Ranching For Wildlife

A Unique Opportunity for Colorado Residents

Ranching for Wildlife (RFW) started as a pilot program in 1986 with the intent to improve public hunting access to private land and to form a wildlife management partnership with participating landowners.

The program provides Colorado residents a unique opportunity to hunt on private ranch land normally closed to the public. Participating ranches provide public hunting recreation access to their land free of charge to those who draw licenses.

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Note: Big Game Ranching for Wildlife Packets are now available. Download your packet.

Video: Ranching for Wildlife - A Legacy of Ranching, Hunting & Conservation

Habitat, Hunting, and Heritage

Through the Ranching for Wildlife program, hunters can play an important role in helping CPW and landowners manage wildlife populations on private land. In addition to providing public hunting access to successful applicants, participating landowners are required to improve habitat on their ranch for both game and non-game animals. These efforts help preserve and enhance open spaces for wildlife to live and thrive and keep the hunting heritage alive for you and future generations.

Program Impact

25 ranches are currently enrolled.
Around 1 million acres of public access are provided.
More than 50,000 acres per year with active wildlife habitat improvements applied.
Improved livestock grazing systems on about 85 percent of the lands enrolled.
Seasons and license allocations are in place to improve game movement and enhance hunter harvest both on and off ranches.
About two-thirds of the ranches actively participate in exceptional youth hunting opportunities.
About one-third of the ranches donate hunts to conservation organizations for them to auction or raffle off to help raise funds for habitat improvement on private and public lands elsewhere (separate from CPW's auction & raffle program).

Ranch Finder

Ranch Quick Reference Guide

Ranch	GMUs	Acres	Species
Agner Mountain Ranch	3, 4, 214, 301, 441	45,140	Elk, Deer, Pronghorn
Aught Six Ranch	84, 85, 861	45,660	Elk
Blue Sage Ranch	3, 4, 214, 301, 441	51,570	Elk, Deer, Pronghorn
Buck Mountain Ranch	3, 4, 301	51,330	Elk, Deer, Pronghorn
Buffalo Horn Ranch	11, 211	12,040	Elk, Deer
Burns Hole Ranch	25, 26, 35	24,920	Elk, Deer
Deakins Ranch	301	27,510	Elk, Deer, Pronghorn
Elk Springs Ranch	11, 13	32,170	Elk, Deer, Pronghorn
Four Mile Ranch	3,4	21,300	Elk, Deer, Pronghorn
Hill Ranch	851	63,200	Elk, Deer
Kiowa Creek Ranch	104,105,110	81,070	Elk, Deer, Pronghorn, Bighorn Sheep
Lay Creek Ranch	3, 301	13,570	Elk, Deer, Pronghorn
M/R White River Ranch	23	16,520	Elk, Deer
Morgan Creek Ranch	12,211	45,150	Elk, Deer, Pronghorn
Mountain Meadows Ranch	84	10,960	Elk, Turkey
Pinon Mesa West Ranch	40	25,590	Elk, Deer
Purgatoire Ranch	136, 143, 144, 147	154,32	Deer, Pronghorn, Turkey
Silver Spur Ranch	6,16,161,171	58,430	Elk, Deer, Pronghorn, Moose
Snake River Ranch	3,4,5	63,400	Elk, Deer, Pronghorn
Tercio Ranch	851	24,870	Elk, Deer
Three Forks Ranch	5	40,370	Elk, Deer, Pronghorn
Three Springs Ranch	10	18,655	Elk, Deer
Twin Peaks Ranch	85	18,975	Elk, Deer
Visintainer Ranch	3,4,301	50,075	Elk, Deer, Pronghorn
Wolf Mountain Ranch	214, 441	13,600	Elk