Yampa River SWA: hunting rules and access
Yampa River SWA is 866 acres of State Wildlife Area in Routt County, Colorado, in game management unit 13. CPW lists waterfowl for it, and its rules for the property run to 4 lines: 2 on its page for the property and 2 in its regulations.
| Kind | State Wildlife Area |
|---|---|
| County | Routt |
| Game management unit | 13 |
| Size | 866 acres |
| Coordinates | 40.5093, -107.3933 (middle of the boundary CPW maps) |
| Map | Open Yampa River SWA on the map |
| Among CPW properties in unit 13 | 3rd largest of 7 by the acres on CPW's pages, 12% of their 7,099 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
Waterfowl.
Fishing, as CPW lists it: Fishing Opportunities, Coldwater Stream.
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. Discharge of firearms or bows is prohibited, except while hunting.
- B. Vessels allowed only while actively used for fishing, hunting or wildlife viewing.
In CPW's regulations
- a. Discharge of firearms or bows is prohibited, except while hunting.
- b. Launch or take out of vessels, except those being actively used for fishing, hunting or wildlife viewing 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 Yampa River 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 13, around Yampa River SWA
- Elk in unit 13, 2024: 1,219 hunters in all seasons took 496 elk, 41% success (2023: 27% from 1,262 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 946 hunters, 44%. Unit 13 elk by season
- Deer in unit 13, 2024: 245 hunters in all seasons took 108 deer, 44% success (2023: 47% from 228 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 227 hunters, 44%. Unit 13 deer by season
- Unit 13: 362 square miles in Moffat and Routt Counties, 0% national forest and 6.2% BLM land, from 6,200 to 8,000 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 13
| Season | 2026 dates | Legal shooting light here, opening day | Elk codes | Deer codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st rifle | Oct 14 to Oct 18 | 6:50 AM to 7:01 PM | E-F-011-O1-R cow E-M-011-O1-R bull | |
| 2nd rifle | Oct 24 to Nov 1 | 7:01 AM to 6:46 PM | E-F-012-O2-R cow E-F-131-O2-R cow E-F-231-O2-R cow E-M-000-U2-R bull | D-F-012-O2-R doe D-M-012-O2-R buck |
| 3rd rifle | Nov 7 to Nov 15 | 6:17 AM to 5:29 PM | E-F-012-O3-R cow E-F-131-O3-R cow E-M-000-U3-R bull | D-F-012-O3-R doe D-M-012-O3-R buck |
| 4th rifle | Nov 18 to Nov 22 | 6:30 AM to 5:20 PM | E-F-011-O4-R cow E-F-131-O4-R cow E-M-011-O4-R bull E-M-012-O4-R bull E-M-025-O4-R bull E-M-131-O4-R bull | D-M-012-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 13 elk, unit 13 deer.
Nearest CPW properties to Yampa River SWA
| Property | Distance | Direction | Mapped acres | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yampa River STL | 1.3 miles | south | 1,930 | 13 |
| Maynard Gulch STL | 1.5 miles | east | 715 | 13, 441 |
| Coal Bank Gulch STL | 6.4 miles | east | 872 | 441 |
| Stokes Gulch STL | 6.5 miles | south-east | 1,896 | 13 |
| Flanders Ranch SWA | 8.2 miles | east | 1,654 | 441 |
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 13
Grassy Creek STLJeffway Gulch STLSage 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.