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The information contained here is for guideline purposes only and
intended to help you better plan your hunt.
Obtain a copy of the Colorado State Proclamation for the most complete
and accurate information or contact the Colorado Division of Wildlife.

Bear License Fees	Guided Bear Hunts
1999 Bear Season Dates	After You Harvest a Bear
Bear License Information	Bear Bag Limit
Bear Application Deadline	Legal Bear Hunting Methods
Colorado Hunting Regulations	Colorado Hunting

Bear License Fees

Over-the-Counter Resident	$ 30.25
Over-the-Counter Nonresident	$250.25
Limited Resident*	$33.25
Limited Nonresident*	$253.25

*Includes $3 application fee and 25¢ search & rescue fee.

1999 Bear Season Dates

Unlimited Bear Season
Over-the-counter licenses will be sold for the archery, muzzleloading and the three rifle bear seasons listed below. These are either-sex licenses, are valid statewide, except on the Bosque del Oso State Wildlife Area (SWA) in unit 851, and can be purchased at DOW offices or license agencies. Participation in bear seasons is subject to certain restrictions. See "Season Participation"
Archery	Sept. 2-26
Muzzleloading Rifle	Sept. 11-19
Regular Rifle: First	Oct. 9-13
Regular Rifle, Second	Oct. 16-27
Regular Rifle, Third	Oct. 30 - Nov. 7
Limited September Bear Season
Limited Rifle	Sept. 2-30
There are a limited number of rifle either-sex bear licenses for this season, available by drawing. Participation in bear seasons is subject to certain restrictions. See "Season Participation" on page 3.

Bear Application Deadline

April 6, 1999

Midnight postmark acceptable.

License Information

1. See season dates above for additional license information.

2. You can only apply for one license per year.

3. You can buy only one license per year. See # for exceptions.

4. Hunters cannot hunt bear in any deer or elk seasons, including plains seasons, unless they also have a deer or elk license (filler or unfilled) valid for the same unit, time period, and manner of take. If the deer or elk license is a private-land-only license, the bear license also is restricted to private land in that unit.

5. Hunters with a limited bear license who don't harvest a bear in September can keeping hunting bear in a combined rifle season provided they have a valid deer or elk license for the same season and unit.

6. Exceptions:

a. Deer, elk, black bear, and antelope taken with an additional license are not part of the annual bag limit. Additional licenses are: private-land-only license for bear, deer, elk (except private-land-only antlered or either-sex elk), antelope and all limited antlerless rifle elk licenses for units 18, 27, 28, 37, 82, 181, 371.

b. Animals taken on a license for a damage hunt are not part of the annual bag limit.

c. Animals taken during a January or February hunting seasons established as part of the previous calendar year's hunting seasons are considered as the annual bag limit for the previous year.

d. Animals taken on a Southern Ute Tribal Land permit don't count toward the annual bag limit.

e. Big game accidentally taken may not count as part of the bag limit if, before continuing to hunt and as soon as practical, you report the incident to the Colorado Division of Wildlife. Accident kill is unintentionally taking wildlife not due to carelessness or negligence. the DOW will make a determination based on the circumstances, including shots fired, species and number of animals present, firearms or ammunition, angle and distance of shot, topography and weather.

6. License void if you give false information on the application. It is illegal to alter, loan or transfer a license.

7. Lost or destroyed licenses can be replaced by a DOW office or officer. The fee is $25.

Bag Limit

The annual bag limit for black bear is one regardless of how or when you take it during the calendar year.

Legal Methods of Taking Bear

1. CENTERFIRE RIFLES: must be .24 caliber (6mm) or larger, have at least a 16-inch barrel and be at least 26 inches long overall. They must be fired from the shoulder and use expanding bullets weighing at least 85 grains and have an impact energy (at 100 yards) of 1,000 foot-pounds. Semi-automatic rifles cannot hold more than 6 rounds in magazine and chamber combined. Fully automatic rifles prohibited.

2. NEW FOR 1999 - MUZZLELOADING RIFLES & SMOOTHBORE MUSKETS :

a. All muzzleloaders must be single-barrel and fired from the shoulder.

b. All must fire a single round-ball or conical projectile the length of which does not exceed twice the diameter. Sabots are prohibited. Cloth patches are not sabots

c. Muzzleloaders must be .50-caliber or larger to hunt elk and moose.

d. All muzzleloaders for .50 caliber must use a bullet weighing at least 170 grains.

e. All muzzleloaders greater than .50 caliber must use a bullet weighing at least 210 grains.

f. Pelletized powder systems are prohibited during muzzleloading seasons.

g. Those that can be loaded from the breech are prohibited during muzzleloading seasons.

h. Only open or iron sights are allowed.

3. HAND-HELD BOWS: Arrows must have a broadhead at least 7/8-inch wide with at least two steel cutting edges in same plane for their entire length.

4. SHOTGUNS: must be 20 gauge or larger, fire a single slug, have a minimum barrel length of 18 inches and a minimum overall length of 26 inches.

5. CROSSBOWS: must have a minimum draw weight of 125 pounds; a minimum draw length of 14 inches (from front of bow to nocking point of drawstring); a positive mechanical safety device and bolt at least 16 inches long. They must have a broadhead at least 7/8 inches wide with at least 2 steel cutting edges in same plane their entire length.

6. HANDGUNS: must have a barrel at least 4 inches long; use a .24-caliber (6mm) or larger diameter expanding bullets; no shoulder stock or attachment and must fire a bullet with a minimum energy of 550 ft. pounds at 50 yards.

After You Harvest a Bear

INSPECTION AND SEALS

Hunters must present black bears to the DOW for inspection and sealing within 5 days after the kill. Bear hides must be unfrozen when presented for inspection. A check report must be be completed at inspection. No fee is required. The seal must stay attached to the hide until tanned. Black bears cannot be taken out of Colorado until the hide and skull are inspected and sealed. Possessing a bear hide without a seal after the 5-day period is illegal, and hide becomes state property. Inspection and sealing can be arranged by contacting the nearest Colorado Division of Wildlife office or officer. To transport any part of a bear to a foreign country, you must first obtain the proper CITES document. Contact the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in Denver, (303) 236-7540 for details.

BEAR PARTS

Possession of the carcass, hide, skull, claws or any part of a bear is prohibited unless authorized by the Division of Wildlife or the animal was taken by a licensed hunter in an established season.

EVIDENCE OF SEX

1. It is illegal to have or transport big game wildlife without evidence of sex naturally attached. Evidence of sex not required for less than 20 lbs. of meat with a donation certificate.

2. For black bear: Male bear: testicles or baculum. Female bear: vulva.

3. If a carcass is cut in pieces or deboned, evidence of sex need only be attached to one part of the carcass, if the entire carcass is transported together.

4. Evidence of sex not necessary after the carcass is cut into processed meat (commercially or otherwise), wrapped, frozen or stored at hunter's home.

5. A head detached from carcass is not adequate evidence of sex.

CARCASS TAGS

You must attach your carcass tag to any big game animal you kill. Instructions are on the carcass tag. If you lose, accidentally destory or inadvertently detach the tag, you must get a duplicate before hunting. To get a duplicate, you must prove the loss, detachment or destruction was accidental.

TRANSPORTING WILDLIFE

You can be liable for illegally transporting game animals even if someone else made the error. When you transport carcasses or processed game meat, be sure:

1. Carcasses are properly tagged and that evidence of sex requirements are met. Hunters must keep their own CC and license.

2. During transportation, bear must have the tag securely attached to the carcass, or must accompany processed game meat.

3. Bear shipped by common carrier must be accompanied by license, a photocopy of the license, carcass tag or, if applicable, a donation certificate.

4. Processed bear meat must be accompanied by a carcass tag or, if donated, a donation certificate.

5. Bear must be tagged to be transported for other hunters. The upper part of the license must be kept by hunters who harvested the game. If you transport improperly tagged or illegal game, you can be cited for violations.