Garfield Creek SWA: hunting rules and access
Garfield Creek SWA is 13,179 acres of State Wildlife Area in Garfield County, Colorado, in game management unit 42. CPW lists deer, dusky (blue) grouse and elk for it, and its rules for the property run to 13 lines: 6 on its page for the property and 7 in its regulations.
| Kind | State Wildlife Area |
|---|---|
| County | Garfield |
| Game management unit | 42 |
| Size | 13,179 acres |
| Coordinates | 39.4921, -107.4976 (middle of the boundary CPW maps) |
| Map | Open Garfield Creek SWA on the map |
| Among CPW properties in unit 42 | The largest of 3 by the acres on CPW's pages, 99% of their 13,269 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.
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 prohibited from Dec. 1-July 15, except for spring turkey hunters.
- B. Grouse hunting is prohibited on the Upper Baldy Unit.
- C. Hunting prohibited within 75 yards of centerline of CRs 312 and 328.
- D. Discharge of firearms or bow prohibited in designated safety zones, or as posted.
- E. Camping only by licensed hunters during big-game season, plus 3 days before and 3 days after each season.
- F. Fires allowed within containment structure while camping.
In CPW's regulations
- a. Public access is prohibited from December 1 through July 15, except for spring turkey hunters.
- b. Grouse hunting is prohibited on the Upper Baldy Unit.
- c. Hunting is prohibited within 75 yards of the center line of Garfield Co Rds 312 and 328.
- d. Discharge of firearms or bows is prohibited in the designated safety zones, or as posted.
- e. Discharge of firearms or bows is prohibited, except while hunting.
- f. Camping is allowed by licensed hunters during an established big game season plus three (3) days before and three (3) days after each season.
- g. Fires are allowed within a containment structure while camping.
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 Garfield Creek 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 42, around Garfield Creek SWA
- Elk in unit 42, 2024: 3,093 hunters in all seasons took 659 elk, 21% success (2023: 20% from 3,179 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 2,047 hunters, 26%. Unit 42 elk by season
- Deer in unit 42, 2024: 849 hunters in all seasons took 453 deer, 53% success (2023: 53% from 845 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 685 hunters, 63%. Unit 42 deer by season
- Unit 42: 606 square miles in Mesa and Garfield Counties, 29.6% national forest and 21.3% BLM land, from 4,900 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 unit 42
| Season | 2026 dates | Legal shooting light here, opening day | Elk codes | Deer codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st rifle | Oct 14 to Oct 18 | 6:49 AM to 7:02 PM | E-F-041-O1-R cow E-M-041-O1-R bull | |
| 2nd rifle | Oct 24 to Nov 1 | 7:00 AM to 6:48 PM | 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-041-O2-R doe D-M-041-O2-R buck |
| 3rd rifle | Nov 7 to Nov 15 | 6:15 AM to 5:32 PM | 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-041-O3-R doe D-M-041-O3-R buck |
| 4th rifle | Nov 18 to Nov 22 | 6:28 AM to 5:22 PM | 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 E-M-041-O4-R bull | 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 42 elk, unit 42 deer.
Nearest CPW properties to Garfield Creek SWA
| Property | Distance | Direction | Mapped acres | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeler SWA | 10.0 miles | west | 48 | 33, 42 |
| Sam Caudill SWA | 11.3 miles | east | 2 | 1 |
| Bob Terrell SWA | 15.5 miles | east | 9 | 43 |
| West Rifle Creek SWA | 19.9 miles | north-west | 2,092 | 33 |
| Basalt SWA | 26.3 miles | east | 4,678 | 47, 444 |
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 42
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.