Sikes Ranch SWA: hunting rules and access
Sikes Ranch SWA is 7,139 acres of State Wildlife Area in Baca and Las Animas Counties, Colorado, in game management units 143 and 144. CPW lists deer and turkey for it, and its rules for the property run to 8 lines: 4 on its page for the property and 4 in its regulations.
| Kind | State Wildlife Area |
|---|---|
| Counties | Baca and Las Animas |
| Game management unit | 143, 144 |
| Size | 7,139 acres |
| Coordinates | 37.1803, -103.0506 (middle of the boundary CPW maps) |
| Map | Open Sikes Ranch SWA on the map |
| Among CPW properties in unit 143 | The largest of 5 by the acres on CPW's pages, 74% of their 9,619 acres together |
| Among CPW properties in unit 144 | The largest of 11 by the acres on CPW's pages, 52% of their 13,729 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, Turkey.
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. Open for public access 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset. Hunters may remain as long as reasonable to retrieve downed game. Night hunting with permit also allowed.
- B. Access prohibited in building envelope and designated safety zones, as posted.
- C. Parking allowed only in designated areas.
- D. Trapping allowed with permit only. Permits must be on trappers at all times while trapping. Permits available at CPW Area Office in Lamar.
In CPW's regulations
- a. Public access is prohibited from one (1) hour after sunset until one (1) hour before sunrise, except when an animal is harvested the successful hunter may remain as long as necessary to remove the animal or when authorized by a night hunting permit.
- b. Public access is prohibited in the building envelope and designated safety zones, or as posted.
- c. Parking and access is allowed from designated parking areas only.
- d. Trapping is prohibited, except by permit only. Permit holders shall have their permit on their person at all times while trapping. Permits may be obtained by calling the Lamar Service Center.
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 Sikes Ranch 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 143 and 144, around Sikes Ranch SWA
- Elk in unit 143, 2024: 143 hunters in all seasons took 67 elk, 47% success (2023: 53% from 113 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 140 hunters, 48%. Unit 143 elk by season
- Deer in unit 143, 2024: 68 hunters in all seasons took 10 deer, 15% success (2023: 35% from 55 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 63 hunters, 16%. Unit 143 deer by season
- Unit 143: 690 square miles in Las Animas County, 3.7% national forest and 0.1% BLM land, from 4,800 to 6,700 feet.
- Elk in unit 144, 2024: 120 hunters in all seasons took 31 elk, 26% success (2023: 26% from 89 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 120 hunters, 26%. Unit 144 elk by season
- Deer in unit 144, 2024: 148 hunters in all seasons took 63 deer, 43% success (2023: 47% from 155 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 119 hunters, 43%. Unit 144 deer by season
- Unit 144: 644 square miles in Baca County, 31.8% national forest and 0% BLM land, from 4,200 to 5,200 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 units 143 and 144
| Season | 2026 dates | Legal shooting light here, opening day | Elk codes | Deer codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd rifle | Oct 24 to Nov 1 | 6:39 AM to 6:33 PM | D-E-137-O2-R either-sex D-F-137-O2-R doe |
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 143 elk, unit 143 deer, unit 144 elk, unit 144 deer.
Nearest CPW properties to Sikes Ranch SWA
| Property | Distance | Direction | Mapped acres | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sikes Ranch STL | 1.0 miles | south | 641 | 144 |
| East Carrizo Creek STL | 3.3 miles | north-west | 638 | 143 |
| Kirkwell STL | 6.4 miles | east | 640 | 144 |
| Pat / Whitby Canyon STL | 7.0 miles | south-east | 1,301 | 144 |
| Savory East STL | 8.7 miles | north | 639 | 137 |
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 143, 144
Poitrey Creek STLTecolote Creek STLTobe Creek STLAubrury Creek STLEdler STLNorth Canyon STLSand Canyon STLSand Creek South STLState Line STLSunny Moon 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.