Colorado Hunter Education Practice Test 2026: Practice test 2

1. Question 1 of 25

   You hunt alone and reach a fence. What is your first step, as shown in the diagram?

   • AUnload the firearm and open the action
   • BLean the loaded gun on a post
   • CPass the loaded gun through the wires first
   • DClimb over while holding the firearm
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Unload the firearm and open the action

   Always unload before crossing a fence or other obstacle.

2. Question 2 of 25

   Why should you field dress big game quickly?

   • ATo take better photos
   • BTo attract other deer
   • CBecause the law requires it within one minute
   • DTo cool the meat fast and prevent spoilage
   Show answer

   Answer: D. To cool the meat fast and prevent spoilage

   Body heat and bacteria spoil meat. Remove the organs and let it cool.

3. Question 3 of 25

   In the tree stand diagram, what is item 1?

   • AA single chest strap
   • BA full-body harness
   • CA loose rope
   • DA waist belt
   Show answer

   Answer: B. A full-body harness

   Always use a full-body harness in a tree stand.

4. Question 4 of 25

   Three hunters walk side by side, numbered 1, 2 and 3 from left to right. Where may hunter 1 shoot?

   • AStraight ahead and to the right
   • BBehind the line
   • COnly into the zone ahead and to the left
   • DAnywhere game appears, as long as it is safe
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Only into the zone ahead and to the left

   Each hunter has a zone of fire that does not overlap the others. Hunter 1 covers ahead and to the left.

5. Question 5 of 25

   Which feature helps identify a mule deer?

   • AA wide tail raised like a white flag when it runs away
   • BPalm-shaped antlers
   • CA narrow white tail with a black tip and large ears
   • DSmall, short ears
   Show answer

   Answer: C. A narrow white tail with a black tip and large ears

   White-tailed deer have a broad tail, brown on top and white underneath, that they often raise when running.

6. Question 6 of 25

   How should you help someone with mild hypothermia?

   • AGet them out of the wind and wet and put dry layers on them
   • BHave them sit in the wind
   • CGive them alcohol to warm them up
   • DRub their arms and legs hard to get the blood moving again
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Get them out of the wind and wet and put dry layers on them

   Warm them gently, never give alcohol, and get medical help for serious cases.

7. Question 7 of 25

   You are lost in cold, wet weather as night falls. What is usually your first priority?

   • AWalking out in the dark
   • BShelter to stay warm and dry
   • CClimbing a tall tree
   • DFinding food to keep up your energy
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Shelter to stay warm and dry

   You can survive days without food but only hours without protection from cold and wet.

8. Question 8 of 25

   Which of these is a limiting factor for a deer herd?

   • AA hard winter with little food
   • BA highway sign
   • CA full moon in the fall
   • DA new hunting license design
   Show answer

   Answer: A. A hard winter with little food

   Disease, predators, weather and food supply limit how much a population can grow.

9. Question 9 of 25

   You hit an animal but it runs off. What is your responsibility?

   • AMake every reasonable effort to find it and finish it quickly
   • BAssume it will recover, since most wounded animals heal on their own
   • CShoot another one instead
   • DLook for a few minutes, then give up
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Make every reasonable effort to find it and finish it quickly

   Following up on every hit is a basic part of ethical hunting.

10. Question 10 of 25

    On a hot early-season hunt, a partner is sweating heavily, dizzy and weak. What should you do?

    • AMake them keep walking
    • BMove them to shade, cool them, and have them rest and sip water
    • CCover them with a heavy coat
    • DGive them an energy drink and leave them to rest alone in the sun
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Move them to shade, cool them, and have them rest and sip water

    These are signs of heat exhaustion. If the person becomes confused or stops sweating, call 911.

11. Question 11 of 25

    What should you do before you climb a steep bank, jump a ditch or get into a boat?

    • APut the safety on and keep it loaded
    • BUnload your firearm
    • CHold the barrel for balance
    • DPut your finger on the trigger
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Unload your firearm

    Unload whenever there is a chance you could slip or fall.

12. Question 12 of 25

    Which law, passed in 1918, protects migratory birds in the United States?

    • AThe Endangered Species Act
    • BThe Migratory Bird Treaty Act
    • CThe Lacey Act
    • DThe Pittman-Robertson Act
    Show answer

    Answer: B. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act

    It put into effect a 1916 treaty with Great Britain, acting for Canada.

13. Question 13 of 25

    How should you carry a harvested wild turkey out of the woods?

    • AOver your shoulder in full view
    • BWrapped in blaze orange so it is not mistaken for a live bird
    • CHeld up high so other hunters can clearly see its beard and fan
    • DHidden in camouflage
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Wrapped in blaze orange so it is not mistaken for a live bird

    Covering the bird keeps other hunters from seeing turkey colors moving through the woods.

14. Question 14 of 25

    Which species is a well-known conservation success story, restored with help from hunter-funded programs?

    • ACarolina parakeet
    • BGreat auk
    • CPassenger pigeon
    • DWild turkey
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Wild turkey

    Wild turkeys were restored to most of their former range through trapping, moving birds and habitat work.

15. Question 15 of 25

    Almost all hunting incidents involve what?

    • AAn attack by a wounded animal
    • BA broken firearm that fires on its own without anyone touching the trigger
    • CBreaking one or more of the basic TAB-K safety rules
    • DBad weather and poor visibility
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Breaking one or more of the basic TAB-K safety rules

    Wisconsin DNR notes that virtually all hunting incidents involve a violation of at least one TAB-K rule.

16. Question 16 of 25

    Why should a bowhunter usually wait before tracking a hit animal?

    • AArrows only work after about an hour
    • BAn animal that is pushed may run far and leave less blood
    • CIt is required by federal law for all bowhunters in every state
    • DTo let other hunters go first
    Show answer

    Answer: B. An animal that is pushed may run far and leave less blood

    Giving the animal time to lie down makes recovery more likely.

17. Question 17 of 25

    What is carrying capacity?

    • AThe amount of gear in a truck
    • BThe weight a hunter can safely carry out of the woods
    • CThe number of hunters allowed
    • DThe number of animals a habitat can support over time
    Show answer

    Answer: D. The number of animals a habitat can support over time

    When animals exceed carrying capacity, habitat is damaged and animals suffer.

18. Question 18 of 25

    When should you NOT use the shoulder carry, which points the muzzle up and behind you?

    • AWhen someone is beside you
    • BWhen you are at the back of the group
    • CWhen walking alone
    • DWhen someone is walking behind you
    Show answer

    Answer: D. When someone is walking behind you

    Choose a carry that keeps the muzzle away from everyone around you.

19. Question 19 of 25

    How should the tree strap and tether be set?

    • AAt knee height
    • BTied to the platform
    • CAbove head height with little slack
    • DLoose, so you can lean out to shoot
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Above head height with little slack

    A short tether above your head keeps any fall short so you can get back on the stand.

20. Question 20 of 25

    Who is often called the father of wildlife management?

    • ADaniel Boone
    • BJohn James Audubon
    • CTheodore Roosevelt
    • DAldo Leopold
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Aldo Leopold

    Leopold wrote the textbook Game Management in 1933.

21. Question 21 of 25

    Why is "sky busting" (shooting at ducks or geese that are too far away) a bad practice?

    • AIt wounds birds that fly off and are never recovered
    • BIt uses too little ammunition
    • CIt is the best way to hunt geese, so it is not a bad practice
    • DIt is only bad on windy days
    Show answer

    Answer: A. It wounds birds that fly off and are never recovered

    Shoot only at birds within your effective range so you can kill cleanly and retrieve them.

22. Question 22 of 25

    In the diagram, why is shot 1 safe and shot 2 unsafe?

    • AShot 2 is safe because the house is far
    • BShot 1 is closer
    • CShot 1 ends in an earth bank; shot 2 is against open sky, with a house hidden beyond the ridge
    • DBoth are safe, because the hunter is kneeling and aiming very carefully at the deer
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Shot 1 ends in an earth bank; shot 2 is against open sky, with a house hidden beyond the ridge

    A safe shot has a backstop. Never shoot at an animal on a ridge or skyline.

23. Question 23 of 25

    Look at the diagram. Which hunter is easiest for other hunters to see?

    • ABoth are equally easy to see
    • BThe hunter in the blaze-orange hat and vest (1 and 2)
    • CNeither can be seen
    • DHunter 3, because camouflage stands out well against trees
    Show answer

    Answer: B. The hunter in the blaze-orange hat and vest (1 and 2)

    Blaze orange stands out against woods and fields, so other hunters can see you.

24. Question 24 of 25

    What did the Lacey Act of 1900 do?

    • AIt banned all hunting of deer in the United States for ten years to let herds recover
    • BIt started the duck stamp
    • CIt made it a federal crime to move illegally taken wildlife across state lines
    • DIt created the first national park
    Show answer

    Answer: C. It made it a federal crime to move illegally taken wildlife across state lines

    The Lacey Act was the first federal law protecting wildlife and helped end illegal market hunting.

25. Question 25 of 25

    After unloading, how should a lone hunter get a firearm across a fence?

    • ALean it against the fence with the safety on, then climb over right beside it
    • BLay it on the far side, muzzle pointing away, and cross away from the muzzle
    • CThrow it over
    • DHold it overhead as you climb
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Lay it on the far side, muzzle pointing away, and cross away from the muzzle

    The firearm lies on the far side pointing away, so you are never in front of the muzzle while crossing.

Keyboard: 1–4 to answer, Enter for the next question.

The real test: Test-out exam (hunters 50+ and qualifying military): 90% or better