Diamond J SWA: hunting rules and access
Diamond J SWA is 3,129 acres of State Wildlife Area in Jackson County, Colorado, in game management unit 161. CPW lists small game and waterfowl for it, and its rules for the property run to 6 lines: 3 on its page for the property and 3 in its regulations.
| Kind | State Wildlife Area |
|---|---|
| County | Jackson |
| Game management unit | 161 |
| Size | 3,129 acres |
| Coordinates | 40.7716, -106.2939 (middle of the boundary CPW maps) |
| Map | Open Diamond J SWA on the map |
| Among CPW properties in unit 161 | 2nd largest of 5 by the acres on CPW's pages, 21% of their 15,008 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
Small game, Waterfowl.
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. Public access allowed while fishing, small game and waterfowl hunting only.
- B. Hunting with shotguns or by falconry only.
- C. Discharge of firearms and bows is prohibited, except while hunting.
In CPW's regulations
- a. Public access is allowed while fishing, small game hunting, and waterfowl hunting only.
- b. Hunting is allowed with shotguns or by falconry only.
- c. Discharge of firearms or bows is prohibited, except while hunting.
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 Diamond J 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 161, around Diamond J SWA
- Elk in unit 161, 2024: 2,888 hunters in all seasons took 318 elk, 11% success (2023: 5% from 3,294 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 2,032 hunters, 12%. Unit 161 elk by season
- Deer in unit 161, 2024: 249 hunters in all seasons took 70 deer, 28% success (2023: 34% from 253 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 150 hunters, 27%. Unit 161 deer by season
- Unit 161: 408 square miles in Jackson County, 40.3% national forest and 25% BLM land, from 7,900 to 11,200 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 unit 161
| Season | 2026 dates | Legal shooting light here, opening day | Elk codes | Deer codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st rifle | Oct 14 to Oct 18 | 6:45 AM to 6:56 PM | D-M-161-O1-R buck D-M-171-O1-R buck | |
| 2nd rifle | Oct 24 to Nov 1 | 6:57 AM to 6:41 PM | E-M-000-U2-R bull | D-M-161-O2-R buck D-M-171-O2-R buck |
| 3rd rifle | Nov 7 to Nov 15 | 6:13 AM to 5:24 PM | E-F-161-O3-R cow E-M-000-U3-R bull | D-M-161-O3-R buck D-M-171-O3-R buck |
| 4th rifle | Nov 18 to Nov 22 | 6:26 AM to 5:15 PM | E-E-161-O4-R either-sex E-E-171-O4-R either-sex E-F-161-O4-R cow |
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 161 elk, unit 161 deer.
Nearest CPW properties to Diamond J SWA
| Property | Distance | Direction | Mapped acres | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowdrey Lake SWA | 4.5 miles | north | 13 | 161 |
| Sixteen Ditch STL | 4.8 miles | west | 278 | 161 |
| East Delaney Butte Lake STL | 8.9 miles | south-west | 600 | 16 |
| Lake John SWA | 9.3 miles | west | 1,226 | 161 |
| Kemp Draw STL | 9.5 miles | south-east | 519 | 171 |
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 unit 161
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.