Lake John SWA: hunting rules and access
Lake John SWA is 282 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 8 lines: 4 on its page for the property and 4 in its regulations.
| Kind | State Wildlife Area |
|---|---|
| County | Jackson |
| Game management unit | 161 |
| Size | 282 acres |
| Coordinates | 40.7819, -106.4715 (middle of the boundary CPW maps) |
| Map | Open Lake John SWA on the map |
| Acres inside the boundary CPW maps | 1,226, against 282 on CPW's page. Both are CPW's own figures, and they do not agree |
| Among CPW properties in unit 161 | 3rd largest of 5 by the acres on CPW's pages, 2% 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 Lake.
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. Discharge of firearms or bows prohibited, except while hunting.
- B. Camping allowed W of Lake John Dam.
- C. Fires allowed within established containment structure in designated areas.
- D. Dogs must be under control and on leash by handler, except service animals or when actively hunting, training for hunting or during licensed field trials.
In CPW's regulations
- a. Discharge of firearms or bows is prohibited, except while hunting.
- b. Camping is allowed west of Lake John Dam.
- c. Fires are allowed within an established containment structure in designated areas.
- d. Dogs are allowed but must be kept under control on a physical leash by the handler at all-time except as authorized in #900(C)(15).
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 Lake John 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 Lake John 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 | 6:46 AM to 6:57 PM | D-M-161-O1-R buck D-M-171-O1-R buck | |
| 2nd rifle | Oct 24 to Nov 1 | 6:57 AM to 6:42 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 | 6:14 AM to 5:25 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 | 6:27 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 Lake John SWA
| Property | Distance | Direction | Mapped acres | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaney Butte Lakes SWA | 5.2 miles | south | 2,456 | 16 |
| Sixteen Ditch STL | 5.2 miles | south-east | 278 | 161 |
| East Delaney Butte Lake STL | 5.2 miles | south | 600 | 16 |
| Independence Mountain STL | 5.7 miles | north | 11,519 | 161 |
| Red Canyon STL | 6.7 miles | south-west | 637 | 16 |
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.