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SWA · 2026-27 seasons
Bliss State Wildlife Area hunting, unit by unit
State wildlife area in Larimer County, 352 acres.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Bliss State Wildlife Area
Bliss SWA by the numbers
Bliss SWA takes in 352 acres according to the CPW SWA page. Size places it 160th out of 224 state wildlife areas in Colorado. 13 state wildlife areas touch Larimer County, and Bliss SWA is one of the set. Northeast Region, Area 4, Poudre River N/Laporte and Poudre River S district: that is the CPW chain for Bliss SWA. Contact on the property page: Area CPW Office, Fort Collins, phone 970-472-4300. The 2026 Recreation Lands brochure gives the hunting line for Bliss SWA as deer, elk, bighorn sheep, rabbit, dusky grouse. Fishing is listed too: cold-water stream. The brochure also notes wildlife viewing. Overnight stays: not an offered amenity here.
Hunting opportunities on record: Deer, Elk, Bighorn sheep, Dusky grouse, Rabbits.
Page activities: Hunting, Fishing, Nature Viewing.
From the agency page, 2026 Recreation Lands brochure, p. 6 (Colorado Parks and Wildlife); retrieved 2026-11-04, checked November 5, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Bliss State Wildlife Area
What Bliss SWA allows and forbids
At 16 and older, entry to Bliss SWA takes a Colorado hunting or fishing license or the SWA Pass. Vehicles stay on roads signed open, and camping is limited to authorized spots. Leave permanent stands at home: portable blinds and stands only, set up within 30 days of the opener. Never fire a gun or loose an arrow in a parking, camping or picnic area.
Restrictions on Bliss SWA:
- Vessel use prohibited.
From the agency source, CPW SWA finder; checked November 5, 2026.
Finding Bliss SWA on the ground
Brochure directions: From La Porte, go 5 miles N on Highway 287 to Highway 14, then go 41 miles W.
Bliss SWA is plotted at 40.7053, -105.7546 on the statewide map.
Directions from the 2026 Colorado State Recreation Lands brochure; map files from the CPW property page; point from CPW Managed Properties (public access only) layer, CPWAdminData (1 polygon) (polygon centroid of the largest part); checked November 5, 2026.
GMUs and unit rules on Bliss SWA
Big game licenses here are sold by unit, and Bliss SWA touches 2 GMUs: GMU 8, GMU 19.
Elk antler point restrictions apply in GMU 8 and GMU 19. Mandatory free CWD testing applies to listed rifle elk hunt codes in GMU 8 and GMU 19. For lions, the units fall in harvest-limit group 4.
| Unit | Where | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| GMU 8 | Larimer | elk antler point rule, elk CWD testing, lion group 4 |
| GMU 19 | Larimer | elk antler point rule, elk CWD testing, lion group 4 |
CPW publishes harvest by GMU, not by property. In 2024, GMU 19 led these units with 333 deer taken.
| Unit | Animal | Harvest | Hunters | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 8 | Elk | 208 | 2,219 | 9% |
| GMU 8 | Deer | 241 | 1,335 | 18% |
| GMU 8 | Pronghorn | 34 | 96 | 36% |
| GMU 8 | Black bear | 1 | – | – |
| GMU 19 | Elk | 119 | 1,140 | 10% |
| GMU 19 | Deer | 333 | 1,138 | 29% |
| GMU 19 | Pronghorn | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| GMU 19 | Black bear | 7 | – | – |
GMU overlay from the CPW Big Game GMU layer; unit rules from the 2026 Big Game brochure; 2024 elk harvest by GMU, 2024 deer harvest by GMU, 2024 pronghorn harvest by GMU, 2024 bear harvest by GMU; checked November 5, 2026.
Bliss SWA season calendar by GMU
The units of Bliss SWA carry 20 big game seasons this year. No over-the-counter big game row reaches these units. We dropped 3 rows valid only on private land or enrolled ranches. The table follows the species list for Bliss SWA, which removes 15 rows.
| Species | Season | Sex | Kind | From | To | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk | Archery | either sex | Limited draw | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 8, 19 |
| Elk | Muzzleloader | bull | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 8, 19 |
| Elk | Muzzleloader | cow | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 8, 19 |
| Elk | Rifle | bull | Limited draw | Oct 14, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | 8, 19 |
| Elk | Rifle | bull | Limited draw | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 8, 19 |
| Elk | Rifle | cow | Limited draw | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 8, 19 |
| Elk | Rifle | bull | Limited draw | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | 8, 19 |
| Elk | Rifle | cow | Limited draw | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | 8, 19 |
| Elk | Rifle | bull | Limited draw | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 8, 19 |
| Elk | Rifle | cow | Limited draw | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 8, 19 |
| Elk | Rifle | cow | Limited, late | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 9, 2026 | 8, 19 |
| Deer | Archery | either sex | Limited draw | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 8, 19 |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | buck | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 8, 19 |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | doe | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 8, 19 |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited draw | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 8, 19 |
| Deer | Rifle | doe | Limited draw | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 8, 19 |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited draw | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | 8, 19 |
| Deer | Rifle | doe | Limited draw | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | 8, 19 |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited draw | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 8, 19 |
| Deer | Rifle | doe | Limited, late | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | 19 |
Seasons for the smaller game on the list
| Species | Season | Zone | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dusky grouse | Season | West of I-25 | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 |
| Cottontail | Season | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 |
Season rows and hunt codes from the 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, the 2026 Small Game and Waterfowl brochure, the Turkey brochure and the Mountain Lion brochure; property access dates still apply; checked November 5, 2026.
Mapped neighbours of Bliss SWA
Roosevelt National Forest sits 5 miles southeast of the Bliss SWA point. Nearby public places include 3 SWAs, 2 trust land parcels and 1 national forest. Neighbours closed to hunting: Bellaire Lake State Wildlife Area (CPW lists no hunting).
| Name | Kind | Size (ac) | County | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roosevelt National Forest | National forest | 814,417 | Larimer | 5 miles | southeast |
| Arrowhead STL | State trust land | 200 | Larimer | 6 miles | east |
| Manhattan Creek STL | State trust land | 320 | Larimer | 9 miles | east |
| West Lake SWA (Larimer County) | SWA | 38 | Larimer | 11 miles | northeast |
| Parvin Lake SWA | SWA | 180 | Larimer | 12 miles | northeast |
| Dowdy Lake SWA | SWA | 120 | Larimer | 12 miles | northeast |
Point: CPW Managed Properties (public access only) layer, CPWAdminData (1 polygon) (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Closed places from lands.json closed rows. Statewide public land map.
Bliss SWA: nearby towns, shops and the CPW office
Measured in a straight line, Red Feather Lakes is 12 miles from Bliss SWA. For a full-size grocery run, Fort Collins (170,924 people) is the pick. You can reach the Fort Collins CPW office in about 37 miles of straight line.
| Town | County | 2024 population | Away | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Feather Lakes | Larimer | – | 12 miles | northeast |
| Walden | Jackson | 557 | 28 miles | west |
| Fort Collins | Larimer | 170,924 | 38 miles | east |
| Loveland | Larimer | 81,102 | 41 miles | southeast |
| Granby | Grand | 2,305 | 45 miles | south |
Towns from places.json (Census 2024 estimates); CPW offices from the CPW Contact Us page; businesses from services.json listings; straight-line miles. Checked November 5, 2026.
Clock times for hunting Bliss SWA
Big game light near Bliss SWA starts 30 minutes before sunrise and ends 30 minutes after sunset; turkeys, small game and ducks end at sunset.
| Day | Marker | Sun up | Sun down | Elk and deer | Turkey and ducks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 2026 | Pronghorn bow opener | 6:12 a.m. | 8:02 p.m. | 5:42 a.m. to 8:32 p.m. | 5:42 a.m. to 8:02 p.m. |
| Sep 2, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:29 a.m. | 7:35 p.m. | 5:59 a.m. to 8:05 p.m. | 5:59 a.m. to 7:35 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Muzzleloader opens | 6:39 a.m. | 7:18 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 7:48 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 7:18 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Duck season opens | 7:14 a.m. | 6:20 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 6:50 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 6:20 p.m. |
| Nov 23, 2026 | Lion season opens | 6:57 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:22 a.m. | 4:38 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. |
Hours rules from the 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure and the Small Game and Waterfowl brochure; sunrise and sunset worked out for this location with the NOAA solar formula (Mountain Time); checked November 5, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Landscape and game around Bliss SWA
Public and private ranges before Bliss State Wildlife Area
Grand County holds the CPW-listed range nearest Bliss State Wildlife Area: Byers Canyon Shooting Range (50 miles). Beside it sit the closest club ranges inside 30 miles.
From the CPW Shooting Range Finder, ranges’ own pages and directory listings, checked November 5, 2026.
Questions about Bliss SWA, answered
What game can be hunted on Bliss SWA?
The agency lists deer, elk, bighorn sheep, dusky grouse and rabbits.
Is elk on Bliss SWA draw only?
No. All 11 elk rows for these units are limited licenses from the draw.
Which special elk rules cover Bliss SWA?
Free mandatory CWD tests apply to some rifle elk codes in GMU 8 and GMU 19. GMU 8 and GMU 19 carry the elk antler point restriction.
Which community sits nearest to Bliss SWA?
Red Feather Lakes (12 miles).
Where do I report trouble on Bliss SWA?
Area CPW Office in Fort Collins, 970-472-4300; CPW offices close on state holidays.
Must I wear blaze orange or pink on Bliss SWA?
Yes for firearm big game: 500 square inches of fluorescent orange or pink on the upper body and a matching head covering. Camo orange does not count.
What does the bait law mean on Bliss SWA?
You may not hunt big game over salt, minerals, grain, animal parts or other food, whether or not you placed it.
When does big game light begin and end on Bliss SWA?
Big game 6:08 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. on November 7, 2026 at the Larimer County centre; turkey, small game and ducks stop at sunset.
Where do hunters sleep when they hunt Bliss SWA?
Off the property: no camping icon shows on the CPW page.
Which agency page should I check for Bliss SWA?
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife page has the current rules.
What does it take to hunt Bliss SWA legally?
The SWA rule applies: 16 and older need a Colorado hunting or fishing license, or the wildlife area pass.
What acreage does the record give for Bliss SWA?
All told it takes in 352 acres.
Which county sheriff and county roads serve Bliss SWA?
GIS puts it in Larimer County.
What hunt code unit applies to Bliss SWA?
It overlaps GMU 8 and GMU 19.
Plan the Bliss SWA trip
Property rules, closures and reservation needs on Bliss SWA can change mid-season; posted signs and the agency page have the last word.
Sources: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4; seasons from the 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure. Checked November 5, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Ligocsicnarf89 (CC BY 4.0); mbarrison (CC BY-SA 2.0); Jim, the Photographer (CC BY 2.0).