Orchard Mesa Wildlife Area: hunting rules and access
Orchard Mesa Wildlife Area is 148 acres of State Wildlife Area in Mesa County, Colorado, in game management unit 41. CPW lists big game and waterfowl for it, and its rules for the property run to 16 lines: 7 on its page for the property and 9 in its regulations.
| Kind | State Wildlife Area |
|---|---|
| County | Mesa |
| Game management unit | 41 |
| Size | 148 acres |
| Coordinates | 39.0512, -108.4955 (middle of the boundary CPW maps) |
| Map | Open Orchard Mesa Wildlife Area on the map |
| Among CPW properties in unit 41 | The largest of 4 by the acres on CPW's pages, 40% of their 366 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, Waterfowl.
Fishing, as CPW lists it: Fishing Opportunities, Warm Water.
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. Only foot access from parking area on C Rd. between roads 30 and 31.
- B. Closed March 15-July 15.
- C. Small-game hunting prohibited, except for waterfowl hunting.
- D. Big game and waterfowl hunting by reservation only. Reservations must be made through the Hunting Reservation System: See "Reservations: Hunting" (page 1) for details.
- E. Big-game hunting restricted to archery equipment only.
- F. Waterfowl hunters must use designated blinds only.
- G. Discharging firearms or bows allowed only while hunting.
In CPW's regulations
- a. Public access is allowed only from the parking area located on "C" Road between 30 and 31 Roads.
- b. Public access is allowed by foot only.
- c. Public access is prohibited from March 15 through July 15.
- d. Small game hunting is prohibited, except for waterfowl hunting.
- e. Big game and waterfowl hunting is allowed by reservation only.
- f. Big game hunting is allowed with archery equipment only.
- g. Waterfowl hunting is allowed from designated blinds only.
- h. All hunters must comply with the Hunter Reservation System and reservations must be made through the Hunter Reservation System in accordance with #901.A of these regulations.
- i. Discharge of firearms or bows is prohibited, except while hunting.
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 Orchard Mesa Wildlife Area 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 41, around Orchard Mesa Wildlife Area
- Elk in unit 41, 2024: 1,702 hunters in all seasons took 348 elk, 20% success (2023: 18% from 1,685 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 1,152 hunters, 26%. Unit 41 elk by season
- Deer in unit 41, 2024: 579 hunters in all seasons took 288 deer, 50% success (2023: 39% from 606 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 446 hunters, 59%. Unit 41 deer by season
- Unit 41: 328 square miles in Mesa and Delta Counties, 27.3% national forest and 33.9% BLM land, from 4,700 to 10,500 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 41
| Season | 2026 dates | Legal shooting light here, opening day | Elk codes | Deer codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st rifle | Oct 14 to Oct 18 | 6:53 AM to 7:07 PM | E-F-041-O1-R cow E-M-041-O1-R bull | |
| 2nd rifle | Oct 24 to Nov 1 | 7:03 AM to 6:53 PM | E-F-041-O2-R cow E-F-042-O2-R cow E-F-052-O2-R cow E-F-411-O2-R cow E-F-421-O2-R cow E-M-000-U2-R bull | D-F-041-O2-R doe D-M-041-O2-R buck |
| 3rd rifle | Nov 7 to Nov 15 | 6:18 AM to 5:37 PM | E-F-042-O3-R cow E-F-052-O3-R cow E-F-411-O3-R cow E-F-421-O3-R cow E-M-000-U3-R bull | D-F-041-O3-R doe D-M-041-O3-R buck |
| 4th rifle | Nov 18 to Nov 22 | 6:30 AM to 5:28 PM | E-F-041-O4-R cow E-F-042-O4-R cow E-F-052-O4-R cow E-F-411-O4-R cow E-F-421-O4-R cow E-M-041-O4-R bull | D-M-041-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 41 elk, unit 41 deer.
Nearest CPW properties to Orchard Mesa Wildlife Area
| Property | Distance | Direction | Mapped acres | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado River Island SWA | 0.7 miles | north-east | 67 | 30, 41 |
| Franklin Island SWA | 1.4 miles | east | 42 | 30, 41 |
| Grand Junction - West Lake SWA | 4.9 miles | north-west | 6 | 30 |
| Tilman Bishop SWA | 7.8 miles | north-east | 114 | 30, 41 |
| Walker SWA | 9.2 miles | north-west | 488 | 30, 40 |
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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