Permanent Fish House Licensing

[Keith_MN]

This question came up on my way to URL last weekend and I'm hoping someone knows the answer.

If I have a permanent type fishhouse on wheels that I pull behind my vehicle, does the fish house have to have a "trailer" license from the DMV in addition to a "fish house" license from the DNR?

I say it does because when pulling it down the road you are using it as a trailer. For example, a lot of these permanent style fish houses on wheels are designed to open up in the rear so you can haul your 4-wheeler, etc. in it.

My fishing partner says "No". He believes that only the "fish house" license is required because it is a fish house on wheels.

What does everyone else do? Do you have two licenses or one?

[Ryan_V]

As far as I know, you only need a fish house license when on the lake, I don't believe you need trailer registration also. I have a CO friend, I'll check and if it's different, I'll reply again.

[rmh2o]

I dont have the regs in front of me but I believe it only has to be licensed by the DMV if it is used for purposes other than ice fishing like pulling it around in the summer for a camper or for hunting.

[fishingguy]

rmh2o is correct. I went to a lic. office yesterday and check for my perm. house. I asked several questions and this is what they told me. As long as your using and transporting as a fish house, it needs only a fish house lic. But, if your using it to transport, say, goose decoys, or are going to set it up for a hunting shack, or hauling a 4 wheeler to be used other than for ice fishing, it needs a trailer lic. "In other words, Going directly or near directly to or from a lake intending to fish." This is not an exact quote, but real close.

[Keith_MN]

Thanks for the reply guys.

Sounds like there is more than enough 'gray' area here.

If it was my fish house (which the one in question was not) I would pay the one-time licencing fee with the DMV and be done with it.

Thanks again.

[Ryan_V]

I did some checking and if your permanent is just basically a fish house, you do not have to register it as a trailer. even if you are able to haul a 4 wheeler in it, it's main purpose is still that of a fish house. if you use it for a camper in the summer, then maybe, but if you just use if for a fish house, you don't need to register it with DMV.