Although CPW became a merged agency in 2011, state statute and federal regulations require that the budgets for parks and wildlife remain separate. Annual revenue and expenditures for each budget are provided in the charts below.
Additional detail regarding CPW’s sources and uses of funds can be found in the Sources & Use of Funds fact sheet.
CPW employs a user-pays model of funding in which hunting and fishing licenses, federal excise taxes on hunting and fishing equipment, motorized recreation vehicle registrations, and park-generated pass revenue comprise the majority of CPW’s proceeds.
Note: CPW's expenditures do not tie directly to its revenues in a given year.
Fiscal Year 2022-23 Total Parks and Wildlife Revenue: $365 Million*
Federal Grants 12%
General Fund 2%
GOCO 10%
Licenses, Passes, Fees & Permits 55%
Lottery 8%
Other Revenue & Donations 7%
Registrations 3%
Severance Tax 2%
State & Local Grants 1%
Fiscal Year 2022-23 Total Parks Revenue: $141 Million
Federal Grants 6%
General Fund 4%
GOCO 14%
Licenses, Passes, Fees & Permits 42%
Lottery 17%
Other Revenues & Donations 8%
Registrations 6%
Fiscal Year 2022-23 Total Wildlife Revenue: $209 Million
Federal Grants 16%
GOCO 9%
Licenses, Passes, Fees & Permits 66%
Lottery 2%
Other Revenue & Donations 6%
*4% of Colorado Parks and Wildlife revenues are shared revenue sources.
Fiscal Year 2022-23 Total Parks and Wildlife Expenditures: $311 Million*
Customer Service 4%
Environment &Wildlife Education 3%
Fishing Recreation 7%
Habitat Management 15%
Hunting Recreation 7%
Law Enforcement 4%
Licensing, Registrations,Policy & Regulations 4%
Organizational Support 32%
Park Recreation 6%
Payments to Other Agencies 6%
Public Information 3%
Species Conservation 4%
Trails Recreation 5%
Fiscal Year 2022-23 Total Parks Expenditures: $112 Million
Customer Service 3%
Habitat Management 5%
Licensing, Registrations,Policy & Regulations 1%
Organizational Support 45%
Park Recreation 16%
Public Information 4%
Trails Recreation 13%
Fiscal Year 2022-23 Total Wildlife Expenditures: $191 Million
Customer Service 5%
Fishing Recreation 8%
Habitat Management 22%
Hunting Recreation 12%
Law Enforcement 3%
Licensing, Registrations, Policy & Regulations 6%
Organizational Support 27%
Species Conservation 5%
*3% of Colorado Parks and Wildlife expenditures are for shared purposes.
Thank you for moving our programs forward with your fees and participation.
Please join us in our first ever Day of Giving by making a donation today. Your contribution can go a long way to help protect our wildlife and natural spaces, support our state parks and outdoor recreational opportunities, and introduce people to the wonders of Colorado's great outdoors.
Thanks for your continued support!