Parachute Ponds SWA: hunting rules and access
Parachute Ponds SWA is 42 acres of State Wildlife Area in Garfield County, Colorado, in game management units 32 and 42. CPW lists waterfowl for it, and its rules for the property run to 6 lines: 3 on its page for the property and 3 in its regulations.
| Kind | State Wildlife Area |
|---|---|
| County | Garfield |
| Game management unit | 32, 42 |
| Size | 42 acres |
| Coordinates | 39.4447, -108.0473 (middle of the boundary CPW maps) |
| Map | Open Parachute Ponds SWA on the map |
| Acres inside the boundary CPW maps | 27, against 42 on CPW's page. Both are CPW's own figures, and they do not agree |
| Among CPW properties in unit 42 | 3rd largest of 3 by the acres on CPW's pages, under 1% of their 13,269 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
Waterfowl.
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. Public access to frozen surface of lake is prohibited.
- B. Vessel use prohibited, except the launching and use of float tubes for fishing.
- C. 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. Public access to the frozen surface of the lake is prohibited.
- b. Vessel use is prohibited, except for launching and use of float tubes for fishing only.
- c. Dogs are allowed but must be kept under control on a physical leash by the handler at all times 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 Parachute Ponds 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.
Units 32 and 42, around Parachute Ponds SWA
- Elk in unit 32, 2024: 823 hunters in all seasons took 165 elk, 20% success (2023: 26% from 689 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 386 hunters, 26%. Unit 32 elk by season
- Deer in unit 32, 2024: 172 hunters in all seasons took 111 deer, 65% success (2023: 46% from 159 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 115 hunters, 74%. Unit 32 deer by season
- Unit 32: 301 square miles in Garfield County, 0% national forest and 37.3% BLM land, from 5,100 to 9,000 feet.
- Elk in unit 42, 2024: 3,093 hunters in all seasons took 659 elk, 21% success (2023: 20% from 3,179 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 2,047 hunters, 26%. Unit 42 elk by season
- Deer in unit 42, 2024: 849 hunters in all seasons took 453 deer, 53% success (2023: 53% from 845 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 685 hunters, 63%. Unit 42 deer by season
- Unit 42: 606 square miles in Mesa and Garfield Counties, 29.6% national forest and 21.3% BLM land, from 4,900 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 units 32 and 42
| Season | 2026 dates | Legal shooting light here, opening day | Elk codes | Deer codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st rifle | Oct 14 to Oct 18 | 6:51 AM to 7:04 PM | E-E-021-O1-R either-sex E-F-021-O1-R cow E-F-041-O1-R cow E-M-041-O1-R bull | |
| 2nd rifle | Oct 24 to Nov 1 | 7:02 AM to 6:50 PM | E-F-021-O2-R cow 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-031-O2-R buck D-M-041-O2-R buck |
| 3rd rifle | Nov 7 to Nov 15 | 6:17 AM to 5:34 PM | E-F-030-O3-R cow 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-031-O3-R buck D-M-041-O3-R buck |
| 4th rifle | Nov 18 to Nov 22 | 6:30 AM to 5:25 PM | E-E-021-O4-R either-sex E-F-030-O4-R cow 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-031-O4-R buck 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 32 elk, unit 32 deer, unit 42 elk, unit 42 deer.
Nearest CPW properties to Parachute Ponds SWA
| Property | Distance | Direction | Mapped acres | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Patterson SWA | 4.6 miles | south-west | 3 | 31 |
| Plateau Creek SWA | 13.9 miles | south | 1,371 | 421 |
| Jerry Creek Reservoir SWA | 17.4 miles | south | 871 | 421 |
| Mogensen Ponds SWA | 18.3 miles | south | 11 | 421 |
| West Rifle Creek SWA | 19.5 miles | north-east | 2,092 | 33 |
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 32, 42
All 721 State Wildlife Areas and State Trust Lands
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