Ownership Submission
FORM 3
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  CASPERSON JAMES R
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
12/14/2011
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. [BCEI]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
1700 BROADWAY STE.2300
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Executive VP & CFO
5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

DENVER, CO 80290-2300
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)
3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Class B Common Stock (1) 600
D
 

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
CASPERSON JAMES R
1700 BROADWAY STE.2300
DENVER, CO 80290-2300
      Executive VP & CFO  

Signatures

/s/ Chris Humber as Attorney-in-Fact 12/14/2011
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Shares of Class B common stock have been issued in the form of restricted stock subject the following vesting schedule: 1/3 per year for three years following the initial public offering of the Issuer's common stock. Pursuant to the amended and restated certificate of incorporation of the Issuer, immediately prior to the closing of an initial public offering of the Issuer's common stock, all shares of Class B common stock automatically will convert into shares of Class A common stock, at which time each share of Class A common stock will be reclassified as one share of common stock of the Issuer. Shares of common stock previously held as Class B Common Stock will remain subject to vesting.

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