Colorado Requires You to Report a Moose Collision, and Keeping the Meat Takes a CPW Permit
November 1, 2026
Colorado law treats a moose collision as a reportable wildlife-vehicle crash, and the moose does not become yours because you hit it. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) states that drivers involved in a wildlife-vehicle collision must report the accident to the Colorado State Patrol. A moose is also a big game animal, so taking any part of it requires CPW authorization.
This article explains the rules that apply to moose collision laws in Colorado: who you call, who pays, who owns the animal, and what happens if the moose survives. It also covers the narrow situations where a collision becomes a wildlife crime. The rules below are general information and not legal advice for your specific crash.
Moose Collision Laws in Colorado: Quick Overview
Colorado has no separate “moose collision statute.” A crash with a moose falls under the same rules that apply to any wildlife-vehicle collision, plus the state’s big game salvage and possession rules.
| Question | Short Answer |
|---|---|
| Must you report the crash? | Yes. CPW says drivers must report wildlife-vehicle collisions to Colorado State Patrol. |
| Who is at fault? | Usually no one. An accidental collision with a wild moose is not a crime. |
| Does insurance pay? | Only if you carry comprehensive coverage. |
| Can you keep the meat? | Only with a free permit from CPW. |
| Can you sue the state? | Colorado does not generally compensate drivers for wildlife crashes. |
| Is hitting a moose on purpose illegal? | Yes. CPW has described it as tantamount to poaching. |
Colorado also passed Senate Bill 141, the Wildlife Collision Prevention Program. As of the CDOT release, an optional $5 fee will be charged at vehicle registration beginning January 1, 2027, to fund wildlife crossings. It does not change your duties after a crash.
Do You Have to Report a Moose Collision in Colorado?
Yes. CPW’s Living with Wildlife page says drivers involved in a wildlife-vehicle collision must report the accident to the Colorado State Patrol. This applies even if the moose walks away and your vehicle looks fine.
Colorado’s general crash-reporting statute is C.R.S. 42-4-1606, which a regional news report on deer collisions cites as the basis for the driver’s duty. A crash that injures anyone, or that damages property above the statutory threshold, carries its own reporting obligations on top of the wildlife rule. Because a moose weighs several hundred pounds, most moose strikes cross those thresholds.
Key Insight: Reporting protects you in two ways. It satisfies the state’s reporting requirement, and it gives your insurer an official record that an animal caused the damage.
The reporting rules are similar to those for other large animals. If you want the deer version, see our deer collision liability laws in Colorado article.
Who to Call After Hitting a Moose in Colorado
Start with emergency services if anyone is hurt or the road is blocked. Colorado State Patrol has said that if you are involved in a crash with an animal, it wants you to call 9-1-1 as you would in any other emergency.
For a report with no emergency, use the numbers CPW publishes for the State Patrol:
- Dial *CSP (*277) from a mobile phone.
- Call the State Patrol’s 24-hour headquarters at 303-239-4501.
- Call CPW’s Denver headquarters at 303-297-1192, or any local CPW office, if the animal is injured or you want to ask about salvage.
CPW lists these contacts on its wildlife on the roadways page. A witness who sees an injured animal can also use *277.
What to Do at the Scene After Hitting a Moose in Colorado
A moose is tall, heavy, and unpredictable, and a struck animal may still be dangerous. Follow these steps in order.
- Pull over where it is safe and turn on your hazard lights.
- Check every passenger for injuries and call 9-1-1 if anyone is hurt.
- Stay in the vehicle if the animal is alive or the vehicle is unsafe to leave.
- Do not approach the moose. CPW warns that a wounded animal may kick or bolt.
- Report the crash to State Patrol and ask for an incident number.
- Photograph the vehicle, the road, and the animal’s position, and get witness contact details.
- Contact your insurer to open a claim.
Local guidance from La Plata County gives the same advice: stay in your car if the animal is alive or you are injured, and wait for help.
Pro Tip: Save the responding officer’s name and case number. Your insurer will ask for it, and it is the simplest proof that the crash involved wildlife.
Who Is at Fault When You Hit a Moose in Colorado?
In most cases, nobody is legally at fault. A wild moose has no owner, so there is no one to bring a negligence claim against. Colorado’s comparative negligence rules matter mainly when livestock is involved, which is a different situation from a wild moose.
The one exception on the driver’s side is conduct. If speeding, distracted driving, or another traffic violation contributed to the crash, a law enforcement officer can still cite you for that violation. The moose does not excuse it.
If the moose was a pen-raised or privately owned animal, ownership and liability change. That is unusual in Colorado, where moose are wild game. For domestic animals on the road, see our open range laws in Colorado article.
Does Insurance Cover Hitting a Moose in Colorado?
Only comprehensive coverage pays for animal strikes. La Plata County’s wildlife guidance says optional comprehensive coverage will cover damage from a collision with an animal. Liability-only policies do not cover damage to your own vehicle.
Collision coverage can come into play if you swerve and hit a guardrail or another vehicle, depending on how your policy defines the loss. Ask your insurer how it classifies a swerve-and-crash claim before you file.
Repair costs can be significant. The Colorado State Patrol says the average property damage in an animal-involved crash is over $3,000, as reported by The Gazette in 2025. A moose strike often costs more because of the animal’s height and weight, which tends to push the impact into the windshield and roof.
Can You Sue the State for Moose Collision Damage in Colorado?
As a practical matter, no. Wild animals belong to the state in a regulatory sense, but that does not make the state financially responsible for crashes they cause. Colorado’s compensation program for wildlife damage is aimed at landowners, not drivers.
CPW’s Game Damage Program reimburses ranchers, farmers, and landowners for damage caused by wildlife, including moose. It does not pay motorists for vehicle damage or injuries.
If you believe a road defect or missing signage contributed to the crash, that is a separate claim against a public entity, and Colorado has strict notice rules for those claims. Speak with a Colorado attorney quickly if that applies to you.
Who Owns the Moose After a Collision in Colorado?
The state does. A moose killed on the road remains wildlife managed by CPW, and the driver gains no ownership by causing the death. When CPW receives a report of a dead big game animal, a local wildlife officer investigates to determine the potential cause of death, according to CPW’s spokesperson in a Summit Daily report.
That investigation is why prompt reporting matters. An unreported dead moose in your possession looks the same as an illegally killed one.
Can You Keep the Meat From a Moose You Hit in Colorado?
Yes, but only with permission from CPW. Large game such as deer, elk, moose, and antelope require a free salvage permit before you take any part of the animal, as explained in our roadkill laws in Colorado guide. La Plata County’s guidance directs drivers to contact CPW to obtain a permit to keep meat from a big game animal killed in a collision.
Here is how the process works in practice:
- Call CPW and give the animal’s exact location and condition.
- Say that you want to take all or part of the carcass.
- Request the permit and follow the officer’s instructions.
Report within a reasonable time. Regional reporting on CPW’s guidance says the call should be made within a reasonable amount of time to avoid problems with game meat. Failing to get a permit can lead to a charge of illegal possession of wildlife.
Important Note: Antlers are not part of a salvage permit. They stay with the state, as noted in our Colorado deer collision guide.
Safety also matters for the meat itself. CPW has confirmed chronic wasting disease in parts of the state, and a moose killed in a CWD-positive area may carry restrictions on movement and use, as CBS Colorado reported in a Summit County case. Ask the officer about any testing or handling instructions when you request the permit.
Who Gets the Moose Meat If You Can’t Keep It in Colorado?
If you decline the permit, or CPW cannot issue one, the carcass is handled by the state. In one Frisco case, CPW officers euthanized an injured moose and, according to a Summit Daily report, parks and wildlife donated its meat.
CDOT generally handles carcass disposal on state highways, with State Patrol often first on scene. Sometimes a carcass cannot be removed safely. CPW left a moose in a steep ditch near Silverthorne because officers determined it unsafe to remove.
You are not required to call CPW about the animal if you do not want the carcass, though you still must report the crash itself. See our roadkill page for how the two obligations differ.
What Happens If the Moose Is Still Alive in Colorado?
Do not approach it and do not try to end its suffering yourself. A moose that survives an impact can be badly hurt and still strong enough to injure you. Report its location to State Patrol or CPW and wait for officers.
CPW officers decide what happens next. In the Frisco case above, officers first allowed the injured moose time to recover, then euthanized it when its condition had not improved. In another Summit County case, CPW euthanized two orphaned calves because the area was confirmed for chronic wasting disease and the calves could not be moved to a rehabilitation center.
Moving a live moose, or finishing it yourself, can expose you to wildlife violations. Leave that decision to CPW.
Is It Illegal to Hit a Moose on Purpose or Leave the Scene in Colorado?
Yes to both, in different ways. CPW has said that striking an animal on purpose is tantamount to poaching, while an accidental strike is not a crime. Deliberately running down a moose to take its meat can be charged as illegal taking of big game.
Leaving the scene is a reporting violation. Because Colorado requires wildlife-vehicle collisions to be reported, driving away without reporting, particularly after an injury or significant damage, can create exposure under the state’s crash-reporting rules.
CPW also warns that approaching or chasing a moose is dangerous and considered illegal harassment of wildlife, so do not try to move a live animal off the road yourself.
When and Where Moose Collisions Happen in Colorado
Moose collisions cluster in the high country and in fall and winter. CPW’s Joey Livingston has said fall and winter bring an increase in vehicle collisions. Snowstorms push big game from high elevations to lower ground, which puts moose closer to roads.
Statewide numbers show how often wildlife strikes occur. CPW reports an average of about 3,300 wildlife hits a year to CDOT, and a 2025 wildlife-vehicle collision report cited by KKTV counted more than 7,700 animals killed on roads in 2025. Deer were the most common, and October, November, and December ranked among the highest months.
Known trouble spots include Highway 9 north of Silverthorne and Interstate 70 near Frisco, where moose have been struck repeatedly. A fatal crash involving a moose on C-470 in the Denver area shows the risk is not limited to mountain towns.
Pro Tip: Slow down at dusk, dawn, and overnight in moose country, and treat one moose sighting as a sign of more nearby. Young animals often follow a cow.
Moose Collision Laws in Colorado: Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to call the police after hitting a moose in Colorado?
Yes. CPW says drivers involved in a wildlife-vehicle collision must report the accident to Colorado State Patrol, by calling *CSP (*277) or 303-239-4501.
Can I take the moose home?
Not without a free permit from CPW. Contact CPW with the location and ask for the permit.
Will my insurance go up?
That depends on your insurer and policy. Animal strikes are usually handled under comprehensive coverage, so ask how your company treats the claim.
Can I be charged if I hit a moose by accident?
No. CPW says an accidental strike is not a crime. You can still be cited for an unrelated traffic violation, such as speeding.
What if the moose runs off?
Report the crash anyway. The duty to report does not depend on whether the animal stays at the scene.
Does the new $5 registration fee affect me?
The optional fee under Senate Bill 141 begins January 1, 2027, per CDOT, and funds wildlife crossings. It has no effect on reporting, insurance, or salvage rules.
For related Colorado wildlife rules, see nuisance wildlife laws in Colorado.