West Rifle Creek SWA: hunting rules and access
West Rifle Creek SWA is 941 acres of State Wildlife Area in Garfield County, Colorado, in game management unit 33. CPW lists bear, bobcat, deer, dove, elk, mountain lion, rabbit 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 |
|---|---|
| County | Garfield |
| Game management unit | 33 |
| Size | 941 acres |
| Coordinates | 39.6559, -107.8052 (middle of the boundary CPW maps) |
| Map | Open West Rifle Creek SWA on the map |
| Acres inside the boundary CPW maps | 2,092, against 941 on CPW's page. Both are CPW's own figures, and they do not agree |
| Among CPW properties in unit 33 | The largest of 2 by the acres on CPW's pages, 95% of their 989 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, Bobcat, Deer, Dove, Elk, Mountain lion, Rabbit, 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 prohibited on designated shooting range between sunset and sunrise.
- B. Discharge of firearms or bows prohibited, except while hunting or on the designated shooting range.
- C. Camping only by licensed hunters during big-game season, plus 3 days before and 3 days after each season.
- D. Fires allowed within containment structure while camping.
In CPW's regulations
- a. Public access is prohibited on the designated shooting range between sunset and sunrise.
- b. Discharge of firearms or bows is prohibited, except while hunting or on the designated shooting range.
- 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. Fires are allowed within a containment structure while camping.
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 West Rifle Creek 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 33, around West Rifle Creek SWA
- Elk in unit 33, 2024: 2,161 hunters in all seasons took 311 elk, 14% success (2023: 11% from 2,351 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 1,631 hunters, 14%. Unit 33 elk by season
- Deer in unit 33, 2024: 1,242 hunters in all seasons took 429 deer, 35% success (2023: 31% from 1,152 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 965 hunters, 38%. Unit 33 deer by season
- Unit 33: 416 square miles in Garfield and Rio Blanco Counties, 45.1% national forest and 27.8% BLM land, from 5,400 to 11,000 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 33
| Season | 2026 dates | Legal shooting light here, opening day | Elk codes | Deer codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd rifle | Oct 24 to Nov 1 | 7:01 AM to 6:49 PM | E-F-033-O2-R cow E-F-131-O2-R cow E-F-231-O2-R cow E-M-000-U2-R bull | D-M-033-O2-R buck |
| 3rd rifle | Nov 7 to Nov 15 | 6:17 AM to 5:33 PM | E-F-033-O3-R cow E-F-034-O3-R cow E-F-131-O3-R cow E-M-000-U3-R bull | D-M-033-O3-R buck |
| 4th rifle | Nov 18 to Nov 22 | 6:29 AM to 5:23 PM | E-F-033-O4-R cow E-F-034-O4-R cow E-F-131-O4-R cow E-M-025-O4-R bull E-M-026-O4-R bull E-M-033-O4-R bull E-M-034-O4-R bull E-M-131-O4-R bull | D-M-033-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 33 elk, unit 33 deer.
Nearest CPW properties to West Rifle Creek SWA
| Property | Distance | Direction | Mapped acres | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeler SWA | 10.4 miles | south-east | 48 | 33, 42 |
| Parachute Ponds SWA | 19.5 miles | south-west | 27 | 32, 42 |
| Garfield Creek SWA | 19.9 miles | south-east | 13,157 | 42 |
| Oak Ridge SWA - Sleepy Cat Ponds Unit | 20.9 miles | north | 27 | 23, 24 |
| Collins Mountain Ranch SWA (Limited Access Easement) | 21.5 miles | north | 2,422 | 23 |
Straight-line miles between the middles of the boundaries CPW maps, not road miles. A property can be much nearer at its edge.
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.