Colorado Nonresident Elk Hunter Ed

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Frank44

New member
I am a Washington State Hunter Ed Instructor. Every year we get a bunch of hunters in a panic. They have drawn a Colorado elk tag, and discovered at the last minute that they need a Hunter Ed card to buy a license, and tag. I tried to get some information from the Game Department, but their system is not user friendly. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif Do they warn hunters that they need a Hunter Ed card before they apply for a tag? If they do they need to change their method. Only 1 or 2 it would be the hunters fault. With over a dozen a year there is something wrong with the system. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif This year an irate huner called Olumpea and said he spent over $5,000 on the trip. When he got off the plane in Denver, and tried to buy a licens he got the bad news, and could not hunt /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif Ther was not any thing Washington could do. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
Frank
 
I know how frustrating it can be to sort this stuff out because every state website is arranged differently.

Still, it's the hunters fault--Look at the lower left corner of page One of the big game book under HUNTER EDUCATION (SAFETY) (their emphasis, not mine). It's also in PDF form on the website under http://wildlife.state.co.us/RulesRegs/RegulationsBrochures/BigGame.htm

From the regulations brochure:

"Hunters born on or after Jan. 1, 1949, must have completed an approved hunter education course or bowhunter education course (for archery licenses only) sanctioned by a state or province before applying for or purchasing a license. Colorado honors hunter education courses from other states and provinces. You must present an original hunter safety card when buying a license. You must carry your hunter education card when hunting unless "Verified" is printed by the DOW on your license."

Like I said, page one, not hard to find. They send these books out to non-residents who applied the previous year.

It is also here: http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/BigGame/ under "Selecting a License,"

and here: http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/HunterEducation/HuntEd.htm

Pretty sure they tried to get the word out because it took me less than two minutes to find it in 3 places on the website. On the online application there is also a box for hunter ed # and state, with a note stating the above as well.

Most states have Hunter Ed requirements now, so why would someone not make it a point to get it done if they ever plan on hunting out of state?

I'll bet it is frustrating for those guys to find out you assumed wrong right before something you look forward too as much as an elk hunt, but now you know what to tell them.
 
The problem I have come into in Colorado is finding a Hunter Safety Course that is not booked 3 months in advance or finding a youth course for the little ones. I have been waiting for a youth class in the Colorado Springs area for 2 years. Denver area has them twice a year, but since it is a 150 mile drive to Denver and it is a 2 day course suddenly a simple $10 hunter safety course becomes a $250 adventure with meals, hotel and fuel.
They also have an internet course....but I would need to sign up in person in Denver.... ARRRGH!

My son is never gonna be able to hunt until after he gets his driver's license... and that's in 8 years!
 
I am sure it would not be hard to find Hunter Ed requirements if you were looking for them. The problem is that it never crosses the mind of older hunters that they would need the Hunter Ed. It would be a simple mater to solve the problem by putting a BOLD warning on the tag application. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif Ten years ago 2 hunters in a bind offered my $150 each to give them a card. I offered to set up a crash course for free. They said they would find someon else.I never did heard how it played out. Thanks for your detailed information./ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
Frank
 
I dont see how it takes two full days to get your point across about safety! One should be enough! Prolly dont realize how many people shy away from hunting because of this!
 
WOW, some interesting points here.

Rubenator,
The 2 day course is usually not enough. It is more than just safety, although it could easily be all on safety. They cover a wide range of topics that many peoiple do not realize. This includes everything from type of guns (rimfire, centerfire, shotgun, hand gun, automatics, semiautomatics, bow terms, propper care and safety, etc.) Most courses include information on spieces, how to determine speices, the benefits of hunting and also a trip to teh range to shoot, etc. If you do not feel this is a good thing so be it. I however like the course and beliueve that it actually encourages people to shot and hunt. More importantly it makes people take the time and at least think about safety. If you have ever attended the class with a single mother and son you would quickly realize how important the class is. Or attened a class that was given to other people who did not grow up shooting. The professional instructors are very good at thierr job and cover the basics way better than I could ever dream of, even being an experienced hunter/shooter. The class is painless and results in me and my family being safety. If people shy away then so be it, they were not that serious about hunting in the first place.

For the original poster, the hunter education requirement is pretty straight forward. It can be found several places through out the web site and the application book. If a hunter books a hunt, the guide should have mentioned the education requirements. Most do so on thier website and also in teh list of what to bring. Overall it is the hunters responsibility to know the laws and obey them If they do not then it is thier fault.
 
Quote:
The problem I have come into in Colorado is finding a Hunter Safety Course that is not booked 3 months in advance or finding a youth course for the little ones. I have been waiting for a youth class in the Colorado Springs area for 2 years. Denver area has them twice a year, but since it is a 150 mile drive to Denver and it is a 2 day course suddenly a simple $10 hunter safety course becomes a $250 adventure with meals, hotel and fuel.
They also have an internet course....but I would need to sign up in person in Denver.... ARRRGH!

My son is never gonna be able to hunt until after he gets his driver's license... and that's in 8 years!



Osprey,

Look around. I am sure that htere are other courses near you. Almost everysmall town does one. My home town here has atleast a handful each year. I am sure that if you poked around the smaller towns you might find one that is near enough to complete. Or maybe make a trip out of it for your son. Go to Denver or anyother towen, have a mini father son vacation. I would be willing to offer up some lodging here and meals here at the house if you want to come up my way and take the course. We could do some sight seeing, shooting, fishing etc. After the class was over for the day.
 
Colorado accepts hunter education certificates that were issued in other states. I'm sure the CDOW didn't say that you needed to travel to COLORADO and take a class before hunting. In fact I'm sure that you could have found a class in Washington if you would have looked around this summer. Looks like a lesson learned that you can put in your back pocket.
 
I get similar phone calls each fall from guys who are headed to another state that requires Hunter Safety and they have never taken the class or took it before the cards were computerized and have lost their original card and the state where they took the class has no record of their taking the class. It can ruin a hunt without a doubt. However as an instructor Im required by law here in Wyoming to have at least 12 hours of instruction with 15 hours being the reccomended time for a class. I find it hard to teach everything that is required in 15 hours let alone 12 hours. Also I can't just do a class overnight for somebody who has suddenly discovered they can't hunt without the card. My classes have to be a minimum of 10 students unless some special circumstances exsist. I have never charged for a class in nearly 20 years of teaching hunter safety. I could but feel its important to recruit new hunters. But I have one heck of a time finding other guys willing to take on teaching hunter safety. I offer 2 local classes a year here in a small community and I teach one additional class for school kids once a year so they have the opportunity to take the class in school. About 4 weeks of committed nights and several days of class time for the school classes.
I still however get complaints from folks who claimed they didn't know the class was being offered or it doesn't work with their schedule. Well my hunting schedule needs some time also.
 
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Come on guys, use your head!!! If I'm going to be spending $5k on an out of state trip, I will make DAMNED sure I have all my ducks lined up! I'll be he called the airlines to check what their requirements were for his rifles when flying? I'll bet he made sure of where he could purchase a license..

For crying out loud, goto the division of wildlife website, find a link for phone numbers and call someone!!!!


here is a link to an interactive calendar with upcoming classes.

http://wildlife.state.co.us/calendar/index.asp?DivisionID=3

Osprey, there are lots of classes at both a Sports Authority and also at the Sportsmans Wharehouse in Colorado Springs. Some are evenings only, others are a weekend, etc...

 
Quote:
The problem I have come into in Colorado is finding a Hunter Safety Course that is not booked 3 months in advance or finding a youth course for the little ones. I have been waiting for a youth class in the Colorado Springs area for 2 years. Denver area has them twice a year, but since it is a 150 mile drive to Denver and it is a 2 day course suddenly a simple $10 hunter safety course becomes a $250 adventure with meals, hotel and fuel.
They also have an internet course....but I would need to sign up in person in Denver.... ARRRGH!

My son is never gonna be able to hunt until after he gets his driver's license... and that's in 8 years!



We have several here each yr

I don't know if Gunnison is any closer but it's a damm sight better looking drive than to denver

If you plan it right you could do some fishing and camping while the kid takes his class? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 


I just read the regs for hunter education, and it states that Colorado honors other states hunter education cards.

ColoOsprey, I also see where the kids need to be 12 yrs old to take the hunters ed classes. I live in Pueblo and they have and excellent bunch of instructors here. I took my son through It when he was 12years old [reading was a little tough for him] and they were very helpful.
 
Can't get much simpler than that. Two minutes of reading the facts settles all questions about the requirements regarding Hunters Safety in Colorado. Kinda makes ya wonder if it gets thru to the class.

You don't have to be 12 to take hunters safety, you have to be 12 to get a BG license. Been there and done that.
 
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