How to Get Your 2026 Colorado Hunter Education Card Online in 3 Easy Steps
Hunters in Colorado born after January 1, 1949, must complete a hunter education course before purchasing a hunting license.
The information you'll learn through a hunter education course helps you stay safe and protect others in the field. You'll learn proper firearm and bow safety, hunting techniques, outdoor survival, tree stand safety, why hunters wear blaze orange for visibility, and more.
So, if you're planning a hunt in Colorado in 2026, keep reading to learn how to get your hunter education card and Colorado hunting license.
How Do I Get My Hunter Education Card in Colorado?
All hunters born after January 1, 1949 hunter safety course to earn a hunter education card in Colorado.
This certification is required before purchasing a hunting license. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) offers two options to get certified to meet this requirement.
1. Classroom Course
In-person classes take place in a classroom setting. The format includes lectures, videos, hands-on activities, a written test, and a live fire exercise. Students must understand the course material, pass the exam, and demonstrate safe firearm handling skills.
The course lasts a minimum of ten hours of class time. Cost is up to $10, depending on the course you choose.
Choose a class on a date, time, and location that's convenient for you. Be sure you complete the course ahead of the hunting season, allowing plenty of time to get your hunting license before your hunt.
2. Online Course and Classroom Conclusion Class
This hybrid option gives students the opportunity to complete a portion of the course online, then finish the certification process through a Classroom Conclusion class (in-person).
Hunter-Ed is proud to be an approved online hunter education provider for the CPW! We offer the convenient online hunter education course, which you can complete before finishing your certification through the in-person session.
Register for a Conclusion Class before completing the online course. Then, complete the online course before attending the in-person session. You'll need to show the online certificate of completion on class day.
After the Conclusion Class, you'll receive your Colorado hunter education card.
3 Easy Steps to Get Your 2026 Colorado Hunting License
With your hunter safety certification, you're ready to get your license and hunt! Here are three easy steps to get your Colorado hunting license.
- Meet the Requirements (and Complete a Hunter Education Course)
Remember: All hunters born after January 1, 1949, must show proof of completing a hunter education course before hunting in Colorado.
Hunter-Ed makes it easy to do that as the only online course approved by the CPW that hunters can complete before finishing the certification with the in-person Conclusion Course. - Choose the Right License Type and Purchase It
Determine which license you need. Choose from big game, small game, veteran, first responder, and other types of permits. Then, purchase your license online via the CPWshop website or in person at an approved license issuer. - Carry Proof of Your License When Hunting
Hunters must carry a valid hunting license for every hunt. You'll also need any required tags, stamps, or permits when hunting.
Next, let's look at these steps in more detail.
Step 1: How to Take the Colorado Hunter Education Course Online
The easiest way to get your hunter/bowhunter safety certification in Colorado is to take the Hunter-Ed Online course! Then, finish your certification with an in-person Conclusion Course on a date and time that's convenient for you.
The Hunter-Ed course:
- Can be completed anywhere you can connect to the internet using a phone, computer, or tablet.
- Is available in English and Spanish.
- Can be completed in about 3 hours.
- Is approved by the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA) and CPW.
- Provides free access to the course study guide to help you pass the quizzes while learning the material.
- Include illustrations, videos, games, and animations to help you learn the required material. Score at least 80% on the final exam to pass.
- Allow you to work at your own pace and start and stop as needed (saving your work as you go).
Additionally, our hunter safety course gives you free access to Hunter Perks!
Step 2: Get Your Hunter Education Certificate
After completing the course through Hunter-Ed, passing the final exam, and attending the in-person Conclusion Class, you've met the hunter education requirements for Colorado!
Within 2–3 weeks, you'll receive your hunter education card in the mail from the CPW.
Your Hunter Education Card is Proof of Your Certification
Your hunter safety card is a crucial document. Always carry it when you hunt (along with your license to hunt in Colorado). Be prepared to show it to wildlife officials if they ask for it during a hunt.
If you lose your card, visit the ilostmycard website to get a replacement card before hunting season begins.
Step 3: Where to Get Your Colorado Hunting License in 2026
Your Colorado hunter safety course is now behind you. You're ready to get your hunting license and hunt!
Remember: you'll need a new hunting license every year, unless you have a lifetime license.
Buy a Colorado Hunting License Online
The easiest way to get your license is to buy it online. This can be especially convenient if you don't live close to a license agent location, or you plan to hunt in Colorado as a resident of another state.
Buy In Person from a License Agent
If you prefer to pick up a license in person, the State of Colorado has plenty of approved license agent locations that offer hunting licenses. These locations include many hardware stores, Army/Navy stores, sporting goods stores, Wal-Marts, and other locations.
Why Hunter Education Is Important
Before you buy a license or step into the field, hunter education makes sure you’re truly ready. Whether you’re just getting started or have seasons of experience behind you, the course sharpens what you know and reinforces the habits that matter when it counts.
Hunter education focuses on the essentials every hunter relies on: safe firearm handling, sound judgment, and responsible decisions in real-world situations. The training is practical, experience-based, and centered on one goal: keeping you, your partners, and everyone around you safe.
A successful hunt is one where everyone makes it home safely!
You’ll also build skills you’ll use beyond the trigger pull, from navigation and basic first aid to handling the unexpected when conditions change. Just as important, the course emphasizes respect for landowners, fellow hunters, and the wildlife we pursue.
At its heart, hunter education is about responsibility and ethics. It helps safeguard our natural resources and ensures the hunting tradition stays strong, respected, and passed on to the next generation.
Why are a State-Specific Hunter Education Courses Important?
Most states honor a thing called hunter education "reciprocity," which means a valid hunter education card from another state is often accepted. That’s a real advantage if you’ve already completed a course and plan to hunt outside your home state.
Hunter education courses aren’t interchangeable when it comes to state laws. A course taken in Texas, for example, won’t cover Colorado's seasons, rules, or safety requirements. And those details matter once you’re in the field.
Before relying on an out-of-state course, consider completing the Colorado hunter education course. It’s a worthwhile step that helps ensure you’re hunting legally, safely, and with confidence when it counts.
Hunters! You get more with Hunter-Ed.
You'll not only benefit from a learn-at-your-pace online course that covers everything you need to know to hunt safely (while meeting the CPW's requirements). Plus, you also get access to Hunter Perks.
Hunter Perks is an exclusive offering from Hunter-Ed, and it's completely free for students!
As soon as you purchase your course, you gain access to:
- Curated Blog and Video Content to help you keep learning and exploring how to be a better hunter.
- Ongoing Education Opportunities offered at a discount to help you learn about things like archery and saddle hunting.
- Digital Hunting Tools. Hunter-proven resources at a discount (like app subscriptions) to help you hunt more successfully.
- Links to Hunting Regulations to learn about the hunting regulations for Colorado each year.
Your Hunter Perks also include contests to win free stuff and discounts on gear, so you have everything you need for great hunts (while saving money).
Get Hunter Safety Certified in Colorado with Hunter-Ed
Don't wait for the hunting season to get here before you take the course for your Colorado hunter education card. You won't be able to hunt without it!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
We have answers to your questions about the Colorado hunter education certification!
Q: Do I need a hunter education course to hunt in Colorado?
Yes, you need hunter education in Colorado to hunt legally if you were born after January 1, 1949.
Q: Can you take the Colorado Hunter Safety course online?
Yes, you can take the Colorado hunter safety courses online as part of the state's requirements. You'll need to attend a Conclusion class (in person) to complete your certification. Hunter-Ed is the only approved online course!
Q: How Soon Should I Sign Up for a Hunter Education Course?
Sign up for your hunter education course to complete it with at least a few weeks to spare before your hunting season begins.
Q: Do I Need a Certification for Every Season?
No, you don't need to recertify for hunter safety every season. Your Colorado hunter education course covers the only certification you'll need to hunt in the state after completing the course and passing the final exam. Your certification is valid for life!
Q: How Much Does it Cost to Get My Hunter Education Certification?
When taking the hunter safety course through Hunter-Ed, the course fee is $34.95. These costs include the course and study guide, unlimited tries to pass the final exam, your hunter education card, and Hunter Perks.
Q: What happens if you hunt without hunter ed?
Hunting without the required Hunter Education certification can result in fines and other penalties. Your hunting license may also be invalid until you complete the course.
