Colorado Game Damage Program

The Game Damage Program reimburses Colorado ranchers, farmers and landowners for damage caused by bighorn sheep, black bear, elk, moose, mountain goat, mountain lion, deer and pronghorn, and supplies temporary and permanent prevention materials such as stackyard fencing, elk panels and electric apiary fencing. Eligible losses include growing and harvested crops, fences, livestock, forage, orchards, nurseries and farm production property. Requests and claims start with the local District Wildlife Manager.

• Landowner may not unreasonably restrict hunting of species likely to cause damage, and may charge not more than $500 per person, per season, for big game hunting access.

• Covered species: bighorn sheep, black bear, elk, moose, mountain goat, mountain lion, mule and white-tailed deer, pronghorn.

• Not covered: nuisance wildlife (starlings, coyotes, pigeons, etc.); livestock damage caused by coyote, bobcats or dogs; motor vehicles; injury or death.

• Claims may be denied where the claimant refused or failed to use or maintain CPW-furnished prevention materials.

Landowner installs and maintains permanent materials for their normal life; CPW furnishes repair materials over $100. Doctrine of avoidable consequences applies (duty to mitigate).

Published amounts: Reimbursement at fair market value for damage to growing crops, harvested crops, lawful fences, livestock, livestock forage, nurseries, orchards and personal property used in the production of raw agricultural products; reduced by any insurance award for the same damages. Prevention materials (stackyard panels, fencing, apiary electric fencing, pyrotechnics) furnished by CPW.

Contact your local CPW office and ask to speak to a District Wildlife Manager to request prevention materials or file a claim; CPW staff provide the claim paperwork. The claimant must prove the damage was caused by big game and that the value claimed is reasonable.

Deadline text on the page: Claims are filed on discovery of damage: contact your local CPW office and ask to speak to a District Wildlife Manager immediately upon discovery of damage. Fencing offers must be accepted within 30 days; permanent materials must be installed within 270 days (15 days for temporary and apiary materials).