Billy Creek SWA - Nicoll Tract: hunting rules and access
Billy Creek SWA - Nicoll Tract is one of 8 parts of Billy Creek SWA that CPW lists on one page (5,498 acres in all); CPW's map draws this part as 406 acres. It is a State Wildlife Area in Ouray and Montrose Counties, Colorado, in game management units 62 and 65. CPW lists deer, dove, elk and rabbit for it, and its rules for the property run to 5 lines: 2 on its page for the property and 3 in its regulations.
| Kind | State Wildlife Area |
|---|---|
| Counties | Ouray and Montrose |
| Game management unit | 62, 65 |
| Size | 5,498 acres |
| Coordinates | 38.2933, -107.7122 (middle of the boundary CPW maps) |
| Map | Open Billy Creek SWA - Nicoll Tract on the map |
| This part, as CPW maps it | 406 acres. The size above is CPW's figure for all 8 parts of Billy Creek SWA |
| Among CPW properties in unit 62 | Billy Creek SWA as a whole is the 2nd largest of 2 by the acres on CPW's pages, 42% of their 13,110 acres together |
| Among CPW properties in unit 65 | Billy Creek SWA as a whole is the 2nd largest of 2 by the acres on CPW's pages, 46% of their 11,953 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
Deer, Dove, Elk, Rabbit.
Fishing, as CPW lists it: Fishing Opportunities, Coldwater Stream, Pond.
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 May 1-Dec. 31. Open year round for hunting, fishing and trapping along Uncompahgre River corridor, from Hwy. 550 to 100 feet from E bank of river.
- B. Camping allowed by licensed hunters during big-game season, plus 3 days before and 3 days after each season.
In CPW's regulations
- a. Camping is allowed by licensed hunters during an established big game season plus (3) days before and (3) days after each season.
- b. Public access is prohibited from January 1 through April 30, except for hunting, fishing, and trapping along the Uncompahgre River corridor from US Hwy 550 to 100 feet from the east bank of the river.
- c. Launching and take out of non-motorized vessels is allowed.
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 Billy Creek SWA - Nicoll Tract 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.
Units 62 and 65, around Billy Creek SWA - Nicoll Tract
- Elk in unit 62, 2024: 5,669 hunters in all seasons took 1,024 elk, 18% success (2023: 17% from 5,072 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 3,107 hunters, 21%. Unit 62 elk by season
- Deer in unit 62, 2024: 1,374 hunters in all seasons took 599 deer, 44% success (2023: 46% from 1,403 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 1,067 hunters, 48%. Unit 62 deer by season
- Unit 62: 1,378 square miles in Delta, Mesa, Montrose and Ouray Counties, 28.8% national forest and 39.4% BLM land, from 4,800 to 9,600 feet.
- Elk in unit 65, 2024: 3,000 hunters in all seasons took 755 elk, 25% success (2023: 18% from 3,410 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 1,901 hunters, 31%. Unit 65 elk by season
- Deer in unit 65, 2024: 717 hunters in all seasons took 270 deer, 38% success (2023: 45% from 690 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 533 hunters, 43%. Unit 65 deer by season
- Unit 65: 672 square miles in Gunnison, Hinsdale, Montrose and Ouray Counties, 39.1% national forest and 9.7% BLM land, from 6,000 to 12,900 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 units 62 and 65
| Season | 2026 dates | Legal shooting light here, opening day | Elk codes | Deer codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st rifle | Oct 14 to Oct 18 | 6:49 AM to 7:04 PM | E-E-064-O1-R either-sex E-F-062-O1-R cow E-F-064-O1-R cow E-M-062-O1-R bull | D-M-062-O1-R buck D-M-064-O1-R buck |
| 2nd rifle | Oct 24 to Nov 1 | 6:59 AM to 6:51 PM | E-F-062-O2-R cow E-F-064-O2-R cow E-M-000-U2-R bull | D-M-062-O2-R buck D-M-064-O2-R buck |
| 3rd rifle | Nov 7 to Nov 15 | 6:14 AM to 5:35 PM | E-F-062-O3-R cow E-F-064-O3-R cow E-M-000-U3-R bull | D-M-062-O3-R buck D-M-064-O3-R buck |
| 4th rifle | Nov 18 to Nov 22 | 6:26 AM to 5:26 PM | E-E-062-O4-R either-sex E-E-064-O4-R either-sex E-F-062-O4-R cow E-F-064-O4-R cow | D-M-062-O4-R buck D-M-064-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 62 elk, unit 62 deer, unit 65 elk, unit 65 deer.
Nearest CPW properties to Billy Creek SWA - Nicoll Tract
| Property | Distance | Direction | Mapped acres | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billy Creek SWA - Billy Creek Tract | 1.6 miles | west | 841 | 62, 65 |
| Billy Creek SWA - Chaffee Gulch | 2.0 miles | south-west | 162 | 62, 65 |
| Billy Creek SWA - Porter Tract | 2.5 miles | south-east | 1,512 | 62, 65 |
| Billy Creek SWA | 2.8 miles | west | 77 | 62, 65 |
| Billy Creek SWA - Beckett Tract | 3.2 miles | south-west | 758 | 62, 65 |
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 units 62, 65
Billy Creek SWA - Carmichael TractBilly Creek SWA - Colona TractEscalante SWA - East Walker TractEscalante SWA - Gunnison River TractEscalante SWA - Hamilton TractEscalante SWA - Harrison TractEscalante SWA - Lower Roubideau TractEscalante SWA - Peach Orchard Point TractEscalante SWA - Picket Corral TractEscalante SWA - Upper Roubideau TractEscalante SWA - Waterwheel TractEscalante SWA - West Walker TractEscalante SWA - White Hawk TractCimarron SWA
All 721 State Wildlife Areas and State Trust Lands
Have a tag for this fall?
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