Colorado Hunter Education Practice Test 2026: Practice test 4

1. Question 1 of 25

   You fall into cold water. What should you do first?

   • ATake off your life jacket so you can swim faster to the shore
   • BSwim hard to shore right away
   • CKeep your head above water and get your breathing under control
   • DShout until you are tired
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Keep your head above water and get your breathing under control

   Cold shock causes gasping for about the first minute. Control your breathing, then act.

2. Question 2 of 25

   What does the Pittman-Robertson Act fund wildlife restoration with?

   • AAn excise tax on sporting arms and ammunition
   • BA tax on gasoline
   • CA tax on fishing boats only
   • DFines collected from poachers in every state
   Show answer

   Answer: A. An excise tax on sporting arms and ammunition

   The Act uses an 11 percent excise tax on sporting arms and ammunition.

3. Question 3 of 25

   You fall and snow gets into the muzzle. What should you do before shooting again?

   • AUnload and check that the barrel is clear
   • BFire a shot to clear it
   • CShake it and keep hunting
   • DBlow into the muzzle to push the snow out
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Unload and check that the barrel is clear

   A blocked barrel can burst when fired. Always check the bore after a fall.

4. Question 4 of 25

   What are the basic parts of wildlife habitat?

   • AFood, fences, roads and towns
   • BTrees, sun, rocks and snow
   • CWater, hunters, weather, predators and roads
   • DFood, water, shelter (cover) and space
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Food, water, shelter (cover) and space

   Animals need all four, arranged so they can reach them.

5. Question 5 of 25

   Why can deer hunters wear blaze orange?

   • ADeer see colors differently, so orange does not stand out to them as it does to us
   • BDeer are completely color-blind, so they cannot see any bright colors at all in daylight
   • CDeer are attracted to orange
   • DOrange is only worn after shooting
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Deer see colors differently, so orange does not stand out to them as it does to us

   Hunter orange is very visible to people. Movement and scent are more likely to alert deer.

6. Question 6 of 25

   Why is shooting from a road or vehicle a poor choice?

   • AIt gives the best backstop
   • BIt is the safest way to hunt
   • CIt is unsafe, unfair to the animal, and illegal in many states
   • DIt is required on public land so hunters do not damage the habitat
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   Answer: C. It is unsafe, unfair to the animal, and illegal in many states

   Roads are used by people, and shooting from them often breaks fair chase and the law.

7. Question 7 of 25

   In the TAB-K rules, what does the "B" stand for?

   • ABlend in with camouflage from head to toe
   • BBe certain of your target and what is in front of and beyond it
   • CBring extra ammunition on every trip
   • DBuy a new license before each trip into the field, even if your old one is valid
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Be certain of your target and what is in front of and beyond it

   You are responsible for every shot, including where it goes if it misses or passes through.

8. Question 8 of 25

   Which of these is a safe rule about alcohol and drugs?

   • ADo not use them before or during hunting or shooting
   • BThey are fine if you hunt with a bow
   • CA little is fine for experienced hunters who know their limits
   • DThey are fine in a tree stand
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Do not use them before or during hunting or shooting

   Alcohol and drugs slow reactions and hurt judgment.

9. Question 9 of 25

   In the TAB-K rules, what does the "K" stand for?

   • AKeep your finger outside the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot
   • BKneel before every shot
   • CKnow the season dates
   • DKeep the gun loaded in the truck so you are ready the moment you see game
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot

   Resting a finger on the trigger while walking can cause an unintended shot.

10. Question 10 of 25

    Where should you aim for a quick, clean kill on big game?

    • AThe hindquarters
    • BThe neck
    • CThe heart-lung area
    • DThe head
    Show answer

    Answer: C. The heart-lung area

    The vital area is the largest target that kills quickly and wastes the least meat.

11. Question 11 of 25

    Which animal has broad, flat (palmated) antlers?

    • AElk
    • BWhite-tailed deer
    • CPronghorn
    • DMoose
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Moose

    Bull moose have large, palm-shaped antlers.

12. Question 12 of 25

    What is the purpose of the lifeline (item 3) in the diagram?

    • ATo mark the tree so that other hunters know the stand is already taken
    • BTo keep you connected to the tree while you climb up and down
    • CTo pull up your gear
    • DTo tie your stand to the ground
    Show answer

    Answer: B. To keep you connected to the tree while you climb up and down

    Use a lifeline from the time you leave the ground until you are back down.

13. Question 13 of 25

    How can hunters help slow chronic wasting disease (CWD)?

    • AMove whole carcasses across the state to share the meat with family
    • BFeed deer in groups during the winter
    • CIgnore sick deer
    • DFollow carcass movement rules and have deer tested when asked
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Follow carcass movement rules and have deer tested when asked

    CWD is a fatal disease of deer, elk and moose.

14. Question 14 of 25

    When turkey hunting, what kind of spot should you sit against?

    • AOpen ground with nothing behind you, so you can see all around
    • BA small sapling
    • CThe edge of a road
    • DA tree or stump wider than your shoulders
    Show answer

    Answer: D. A tree or stump wider than your shoulders

    A wide backstop helps protect you from a hunter shooting from behind and hides your outline.

15. Question 15 of 25

    In the TAB-K rules, what does the "A" stand for?

    • AAim only at moving targets
    • BAlways carry your license and your tags with you
    • CAvoid hunting alone in the woods
    • DAlways point the muzzle in a safe direction
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Always point the muzzle in a safe direction

    Muzzle control is the most important habit. If a gun fires by accident, nobody gets hurt.

16. Question 16 of 25

    Why should you avoid long-range or running shots at big game?

    • AThey are always illegal
    • BThey are more likely to wound the animal than kill it quickly
    • CThey damage your gun
    • DThey are only a problem for bowhunters, not for hunters with rifles
    Show answer

    Answer: B. They are more likely to wound the animal than kill it quickly

    Take only shots you are confident will hit the vital area.

17. Question 17 of 25

    A hunting partner hands you a shotgun and says it is unloaded. What should you do?

    • ALook into the muzzle to check the barrel
    • BPoint it in a safe direction and check the chamber and magazine yourself
    • CPull the trigger once to be sure
    • DTrust your partner and close the action right away so dirt cannot get inside
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Point it in a safe direction and check the chamber and magazine yourself

    Never take anyone's word that a gun is unloaded. Check it yourself with the muzzle pointed safely.

18. Question 18 of 25

    You pull the trigger and nothing happens. What should you do first?

    • ATurn to show your partner
    • BOpen the action right away and look inside the chamber to see what went wrong
    • CLook down the barrel
    • DKeep the muzzle in a safe direction and wait before opening the action
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Keep the muzzle in a safe direction and wait before opening the action

    A cartridge may fire late (a hang fire). Wait with the muzzle pointed safely, then unload carefully.

19. Question 19 of 25

    What is a common distress signal?

    • AThree of anything, such as three whistle blasts or three fires
    • BWaving a hat once
    • CTwo short flashes of light
    • DOne long shout
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Three of anything, such as three whistle blasts or three fires

    Signals in threes are recognized as a call for help.

20. Question 20 of 25

    A rabbit runs from hunter 2's zone into hunter 1's zone. What should hunter 2 do?

    • AStop and not shoot outside their own zone
    • BStep in front of hunter 1
    • CShout a warning to hunter 1 and then shoot quickly
    • DSwing with the rabbit and shoot
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Stop and not shoot outside their own zone

    Swinging the muzzle into a partner's zone is a common cause of hunting incidents.

21. Question 21 of 25

    Where should hunter orange be worn to be most effective?

    • AOn the front only, where other hunters usually see you
    • BOn the boots only
    • COn the head and upper body, visible from all sides
    • DOn a pack only, so it can be removed
    Show answer

    Answer: C. On the head and upper body, visible from all sides

    Laws such as Pennsylvania's require orange on the head, chest and back, visible from 360 degrees.

22. Question 22 of 25

    What is the safest way to store firearms at home?

    • AUnloaded and locked, with ammunition stored separately
    • BLoaded in a closet
    • CUnloaded on an open rack, with the ammunition on the shelf beside it
    • DLoaded under the bed for quick use
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Unloaded and locked, with ammunition stored separately

    Locked, unloaded storage keeps firearms away from children and unauthorized people.

23. Question 23 of 25

    Under the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, who owns wildlife?

    • AOnly hunters
    • BWildlife is held in public trust for all people
    • CThe landowner where the animal lives
    • DWhoever kills it
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Wildlife is held in public trust for all people

    Governments manage wildlife in trust for everyone.

24. Question 24 of 25

    In carry 2 of the diagram, a break-action shotgun is open over the forearm. Why is this a good choice when walking with others?

    • AIt keeps the shells warm and dry
    • BEveryone can see the gun is open and cannot fire
    • CIt is the only carry allowed by federal law when hunting in groups
    • DIt is the fastest way to shoot
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Everyone can see the gun is open and cannot fire

    The open action shows the gun is safe, and the muzzle points at the ground ahead.

25. Question 25 of 25

    Why should you never dry-fire a bow or crossbow?

    • AIt only affects the sight
    • BIt makes the bow quieter and much less accurate
    • CIt wastes arrows
    • DIt can damage the bow and injure the shooter
    Show answer

    Answer: D. It can damage the bow and injure the shooter

    Without an arrow to absorb the energy, the bow can break.

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

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