Hot Creek SWA: hunting rules and access
Hot Creek SWA is one of 2 parts of Hot Creek SWA that CPW lists on one page (9,485 acres in all); CPW's map draws this part as 1,713 acres. It is a State Wildlife Area in Conejos County, Colorado, in game management unit 81. CPW lists black bear, deer, dove, elk, mountain lion, rabbit and waterfowl 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 | Conejos |
| Game management unit | 81 |
| Size | 9,485 acres |
| Coordinates | 37.2848, -106.2190 (middle of the boundary CPW maps) |
| Map | Open Hot Creek SWA on the map |
| This part, as CPW maps it | 1,713 acres. The size above is CPW's figure for all 2 parts of Hot Creek SWA |
| Among CPW properties in unit 81 | Hot Creek SWA as a whole is the 2nd largest of 27 by the acres on CPW's pages, 13% of their 70,713 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
Black bear, Deer, Dove, Elk, Mountain lion, Rabbit, 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. Vehicles prohibited Jan. 1-April 30.
- B. Snowmobiles prohibited.
- C. Camping allowed by licensed hunters during big-game season, plus 3 days before and 3 days after each season.
- D. Fires allowed within containment structure.
In CPW's regulations
- a. Vehicles are prohibited from January 1 through April 30.
- b. Snowmobile use is prohibited.
- c. Camping is allowed by licensed hunters during an established big game season plus three (3) days before and three (3) days after each season.
- d. Fires are allowed within a containment structure.
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 Hot 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 81, around Hot Creek SWA
- Elk in unit 81, 2024: 3,726 hunters in all seasons took 882 elk, 24% success (2023: 18% from 3,780 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 2,442 hunters, 26%. Unit 81 elk by season
- Deer in unit 81, 2024: 585 hunters in all seasons took 295 deer, 50% success (2023: 44% from 516 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 329 hunters, 59%. Unit 81 deer by season
- Unit 81: 1,214 square miles in Alamosa, Archuleta, Conejos and Rio Grande Counties, 38.9% national forest and 22.7% BLM land, from 7,500 to 12,100 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 81
| Season | 2026 dates | Legal shooting light here, opening day | Elk codes | Deer codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st rifle | Oct 14 to Oct 18 | 6:42 AM to 6:59 PM | E-M-080-O1-R bull | |
| 2nd rifle | Oct 24 to Nov 1 | 6:52 AM to 6:46 PM | E-F-080-O2-R cow E-F-081-O2-R cow E-M-000-U2-R bull | D-F-080-O2-R doe D-M-080-O2-R buck |
| 3rd rifle | Nov 7 to Nov 15 | 6:06 AM to 5:31 PM | E-F-080-O3-R cow E-F-081-O3-R cow E-M-000-U3-R bull | D-F-080-O3-R doe D-M-080-O3-R buck |
| 4th rifle | Nov 18 to Nov 22 | 6:17 AM to 5:22 PM | E-F-080-O4-R cow E-F-081-O4-R cow E-M-080-O4-R bull | D-M-080-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 81 elk, unit 81 deer.
Nearest CPW properties to Hot Creek SWA
| Property | Distance | Direction | Mapped acres | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hot Creek SWA - Poso Tract | 2.1 miles | south-west | 7,800 | 81 |
| Rahadero Canyon STL | 4.2 miles | south-west | 672 | 81 |
| Trujillo Canyon STL | 5.0 miles | south-east | 621 | 81 |
| Chiquito Peak STL | 5.5 miles | north | 642 | 80 |
| La Jara Creek SWA | 5.9 miles | south | 157 | 81 |
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 81
Alamaditas Mesa STLAlamosa Canyon STLAlta STLEast Bend STLGallegos STLLa Jara Reservoir SWALa Jara STLLas Mesitas STLLos Mogotes Peak STLOritz STLPinon Hills STLPunche Valley STLRomeo STLSan Antonito STL
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.