Hunting License Colorado- Steps to Buy in CO July

Follow these straightforward steps to obtain a Colorado hunting license:

Step 1: Complete a Hunter Education Certification course
Step 2: Select your license type
Step 3: Buy your Colorado Parks and Wildlife license through an online purchase, via the myColorado app, or in person through a licensed agent.

CO Hunter Education Certification

How do I get my Hunter Education Certificate (Card)

You have 3 options to complete your hunter education requirements to hunt in Colorado.

Complete an in-person course through the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife (CPW). This course requires a minimum of 10 hours that may be split over 2 or more days.
A hybrid course through a CPW exclusive partner. In this course, students complete 4 hours of an online course and attend a concluding in-person class, which requires 4 to 6 hours of class time that may be split over two days.
Or complete our 3-hour online-only, all-video-based Hunter Education Course (Adults 17 and older only). We are an International Hunter Education Association (IHEA) and Texas Parks & Wildlife (TPWD) approved provider. The IHEA & TPWD Hunter Education Card you will receive after our course is valid for life and is accepted in all 50 US States and any additional territories or countries that share reciprocity with the IHEA. No in-person requirements are required for our course.

What makes our course the best?

First and foremost, we offer the best technology experience among all the courses on the market. We have students who opt to take our course even though they already have their Hunter Education Card; they simply love it that much.

Skip having to attend an in-person field-day course with our 3 hour interactive Hunter Safety course.

After completing the HunterSafetyUSA course and passing the final exam, you’ll receive your temporary Hunter Education Certificate.

We submit your course results to TPWD. They will issue and email you your permanent Hunter Education Certificate (Card) in 24 hours (this can take 3-4 days when completed outside of hunting season, April-July); however, when taken during peak hunting season, August-March, it's processed in 24 hours. This is valid for use in all 50 U.S. states (including Colorado), Mexico, Canada, and any other country or U.S. territory that has reciprocity with IHEA-USA & State Issued Hunter Education Certificates.

Select Your CO Hunting License

Colorado offers a range of hunting licenses tailored to various age groups, residency statuses, and hunting preferences.

Colorado residents and non-residents under the age of 18 may purchase a youth small game license. Colorado residents and non-residents ages 12 to 18 may purchase a youth big game license.

Below is an overview of the primary license types available:

Resident Licenses

A resident is an individual who has resided in Colorado for at least 30 consecutive days. A resident is a person who has lived in Colorado for at least six months. Active-duty military members and non-resident full-time students who reside in Colorado and attend an educational institution in the state are considered residents. All Colorado residents are required to have a resident hunting license. Additional licenses and permits may be required in accordance with hunting regulations. Residents ages 18 to 64 must purchase the Habitat Stamp in order to buy or apply for a hunting license. Only one stamp is needed for the license year.

Annual Small Game License – Required for residents aged 18 and older to hunt small game species statewide.
Annual Combination Small Game/Fishing License – Provides both small game hunting and fishing privileges for residents.
Big Game Licenses – Specific licenses are required to hunt big game species, such as deer, elk, bear, and pronghorn; these must be obtained through either the draw or over-the-counter options.
Turkey License – Required to hunt wild turkeys during designated seasons; available through draw or over-the-counter.
Turbearer License – Required to trap or hunt furbearer species; must be purchased in addition to other applicable licenses.
Resident Lifetime Licenses – Lifetime licenses are available for residents, providing long-term hunting and fishing privileges.

Non-Resident Licenses

All non-residents are required to obtain a non-resident hunting license. Additional licenses and permits may be required. Non-residents ages 18 to 64 must purchase the Habitat Stamp in order to buy or apply for a hunting license. Only one stamp is needed for the license year.

Annual Small Game License – Required for non-residents aged 18 and older to hunt small game species statewide.
Annual Combination Small Game/Fishing License – Provides both small game hunting and fishing privileges for non-residents.
Big Game Licenses – Specific licenses are required to hunt big game species, such as deer, elk, bear, and pronghorn; these must be obtained through either the draw or over-the-counter options.
Turkey License – Required to hunt wild turkeys during designated seasons; available through draw or over-the-counter.
Furbearer License – Required to trap or hunt furbearer species; must be purchased in addition to other applicable licenses.

Youth Licenses & Requirements

Youth Small Game License – Available for residents and non-residents under age 18; required to hunt small game species.
Youth Big Game Licenses – Available for hunters aged 12 to 17, allowing the hunting of big game species such as deer, elk, and pronghorn.
Hunter Education Requirement – Individuals born on or after January 1, 1949, must complete an approved hunter education course before applying for or purchasing a Colorado hunting license.
Mentored Hunting Program – Allows youth hunters to participate in hunting under the supervision of a licensed adult mentor.

Senior Licenses & Discounts

Senior Annual Fishing License – Available at a discounted rate for residents aged 64 and older; provides fishing privileges statewide.
Senior Annual Small Game License – Available at a discounted rate for residents aged 64 and older; provides small game hunting privileges statewide.
Senior Lifetime Licenses – Lifetime licenses are available for seniors, providing long-term hunting and fishing privileges.

Lifetime Licenses

Resident Lifetime Combination License – Provides lifetime hunting and fishing privileges for residents; includes small game, fishing, and big game licenses.
Resident Lifetime Fishing License – Provides lifetime fishing privileges for residents.
Resident Lifetime Small Game License – Provides lifetime small game hunting privileges for residents.

Disability & Military Licenses

Disabled Veteran Lifetime Combination License – Available to resident veterans with a service-connected disability of 60% or more; provides lifetime small game hunting and fishing privileges.
Mobility-Impaired Hunting Program – Offers special hunting opportunities and accommodations for hunters with mobility impairments.
Active-Duty Military Privileges – Active-duty military members stationed in Colorado may be eligible for resident hunting and fishing licenses.

Required Endorsements & Tags

Habitat Stamp – Required for all hunters and anglers aged 18 and older; must be purchased with the first license of the year.
Big Game Tags – Specific tags required for hunting big game species such as deer, elk, bear, and pronghorn; obtained through draw or over-the-counter options.
Turkey Tags – Required to hunt wild turkeys during designated seasons; obtained through draw or over-the-counter options.
Waterfowl Stamp – Required for hunting waterfowl species; includes both state and federal stamps.
Harvest Information Program (HIP) Registration – Required for hunting migratory birds; must be completed annually.

CO Hunting licenses for small game are good from April 1 to March 31 of the next year. Hunting licenses for big game expire on the expiration date printed on the license.

Where to buy your Colorado Hunting License

To hunt in Colorado, you can purchase your license either online through the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) licensing platform or in person through an authorized license agent. A comprehensive list of all in-person approved license agents is available here.

Below are some suggested authorized in-person hunting license agents in the state of Colorado:

Bass Pro Shops – Denver, CO Address: 7970 Northfield Blvd, Denver, CO 80238 Phone: (720) 385-3600
Cabela's – Thornton, CO Address: 14050 Lincoln St, Thornton, CO 80023 Phone: (303) 625-6100
Jax Outdoor Gear – Fort Collins, CO Address: 1200 N College Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80524 Phone: (970) 221-0544
Scheels – Johnstown, CO Address: 4755 Ronald Reagan Blvd, Johnstown, CO 80534 Phone: (970) 663-7800

Please note that it isn't required to verify your TPWD Hunter Education card/certificate with CPW but you may want to if you don't want to carry your card in the field. It is super easy to verify (under an hour via email) by emailing or mailing copies of your card/certificate to one of the below addresses:

Email: [email protected]

Mail: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Attn: Hunter Education Section
6060 Broadway
Denver, CO 80216

For more information, you can contact:

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW)

Contact Information: Phone: (303) 297-1192 Email: [email protected] Website: cpw.state.co.us

FAQs

How much does it cost to get your Hunter Education Certificate?

$29. We at HunterSafetyUSA accept Apple Pay, Google Pay, all major credit cards, and signature debit cards. We also offer a 100% money-back guarantee.

Will the Texas Hunter Education Card (Certificate) be accepted in Colorado?

Yes, the permanent Texas Parks & Wildlife Hunter Education Card (Certification) is recognized by Colorado and all other states and provinces with mandatory hunter education requirements due to reciprocity agreements with the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA).

The CPW Website states that "Acceptable proof of hunter education consists of one of the following...an original, duplicate or replacement hunter education card issued by any U.S. or Mexican state or Canadian provincial wildlife agency. Temporary hunter education cards issued by a U.S. state or Canadian province wildlife agency will be honored only for the year when the card was issued." Since our Hunter Education Card/Certificate offered through HunterSafetyUSA is from TPWD, you have the option to verify your identity by emailing (under an hour for verification) or mailing copies of your Hunter Education Card/Certificate to the addresses below. If you verify your account, you don't have to carry the card with you in the field; it's on your license.