Higel SWA: hunting rules and access
Higel SWA is 1,465 acres of State Wildlife Area in Alamosa County, Colorado, in game management unit 791. CPW lists big game and small game for it, and its rules for the property run to 9 lines: 5 on its page for the property and 4 in its regulations.
| Kind | State Wildlife Area |
|---|---|
| County | Alamosa |
| Game management unit | 791 |
| Size | 1,465 acres |
| Coordinates | 37.5539, -105.9750 (middle of the boundary CPW maps) |
| Map | Open Higel SWA on the map |
| Acres inside the boundary CPW maps | 2,175, against 1,465 on CPW's page. Both are CPW's own figures, and they do not agree |
| Among CPW properties in unit 791 | The largest of 4 by the acres on CPW's pages, 57% of their 2,584 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
Big game, Small game.
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 is prohibited from September 1 through February 14, except on Saturdays, Sundays, Wednesday, and state and federal holidays.
- b. From September 1 through February 14, a valid access permit must be obtained. A maximum of 25 permits will be issued per day and are available at no charge on a first-come, first-served basis. Permits may be obtained by emailing [email protected] or by calling 719-587-6900.
- 1. Reservations may be made up to 14 days in advance, but not less than two days before the date requested.
- c. Public access is prohibited from February 15 through July 15 annually.
- d. The Area Wildlife Manager may authorize special use of the area during closures to accommodate educational or scientific uses if it will not be detrimental to nesting or migrating water birds.
In CPW's regulations
- a. Public access is prohibited from September 1 through February 14, except on Saturdays, Sundays, Wednesday, and state and federal holidays.
- b. From September 1 through February 14, a valid access permit must be obtained. A maximum of 25 permits will be issued per day and are available at no charge on a first - come, first-served basis. Permits may be obtained by emailing montevista.wildlife@state.co.us or by calling (719) 587-6900. 1. Reservations may be made up to 14 days in advance, but not less than two days before the date requested.
- c. Public access is prohibited from February 15 through July 15 annually.
- d. The Area Wildlife Manager may authorize special use of the area during closures to accommodate educational or scientific uses if it will not be detrimental to nesting or migrating water birds.
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 Higel 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 791, around Higel SWA
- Elk in unit 791, 2024: 163 hunters in all seasons took 57 elk, 35% success (2023: 46% from 96 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 148 hunters, 38%. Unit 791 elk by season
- Deer in unit 791, 2024: 19 hunters in all seasons took 15 deer, 79% success (2023: 75% from 20 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 19 hunters, 79%. Unit 791 deer by season
- Unit 791: 409 square miles in Alamosa, Mineral, Rio Grande and Saguache Counties, 0% national forest and 0.1% BLM land, from 7,500 to 7,800 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 791
| Season | 2026 dates | Legal shooting light here, opening day | Elk codes | Deer codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd rifle | Oct 24 to Nov 1 | 6:51 AM to 6:45 PM | D-M-079-O2-R buck | |
| 3rd rifle | Nov 7 to Nov 15 | 6:05 AM to 5:29 PM | D-M-079-O3-R buck | |
| 4th rifle | Nov 18 to Nov 22 | 6:17 AM to 5:21 PM | 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 791 elk, unit 791 deer.
Nearest CPW properties to Higel SWA
| Property | Distance | Direction | Mapped acres | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Grande SWA | 5.0 miles | west | 1,087 | 791 |
| Playa Blanca SWA | 6.1 miles | south | 714 | 80 |
| Home Lake SWA | 6.6 miles | west | 64 | 791 |
| Shriver and Wright SWA | 7.2 miles | west | 113 | 791 |
| Dry Creek STL | 14.8 miles | west | 1,293 | 80 |
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.