07, April 10, 2021, effective 5/1/2021
44 CR 11, June 10, 2021, effective 7/1/2021
44 CR 23, December 10, 2021, effective 1/1/2022
45 CR 03, February 10, 2022, effective 3/2/2022
45 CR 07, April 10, 2022, effective 5/1/2022
45 CR 11, June 10, 2022, effective 7/1/2022
45 CR 23, December 10, 2022, effective 1/1/2023
46 CR 03, February 10, 2023, effective 3/2/2023
46 CR 07, April 10, 2023, effective 5/1/2023
46 CR 11, June 10, 2023, effective 7/1/2023