Bill Patterson SWA: hunting rules and access
Bill Patterson SWA is 4 acres of State Wildlife Area in Garfield County, Colorado, in game management unit 31. CPW lists waterfowl for it, and its rules for the property run to 8 lines: 4 on its page for the property and 4 in its regulations.
| Kind | State Wildlife Area |
|---|---|
| County | Garfield |
| Game management unit | 31 |
| Size | 4 acres |
| Coordinates | 39.3942, -108.1040 (middle of the boundary CPW maps) |
| Map | Open Bill Patterson SWA on the map |
| Acres inside the boundary CPW maps | 3, against 4 on CPW's page. Both are CPW's own figures, and they do not agree |
| Among CPW properties in unit 31 | 2nd largest of 2 by the acres on CPW's pages, under 1% of their 25,197 acres together |
| CPW's page read | October 8, 2026 |
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
Waterfowl.
Fishing, as CPW lists it: Fishing Opportunities, Coldwater Stream.
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. Waterfowl hunting allowed from designated blinds only.
- B. Hunting allowed with shotguns only.
- C. Discharge of firearms or bows is prohibited, except while hunting.
- D. Dogs must be under control and on leash by handler, except service animals or when actively hunting, training for hunting or during licensed field trials.
In CPW's regulations
- a. Waterfowl hunting is allowed from designated blinds only.
- b. Hunting is allowed with shotguns only.
- c. Discharge of firearms or bows is prohibited, except while hunting.
- d. Dogs are allowed but must be kept under control on a physical leash by the handler at all times except as authorized in #900(C)(15).
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 Bill Patterson 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 31, around Bill Patterson SWA
- Elk in unit 31, 2024: 1,597 hunters in all seasons took 453 elk, 28% success (2023: 24% from 1,566 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 1,228 hunters, 31%. Unit 31 elk by season
- Deer in unit 31, 2024: 467 hunters in all seasons took 253 deer, 54% success (2023: 53% from 495 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 323 hunters, 58%. Unit 31 deer by season
- Unit 31: 702 square miles in Mesa, Garfield and Rio Blanco Counties, 0% national forest and 56.2% BLM land, from 4,900 to 8,800 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 31
| Season | 2026 dates | Legal shooting light here, opening day | Elk codes | Deer codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st rifle | Oct 14 to Oct 18 | 6:51 AM to 7:05 PM | E-E-021-O1-R either-sex E-F-021-O1-R cow | |
| 2nd rifle | Oct 24 to Nov 1 | 7:02 AM to 6:51 PM | E-F-021-O2-R cow E-M-000-U2-R bull | D-M-031-O2-R buck |
| 3rd rifle | Nov 7 to Nov 15 | 6:17 AM to 5:34 PM | E-F-030-O3-R cow E-M-000-U3-R bull | D-M-031-O3-R buck |
| 4th rifle | Nov 18 to Nov 22 | 6:30 AM to 5:25 PM | E-E-021-O4-R either-sex E-F-030-O4-R cow | D-M-031-O4-R buck |
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 31 elk, unit 31 deer.
Nearest CPW properties to Bill Patterson SWA
| Property | Distance | Direction | Mapped acres | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parachute Ponds SWA | 4.6 miles | north-east | 27 | 32, 42 |
| Plateau Creek SWA | 11.1 miles | south | 1,371 | 421 |
| Jerry Creek Reservoir SWA | 13.6 miles | south | 871 | 421 |
| Mogensen Ponds SWA | 14.3 miles | south | 11 | 421 |
| West Rifle Creek SWA | 24.1 miles | north-east | 2,092 | 33 |
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 31
Piceance SWA - Little Hills UnitPiceance SWA - North Ridge UnitPiceance SWA - Square S Summer Range UnitPiceance SWA - Yellow Creek Unit
All 721 State Wildlife Areas and State Trust Lands
Have a tag for this fall?
A FilledTag plan checks the rules of any CPW property it uses against your species and your dates, and gives you one exact plan: where to park, camp and sit, with every pin checked against public land and road rules.