Coller SWA - Rio Grande River Access: hunting rules and access
Coller SWA - Rio Grande River Access is one of 2 parts of Coller SWA that CPW lists on one page (579 acres in all); CPW's map draws this part as 3 acres. It is a State Wildlife Area in Rio Grande and Mineral Counties, Colorado, in game management units 76 and 79. CPW lists deer, dusky (blue) grouse, elk, rabbit and squirrel for it, and its rules for the property run to 7 lines: 3 on its page for the property and 4 in its regulations.
| Kind | State Wildlife Area |
|---|---|
| Counties | Rio Grande and Mineral |
| Game management unit | 76, 79 |
| Size | 579 acres |
| Coordinates | 37.6762, -106.6548 (middle of the boundary CPW maps) |
| Map | Open Coller SWA - Rio Grande River Access on the map |
| This part, as CPW maps it | 3 acres. The size above is CPW's figure for all 2 parts of Coller SWA |
| Among CPW properties in unit 76 | Coller SWA as a whole is the largest of 6 by the acres on CPW's pages, 40% of their 1,437 acres together |
| Among CPW properties in unit 79 | Coller SWA as a whole is the 4th largest of 4 by the acres on CPW's pages, 23% of their 2,499 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, 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. Snowmobiles and overnight parking prohibited.
- B. Vessel use is prohibited, except for launching and take out of vessels that are propelled by hand.
- C. 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. Overnight parking is prohibited.
- b. Snowmobile use is prohibited.
- c. Vessel use is prohibited, except for launching and take out of vessels that are propelled by hand.
- 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 Coller SWA - Rio Grande River Access 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 76 and 79, around Coller SWA - Rio Grande River Access
- Elk in unit 76, 2024: 1,138 hunters in all seasons took 518 elk, 46% success (2023: 32% from 1,118 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 881 hunters, 47%. Unit 76 elk by season
- Deer in unit 76, 2024: 82 hunters in all seasons took 46 deer, 56% success (2023: 48% from 86 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 42 hunters, 69%. Unit 76 deer by season
- Unit 76: 971 square miles in Hinsdale, Mineral and Rio Grande Counties, 93.6% national forest and 0% BLM land, from 8,600 to 12,900 feet.
- Elk in unit 79, 2024: 1,034 hunters in all seasons took 163 elk, 16% success (2023: 12% from 1,136 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 654 hunters, 20%. Unit 79 elk by season
- Deer in unit 79, 2024: 266 hunters in all seasons took 183 deer, 69% success (2023: 70% from 276 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 238 hunters, 74%. Unit 79 deer by season
- Unit 79: 426 square miles in Alamosa, Mineral, Rio Grande and Saguache Counties, 64.5% national forest and 6.3% BLM land, from 7,700 to 12,200 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 76 and 79
| Season | 2026 dates | Legal shooting light here, opening day | Elk codes | Deer codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st rifle | Oct 14 to Oct 18 | 6:44 AM to 7:00 PM | E-F-079-O1-R cow E-M-076-O1-R bull E-M-079-O1-R bull | |
| 2nd rifle | Oct 24 to Nov 1 | 6:54 AM to 6:47 PM | E-F-076-O2-R cow E-F-079-O2-R cow E-M-076-O2-R bull E-M-079-O2-R bull | D-M-076-O2-R buck D-M-079-O2-R buck |
| 3rd rifle | Nov 7 to Nov 15 | 6:08 AM to 5:32 PM | E-F-076-O3-R cow E-F-079-O3-R cow E-M-076-O3-R bull E-M-079-O3-R bull | D-M-076-O3-R buck D-M-079-O3-R buck |
| 4th rifle | Nov 18 to Nov 22 | 6:20 AM to 5:23 PM | E-F-076-O4-R cow E-F-079-O4-R cow | D-M-079-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 76 elk, unit 76 deer, unit 79 elk, unit 79 deer.
Nearest CPW properties to Coller SWA - Rio Grande River Access
| Property | Distance | Direction | Mapped acres | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gerrard STL | 3.6 miles | east | 785 | 80 |
| Coller SWA | 4.6 miles | north-west | 768 | 76, 79 |
| Beaver Creek Reservoir SWA | 6.0 miles | south | 102 | 80 |
| Shaw Creek STL | 6.1 miles | east | 437 | 80 |
| Agua Ramon STL | 6.7 miles | north-east | 651 | 79 |
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 76, 79
Big Meadows Reservoir SWABrown Lakes SWACreede SWARito Hondo Reservoir SWARoad Canyon Reservoir SWALittle La Garita Creek STLOld Woman Creek STL
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.