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Habitat stamp no longer required to enter state wildlife areas

Drew Munro
Sky-Hi Daily News
Grand County, Colorado

Users of state wildlife areas such as Hot Sulphur Springs or Radium no longer have to purchase Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) habitat stamps to enter the areas.

“The federal government looked at it and determined that the access charge was not appropriate,” said DOW spokesman Randy Hampton.

The wildlife areas are funded in part through federal excise taxes on hunting and fishing gear, so “we couldn’t technically charge an access fee,” he said.



New legislation ushering in the change has already taken effect.

Hunters and anglers still must purchase habitat stamps with the first two licenses they acquire each year. Those buying licenses pay $5 (a maximum of $10 per year) for the required stamp(s).



People who don’t hunt or fish can support wildlife by purchasing the annual habitat stamp for $10.25. A lifetime stamp is $200.25

The stand-alone annual habitat stamp ($10.25) includes the purchaser’s contribution to the Colorado search and rescue fund. The fund reimburses expenses incurred by local governments and teams during search and rescue missions. So, stamp holders who get lost won’t receive a bill for any search and rescue that may be necessary.

Proceeds from the stamps are used to protect wildlife habitat throughout Colorado.


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