CO Maggs: Fishing License for BC Evac?

**Poop~Ghost** · 10-09-2007, 05:03 PM

http://wildlife.state.co.us/ShopDOW/AppsAndLicenses/

I've heard from a couple "backcountry enthusiasts" that if you pick up a colorado fishing license and then need a rescue/heli-flight - it's covered as part of the deal.

Anybody have info on this? Seems like urban legend - and the gov site didn't mention it specifically... but the dude who told me was 100% convinced it was legit.

**Tunco** · 10-09-2007, 05:08 PM

Read This.

**Dirk Diggler** · 10-09-2007, 09:27 PM

Its Legit. Buy any CO hunting/fishing license or snowmobile/boat/atv registration and you are covered.

**MakersTeleMark** · 10-10-2007, 11:58 AM

You don't even need to purchase a license if you want the benefits without the fish:

Purchase a CORSAR Card

The CORSAR cards are available for $3 for one year and $12 for five years, and can be purchased at over 300 retailers in the state.

Why Buy a CORSAR Card?

Colorado residents and visitors are well served by dedicated volunteer search and rescue teams, but mission costs are often in the thousands of dollars. By purchasing a CORSAR card you are contributing to the Search and Rescue Fund, which will reimburse these teams for costs incurred in your search and rescue. Funds remaining at the end of the year are used to help pay for training and equipment for these teams. Anyone with a current hunting/fishing license, or boat, snowmobile, ATV registration is already covered by the fund.

Buy One Now

You can purchase a card over the phone with a credit card by calling (970) 248-7310. More information is available at: Colorado Department of Local Affairs' Website.

**lemon boy** · 10-10-2007, 12:21 PM

And while that is all well and good (and duh, I always pay into the system):

Colorado SAR missions are generally NOT billed on to the rescuees.

In the end having a COSAR Card/License does pay for SAR costs in Colorado but you DO NOT NEED ONE TO BE RESCUED.

**Professor** · 10-10-2007, 12:35 PM

You mean CO rescues you if you need a rescue? In Utah if you dont have a card, they just leave you to die

**lemon boy** · 10-10-2007, 12:42 PM

That's pretty shitty for a state that calls itself the Beehive State...

**Professor** · 10-10-2007, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by lemon boy

That's pretty shitty for a state that calls itself the Beehive State...

But in a hive, dont the worker bees sometimes have to die so the queen can survive? Sounds like how our legislature looks at themselves

**pechelman** · 10-10-2007, 12:52 PM

beehive state huh?
have anything to do with mormons?

ie queen bee = guy
and
guy's 53 wives = worker bees?

**Professor** · 10-10-2007, 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by pechelman

beehive state huh?
have anything to do with mormons?

Sorry, but no. The Beehive is a symbol of industry. Also please note EVERYONE, Utah in order to become a state had to outlaw polygamy, otherwise they were not going to be allowed into the Union. Now on to a better question, with our stupid liquor laws, why isnt it called the "Beehave State"? I think it is more fitting

**pechelman** · 10-10-2007, 01:11 PM

....was being sarcastic and obviously not funny

**murph** · 10-10-2007, 01:12 PM

Do you have to have the hunting/fishing combo license? I only have the fishing one. I'll take it bc with me just to be safe.

**lemon boy** · 10-10-2007, 01:14 PM

no, the sar charge is on a normal fishing license as well.

**Poop~Ghost** · 10-10-2007, 02:06 PM

Originally Posted by lemon boy

And while that is all well and good (and duh, I always pay into the system):

Colorado SAR missions are generally NOT billed on to the rescuees.

In the end having a COSAR Card/License does pay for SAR costs in Colorado but you DO NOT NEED ONE TO BE RESCUED.

my reading comprehension skills are lacking here. You are saying that obviously they will still rescue you, but you may end up w/ a bill? If you were to get the bill - the COSAR Card would cover you?

**lemon boy** · 10-10-2007, 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by Poop*Ghost

my reading comprehension skills are lacking here. You are saying that obviously they will still rescue you, but you may end up w/ a bill? If you were to get the bill - the COSAR Card would cover you?

No, they will not bill you. Maybe they could if you were a total dbag about the whole thing… I've heard of people who actually attempt to "evade" rescuing because they don't want to end up stuck with a bill.

The COSAR fund reimburses SAR groups for eligible costs associated with SAR missions regardless of if the person being saved has paid into the fund. The fund is NOT rescue insurance, it's more like a rescue tax.

**adrenalated** · 10-10-2007, 02:33 PM

Originally Posted by Poop*Ghost

my reading comprehension skills are lacking here. You are saying that obviously they will still rescue you, but you may end up w/ a bill? If you were to get the bill - the COSAR Card would cover you?

This is a common misconception.

The CORSAR card is NOT rescue insurance. You can, theoretically, be billed for a rescue regardless of whether or not you have a card. The way it works is like this: you buy a card, the money goes to a fund. If you're rescued and have a card, the organization that rescued you can ask the fund to reimburse them for many of the expenses incurred (the fund lists some items as ineligible for a reimbursement; wages for full-time staff I believe is one). However, they are still allowed to charge you for the expenses not reimbursed by the fund.

Most rescue organizations do not ever charge the rescuees, thankfully. One notable exception is the Golden Fire Department, which has charged for rescues to non-Golden residents in Clear Creek Canyon. But in general, you won't get billed regardless of whether you have a card or not.

The only way I'm aware of to get actual rescue insurance (and totally ensure that you will not be billed for a rescue) is by becoming a member of the American Alpine Club. AAC membership includes insurance that covers you for any rescues anywhere in the world except on expeditions to elevations over 8000m.

Read this thread on Mountain Project.

**lemon boy** · 10-10-2007, 02:40 PM

^^right except the fund reimburses all rescues, not just those for fund contributors.

**lemon boy** · 10-10-2007, 02:50 PM

in case anyone was wondering: yes they do deliberately write it so it sounds sort of like if you want free rescue you better pay into the fund...a lot of contributions come in for just that reason.

**Professor** · 10-10-2007, 03:11 PM

Originally Posted by pechelman

....was being sarcastic and obviously not funny

"Bee"ing from Utah, I find it helpful to educate the uninformed

Not really, but most people dont know the "beehive/industry" thing and you never know when the issue might come up. It may make you a millionaire when the it is the answer in "Jeopardy", or it may just make you "Smarter than a third grader", obviously either way you are now WAY smarter than Jeff Foxworthy.

**MakersTeleMark** · 10-10-2007, 03:30 PM

http://dola.colorado.gov/dlg/fa/sar/index.html

**Rontele** · 10-10-2007, 04:08 PM

thanks for the heads up!

**adrenalated** · 10-10-2007, 05:35 PM

Originally Posted by lemon boy

^^right except the fund reimburses all rescues, not just those for fund contributors.

I stand corrected. Thanks, good to know.

**summit** · 10-10-2007, 08:16 PM

The card means that SAR will not bill you (unless it was something like a vehicle recovery or something illegal) and they can recoup their costs from the CO State fund. It is no guarantee that you will not receive a bill from the helicopter company (if you get in the helicopter, you will almost certainly be billed... if the helicopter was simply supporting SAR and you didn't get in, the card can often sheild you because SAR may be able to expense the helicopter support to the state fund).

**Rontele** · 10-11-2007, 09:05 AM

The feature that allows you to print out your card is good, but now I need to laminate it.

I presume you need to be carrying your card in order to be covered?

**Joey Joe Joe Junior Shabadoo** · 10-11-2007, 09:29 AM

Originally Posted by Rontele

The feature that allows you to print out your card is good, but now I need to laminate it.

I presume you need to be carrying your card in order to be covered?

As far as I know, you don't. We sell the cards here and they come in triplicate copies. One copy to you, one we keep in our files and one goes on file with CORSAR. So they have always told us people don't need to have their cards one them and that they are covered from the date of purchase. So if we mail it and you head out on your trip before it arrives you are still covered. But they might have changed this and we just haven't heard about it yet.