Hunters in the Military
Military
Residency Qualifications for Military Members
Active duty military personnel stationed in Colorado and their family members can qualify to purchase hunting licenses at the Colorado resident rates. Personnel and their dependents qualify for residency if they are on active duty in Colorado under permanent orders. Military personnel must show proof of active duty military orders when purchasing resident licenses. Active duty does not include reserve status or National Guard.
Military Benefits
Test Out of Hunter Education
U.S. military personnel who do not have a hunter education card from Colorado or another state can also test out. “U.S. military personnel” is defined as active duty, reserve duty, veterans, and National Guard.
Taking the Test
The test allows you to test out of a hunter education course. It may be taken only once and must be passed with a score of 90% or better. Those who fail the test must attend a hunter education class or use the Apprentice Hunter Certificate.
Test takers must have or create a customer identification number (CID) to take the test. The cost of the test is $24.50. The test is given online only and must be completed in one session within 30 minutes. Once you log in, the 30 minutes begins, so we advise that you do not register on the test site and expect to go back and complete the course at a later date.
Start the Colorado Hunter Education Test-Out Exam today!
Passing the Test
Once you pass the test, your hunter education number will be permanent and will not expire. Hunters must wait up to 24 hours to allow for their test information to be updated from the vendor to the CPW CID system before purchasing a license.
U.S. military personnel must email a certificate of completion, proof of military service and official photo ID to [email protected]. Once all documents have been received, hunter education will be verified and customers can purchase licenses or enter the draw.
The following forms of U.S. military personnel identification are accepted:
- DD214
- DD Form 2
- DD Form 2765
- Active, retired and veteran military identification card with the word "veteran" printed on it as specified in 42-2-303(5)(a) C.R.S.
- V.A. medical card
Test-Out Records
Test-out records are verified for each hunter’s unique customer identification number (CID) and will print directly onto any purchased license; no physical Hunter Education card is issued. However, if an individual would like a physical card, one can be obtained for a $5 fee in person at any CPW sales agent, online, through the mail, or by phone at 1-800-244-5613.
Receive a Preference Point While Deployed
Active duty members of the United States Armed Forces who are stationed at any military facility in Colorado and actively deployed outside the United States, or any active duty member of the United States Armed Forces who is a Colorado resident and is deployed outside the United States may submit this request form to request preference points for any limited license draw that occurred during your absence upon your return.
The form must be postmarked by the 1st Tuesday in January following your return to the United States.
Hunt Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat or Moose
Hunters in the military can purchase other licenses to hunt these species than what is included under military benefits. To learn more about additional bighorn sheep, mountain goat or moose licenses please visit the individual species page.
Qualifying Licenses
A qualifying license for the current year is required in order to apply for any of the big game draws (first, second, hybrid).
Primary and Secondary Draw
The primary draw and secondary draw are closed for the 2024 hunting season. You can only submit one application per species, per draw, per year. A limited number of licenses are available for specific units and dates for deer, and are issued through the primary and secondary draws. Primary draw applications are due in early April and secondary draw applications are due in June.
Preference points can be spent or earned through the primary draw only. U.S. Armed Forces who are stationed in Colorado and actively deployed outside the U.S. can apply to receive a preference point for a future hunt. The military preference point application is available in July annually. The request form, payment and proper documentation amust be postmarked within 6 months of the service member’s return to the U.S.
Refunds and Returns
License refund or preference point return if deployed after applying for a hunting license. For more information, contact Limited Licensing at 303-291-7208.
Hunt Bear, Deer, Elk or Pronghorn
Hunters in the military can purchase other licenses to hunt these species than what is included under military benefits. To learn more about additional bear, deer, elk or pronghorn licenses please visit the individual species page.
Qualifying Licenses
A qualifying license for the current year is required in order to apply for any of the big game draws (first, second, hybrid).
Primary and Secondary Draw
The primary draw and secondary draw are closed for the 2024 hunting season. You can only submit one application per species, per draw, per year. A limited number of licenses are available for specific units and dates for deer, and are issued through the primary and secondary draws. Primary draw applications are due in early April and secondary draw applications are due in June.
Preference points can be spent or earned through the primary draw only. U.S. Armed Forces who are stationed in Colorado and actively deployed outside the U.S. can apply to receive a preference point for a future hunt. The military preference point application is available in July annually. The request form, payment and proper documentation amust be postmarked within 6 months of the service member’s return to the U.S.
Advance Purchase of Leftover Hunting Licenses
Active duty military members who are deployed outside of the United States and are stationed in Colorado or who have Colorado as their home of record (claim Colorado residency) can purchase leftover licenses after the primary and secondary draws and prior to the annual leftover purchase date (the first Tuesday in August). A military leftover application must be completed and restrictions do apply. The request form, payment and proper documentation must be delivered to Colorado Parks and Wildlife by July 31, 2024.
Wounded Warrior and Safe Harbor Program
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission annually sets aside a number of hunting licenses for members of the Wounded Warrior or Safe Harbor programs. While there are limits on the number of licenses that can be issued (100 each female deer, elk and pronghorn and 100 total male deer, elk and pronghorn), the goal is to issue as many of these licenses as possible. Military who meet the program requirements can complete the application for Wounded Warrior Program. For more information, contact the License, Reservations, and Customer Operations unit at 303-291-7235.
Program Requirements:
- Must be a member of the US Armed Forces and a Colorado resident or stationed in Colorado.
- Must be returning from a post-Sept. 11, 2001 overseas contingency operation.
- Must be assigned to a military medical treatment facility at the time of application.
- Must be a member of the United States Armed Services Wounded Warrior or Safe Harbor Program.
Refunds and Returns
License refund or preference point return if deployed after applying for a hunting license. For more information, contact Limited Licensing at 303-291-7208.
Hunt Waterfowl
For hunters who want to hunt waterfowl, there is a special season for military. Hunting in veteran and active-military seasons is restricted to veterans and members of the Armed Forces on active duty, including members of the National Guard and Reserves.
Youth, Veteran and Active Military Seasons
Season |
Notes |
Start Date |
End Date |
Add to Calendar |
Brochure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Central Flyway: All Zones |
Daily Bag Limit: Duck, Merganser, Coot: 6, in the aggregate. Up to 5 can be mallard, but no more than 2 can be female mallard. Included in the daily bag limit of 6, you can have no more than 1 pintail, 2 canvasback, 2 redhead, 3 wood duck and 1 scaup. Coot: 15. Goose: 5 dark geese. Possession Limit: 3 daily bag limits. |
|
|
See Brochure | |
|
Central Flyway: Northeast Zone |
Area: East of I-25 and north of I-70. |
October 12, 2024 |
October 13, 2024 |
See Brochure | |
|
Central Flyway: Southeast Zone |
Area: East of I-25 and south of I-70, and all of El Paso, Pueblo, Huerfano and Las Animas counties. |
October 19, 2024 |
October 20, 2024 |
See Brochure | |
|
Central Flyway: Mountain/Foothills Zone |
Area: West of I-25 and east of the Continental Divide, except El Paso, Pueblo, Huerfano and Las Animas counties. |
September 28, 2024 |
September 29, 2024 |
See Brochure | |
|
Pacific Flyway: Western Zone |
Area: West of the Continental Divide not included in the Eastern Zone. Daily Bag Limit: Duck and Merganser: 7 in aggregate. Of these, no more than 2 can be female mallard, 1 pintail, 2 canvasback, 2 redhead and 2 scaup. Coot: 25, Goose: 5 dark geese, 10 light geese. Possession Limit: 3 daily bag limits. |
October 26, 2024 |
October 27, 2024 |
See Brochure | |
|
Pacific Flyway: Eastern Zone |
Area: Routt, Grand, Summit, Eagle and Pitkin counties, those parts of Saguache, San Juan, Hinsdale and Mineral counties west of the Continental Divide, and part of Gunnison Co., except the North Fork of the Gunnison River Valley (GMUs 53, 63 and 521), and the part of Moffat Co. east of the northern intersection of CR 29 with the Moffat-Routt Co. line, south along CR 29 to the intersection of CR 29 with the Moffat-Routt Co. line (Elkhead Reservoir State Park). Daily Bag Limit: Duck and Merganser: 7 in aggregate. Of those, no more than 2 can be female mallard, 1 pintail, 2 canvasback, 2 redhead and 2 scaup. Coot: 25. Goose: 5 dark geese, 10 light geese. Possession Limit: 3 daily bag limits. |
September 28, 2024 |
September 29, 2024 |
See Brochure |
Disabled Veterans
Military veterans who are disabled and who are residents of Colorado are eligible to apply for a lifetime fishing and small game combo license. The veteran must have proof of service-connected disability of 60% or more, as rated by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Purple Heart recipients are also eligible to apply for the combo license.
Hunting Small Game in Colorado
Learn more about which small game species you can hunt and the rules and regulations for hunting in Colorado.
Find out more
Hunt at a State Park
Free Admission for the Month of August
Active duty and veterans are admitted free to Colorado state parks for the month of August. Colorado state parks offer big game and small game hunting opportunities. For big game some parks may require hunters to apply for a license.