Colorado Parks & Wildlife

In the grounds of the Sterling County State Park, fish, game and wildlife are administered by the Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife, in cooperation with the Sterling County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office is responsible for all Law Enforcement related duties within the park.

The CPW maintains state land within their operational scope, primarily enforcing hunting regulations, boating, habitat destruction, poaching and wildlife management. They partner with local and state law enforcement agencies to share resources, facilities and assets. A Senior Park Ranger is assigned to Sterling County State Park to oversee operations.

Park Rangers are non-certified Officers who have limited authority to enforce park rules, issue permits, and assist in other duties, such as wildlife conservation and safety.

Senior Park Ranger: Sam Bishop

Interested in being a Park Ranger? Apply today!

Hunting and Fishing Information

Residents who want to hunt in the State of Colorado must have completed Hunter Safety Course. Click on the categories below for full details.

Seasons
  • Deer/Elk: Oct 1st to Feb 1st
  • Pronghorn: Dec 1st to Mar 1st
  • Bear Season: Jul 1st to Nov 1st
  • Moose: Oct 1st to Jan 1st
  • Bighorn Sheep: Jan 1st to Apr 1st
  • Mountain Goat: Sept 1st to Nov 1st
  • Mountain Lion: Mar 1st to Jun 1st
  • Turkey: Aug 1st to Oct 1st
  • Furbearer: All year
  • Small Game : All year
  • Fishing: Mar 1st to Sept 1st
  • Waterfowl: Feb 1st to Mar 1st
Permits
  • Hunter Safety Course: $50.00
  • Application Fee: $15.00
  • Habitat Stamp: $12.00
  • Hunting Permit: $250.00
  • Deer tag: $65.00
  • Elk tag: $ 1500.00
  • Moose tag: $300.00
  • Bighorn Sheep tag: $300.00
  • Bear tag: $200.00
  • Pronghorn tag: $ $75.00
  • Mountain Goat tag: $250.00
  • Mountain Lion tag: $175.00
  • Small game tag: $30.00
  • Fishing Permit: $15.00
  • Furbearer tag: $150.00
  • Waterfowl tag: $40.00
  • Commercial Permit: $500.00
Bag Limits
  • Deer/Elk: 1 Buck, 2 Does
  • Pronghorn: 2
  • Bear: 1
  • Moose: 1
  • Bighorn Sheep: 1
  • Mountain Goat: 1
  • Mountain Lion: 2
  • Turkey: 2
  • Small game: No limit
  • Furbearer: No limit
  • Fishing: 6 per day
  • Waterfowl: Daily: 5, Total: 15
Definitions of Game
  • Big Game: Deer, Elk, Pronghorn, Bear, Moose, Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat, Mountain Lion
  • Small Game: Squirrel, Turtle, Rabbits, Marmot,  Prairie Dog, Prairie Rattlesnake, Squirrel, Coyote, Grouse, Pheasant, Quail, Partridge, Pigeon, Crow,Dove, Starling, Sparrow
  • Furbearers: Badger, Beaver, Bobcat, Coyote, Fox, Weasel,
  • Mink, Muskrat, Pine Marten, Opossum, Raccoon, Red Fox, Ring-tailed Cat, Skunk
    Waterfowl: Geese, Duck, Teal
Laws/Violations with Definitions

33-6-108a. Hunting/Fishing without a permit (poaching): It is unlawful for any person to hunt or fish without a valid permit. Misdemeanor.

33-6-108b. Hunting or Fishing with a suspended license: It is unlawful for any person to hunt or fish when license has been suspended. 1st violation: Misdemeanor. 2nd or more violations: Felony.

33-6-110. Over bag limit: It is unlawful for any person to hunt and possess any wildlife over the allotted limit. Misdemeanor.

33-6-112. Interference with Law Enforcement: It is unlawful for any person to impede the investigative process of a Law Enforcement Officer by deception, intentional misleading of information. Misdemeanor.

33-6-113. Illegal sale of wildlife: It is unlawful for any person to knowingly sell or purchase, or knowingly offer for sale or purchase wildlife , or to solicit another person in the illegal hunting or taking of wildlife for the purposes of monetary or commercial gain or profit without the proper permits. Felony.

33-6-116. Hunting or Fishing on private property: It is unlawful for any person to enter upon privately owned land, or lands under the control of the state to take any wildlife by hunting or fishing without first obtaining permission of the property owner. Misdemeanor.

33-6-117. Willful destruction of wildlife: To hunt or take, or solicit another person to hunt or take, wildlife and detach or remove, with the intent to abandon the carcass or body, only the head, hide, claws, teeth, antlers, horns, internal organs, or feathers. Felony.

33-6-118. Killing of big game animals in contest: Hunting of big game animals for the purpose of contest or competition is prohibited. Misdemeanor.

33-6-119. Pursuit of wounded game: It is unlawful for a person who shoots at, wounds, or may have wounded game wildlife to fail to make a reasonable attempt to locate the game wildlife suspected of injury and take it into the person’s possession. Misdemeanor.

33-6-121. Hunters to wear daylight fluorescent orange garments: It is unlawful for any person to hunt or take game unless the person is wearing daylight fluorescent orange garments with a minimum size of 500 square inches and worn above the waist. Misdemeanor.

33-6-120. Hunting/Fishing out of season or in a restricted area: It is unlawful for any person to hunt or fish outside of the season or in an area closed by commission rule. Misdemeanor

33-6-122. Hunting in a careless manner: It is unlawful for any person to hunt or take wildlife in a careless manner or to discharge a firearm or release an arrow in a careless manner that endangers human life or property. Misdemeanor.

33-6-123. Hunting under the influence: it is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of alcohol or any controlled substance, or any other drug to a degree that renders such person incapable of safely operating a firearm or bow and arrow to hunt or take any wildlife. Misdemeanor

33-6-124. Use of a motor vehicle or aircraft, use of drone: It is unlawful for a person to hunt, take, or or harass wildlife from or with a motor vehicle. It is unlawful for any person airborne in any aircraft or unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) to spot or locate any wildlife and communicate its location to a person on the ground as an aid to hunting or pursuing wildlife. Misdemeanor.

33-6-126. Shooting from a public road: It is unlawful for any person, except a duly authorized law enforcement officer acting in the line of duty, to discharge any firearm or release an arrow from, upon, or across any public road. Misdemeanor

33-6-127. Hunting with artificial light, night vision, or thermal imaging device: It is unlawful for any person to utilize any artificial light as an aid in hunting or taking any wildlife. Misdemeanor.

33-6-128. Damage or destruction of dens or nests/harassment of wildlife: Unless permitted by the Department of Wildlife and Parks, it is unlawful for any person to willfully damage or destroy any wildlife den or nest or their eggs or to harass any wildlife. Misdemeanor

33-6-130. Use of Explosives, toxicants, or poisons: It is unlawful for any person to use toxicants, poisons, drugs or explosives for the purpose of hunting, taking, or harassing any wildlife. Felony.

Penalties

Misdemeanor: Any person convicted of a Misdemeanor shall be subject to a fine of $250.00 and 1 hour in jail

Felony: Any person convicted of a Felony shall be subject to a fine of $500.00 and 2 hours in jail.

Conviction of any violation, whether Misdemeanor or Felony, is subject to seizure of anything used in commission of the violation; to include, firearms/archery items, ammunition, vehicles, aircraft, drones, electronic equipment, or vision devices.

Each Misdemeanor conviction will add 10 permit points to the violator’s Wildlife record. Each Felony conviction will add 25 permit points.

Loss of hunting and fishing privileges are as follows:

  • 100 points accrued- 6 month suspension of licenses
  • 200 points accrued- 1 year suspension of licenses
  • 300 points accrued- Lifetime suspension of licenses
Camping Rules and Violations

Anyone wishing to camp in the park must purchase the following permits and follow the listed rules.

  • Camping Permit: $25.00
  • Fire Conservation Fee: $25.00
  • Waste Disposal Fee: $25.00

Right now, we do not have a designated area for camping trailers, so camping is limited to tents only.

Camps must be set up in an open area.

Park quiet hours are 10:00 pm to 7:00 am Sunday through Thursday, and 12:00 am to 7:00 am Friday and Saturday. No loud music, parties, or loud conversation(shouting/etc) during quiet hours.

Campers must follow state guidelines for decency. No nudity permitted in the Park. Restrooms with showers are provided for use.

Camp fires must be set up in the prescribed manner:

  • A circle of rocks must be placed around the area of the campfire.
  • All fires must be in an open area.
  • Fuel for campfires must be brought in by campers or they may use loose wood found in the park.
  • Campers may not cut down any trees.
  • Camp stoves or grills may be used.
  • Camp fires must have a person attending them at all times.

Camping Violations

Campers may be issued a park fine for the following violations:

  • Improper fire: $50.00 fine
  • Improper dumping of waste: $100.00 of fine
  • Violating quiet hours: $25.00 fine
  • Public nudity: $75.00 fine and subject to criminal charges

Fines must be paid at the time of violation or campers must leave the park with an automatic six month ban.

Multiple violations can result in campers being ejected from the park and possible banning from returning. Anyone banned from the park found on park property afterwards can face criminal charges.