MacFarlane Reservoir STL: hunting rules and access
MacFarlane Reservoir STL is 2,880 acres of State Trust Land in Jackson County, Colorado, in game management unit 17. CPW lists big game and small game 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 Trust Land |
|---|---|
| County | Jackson |
| Game management unit | 17 |
| Size | 2,880 acres |
| Coordinates | 40.5173, -106.2803 (middle of the boundary CPW maps) |
| Map | Open MacFarlane Reservoir STL on the map |
| Among CPW properties in unit 17 | The largest of 2 by the acres on CPW's pages, 97% of their 2,961 acres together |
| CPW's page read | October 8, 2026 |
State Trust Land is closed to the public unless CPW leases it, and this parcel is open only on the terms printed below. 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
Everyone age 16 years or older MUST have a valid hunting or fishing license to access a state trust land.
Restrictions on CPW's page for this property
- a. For big game hunters, motorized access allowed on two-track route N of Jackson CR 28, one mile to designated parking area. Big-game hunting access beyond parking area limited to foot or horseback only.
- b. For waterfowl and small game hunters, motorized access to MacFarlane Res. allowed on designated two-track routes only.
- c. All other two-track roads closed to motorized travel.
In CPW's regulations
- a. Open for public access from August 15 through the end of February.
- b. For big game hunters, motorized access is allowed on the two track route traveling north off of Jackson Co. Rd 28 one mile to the designated parking area. Big game hunting access beyond the parking area is limited to foot or horseback only.
- c. For waterfowl and small game hunters, motorized access to MacFarlane Reservoir is allowed on the designated two track route only.
- d. All other two track roads are closed to motorized travel.
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 MacFarlane Reservoir STL 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 17, around MacFarlane Reservoir STL
- Elk in unit 17, 2024: 1,994 hunters in all seasons took 319 elk, 16% success (2023: 7% from 2,238 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 1,278 hunters, 20%. Unit 17 elk by season
- Deer in unit 17, 2024: 81 hunters in all seasons took 7 deer, 9% success (2023: 9% from 107 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 68 hunters, 7%. Unit 17 deer by season
- Unit 17: 282 square miles in Jackson County, 36.1% national forest and 18.3% BLM land, from 8,100 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 17
| Season | 2026 dates | Legal shooting light here, opening day | Elk codes | Deer codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st rifle | Oct 14 to Oct 18 | 6:45 AM to 6:56 PM | E-E-006-O1-R either-sex E-F-006-O1-R cow | D-M-006-O1-R buck D-M-016-O1-R buck D-M-017-O1-R buck |
| 2nd rifle | Oct 24 to Nov 1 | 6:56 AM to 6:42 PM | E-F-006-O2-R cow E-M-000-U2-R bull | D-M-006-O2-R buck D-M-016-O2-R buck D-M-017-O2-R buck |
| 3rd rifle | Nov 7 to Nov 15 | 6:12 AM to 5:25 PM | E-F-006-O3-R cow E-F-016-O3-R cow E-F-017-O3-R cow E-M-000-U3-R bull | D-M-006-O3-R buck D-M-016-O3-R buck D-M-017-O3-R buck |
| 4th rifle | Nov 18 to Nov 22 | 6:25 AM to 5:15 PM | E-E-006-O4-R either-sex E-E-016-O4-R either-sex E-E-017-O4-R either-sex E-F-006-O4-R cow E-F-016-O4-R cow E-F-017-O4-R cow | D-M-006-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 17 elk, unit 17 deer.
Nearest CPW properties to MacFarlane Reservoir STL
| Property | Distance | Direction | Mapped acres | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yarmony Ranch SWA | 3.5 miles | north | 3,720 | 171 |
| Seymour Lake SWA | 6.5 miles | south-west | 81 | 17 |
| Indian Creek STL | 7.1 miles | east | 617 | 171 |
| Owl Mountain SWA | 7.4 miles | east | 846 | 171 |
| Owl Creek STL | 7.9 miles | north-east | 660 | 171 |
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
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