Tilman Bishop SWA: hunting rules and access
Tilman Bishop SWA is 113 acres of State Wildlife Area in Mesa County, Colorado, in game management units 30 and 41. CPW lists big game and waterfowl 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 | Mesa |
| Game management unit | 30, 41 |
| Size | 113 acres |
| Coordinates | 39.0989, -108.3645 (middle of the boundary CPW maps) |
| Map | Open Tilman Bishop SWA on the map |
| Among CPW properties in unit 30 | 3rd largest of 7 by the acres on CPW's pages, 6% of their 2,022 acres together |
| Among CPW properties in unit 41 | 2nd largest of 4 by the acres on CPW's pages, 31% 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.
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 prohibited March 15-July 15.
- B. Walk-in access only.
- C. Hunting allowed with archery equipment and shotguns with shot-shells or by falconry only.
- 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. Hunters must check in and out at property.
- E. Waterfowl hunters must use designated blinds.
- F. Discharging firearms or bows allowed only while hunting.
In CPW's regulations
- a. Public access is prohibited from March 15 through July 15.
- b. Public access is allowed by foot only.
- c. Hunting is allowed with archery equipment and shotguns with shot-shells or by falconry only.
- d. Big game and waterfowl hunting is allowed by reservation only.
- e. Waterfowl hunting is allowed from designated blinds only.
- f. 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.
- g. 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 Tilman Bishop 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 30 and 41, around Tilman Bishop SWA
- Elk in unit 30, 2024: 994 hunters in all seasons took 250 elk, 25% success (2023: 12% from 1,126 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 797 hunters, 28%. Unit 30 elk by season
- Deer in unit 30, 2024: 218 hunters in all seasons took 129 deer, 59% success (2023: 55% from 247 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 167 hunters, 72%. Unit 30 deer by season
- Unit 30: 869 square miles in Garfield and Mesa Counties, 0% national forest and 73.4% BLM land, from 4,500 to 8,500 feet.
- 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 units 30 and 41
| Season | 2026 dates | Legal shooting light here, opening day | Elk codes | Deer codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st rifle | Oct 14 to Oct 18 | 6:52 AM to 7:06 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 | 7:03 AM to 6:52 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-030-O2-R doe D-F-041-O2-R doe D-M-030-O2-R buck D-M-041-O2-R buck |
| 3rd rifle | Nov 7 to Nov 15 | 6:18 AM to 5:36 PM | E-F-021-O3-R cow 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-030-O3-R doe D-F-041-O3-R doe D-M-030-O3-R buck D-M-041-O3-R buck |
| 4th rifle | Nov 18 to Nov 22 | 6:30 AM to 5:27 PM | E-E-021-O4-R either-sex E-F-021-O4-R cow 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 and 1 more | D-M-030-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 30 elk, unit 30 deer, unit 41 elk, unit 41 deer.
Nearest CPW properties to Tilman Bishop SWA
| Property | Distance | Direction | Mapped acres | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin Island SWA | 6.4 miles | south-west | 42 | 30, 41 |
| Colorado River Island SWA | 7.1 miles | south-west | 67 | 30, 41 |
| Orchard Mesa Wildlife Area | 7.8 miles | south-west | 149 | 41 |
| Grand Junction - West Lake SWA | 11.6 miles | west | 6 | 30 |
| Mogensen Ponds SWA | 13.9 miles | north-east | 11 | 421 |
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 30, 41
Horsethief Canyon SWALoma Boat Launch SWAWalker 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.