Perins Peak SWA: hunting rules and access
Perins Peak SWA is one of 2 parts of Perins Peak SWA that CPW lists on one page (7,720 acres in all); CPW's map draws this part as 4,210 acres. It is a State Wildlife Area in La Plata County, Colorado, in game management unit 74. CPW lists bear, deer, dusky (blue) grouse, elk, rabbit, squirrel and turkey for it, and its rules for the property run to 13 lines: 6 on its page for the property and 7 in its regulations.
| Kind | State Wildlife Area |
|---|---|
| County | La Plata |
| Game management unit | 74 |
| Size | 7,720 acres |
| Coordinates | 37.3122, -107.9311 (middle of the boundary CPW maps) |
| Map | Open Perins Peak SWA on the map |
| This part, as CPW maps it | 4,210 acres. The size above is CPW's figure for all 2 parts of Perins Peak SWA |
| Among CPW properties in unit 74 | Perins Peak SWA as a whole is the largest of 5 by the acres on CPW's pages, 84% of their 9,221 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
Bear, Deer, Dusky (blue) grouse, Elk, Rabbit, Squirrel, Turkey.
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 W of La Plata CR 208 prohibited Dec. 1-April 30, except turkey hunters.
- B. Public access E of La Plata CR 208 prohibited Dec. 1-July 31.
- C. Camping only by licensed hunters during big-game season, plus 3 days before and 3 days after each season.
- D. Discharging firearms or bows allowed only for hunting.
- E. Dogs allowed May 1-Sept. 30 W of CR 208 and Aug. 1-Sept. 30 E of CR 208 and must be under control and on leash by handler, except service animals or when actively hunting, training for hunting or during licensed field trials.
- F. Dogs allowed from Oct. 1-Nov. 30 only if they are service animals, when actively hunting, training for hunting or during licensed field trials.
In CPW's regulations
- a. Public access is prohibited west of La Plata County Road 208 from December 1 through April 30, except turkey hunters.
- b. Public access is prohibited east of La Plata Co Rd 208 from December 1 through July 31.
- c. Camping is allowed by licensed hunters during an established big game season plus three (3) days before and three (3) days after each season.
- d. Discharge of firearms or bows is prohibited, except while hunting.
- e. Snowmobile use is prohibited.
- f. Dogs are allowed but must be kept under control on a physical leash by the handler at all times from May 1 through September 30 west of CR 208 and from August 1 through September 30 east of CR 208, except as authorized in #900(C)(15).
- g. Dogs are allowed pursuant to #900(C)(15) from October 1 through November 30.
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 Perins Peak 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 74, around Perins Peak SWA
- Elk in unit 74, 2024: 1,537 hunters in all seasons took 329 elk, 21% success (2023: 17% from 1,635 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 873 hunters, 22%. Unit 74 elk by season
- Deer in unit 74, 2024: 304 hunters in all seasons took 130 deer, 43% success (2023: 33% from 326 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 154 hunters, 45%. Unit 74 deer by season
- Unit 74: 595 square miles in La Plata County and San Juan County Counties, 75.6% national forest and 6.2% BLM land, from 6,600 to 12,900 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 74
| Season | 2026 dates | Legal shooting light here, opening day | Elk codes | Deer codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st rifle | Oct 14 to Oct 18 | 6:49 AM to 7:06 PM | E-F-074-O1-R cow E-M-074-O1-R bull | |
| 2nd rifle | Oct 24 to Nov 1 | 6:58 AM to 6:53 PM | E-F-074-O2-R cow E-F-741-O2-R cow E-M-000-U2-R bull | D-M-074-O2-R buck |
| 3rd rifle | Nov 7 to Nov 15 | 6:13 AM to 5:38 PM | E-F-074-O3-R cow E-F-741-O3-R cow E-M-000-U3-R bull | D-M-074-O3-R buck |
| 4th rifle | Nov 18 to Nov 22 | 6:24 AM to 5:29 PM | E-F-074-O4-R cow E-F-741-O4-R cow E-M-074-O4-R bull | D-M-074-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 74 elk, unit 74 deer.
Nearest CPW properties to Perins Peak SWA
| Property | Distance | Direction | Mapped acres | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perins Peak SWA - Decker Tract | 3.3 miles | west | 3,515 | 74 |
| Bodo SWA | 4.6 miles | south | 2,942 | 741 |
| Pastorius Reservoir SWA | 10.1 miles | south-east | 78 | 75 |
| Bayfield Lions Club Shooting Range SWA | 13.9 miles | east | 9 | 75 |
| Haviland Lake SWA | 16.8 miles | north-east | 205 | 74 |
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 74
Andrews Lake SWASultan Creek STLWest Lime Creek STL
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.