Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search & Rescue Card

The Craig Chamber of Commerce is now a vendor of the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search and Rescue (CORSAR) card. Outdoor recreationists can pay $3 for a one-year card or $12 for a five-year card. Proceeds from CORSAR card sales reimburse county sheriffs for costs incurred by backcountry search and rescue missions.

Costs reimbursed to county sheriffs include costs for equipment, aircraft, dogs, snowmobiles and so on. It should be noted that the search and rescue fund is not insurance and will not pay money to individual victims or pay for medical expenses.

Since its inception 15 years ago, the Colorado Search and Rescue Fund has reimbursed over one million dollars to counties in the state for search and rescue mission costs. Additionally, the fund has provided over four million dollars for training and equipment.

Funding for search and rescue in Colorado comes from a 25 cent fee attached to the purchase of hunting and fishing licenses, stand-alone habitat stamps, snowmobile/OHV/boat registrations, as well as sales of CORSAR cards.

Although most of the fund revenue comes from the 25 cent fee, most of the search and rescue costs come from missions related to outdoor activities other than hunting and fishing, OHV use, etc. The CORSAR card offers an opportunity for other outdoor enthusiasts such as hikers, cross country skiers, and horseback riders, to participate in the Colorado Search and Rescue fund and help defray the costs of search and rescue missions.