License & Stamp Fees

License Information

What You Need to Buy a License

Proper Identification and Proof of residency (for CO residents).

Habitat Stamp: A 2025 or lifetime Habitat Stamp is required prior to buying a license for anyone ages 18–64. One will be automatically added to your purchase, if applicable. (See page 2.)

Note: A Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification number is required for new customers age 16 and older (age 12 for a second-rod stamp), per federal law.

License Requirements

• Adults: People 16 and older are required to buy and carry a physical fish- ing license (or My CPW app accessible license) to fish or take fish, amphibians and crustaceans on their person, except where prohibited.
• Youth: Residents ages 16–17 can purchase a fishing license for $11.73. Nonresidents aged 16+ do not have a discounted youth fishing license option and can purchase a nonresident annual, five-day or one-day license. Those under 16 can take a full bag and possession limit without a license. However, they must have a second-rod stamp if fishing with a second line.
• Seniors: Colorado residents age 64 and older can obtain an annual senior fishing license for $11.73 or an annual senior combo small game/ fishing license for $36.22, both of which include the 25-cent search-and-rescue fee and the$1.50 Wildlife Education Fund fee. License must be carried while fishing. Seniors must have a second-rod stamp if fishing with a second line.
  • Senior low-income fishing licenses also are available for Colorado residents age 64 or older. For information and eligibility requirements, contact any CPW location.

Note: Everyone age 16 years or older must have a valid hunting or fishing license to be on any part of a state trust land, and a valid hunting or fishing license or the Colorado State Wildlife Area Pass to be on any part of a state wildlife area, unless specifically noted.

• Second-Rod Stamp: Anglers can use a second rod, handline or tip-up by purchasing a second-rod stamp. One stamp is allowed per season and is nontransferable. A second-rod stamp does not entitle an angler to an additional bag limit, nor can it be used for another person to fish.

  • Those with disability licenses must purchase a stamp if fishing with a second line.
  • A second-rod stamp is not required when only using trotlines or jugs.
  • Youth under 16 must have and carry with them a second-rod stamp if fishing with a second line.
  • them a second-rod stamp if fishing with a second line.
• Commercial License: $40. An annual license is required to take or possess bait fish, amphibians, or crustaceans for commercial purposes. Licensees must provide live-fish buyers with a receipt stating the seller’s name, date of sale, species and number sold. For application, restrictions and annual reporting requirements, visit: cpw.state.co.us/purchase-special-license
• Child Support Delinquency: State and federal law require a Social Security number or IndividualTaxpayer Identification number to buy a license. It is not displayed on the license but is provided, if requested, to Child Support Enforcement authorities. Hunting and fishing licenses are not issued to those suspended for noncompliance with child support. Any current licenses become invalid if held by an individual who is deemed noncompliant by Child Support Enforcement.
• Armed Forces Exemption: Colorado residents on active duty with U.S. armed forces out of state can fish free without a license while here on temporary leave, maximum of 30 days a year. You must carry official leave papers while fishing.

Residency Requirements

• The physical residence address you give to buy or apply for a license must be the same as the address given for Colorado state income tax purposes. Visit cpw.state.co.us/colorado-residency.
• 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 or accept a driver's license that shows an address other than in Colorado.

Residency Types

1. Standard Colorado Resident
   1. Requirements: You must live in Colorado for at least 6 consecutive months immediately prior to buying or applying for any resident CPW product, have your primary residence in Colorado and have not applied for or purchased a resident license or pass outside of Colorado in the last six months.
   2. Proof: Current and valid Colorado driver’s license/ID with a Colorado address issued 6 or more months prior. If the Colorado driver’s license/ID is not six months old, you must provide at least two forms of additional residency proof, as outlined in “Additional Residency Proofs” below.
2. Student: Attending School Full Time In Colorado
   1. Requirements: You must be attending school full time at an accredited Colorado school starting at least six months prior to buying or applying for any resident CPW product.
   2. Proof: Student ID, name of institution, date you became a full-time student, school transcript showing full-time status.
3. Student: Attending School Full Time Outside Of Colorado
   1. Requirements: You must meet Colorado residency requirements and be attending an accredited school outside of Colorado, paying nonresident tuition.
   2. Proof: Student ID, name of institution, date you became a full-time student, proof of out-of-state tuition payment.
4. Military: Stationed In Colorado
   1. Requirements: You must be active-duty military stationed in Colorado. Military member's spouse and/or dependents share the same residency status. Residency begins the date the orders begin.
   2. Proof: Military ID and active orders.
5. Military: Colorado Home Of Record
   1. Requirements: You must be active-duty military stationed outside of Colorado, but with Colorado as your home of record, paying income tax as a Colorado resident. Military member's spouse and/or dependents share the same residency status.
   2. Proof: Military ID and active orders.
6. Youth
   1. Children under the age of 18 have the same residency status as their parent, legal guardian or person with whom they live the majority of the time per court order.

Other Residency Information

1. Additional Residency Proofs
   1. If you otherwise meet residency requirements but your Colorado driver’s license or ID was issued or renewed less than six months ago, or you have a CPW-approved religious exemption to photo identification on your record, you must provide at least two additional proofs of residency showing six consecutive months of Colorado residency immediately prior to buying or applying for a license. Those proofs include: income sources (pay stubs), utility bills, state income tax documents (as a full-time resident), lease agreements/rent receipts, motor vehicle registration, voter registration.
2. Multiple Homes
   1. If you have a home in Colorado and another location, call 303-297-1192 to make sure you comply with Colorado residency requirements before obtaining a CPW license or state park pass.

Habitat Stamps

Habitat Stamps are $12.47 and only one is required per person, per year for anyone ages 18–64. Stamps are valid March 1–March 31
(13 months).

• You must purchase a stamp before buying or applying for a hunting or fishing license.
• A lifetime stamp is available for $374.47.
• Anyone who is approved in the Columbine, First Responder, Veteran and/or Big Game Mobility Impaired programs is exempt from the Habitat Stamp requirement. See cpw.state.co.us/park-specialty-passes.
• Learn more online: cpw.state.co.us/habitat-stamp

Anglers With Disabilities

CPW offers several programs for hunters and anglers with disabilities. Go to cpw.state.co.us/fishing-licenses for more on how to apply.

These programs require advance legal paperwork submissions: Please apply AT LEAST 30 DAYS prior to when you wish to use the permit or license. Due to volume, applications cannot be expedited.

Resident Columbine Fishing Lifetime Program

Colorado residents who are totally and permanently disabled can apply for a free lifetime fishing license.

Resident First Responder Lifetime Combo License

Colorado resident first responders who have proof of a permanent occupational disability can qualify for the First Responder program to obtain a free lifetime fishing or combo small game/fishing license.

Resident Disabled Veteran Lifetime Combo License

Purple Heart recipients or military veterans who have a service-connected disability (with an overall combined rating of
NEW 50% or more by the Dept. of Veteran's Affairs) and are residents of Colorado can obtain a free lifetime fishing or combo small game/fishing license.

Help Improve Your Fisheries

Some Fish Species Are Good Where They Belong, But In The Wrong Body Of Water They Can Ruin A Fishery.

• CPW biologists are no longer stocking fish in some waters because illegally introduced fish can compete with and/or eat fish that would normally be stocked. Fish are stocked by CPW in other waters to ensure better use of your license dollars. CPW hatcheries are also raising larger-sized fish to stock so that illegally introduced fish have a smaller chance of eating stocked fish. This situation results in increased expenses to CPW and fewer fish available to anglers.
• In the wrong place, some fish species can change the entire ecosystem, reducing the quality of fishing overall and interfering with CPW fishery management.
• Unlimited bag and possession limits are often established to aid in the management of species that were illegally stocked and/or not compatible with CPW fishery management.
• For waters with no bag and possession limits for certain species, anglers are encouraged to catch and keep these fish.

Some Waters Where You Can Keep All You Catch Of Certain Species:

• Crawford Reservoir: northern pike
• Elkhead Reservoir: northern pike; smallmouth bass
• Green Mountain Reservoir: northern pike
• Harvey Gap Reservoir: northern pike; smallmouth bass
• Juniata Reservoir: smallmouth bass
• Kenney Reservoir: northern pike
• Ridgway Reservoir: smallmouth bass
• Rifle Gap Reservoir: northern pike; smallmouth bass
• Stagecoach Reservoir: northern pike; smallmouth bass; walleye
• Wolford Mountain Reservoir: northern pike
• Many other rivers and lakes on the West Slope have no bag and possession limits for certain species. See pages 11–39 of this brochure.