Cherokee SWA - Lower Unit: hunting rules and access
Cherokee SWA - Lower Unit is one of 6 parts of Cherokee SWA that CPW lists on one page (25,497 acres in all); CPW's map draws this part as 2,739 acres. It is a State Wildlife Area in Larimer County, Colorado, in game management units 8 and 191. CPW lists deer, dove, dusky (blue) grouse, elk, rabbit and squirrel for it, and its rules for the property run to 14 lines: 7 on its page for the property and 7 in its regulations.
| Kind | State Wildlife Area |
|---|---|
| County | Larimer |
| Game management unit | 8, 191 |
| Size | 25,497 acres |
| Coordinates | 40.8240, -105.3311 (middle of the boundary CPW maps) |
| Map | Open Cherokee SWA - Lower Unit on the map |
| This part, as CPW maps it | 2,739 acres. The size above is CPW's figure for all 6 parts of Cherokee SWA |
| Among CPW properties in unit 8 | Cherokee SWA as a whole is the largest of 9 by the acres on CPW's pages, 84% of their 30,221 acres together |
| Among CPW properties in unit 191 | Cherokee SWA as a whole is the largest of 10 by the acres on CPW's pages, 77% of their 33,164 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, Dusky (blue) grouse, Elk, Rabbit, Squirrel.
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. Open Sept. 1-May 1 only while hunting and fishing; open otherwise May 2-Aug. 31.
- B. Hunting and fishing access by foot only after last big-game season.
- C. Horse use restricted to designated roads and trails, except horses used as an aid to hunting big game.
- D. Horse use prohibited while hunting mountain lion.
- E. Horse use allowed on the Rattlesnake Loop on the Lone Pine Unit from May 2-Aug. 31.
- F. Camping allowed.
- G. Dogs must be under control and on leash by handler, except service animals or when actively hunting or training for hunting.
In CPW's regulations
- a. Public access is prohibited from September 1 to May 1, except while hunting and fishing.
- b. Hunting and fishing access after the close of the last big game season is by foot only.
- c. Horse use is restricted to designated roads and trails, except for horses used as an aid in hunting big game.
- d. Horse use is prohibited while hunting mountain lion.
- e. Horse use is allowed on the Rattlesnake Loop on the Lone Pine Unit from May 2 through August 31.
- f. Camping is allowed.
- g. 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 Cherokee SWA - Lower Unit 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 8 and 191, around Cherokee SWA - Lower Unit
- Elk in unit 8, 2024: 2,219 hunters in all seasons took 208 elk, 9% success (2023: 10% from 1,958 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 1,423 hunters, 11%. Unit 8 elk by season
- Deer in unit 8, 2024: 1,335 hunters in all seasons took 241 deer, 18% success (2023: 17% from 1,218 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 616 hunters, 19%. Unit 8 deer by season
- Unit 8: 420 square miles in Larimer County, 66.2% national forest and 6% BLM land, from 7,400 to 10,600 feet.
- Elk in unit 191, 2024: 601 hunters in all seasons took 22 elk, 4% success (2023: 11% from 601 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 482 hunters, 3%. Unit 191 elk by season
- Deer in unit 191, 2024: 1,389 hunters in all seasons took 594 deer, 43% success (2023: 41% from 1,351 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 1,111 hunters, 50%. Unit 191 deer by season
- Unit 191: 317 square miles in Larimer County, 31.6% national forest and 0.1% BLM land, from 5,400 to 8,600 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 8 and 191
| Season | 2026 dates | Legal shooting light here, opening day | Elk codes | Deer codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st rifle | Oct 14 to Oct 18 | 6:42 AM to 6:52 PM | E-M-007-O1-R bull E-M-191-O1-R bull | |
| 2nd rifle | Oct 24 to Nov 1 | 6:53 AM to 6:38 PM | E-F-007-O2-R cow E-F-191-O2-R cow E-M-007-O2-R bull E-M-191-O2-R bull | D-F-007-O2-R doe D-F-009-O2-R doe D-M-007-O2-R buck D-M-019-O2-R buck |
| 3rd rifle | Nov 7 to Nov 15 | 6:09 AM to 5:20 PM | E-F-007-O3-R cow E-F-191-O3-R cow E-M-007-O3-R bull E-M-191-O3-R bull | D-F-007-O3-R doe D-F-009-O3-R doe D-M-007-O3-R buck D-M-019-O3-R buck |
| 4th rifle | Nov 18 to Nov 22 | 6:22 AM to 5:11 PM | E-F-007-O4-R cow E-F-191-O4-R cow E-M-007-O4-R bull E-M-191-O4-R bull | D-M-007-O4-R buck D-M-019-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 8 elk, unit 8 deer, unit 191 elk, unit 191 deer.
Nearest CPW properties to Cherokee SWA - Lower Unit
| Property | Distance | Direction | Mapped acres | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Rabbit Creek STL | 1.5 miles | north-west | 661 | 191 |
| Steinhoff Hill STL | 2.2 miles | south-east | 502 | 191 |
| Cherokee SWA - Roy Brown Unit | 2.4 miles | south-west | 6,432 | 8, 191 |
| Cherokee SWA - Lone Pine Unit | 4.1 miles | south-west | 6,636 | 8, 191 |
| Meadow Creek STL | 5.7 miles | north-west | 456 | 191 |
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 8, 191
Arrowhead STLBellaire Lake SWABliss SWABull Mountain STLCherokee SWACherokee SWA - Middle UnitCherokee SWA - Upper UnitDry Creek North STLJimmy Creek STLManhattan Creek STLPfister Draw STLDowdy Lake SWAParvin Lake SWAPoudre River STL
All 721 State Wildlife Areas and State Trust Lands
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