Oak Ridge SWA - Lake Avery Unit: hunting rules and access
Oak Ridge SWA - Lake Avery Unit is one of 5 parts of Oak Ridge SWA that CPW lists on one page (13,663 acres in all); CPW's map draws this part as 2,162 acres. It is a State Wildlife Area in Rio Blanco County, Colorado, in game management units 23 and 24. CPW lists deer, dove, dusky (blue) grouse, elk, rabbit and waterfowl for it, and its rules for the property run to 18 lines: 9 on its page for the property and 9 in its regulations.
| Kind | State Wildlife Area |
|---|---|
| County | Rio Blanco |
| Game management unit | 23, 24 |
| Size | 13,663 acres |
| Coordinates | 39.9739, -107.6548 (middle of the boundary CPW maps) |
| Map | Open Oak Ridge SWA - Lake Avery Unit on the map |
| This part, as CPW maps it | 2,162 acres. The size above is CPW's figure for all 5 parts of Oak Ridge SWA |
| Among CPW properties in unit 23 | Oak Ridge SWA as a whole is the largest of 5 by the acres on CPW's pages, 59% of their 23,209 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, Dove, Dusky (blue) grouse, Elk, 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. Oak Ridge Unit open July 16-Nov. 30, except for youth outreach turkey hunts April 1-30 and valid GMU 23 turkey license holders and their companion May 1-31.
- B. Sleepy Cat Ponds Unit and Sleepy Cat Fishing Easement open only for fishing.
- C. Discharging firearms or bows allowed only while hunting.
- D. Hunting allowed S of CR 8, W of CR 17, and N and E of CR 10 by archery equipment only.
- E. Launching and use of vessels not associated with fishing or hunting activities allowed in designated areas only.
- F. On Lake Avery, operating a vessel in a manner that creates a whitewater wake is prohibited.
- G. Water contact activities allowed only in designated areas.
- H. Camping allowed only in designated areas.
- I. Dogs must be under control and on leash at all times on the Lake Avery Unit, except service animals or when actively hunting, training for hunting or during licensed field trials.
In CPW's regulations
- a. Public access is prohibited on the Oak Ridge Unit from December 1 through July 15 except for CPW youth outreach turkey hunts April 1 through 30 and valid GMU 23 turkey license holders and their companion May 1 through 31.
- b. Public access is prohibited on Sleepy Cat Ponds Unit and Sleepy Cat Fishing Easement, except while fishing.
- c. Discharge of firearms or bows is prohibited, except while hunting.
- d. Hunting is allowed south of Rio Blanco Co Rd 8, west of Rio Blanco Co Rd 17, and north and east of Rio Blanco Co Rd 10 by archery equipment only.
- e. Launching and use of vessels not associated with fishing or hunting activities are allowed in designated areas only.
- f. Operating a vessel in a manner that creates a whitewater wake is prohibited on Lake Avery.
- g. Water contact activities are allowed in designated areas only.
- h. Camping is allowed in designated areas only.
- i. Dogs are allowed but must be kept under control on a physical leash by the handler at all times on the Lake Avery Unit 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 Oak Ridge SWA - Lake Avery Unit 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.
Units 23 and 24, around Oak Ridge SWA - Lake Avery Unit
- Elk in unit 23, 2024: 1,870 hunters in all seasons took 423 elk, 23% success (2023: 18% from 2,436 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 1,352 hunters, 22%. Unit 23 elk by season
- Deer in unit 23, 2024: 565 hunters in all seasons took 150 deer, 27% success (2023: 28% from 564 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 388 hunters, 36%. Unit 23 deer by season
- Unit 23: 424 square miles in Rio Blanco and Garfield Counties, 31.3% national forest and 7.3% BLM land, from 6,300 to 9,600 feet.
- Elk in unit 24, 2024: 1,879 hunters in all seasons took 265 elk, 14% success (2023: 11% from 2,193 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 1,346 hunters, 14%. Unit 24 elk by season
- Deer in unit 24, 2024: 309 hunters in all seasons took 51 deer, 17% success (2023: 14% from 280 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 161 hunters, 23%. Unit 24 deer by season
- Unit 24: 439 square miles in Rio Blanco and Garfield Counties, 91.6% national forest and 0.9% BLM land, from 7,300 to 11,600 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 units 23 and 24
| Season | 2026 dates | Legal shooting light here, opening day | Elk codes | Deer codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd rifle | Oct 24 to Nov 1 | 7:01 AM to 6:48 PM | E-F-012-O2-R cow E-F-033-O2-R cow E-F-131-O2-R cow E-F-231-O2-R cow E-M-000-U2-R bull | D-F-012-O2-R doe D-M-012-O2-R buck |
| 3rd rifle | Nov 7 to Nov 15 | 6:17 AM to 5:31 PM | E-F-012-O3-R cow E-F-131-O3-R cow E-M-000-U3-R bull | D-F-022-O3-R doe D-M-022-O3-R buck |
| 4th rifle | Nov 18 to Nov 22 | 6:29 AM to 5:22 PM | E-F-011-O4-R cow E-F-131-O4-R cow E-M-011-O4-R bull E-M-012-O4-R bull E-M-025-O4-R bull E-M-131-O4-R bull | D-M-022-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 23 elk, unit 23 deer, unit 24 elk, unit 24 deer.
Nearest CPW properties to Oak Ridge SWA - Lake Avery Unit
| Property | Distance | Direction | Mapped acres | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Ridge SWA - Bel Aire Unit | 1.1 miles | east | 157 | 23, 24 |
| Oak Ridge SWA - Sleepy Cat Ponds Unit | 3.2 miles | south-west | 27 | 23, 24 |
| Oak Ridge SWA | 4.0 miles | west | 9,499 | 23, 24 |
| Oak Ridge SWA - Wilber Unit | 5.4 miles | west | 1,807 | 23, 24 |
| Coal Creek Ranch SWA | 10.9 miles | north | 1,135 | 23 |
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 units 23, 24
Collins Mountain Ranch SWA (Limited Access Easement)Jensen SWAMeeker Pasture SWA
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.