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SWA · Saguache County
Dome Lakes State Wildlife Area, a guide for Colorado hunters
State wildlife area in Saguache County (420 acres).
Photo: David Herrera (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Dome Lakes State Wildlife Area
Entry requirements for Dome Lakes SWA
The statewide SWA rule covers Dome Lakes SWA: visitors 16+ carry a hunting license, a fishing license or the State Wildlife Area Pass. Keep trucks on open roads; pitch a tent only in places CPW allows. A blind or stand must be portable and can be placed at most 30 days before the season. Discharge of firearms or bows is banned in parking, camping and picnic areas.
Site rules from CPW:
- Discharging firearms or bows prohibited in designated safety zones or as posted.
- Dogs must be under control and on leash by handler, except when used as an aid in hunting waterfowl.
- Camping allowed in designated areas.
- Fires allowed within containment structure in designated camping areas.
From the agency source, CPW SWA finder; checked November 5, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Dome Lakes State Wildlife Area
What the agency says about Dome Lakes SWA
Going by the CPW SWA page, Dome Lakes SWA covers 420 acres. 224 state wildlife areas appear on this site, and by acres Dome Lakes SWA comes 149th. Within Saguache County there are 3 state wildlife areas on file. For CPW purposes Dome Lakes SWA belongs to Area 16 in the Southwest Region, district Gunnison E. In the 2026 brochure the hunting entry reads: waterfowl. Anglers will find cold-water lakes on the same ground. Non-hunting uses noted: hiking, wildlife viewing. The CPW page marks camping as offered on Dome Lakes SWA.
The listed quarry: Waterfowl.
Allowed activities per CPW: Hunting, Fishing, Nature Viewing, Hiking and Walking Facilities Restrooms.
From the agency page, 2026 Recreation Lands brochure, p. 11 (Colorado Parks and Wildlife); retrieved 2026-11-04, checked November 5, 2026.
Open seasons for Dome Lakes SWA species
Dome Lakes SWA lists no deer, elk or other big game; use the bird and small game dates below.
| Game | Hunt | Area | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ducks and coots | Season | Eastern zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 |
| Ducks and coots | Season (split) | Mountain zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 |
| Ducks and coots | Season (split) | Western zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 |
| Dark geese | San Luis Valley season (split) | Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla | Oct 3, 2026 | Feb 14, 2027 |
| Dark geese | Season | except zone | Nov 2, 2026 | Feb 14, 2027 |
Season rows from the 2026 Small Game and Waterfowl brochure; property rules still apply; checked November 5, 2026.
Which units cover Dome Lakes SWA
The CPW unit layer puts Dome Lakes SWA in 1 GMU: GMU 67.
In GMU 67 a legal bull elk must meet the antler point rule. Lion hunters check the quota for group 10 before going out. GMU 67 lie in the lynx recovery area, with extra trapping and lure rules.
Read these as whole-unit numbers: the biggest 2024 total among them was 349 deer in GMU 67.
| Unit | Species | Harvest | Hunters | Pct success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 67 | Elk | 345 | 1,061 | 33% |
| GMU 67 | Deer | 349 | 517 | 68% |
| GMU 67 | Pronghorn | 15 | 18 | 81% |
| GMU 67 | Black bear | 1 | – | – |
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.
Finding Dome Lakes SWA on the ground
Directions from the 2026 brochure: From Gunnison, go 8 miles E on Highway 50. Turn right on Highway 114, go 20 miles S/SE. Turn right on CR NN14, go 5 miles.
Its map point, 38.1971, -106.7321, comes from the boundary layer.
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); checked November 5, 2026.
Towns and outfitters within reach of Dome Lakes SWA
Count on Cathedral, about 18 miles out, as the first town for supplies. Census 2024 counts 6,821 people in Gunnison, the largest nearby. The nearest CPW office is in Gunnison, 26 miles away.
| Community | County | Residents | Straight line | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cathedral | Hinsdale | – | 18 miles | southwest |
| City of Creede | Mineral | 281 | 26 miles | southwest |
| Gunnison | Gunnison | 6,821 | 26 miles | northwest |
| Saguache | Saguache | 530 | 33 miles | east |
| Lake City | Hinsdale | 413 | 34 miles | west |
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.
Public places a short drive from Dome Lakes SWA
The closest other public ground is Cochetopa SWA, under a mile to the southwest. Within the six nearest places are 3 SWAs, 2 trust land parcels and 1 BLM field office. Closed to hunting nearby: Waunita Watchable Wildlife Area (CPW lists no hunting).
| Public land | Kind | Acres | County | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cochetopa SWA | SWA | 6,712 | Saguache | under a mile | southwest |
| Los Creek STL | State trust land | 320 | Saguache | 5 miles | southeast |
| BLM Gunnison Field Office | BLM field office | 600,000 | Gunnison | 7 miles | north |
| Dutch Gulch SWA | SWA | 320 | Gunnison | 17 miles | north |
| Mason Family SWA | SWA | 1,429 | Hinsdale | 18 miles | west |
| Jacks Creek STL | State trust land | 640 | Saguache | 20 miles | east |
Point: CPW Managed Properties (public access only) layer, CPWAdminData (1 polygon) (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Closed places from lands.json closed rows. Statewide public land map.
A look at the country near Dome Lakes SWA
Legal light on Dome Lakes SWA, opener by opener
In Dome Lakes SWA, the light goose conservation order and furbearer hunting both run to half an hour after sunset.
| Date | Why it matters | Sunrise | Sunset | Big game hours | Bird hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 2026 | Pronghorn bow opener | 6:19 a.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 5:49 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. | 5:49 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. |
| Sep 2, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:35 a.m. | 7:35 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 8:05 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 7:35 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Muzzleloader opens | 6:43 a.m. | 7:20 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 7:50 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 7:20 p.m. |
| Oct 3, 2026 | Duck season opens | 7:01 a.m. | 6:47 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 7:17 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 6:47 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Second rifle opens | 7:21 a.m. | 6:17 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 6:47 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 6:17 p.m. |
| Nov 23, 2026 | Lion season opens | 6:54 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 5:19 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 4:49 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:17 a.m. | 4:48 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 5:18 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 4:48 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.
Dome Lakes State Wildlife Area: the nearest public range, then clubs
Chaffee County Shooting Range is 48 miles from Dome Lakes State Wildlife Area and is the nearest public range in CPW’s finder. After the public range come the nearest clubs within 30 miles.
From the CPW Shooting Range Finder, ranges’ own pages and directory listings, checked November 5, 2026.
Quick answers about Dome Lakes SWA
What license or pass gets me onto Dome Lakes SWA?
Anyone 16 or older needs a Colorado hunting or fishing license or a State Wildlife Area Pass, plus the license for the game you hunt.
Where do I confirm the rules for Dome Lakes SWA?
Check the agency page run by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Which county lines does Dome Lakes SWA cross?
Saguache County; the county page lists the nearby ground.
How much room is there to roam on Dome Lakes SWA?
Listed size: 420 acres.
Which game does Dome Lakes SWA hold?
Waterfowl, by the agency list.
Which GMUs does Dome Lakes SWA overlap?
Units on the CPW layer: GMU 67.
What is the closest town with services to Dome Lakes SWA?
The closest town with a page here is Cathedral (18 miles).
CWD and antler rules for Dome Lakes SWA?
The point restriction on bull elk covers GMU 67. No mandatory CWD testing GMU here; deer testing is not mandatory in 2026.
What blaze orange rule applies on Dome Lakes SWA?
With any firearm license for deer, elk, pronghorn, moose or bear: 500 square inches of solid orange or pink above the waist plus an orange or pink hat.
Who can answer a question about conditions on Dome Lakes SWA?
Phone CPW Gunnison Office in Gunnison, (970) 641-7060 (26 miles away).
What clock times bound legal hunting on Dome Lakes SWA?
Half an hour either side of the sun for big game, which on November 7, 2026 means 6:06 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. in Saguache County.
Is it legal to hunt over bait on Dome Lakes SWA?
No. It is illegal to hunt big game, turkey, small game or migratory birds over bait in Colorado, whoever placed it.
Does the CPW page show camping for Dome Lakes SWA?
Camping is marked available; check the restrictions for limits.
Dome Lakes SWA: the final check
Use this page to plan, then reread the agency page for Dome Lakes SWA the week before the trip.
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: Yellowstone National Park (Public domain); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain); USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain).