Big Thompson Ponds SWA: hunting rules and access

Big Thompson Ponds SWA is 51 acres of State Wildlife Area in Larimer County, Colorado, in game management unit 20. CPW lists dove, rabbit and waterfowl for it, and its rules for the property run to 10 lines: 4 on its page for the property and 6 in its regulations.

A State Wildlife Area has its own rules on top of the statewide season rules. How the kinds of public land differ.

What CPW lists for hunting here

Dove, Rabbit, Waterfowl.

Fishing, as CPW lists it: Fishing Opportunities, Warm Water.

A species on this list is one CPW names for the property. It still needs an open season, the right license for the unit, and nothing in the restrictions below against it on your dates.

Who may enter

A valid hunting or fishing license OR SWA pass is required for everyone 16 or older accessing this state wildlife area.

Restrictions on CPW's page for this property

• A. Open for public access 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset; no time restrictions for fishing or with nighthunting permit.
• B. Vessel use prohibited except for handlaunched, hand-propelled vessels used as an aid for fishing or hunting.
• C. Discharge of firearms or bows is prohibited, except while hunting or bowfishing.
• D. Horse use, bicycles, dog training and field trials prohibited.

In CPW's regulations

• a. Public access is prohibited from one (1) hour after sunset to one (1) hour before sunrise daily, except while fishing or when authorized by a night hunting permit.
• b. Vessel use is prohibited, except for hand-launched vessels that are propelled by hand when used as an aid for fishing or hunting.
• c. Discharge of firearms or bows is prohibited, except while hunting or bowfishing.
• d. Horse use is prohibited.
• e. Bicycles are prohibited.
• f. Dog training and field trials are prohibited.

From CPW regulations, chapter W-9 (Wildlife Properties), 2 CCR 406-9, dated July 16, 2026.

Read it at the source before you go

The rules above are CPW's words, copied from CPW's page for Big Thompson Ponds SWA as it read on October 8, 2026 and from the regulations for CPW properties. CPW can change them or close the property at any time, signs on the ground count, and a rule that names a season moves with that season each year.

Unit 20, around Big Thompson Ponds SWA

• Elk in unit 20, 2024: 875 hunters in all seasons took 355 elk, 41% success (2023: 49% from 822 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 721 hunters, 42%. Unit 20 elk by season
• Deer in unit 20, 2024: 1,994 hunters in all seasons took 811 deer, 41% success (2023: 41% from 1,895 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 1,681 hunters, 44%. Unit 20 deer by season
• Unit 20: 1,206 square miles in Larimer, Boulder and Weld Counties, 24.1% national forest and 0.1% BLM land, from 4,900 to 12,400 feet.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife survey estimates for the whole unit, private land included. They are not figures for this property, and whether elk or deer may be hunted here is in CPW's list above.

2026 elk and deer rifle hunt codes for unit 20

A code valid in the unit is not permission to hunt this property: the property's own list and restrictions decide that. Legal light is half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset at the coordinates above, on the Colorado clock; the state's printed table is the rule. Archery, muzzleloader, late and private-land codes are on the unit pages: unit 20 elk, unit 20 deer.

Nearest CPW properties to Big Thompson Ponds SWA

Straight-line miles between the middles of the boundaries CPW maps, not road miles. A property can be much nearer at its edge.

More CPW properties in unit 20

Eagle Canyon STLTwin Sisters SWA

All 721 State Wildlife Areas and State Trust Lands