Cross Canyon SWA: hunting rules and access
Cross Canyon SWA is 119 acres of State Wildlife Area in Dolores County, Colorado, in game management unit 72. CPW lists coyote, deer, dove and rabbit 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 | Dolores |
| Game management unit | 72 |
| Size | 119 acres |
| Coordinates | 37.6965, -108.8559 (middle of the boundary CPW maps) |
| Map | Open Cross Canyon SWA on the map |
| Among CPW properties in unit 72 | 2nd largest of 2 by the acres on CPW's pages, 5% of their 2,478 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
Coyote, Deer, Dove, Rabbit.
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. Access during the first two days of the rifle deer and elk seasons is restricted to youth and a nonhunting mentor.
- B. Parking is allowed in designated parking areas only.
- C. Discharge of firearms and bows is prohibited, except while hunting.
- D. Dog training and field trials are prohibited.
In CPW's regulations
- a. Public access during the first two days of the rifle deer and elk seasons is restricted to youth and a non-hunting mentor.
- b. Parking is allowed in designated parking areas only.
- c. Discharge of firearms or bows is prohibited, except while hunting.
- d. Dog training and field trials are prohibited.
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 Cross Canyon 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 72, around Cross Canyon SWA
- Elk in unit 72, 2024: 467 hunters in all seasons took 83 elk, 18% success (2023: 14% from 344 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 382 hunters, 17%. Unit 72 elk by season
- Deer in unit 72, 2024: 876 hunters in all seasons took 578 deer, 66% success (2023: 60% from 884 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 776 hunters, 70%. Unit 72 deer by season
- Unit 72: 979 square miles in Montezuma County, 0% national forest and 28.2% BLM land, from 4,800 to 8,100 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 72
| Season | 2026 dates | Legal shooting light here, opening day | Elk codes | Deer codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st rifle | Oct 14 to Oct 18 | 6:53 AM to 7:09 PM | E-F-071-O1-R cow E-M-071-O1-R bull | |
| 2nd rifle | Oct 24 to Nov 1 | 7:03 AM to 6:56 PM | E-F-071-O2-R cow E-F-072-O2-R cow E-F-073-O2-R cow E-M-000-U2-R bull | D-M-072-O2-R buck |
| 3rd rifle | Nov 7 to Nov 15 | 6:17 AM to 5:41 PM | E-F-071-O3-R cow E-F-072-O3-R cow E-F-073-O3-R cow E-M-000-U3-R bull | D-M-072-O3-R buck |
| 4th rifle | Nov 18 to Nov 22 | 6:29 AM to 5:32 PM | E-F-071-O4-R cow E-F-072-O4-R cow E-F-073-O4-R cow E-M-071-O4-R bull | D-M-072-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 72 elk, unit 72 deer.
Nearest CPW properties to Cross Canyon SWA
| Property | Distance | Direction | Mapped acres | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lone Dome SWA | 10.4 miles | south-east | 1,737 | 711 |
| Coalbed Canyon SWA | 10.8 miles | north-west | 2,595 | 72, 711 |
| Disappointment Valley STL | 18.5 miles | north-east | 616 | 70, 711 |
| Disappointment Creek STL | 18.6 miles | north-east | 661 | 711 |
| Narraguinnep Resevoir SWA | 18.9 miles | south-east | 764 | 711 |
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
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.