Deer - In the Field

The Top 10 Most Common Hunting Violations in Colorado

• Trespassing

  Going onto private lands without getting permission first while hunting, fishing or performing any related activity is illegal. Private lands do not need to be posted or fenced, so it can be difficult to see boundaries. Violators may be suspended for up to 5 years for trespassing. This includes State Land Board properties not leased and signed to CPW, unless permission is given by the lessee. You must have permission from the landowner to enter private land to retrieve a harvested animal. First, you should try to contact the landowner on your own. If that effort fails, call the local CPW office.

• Failing to make a reasonable attempt to track and kill animals you shoot at, wound or may have wounded. Including immediately going to the location where wildlife was located when it was fired upon.

  Remember that it’s against the law to pursue wounded wildlife that goes on private property without first obtaining permission from the landowner or person in charge. You must still attempt to gain permission to enter and locate the animal.

• Failing to reasonably dress, care for, prepare and provide edible wildlife meat for human consumption.

  At a minimum, the four quarters, tenderloins and backstraps are edible meat. Internal organs are not considered edible meat.

• Hunting without a proper license.

  Anyone who hunts wildlife must have in their possession the appropriate and valid Colorado resident or nonresident license that includes their Customer Identification (CID) number, and must only harvest wildlife of the species and type indicated on the license.

• Mistakenly killing wildlife.

  You must report big-game animals unintentionally killed, not due to carelessness or negligence to a CPW office (or a local Sheriff’s office after CPW regular hours) before continuing the hunt and as soon as practical. Before contacting CPW, field dress the animal. CPW evaluates the circumstances, including shots fired, species and number of animals present, firearms, ammunition, etc. Big game accidentally killed does not count toward annual bag limits.

• Not showing evidence of sex.

  Be sure to leave evidence of sex naturally attached to the carcass. Evidence includes the head, the vulva or the scrotum. 

• Carrying loaded firearms while in or on any motor vehicle.

  Firearms must be unloaded in the chamber. Muzzleloading rifles are considered unloaded if the percussion cap or shotshell primer is removed, or if the powder is removed from the flashpan. It is illegal for anyone to have a loaded electronic ignition muzzleloader in or on a motor vehicle; the chamber must be unloaded or the battery must be disconnected and removed from its compartment. Most accidents involving firearms occur in or near vehicles.

• Carrying loaded firearms (except handguns) must be unloaded in the chamber and magazine.

  Firearms (except handguns) and bows must be fully enclosed in a hard or soft case. Scabbards or cases with open ends or sides are prohibited. This does not apply to landowners or their agents who carry a firearm on an OHV to take depredating wildlife on property they own or lease. 

• Improperly voiding and/or attaching a carcass tag.

  You must sign and detach the carcass tag from your hunting license immediately following taking your animal. It is illegal to sign or tear the carcass tag before harvest. The tag must also be attached to the animal properly.

• Shooting from or across a public road with a firearm, bow or crossbow.

  People firing a bow, rifle, handgun or shotgun with a single slug must be at least 50 feet from the centerline of the road.