Hunting with Hawks and Falcons

Hunting with Hawks & Falcons

Purchasing a License

What You Need To Buy A Falconry License

A resident falconry license is required
A nonresident falconer must buy either: A nonresident annual falconry license; or A nonresident small-game license and have proof that they possess a current and valid falconry license in their home state.
State and federal Migratory Bird Hunting Stamps are required for hunting migratory waterfowl.

Purchase a License

Small Game Hunting: Hawking and Falconry Hunting Laws

Apprentices may hunt with only one raptor at a time.
A resident falconry license is required.
Nonresident falconers must buy either:
a. A nonresident annual falconry license; applications are submitted online at cpwshop.com/purchase-special-license.page, or;
b. A nonresident small-game license and have proof that they possess a current and valid falconry license in their home state.
Hunter education certificate is not necessary with a resident 3-year falconry license or a nonresident annual falconry license. State and federal Migratory Bird Hunting Stamps are required for hunting migratory waterfowl.
Falconers must comply with HIP (see page 3).
Firearms are prohibited while hawking.
Hawking is prohibited from a public road.
Hawking on private property is illegal without permission from the owner or person in charge.
A Raptor Importation License is required to import any raptor into Colorado. An application for raptor importation must be submitted a minimum of 7 days of proposed importation date. A current health certificate issued within 30 days of the proposed entry from the state of origin is required. Raptor import application/license are fee exempt and may be submitted at CPWshop.com.

For more information, please download the Small Game Brochure

Hunter Education

A hunter education certificate is not necessary with a resident 3-year falconry license or a nonresident annual falconry license.

Land Use Rules and Hunting Laws

Small Game and Waterfowl Brochure

Habitat Ranges: Common Small-Game Birds

Small Game and Waterfowl Brochure

Season Dates

Season	Location	Date	Bag Limit
Rabbits (Cottontail Rabbit, Snowshoe Hare, Jackrabbit: White-Tailed, Black-Tailed)	Statewide	September 1 - March 31, annually	Daily Bag Limit: 10 of each species Possession Limit: 20 of each species
Chukar Partridge	Statewide	September 1 - March 31, annually	Daily Bag Limit: 4 Possession Limit: 12
Band-Tailed Pigeon, Crow, Dove: Mourning, White-winged; Duck, Goose, Coot, Rail: Sora, Virginia; Wilson’s Snipe		Dates coincide with central and pacific flyway established seasons	Daily Bag Limit: 3 singly or in aggregate for species with an open hunting season or special falconry season Possession Limit: 9 singly or in aggregate Note: Falconry bag and possession limits are not in addition to gun bag limits.
European Starling, House (English) Sparrow, Eurasian Collared-Dove	Statewide	Year-round	Bag & Possession Limits: Unlimited
Furbearers	Statewide	Dates coincide with established seasons (See "Small Game Animals in brochure)	Bag & Possession Limits: Unlimited
Dusky (Blue) Grouse	West of I-25	September 1 - March 31, annually	Daily Bag Limit: 3 Possession Limit: 9
Greater Sage Grouse	Game Management Units 3, 11, 13, 18 except east of Colorado 125 in Grand County, 27, 28 except north and east of Grand CR 50 (Church Park Road) and U.S. 40, 37, 181, 201, 211, 301, and 441 and in North Park (6, 16, 17, 161 and 171)	September 1 - January 31, annually	Daily Bag Limit: 2 Possession Limit: 2 birds only in North Park (GMUs 6, 16, 17, 161 and 171); 4 birds in all other GMUs listed.
Mountain Sharp-tailed Grouse	Only Game Management Units 4, 5, 12, 13, 14, 131, 211, 214 and 441.	September 1 - January 31	Daily Bag Limit: 2 Possession Limit: 4
Pheasant	Statewide	September 1 - March 31, annually	Daily Bag Limit: 3 birds Possession Limit: 9 birds
Quail: Northern Bobwhite, Scaled, Gambel’s	Statewide	Sept ember 1 - March 31, annually	Daily Bag Limit: 8 of each species Possession Limit: 24 of each species
Squirrel: Fox, Pine	Statewide	September 1 - March 31, annually	Daily Bag Limit: 5 of each species Possession Limit: 10 of each species
White-Tailed Ptarmigan	Statewide	September 1 - March 31, annually	Daily Bag Limit: 3 Possession Limit: 6

Brochures

Small Game and Waterfowl Brochure

Hunters should review the Small Game and Waterfowl brochure for more information on legal methods of take and hunting laws.

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Walk-In Atlas

Lands are open for public access one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset.

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