Memorial Day Office Closure
Colorado Parks and Wildlife offices will be closed for the state holiday, Monday, May 25. To honor military members for their service CPW offers active duty military and veteran benefits to enjoy fishing, hunting and state parks.
Landscape of the Elk Springs Ranch, a ranch participating in the Ranching for Wildlife Program for residents hunters.
Buying a License
Being a Colorado resident has its perks! In addition to receiving in-state rates for licenses and passes, residents are also eligible for a large number of special, resident-only programs that include land access, special hunting licenses, unique parks programs, and more.
A Colorado resident is someone who:
Youths, under age 18, whose primary legal guardian qualifies as a Colorado resident as outlined above, are considered Colorado residents.
You terminate your Colorado residency if you apply for, buy or accept a resident hunting, fishing or trapping license issued by another state or foreign country, register to vote outside Colorado, accept a driver’s license that shows an address other than in Colorado, or move outside of Colorado with the intent of making it your permanent residence.
Students qualify for Colorado residency if they are:
Acceptable proof of residency documentation for students:
Military members qualify for Colorado residency if they are:
Active duty does not include reserve status or National Guard.
Acceptable forms of proof:
If you can answer "Yes" to any of the questions below, you cannot claim yourself as a Colorado resident at this time.
*Except for students and US active duty military
To claim Colorado residency, the customer must hold a valid Colorado Driver's License or Colorado Identification Card for a minimum of six months. The physical residence address provided to buy or apply for a license must be the same as the address given for Colorado state income tax purposes.
To claim Colorado residency, the customer must hold a valid Colorado Driver's License or Colorado Identification Card for a minimum of six months. The physical residence address provided to buy or apply for a license must be the same as the address given for Colorado state income tax purposes.
Identification Issued Less Than Six Months Ago
If your Colorado driver's license or Colorado identification card was issued or renewed less than six months ago you must provide additional documentation of at least two sources from the below list to prove that you have been a resident for the required six months.
The additional proofs of residency must have your name and Colorado residency address on them and provide proof that you have lived in Colorado each of the prior six consecutive months. For example, you could provide six consecutive months worth of electric bills and six consecutive months worth of rent receipts in addition to your Colorado driver's license and ID.
Owning property in the state of Colorado does not establish residency.
Colorado residents can get a $29 Keep Colorado Wild Pass when registering a car, motorcycle, recreation vehicle or light truck through the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The pass is for residents interested in visiting Colorado State Parks.
The Ranching for Wildlife program provides Colorado residents a unique opportunity to hunt on private ranch land normally closed to the public. Hunters have the opportunity to hunt bighorn sheep, deer, elk, moose, pronghorn and turkey through this program.
The Bighorn Sheep Access program provides Colorado residents a unique opportunity to hunt bighorn sheep on private ranch land normally closed to the public.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers a $14 Centennial State Park Pass to income-eligible Colorado residents.
Residents may purchase a combination fishing and small game hunting license that allows them to fish and hunt small game. This license is also a qualifying license for applying in the big game draws.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers an array of programs for persons experiencing disabilities including discounted and free parks passes for Colorado residents who are experiencing disabilities and disabled first responders. Please see the program pages for specifics.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers an array of programs for resident US military personnel including discounted and free parks passes. Please see the program pages for specifics.
