Pretty frustrating. I've built, at least, a dozen rockets and I've just spent hundreds of dollars on shop equipment and I'm still not sure if there is much of a future for model rockets around here.
It is frustrating, but the Colorado fire bans have gone up at some point ever year since I've become BAR.
SCORE is launching today as someone else posted above.
I bet most rocketeers have a COVID fleet they have built this year. I have at least six in my COVID fleet as of today. I'm picking the next one to build now...
Spring is the most opportune time to fly with Northern Colorado Rocketry (NCR) at their north site (Pawnee National Grasslands). I highly encourage you to
only fly at Pawnee with NCR. I understand the forest service (which manages Pawnee) does not authorize rocket activities outside of NCR scheduled launch events. Please don't jeopardize the best rocket launch site in the area.
SCORE (Pueblo) has concrete and gravel in the launch area which enable them to fly when others cannot. They can get shut down too, which did happen in September and October when they had to cancel launches due to the fire risk. I believe SCORE was the only club in July/August flying this past year. With safety measures for COVID.
It is normal here in Colorado for rocket activities to slow down with the fire risk. There is a future for the hobby in Colorado as long as nobody does what you suggest in your first post:
I might try launching some rockets and see if I get arrested.
Maybe you won't get arrested, maybe you'll just have to pay the cost of fighting the fire. And face the ire of your fellow hobbyists who have fewer places to launch, maybe permanently.
Check your county sheriff's or local fire department's website for fire restrictions. My local fire department (El Paso county, CO) has a website that shows the county is under Level 1 restrictions. Which means model rockets are allowed.
Fly with your local club. Fly low power where it is safe and when allowed.