The season has ended. Text and maps are left for reference purposes. 2023-2024 season updates and maps will be posted in late August.
Continuing in 2023: Big game hunting will be available on certain Walk-in Access Properties!
IMPORTANT: Big game hunters thinking of applying for licenses in 2023, on the basis of hunting on Walk-In Access (WIA) properties, must consider that each property is enrolled on an annual basis in July of each year. There can be significant turnover in properties that are available each year.
How to Know What Species Can be Hunted
Hunters should be aware that many WIA properties will be open for
both small game and big game, while other properties will remain small game only.
Please see the
Regular Walk-In Access brochure for additional details and properties. Note: Most big game properties are enrolled for the
Regular Walk-in Access Brochure. Some big game properties will be added to the
Late Cropland Walk-In Access brochure.
Program Details
Hunters note: Access dates for walk-in access (WIA) properties do not supersede normal small game hunting season dates. Regardless of access dates for WIA properties, when a particular game species season is closed, hunters cannot pursue that game species on the basis of the WIA program’s access dates.
Public access is allowed to these properties during one of four timeframes:
From
September 1 through the end of February annually for lands enrolled and posted as
Regular Season Walk-In Access properties;
From the opening day of pheasant season through the end of February annually for lands enrolled and posted as
Late Season Cropland Walk-In Access properties;
From the
opening day of pheasant season through the end of March annually for lands enrolled and posted as
Extended Walk-In Access properties;
- From
September 1 through the end of December annually for lands enrolled and posted as
Big Game Walk-In Access Properties.
Access is by foot only. Access is for hunting only; all other activities are prohibited. Additional regulations can be found in either Walk-In Access Atlas.
In addition, some properties are signed and regulated to reduce conflicts with landowners who are harvesting crops. This is most often a concern early in the pheasant season when landowners are still combining corn in center pivot circles with pivot corners planted to habitat and opened for access. When you see landowners harvesting crops, please respect that crop harvest is a very stressful time for landowners and give them the space they need to safely harvest.
In most cases, corners will only be closed for a day or two while the landowner completes harvest. All sprinkler corners will be posted with closure signs in addition to regular boundary signs. Adhering to this temporary closure will help us maintain excellent working relations with landowners, and will contribute to keeping high-quality sprinkler corners open to public walk-in hunting.
Hunters may download individual maps (to the right on a computer, bottom of the page in mobile).
Hunting licenses and
habitat stamps are available for sale online & by phone. Remember, licenses are now by season-year. See "License Requirements" within the
Small Game and Waterfowl Regulations Brochure.
Guidelines
Hunters can contribute greatly to the Walk-In Access Program's success by remembering one of the program's core rules: Be considerate of the landowners who choose to participate in the program and those who do not participate. Other guidelines for the use of these properties include:
Public access to these private parcels will be permitted for hunting small game, waterfowl and furbearers only. Some properties are open to big game hunting, as well.
All hunting must occur during established seasons as listed in the Small Game and Waterfowl Regulations Brochure or
Big Game Brochure.
Park where there is no danger of fire.
This is always crucial in Colorado!
Leave no trash in fields.
Do not clean game in or along the edges of walk-in access properties.
Determine field boundaries before hunting.
Small game hunters will have access to walk-in properties during big game seasons.
Hunters must walk into enrolled properties.
*The Conservation Reserve Program, commonly known as CRP, is administered by the United States Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency. Landowners offer their land for enrollment, and when accepted, agree to establish cover for the life of the agreement, in return for an annual rental payment. CRP fields, when seeded to beneficial cover, can be critical habitat for many species of wildlife.
