Open Records Requests
Under the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA), citizens have the right to ask to inspect public documents retained by local and state government agencies. Unless specifically outlined in Colorado statute, Colorado Parks and Wildlife documents are open to the public and can be requested at any time. If any document falls under the outlined exemptions requiring disclosure, the specific statute requiring disclosure will be given to the requestor. Much of the work done by CPW is posted on our website and does not require an Open Records Request to view.
Members of the public may request either Public Records pursuant to the Colorado Open Records Act (“CORA”) (sections 24‐72‐200.1 to 205, C.R.S.) or Criminal Justice Records pursuant to the Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act (“CCJRA”) (sections 24-72- 301 to 309, C.R.S.)., There are different considerations, exemptions, costs and timeframes attendant to CORA and CCJRA requests.. Generally speaking, records involving some law enforcement component will be governed by the CCJRA whereas all other records will be governed by CORA. CPW will process your request under the appropriate statute regardless of whether you label it as a CORA or CCJRA request.
Frequently Requested Records
Criminal Justice Records
The release of criminal justice records is guided by § C.R.S. 24-72-301, other related statutes, and the Rules of Professional Conduct. Under § C.R.S. 24-72-305, our office does not provide criminal justice records for pending cases except for those that are a matter of public record.
Aquatic Data
Colorado Parks and Wildlife's aquatic section also has an informal data request process that allows scientists and resource managers to request data from the centralized fisheries database. While subject to review and approval by senior aquatic biologists and water managers, these requests are not bound by the same statutory requirements as an Open Records Request and are offered free of charge. Obtain instructions on how to submit a request for aquatic data.
Fill out the data request formHunting Data
These reports show how many licenses were available in all big game management units throughout Colorado, how many hunters applied for those limited licenses, how many of those hunters were successful drawing and how many preference points it took to be successful.
Big Game Hunting StatisticsSubmit a Request
All requests must be received in writing by the Custodian of Records (Custodian).
- Requests can not be made over the phone.
- Requests must be specific in nature, as general or broad topics may result in a large number of documents returned at a high cost to you.
- Ensure that your request is asking for documents and not information and/or explanation of documents.
- Include your name, contact information and deadline of when you need a reply to your request.
- Indicate if you would like electronic copies of documents or if you prefer hard copies.
When responding to a request for public records under CORA, CPW will make every effort to respond within three working days as required by section 24‐ 72‐203(3)(b), C.R.S. The three working‐day response time begins the first working day following receipt of the request. A request received after noon or any day the agency is officially closed will be considered received as of the following working day.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife can add up to a seven‐working‐day extension if extenuating circumstances apply, as described in § 24‐72‐203(3)(b), C.R.S. You will be notified in writing by the Custodian, within the three-day period, if extenuating circumstances exist. Should the Custodian have questions regarding your request, you will be contacted for clarification.
Abandoned Requests
If the CPW Custodian attempts to contact a requestor to clarify a request or discuss the scope of a request and the requestor does not respond within 10 business days, the CPW Custodian will close the request and require the requestor to submit a new records request.
CPW will hold records assembled in response to a CORA or CCJRA request for no more than ten business days after the requestor has been notified of any of the following:
- That the records are available for inspection.
- An estimated cost for the search and/or review of the records.
- An invoice for the records.
The holding period may be shorter for records which are needed for any use. Failure to inspect, agree to the cost of or pay for records within this timeframe will be considered an abandoned request, and the request will be automatically closed.
Fees
Prior to responding to a request, the CPW Custodian will provide you with an estimate of the costs associated with responding to the request. This estimate will include estimated legal fees, if any. Depending on the format, volume and content of records, an additional estimate may be required to review and redact the records. The information will not be copied, retrieved, redacted or manipulated until payment is received.
Records Manipulation
If CPW, in its discretion, manipulates data in order to respond to a specific request, and in so doing generates a record in a form not used by the CPW, the actual costs of manipulating such data and generating such records will be assessed.
Transmission
CPW may charge the actual fee for transmission of records by United States mail, other delivery service or facsimile. No transmission fee will apply when transmission is by electronic mail.
Document Retrieval, Copies, Printouts and Manipulation Fees
Fee |
Description |
Cost |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Research and Retrieval |
This fee will be charged in quarter-hour increments. This fee will also apply to the time CPW personnel must spend in attendance while a third party is reviewing documents. Research and retrieval fees account for staff time to search for requested records, but do not guarantee documents will be found. Public Records requests grant 1 free hour of staff time. |
$41.37 per hour |
|
|
Review and Redaction of Records |
This fee will be charged in quarter hour increments. The fee will cover staff/CORA liaison time to review and redact records according to applicable Colorado Revised Statutes. |
$41.37 per hour |
|
|
Hard and Electronic Copies |
Standard page |
$0.25 |
|
|
Hard and Electronic Copies |
Double-sided page |
$0.50 |
|
|
Hard and Electronic Copies |
USB Flash Drive |
$7.00 |
|
|
Records Stored Off Premises |
per box charge to retrieve archived records stored off premises. |
$28.00 |
*Note that the fees for CCJRA requests are the same as above except that CPW charges $41.37 per hour for all time spent researching and reviewing CCJRA records. Unlike CORA requests, CCJRA requests do not receive 1 free hour of staff time.