Simpson Ponds SWA: hunting rules and access
Simpson Ponds SWA is 44 acres of State Wildlife Area in Larimer County, Colorado, in game management unit 20. CPW lists dove and waterfowl for it, and its rules for the property run to 9 lines: 4 on its page for the property and 5 in its regulations.
| Kind | State Wildlife Area |
|---|---|
| County | Larimer |
| Game management unit | 20 |
| Size | 44 acres |
| Coordinates | 40.3860, -105.0330 (middle of the boundary CPW maps) |
| Map | Open Simpson Ponds SWA on the map |
| Acres inside the boundary CPW maps | 68, against 44 on CPW's page. Both are CPW's own figures, and they do not agree |
| Among CPW properties in unit 20 | 6th largest of 6 by the acres on CPW's pages, 2% of their 1,804 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
Dove, 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. Open for public access 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset; no time restrictions for fishing or hunters with night-hunting permit.
- B. Vessel use prohibited except handpropelled vessels used for fishing or hunting.
- C. Discharging firearms or bows allowed only while hunting or bowfishing.
- D. Horse use and bicycles prohibited.
In CPW's regulations
- a. Public access is prohibited from one (1) hour after sunset to one (1) hour before sunrise except while fishing or when authorized by a night hunting permit.
- b. Vessel use is prohibited, except for hand-launched vessels that are propelled by hand when used as an aid for fishing or hunting.
- c. Discharge of firearms or bows is prohibited, except while hunting or bowfishing.
- d. Horse use is prohibited.
- e. Bicycle riding is prohibited.
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 Simpson 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.
Unit 20, around Simpson Ponds SWA
- Elk in unit 20, 2024: 875 hunters in all seasons took 355 elk, 41% success (2023: 49% from 822 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 721 hunters, 42%. Unit 20 elk by season
- Deer in unit 20, 2024: 1,994 hunters in all seasons took 811 deer, 41% success (2023: 41% from 1,895 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 1,681 hunters, 44%. Unit 20 deer by season
- Unit 20: 1,206 square miles in Larimer, Boulder and Weld Counties, 24.1% national forest and 0.1% BLM land, from 4,900 to 12,400 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 20
| Season | 2026 dates | Legal shooting light here, opening day | Elk codes | Deer codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st rifle | Oct 14 to Oct 18 | 6:40 AM to 6:51 PM | E-M-020-O1-R bull | |
| 2nd rifle | Oct 24 to Nov 1 | 6:51 AM to 6:37 PM | E-F-020-O2-R cow E-M-020-O2-R bull | D-F-020-O2-R doe D-M-020-O2-R buck |
| 3rd rifle | Nov 7 to Nov 15 | 6:07 AM to 5:20 PM | E-F-020-O3-R cow E-M-020-O3-R bull | D-F-020-O3-R doe D-M-020-O3-R buck |
| 4th rifle | Nov 18 to Nov 22 | 6:20 AM to 5:10 PM | E-F-020-O4-R cow E-M-020-O4-R bull | D-F-020-O4-R doe D-M-020-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 20 elk, unit 20 deer.
Nearest CPW properties to Simpson Ponds SWA
| Property | Distance | Direction | Mapped acres | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Thompson Ponds SWA | 1.9 miles | east | 50 | 20 |
| Boedecker Reservoir SWA | 5.7 miles | west | 432 | 20 |
| Lon Hagler SWA | 6.1 miles | west | 302 | 20 |
| Frank SWA | 7.6 miles | north-east | 122 | 94 |
| Webster SWA | 15.5 miles | east | 138 | 94 |
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 20
Eagle Canyon STLTwin Sisters 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.