Carter Creek STL: hunting rules and access
Carter Creek STL is 1,301 acres of State Trust Land in Grand County, Colorado, in game management unit 181. CPW lists deer, dusky (blue) grouse, elk and sage grouse for it, and its rules for the property run to 4 lines: 2 on its page for the property and 2 in its regulations.
| Kind | State Trust Land |
|---|---|
| County | Grand |
| Game management unit | 181 |
| Size | 1,301 acres |
| Coordinates | 40.2673, -106.4028 (middle of the boundary CPW maps) |
| Map | Open Carter Creek STL on the map |
| Among CPW properties in unit 181 | 4th largest of 6 by the acres on CPW's pages, 11% of their 12,178 acres together |
| CPW's page read | October 8, 2026 |
State Trust Land is closed to the public unless CPW leases it, and this parcel is open only on the terms printed below. How the kinds of public land differ.
What CPW lists for hunting here
Deer, Dusky (blue) grouse, Elk, Sage grouse.
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
Everyone age 16 years or older MUST have a valid hunting or fishing license to access a state trust land.
Restrictions on CPW's page for this property
- a. Public access for hunting only, except as otherwise listed below.
- b. ATV and snowmobile access allowed on designated route in Sect. 31 as posted at East Carter Creek gate during hunting season only.
In CPW's regulations
- a. Except as otherwise allowed in this regulation, public access is limited to hunting only.
- b. ATV and snowmobile access allowed on designated route in Section 31 as posted at East Carter Creek gate entrance during hunting season only.
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 Carter Creek STL 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 181, around Carter Creek STL
- Elk in unit 181, 2024: 1,462 hunters in all seasons took 205 elk, 14% success (2023: 6% from 1,750 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 1,080 hunters, 18%. Unit 181 elk by season
- Deer in unit 181, 2024: 159 hunters in all seasons took 43 deer, 27% success (2023: 9% from 432 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 133 hunters, 32%. Unit 181 deer by season
- Unit 181: 182 square miles in Grand County, 17.3% national forest and 30.8% BLM land, from 7,400 to 11,000 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 181
| Season | 2026 dates | Legal shooting light here, opening day | Elk codes | Deer codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st rifle | Oct 14 to Oct 18 | 6:45 AM to 6:57 PM | E-E-018-O1-R either-sex E-F-018-O1-R cow | |
| 2nd rifle | Oct 24 to Nov 1 | 6:56 AM to 6:43 PM | E-F-018-O2-R cow E-F-181-O2-R cow E-M-000-U2-R bull | D-F-027-O2-R doe D-M-027-O2-R buck |
| 3rd rifle | Nov 7 to Nov 15 | 6:12 AM to 5:26 PM | E-F-018-O3-R cow E-F-181-O3-R cow E-M-000-U3-R bull | D-F-027-O3-R doe D-M-027-O3-R buck |
| 4th rifle | Nov 18 to Nov 22 | 6:25 AM to 5:16 PM | E-E-018-O4-R either-sex E-F-018-O4-R cow E-F-181-O4-R cow | D-M-018-O4-R buck D-M-027-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 181 elk, unit 181 deer.
Nearest CPW properties to Carter Creek STL
| Property | Distance | Direction | Mapped acres | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Carter (Gunsight) STL | 1.3 miles | south | 5,452 | 181 |
| East Carter Mountain STL | 1.6 miles | north | 1,796 | 181 |
| Antelope Creek STL | 1.7 miles | north-east | 1,191 | 181 |
| West Carter Mountain STL | 2.4 miles | north-west | 2,377 | 181 |
| Perkins SWA | 4.3 miles | south-east | 89 | 181 |
Straight-line miles between the middles of the boundaries CPW maps, not road miles. A property can be much nearer at its edge.
All 721 State Wildlife Areas and State Trust Lands
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