We have sold numerous hunting ranches in Colorado that are enrolled in the Landowner Preference Program (LPP). These Colorado ranches for sale provide Colorado landowners with coveted annual big game tags. Keep reading to learn more about how this program benefits Colorado landowners and the public.
The Landowner Preference Program (LPP) in Colorado is designed to give private landowners a better opportunity to obtain hunting licenses for big game, such as deer, elk, and pronghorn, in recognition of the wildlife habitat they provide on their Colorado ranch. The program incentivizes landowners to maintain and manage their lands to benefit wildlife by offering priority access to transferable hunting licenses. In return, the public also benefits are they are able to buy LPP tags from the Colorado landowner.
Here’s how the program works:
Key Elements of the Colorado Landowner Preference Program (LPP):
1. Eligibility
– Landowners must own at least 160 contiguous acres of agricultural land in a limited draw hunting unit.
– The Colorado hunting property must provide habitat for the big game species the landowner is applying to hunt (e.g., deer, elk, or pronghorn).
– Colorado landowners must enroll their ranch in the program through an application process with Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW).
2. Priority License Allocation:
– Colorado ranch owners qualify for a certain number of vouchers based on the deeded acreage they own. Larger ranches wildlife for more vouchers.
– Qualified landowners are placed in a pool to draw vouchers for the species and seasons they select. If drawn, a voucher can be sold or transferred and redeemed for a license.
– Typically, 15% of the licenses in a given Game Management Unit or GMU are reserved for landowners.
3. Landowner Vouchers
– Landowners who are awarded a voucher can convert it into a hunting license for themselves or can transfer it to a designated hunter (which may include family members, guests, or hunters who pay for the opportunity).
– Vouchers are unit-specific and species-specific.
– Vouchers can also be limited to private land only or they can be unit wide.
4. Public Land Balance:
– The LPP ensures that a balance is maintained between private and public land hunting opportunities. While landowners receive a portion of the licenses, the majority of licenses are still reserved for the general public through the standard draw system. As previously mentioned, LPP licenses also give the public additional hunting opportunities.
5. Conservation and Habitat Stewardship:
– In exchange for priority access to hunting licenses, landowners are encouraged to maintain or improve wildlife habitat on their lands. The program recognizes that private ranches in Colorado are essential for supporting Colorado’s wildlife populations.
The Colorado Landowner Preference Program provides a structured way for landowners to benefit from the wildlife habitat they manage, while also allowing opportunities for public hunters to purchase LPP vouchers or to participate in hunting through the general draw.
Harrigan Land Company has years of experience helping Colorado landowners navigate the Colorado LPP. If we can ever be of assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
