Franklin Island SWA: hunting rules and access
Franklin Island SWA is 38 acres of State Wildlife Area in Mesa County, Colorado, in game management units 30 and 41. CPW lists waterfowl 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 |
|---|---|
| County | Mesa |
| Game management unit | 30, 41 |
| Size | 38 acres |
| Coordinates | 39.0565, -108.4699 (middle of the boundary CPW maps) |
| Map | Open Franklin Island SWA on the map |
| Acres inside the boundary CPW maps | 42, against 38 on CPW's page. Both are CPW's own figures, and they do not agree |
| Among CPW properties in unit 30 | 5th largest of 7 by the acres on CPW's pages, 2% of their 2,022 acres together |
| Among CPW properties in unit 41 | 4th largest of 4 by the acres on CPW's pages, 10% of their 366 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
Waterfowl.
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. Hunting is prohibited, except for waterfowl hunting from designated blinds.
- B. Waterfowl hunting by reservation only through the Hunting Reservation System. See "Reservations: Hunting" (page 1) for details.
- C. Discharging firearms or bows allowed only while hunting.
In CPW's regulations
- a. Hunting is prohibited, except for waterfowl hunting from designated blinds.
- b. Waterfowl hunting is allowed by reservation only
- c. All hunters must comply with the Hunter Reservation System and reservations must be made through the Hunter Reservation System in accordance with #901.A of these regulations.
- d. 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 Franklin Island 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.
Units 30 and 41, around Franklin Island SWA
- Elk in unit 30, 2024: 994 hunters in all seasons took 250 elk, 25% success (2023: 12% from 1,126 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 797 hunters, 28%. Unit 30 elk by season
- Deer in unit 30, 2024: 218 hunters in all seasons took 129 deer, 59% success (2023: 55% from 247 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 167 hunters, 72%. Unit 30 deer by season
- Unit 30: 869 square miles in Garfield and Mesa Counties, 0% national forest and 73.4% BLM land, from 4,500 to 8,500 feet.
- Elk in unit 41, 2024: 1,702 hunters in all seasons took 348 elk, 20% success (2023: 18% from 1,685 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 1,152 hunters, 26%. Unit 41 elk by season
- Deer in unit 41, 2024: 579 hunters in all seasons took 288 deer, 50% success (2023: 39% from 606 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 446 hunters, 59%. Unit 41 deer by season
- Unit 41: 328 square miles in Mesa and Delta Counties, 27.3% national forest and 33.9% BLM land, from 4,700 to 10,500 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 30 and 41
| Season | 2026 dates | Legal shooting light here, opening day | Elk codes | Deer codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st rifle | Oct 14 to Oct 18 | 6:53 AM to 7:06 PM | E-E-021-O1-R either-sex E-F-021-O1-R cow E-F-041-O1-R cow E-M-041-O1-R bull | |
| 2nd rifle | Oct 24 to Nov 1 | 7:03 AM to 6:53 PM | E-F-021-O2-R cow E-F-041-O2-R cow E-F-042-O2-R cow E-F-052-O2-R cow E-F-411-O2-R cow E-F-421-O2-R cow E-M-000-U2-R bull | D-F-030-O2-R doe D-F-041-O2-R doe D-M-030-O2-R buck D-M-041-O2-R buck |
| 3rd rifle | Nov 7 to Nov 15 | 6:18 AM to 5:36 PM | E-F-021-O3-R cow E-F-030-O3-R cow E-F-042-O3-R cow E-F-052-O3-R cow E-F-411-O3-R cow E-F-421-O3-R cow E-M-000-U3-R bull | D-F-030-O3-R doe D-F-041-O3-R doe D-M-030-O3-R buck D-M-041-O3-R buck |
| 4th rifle | Nov 18 to Nov 22 | 6:30 AM to 5:27 PM | E-E-021-O4-R either-sex E-F-021-O4-R cow E-F-030-O4-R cow E-F-041-O4-R cow E-F-042-O4-R cow E-F-052-O4-R cow E-F-411-O4-R cow E-F-421-O4-R cow and 1 more | D-M-030-O4-R buck D-M-041-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 30 elk, unit 30 deer, unit 41 elk, unit 41 deer.
Nearest CPW properties to Franklin Island SWA
| Property | Distance | Direction | Mapped acres | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado River Island SWA | 0.8 miles | west | 67 | 30, 41 |
| Orchard Mesa Wildlife Area | 1.4 miles | west | 149 | 41 |
| Grand Junction - West Lake SWA | 6.1 miles | west | 6 | 30 |
| Tilman Bishop SWA | 6.4 miles | north-east | 114 | 30, 41 |
| Walker SWA | 10.3 miles | west | 488 | 30, 40 |
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 30, 41
Horsethief Canyon SWALoma Boat Launch SWA
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.