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SWA · CPW-managed ground
Hunt Pony Express State Wildlife Area: units, rules and dates
State wildlife area in Sedgwick County (1,854 acres).
Photo: Don Henise (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Pony Express State Wildlife Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Pony Express State Wildlife Area
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.
Entry requirements for Pony Express SWA
The statewide SWA rule covers Pony Express 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:
- Open 4 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- On opening weekend of regular plains rifle deer season and first day and week- end of late plains rifle deer season, only deer hunting permitted.
- Launching or takeout of vessels prohibited during waterfowl seasons.
- Closed to goose hunting through dark geese season. Additional Resources: Hunting: Snow Geese.
From the agency source, CPW SWA finder; checked November 5, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Pony Express State Wildlife Area
What the agency says about Pony Express SWA
Going by the CPW SWA page, Pony Express SWA covers 1,854 acres. 224 state wildlife areas appear on this site, and by acres Pony Express SWA comes 68th. Within Sedgwick County there are 4 state wildlife areas on file. For CPW purposes Pony Express SWA belongs to Area 3 in the Northeast Region, district Holyoke/Julesburg. Call 970-842-6300 (Area CPW Office, Brush) about conditions on Pony Express SWA. In the 2026 brochure the hunting entry reads: deer, turkey, quail, dove, rabbit, squirrel, ducks, snow geese. Non-hunting uses noted: wildlife viewing. The CPW page marks camping as not offered on Pony Express SWA.
The listed quarry: Deer, Wild turkey, Waterfowl, Doves, Quail, Rabbits, Squirrels.
Allowed activities per CPW: Hunting, Nature Viewing.
From the agency page, 2026 Recreation Lands brochure, p. 22 (Colorado Parks and Wildlife); retrieved 2026-11-04, checked November 5, 2026.
Open seasons by unit on Pony Express SWA
In all, 12 public-land season rows apply in these GMUs. OTC options in these units: wild turkey. Private-land-only and ranch rows (3) are not shown. 6 unit rows for unlisted game are omitted. Note: spring turkey shows 2026 dates until CPW prints 2027.
| Game | Method | Sex | Sale | Opens | Closes | GMUs here |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | either sex | Limited draw | Oct 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | 92 |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | buck | Limited draw | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | 92 |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | doe | Limited draw | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | 92 |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited draw | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 3, 2026 | 92 |
| Deer | Rifle | doe | Limited draw | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 3, 2026 | 92 |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited, late | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 | 92 |
| Deer | Rifle | doe | Limited, late | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 | 92 |
| Wild turkey | Spring | – | Limited draw | Apr 11, 2026 | May 1, 2026 | 92 |
| Wild turkey | Spring | – | OTC | Apr 11, 2026 | May 31, 2026 | 92 |
| Wild turkey | Spring | – | Limited draw | May 2, 2026 | May 31, 2026 | 92 |
| Wild turkey | Fall | – | Limited, late | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | 92 |
| Wild turkey | Fall | – | Limited, youth | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | 92 |
Small game, birds and furbearers
| Game | Hunt | Area | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quail | Season 2 | East of I-25 | Nov 14, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 |
| Mourning dove | Season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 |
| Ducks and coots | Season (split) | Northeast zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 |
| Dark geese | Season | except zone | Nov 2, 2026 | Feb 14, 2027 |
| Fox squirrel | Season | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 |
| Cottontail | Season | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 |
| Abert's squirrel | Season | Statewide | Nov 15, 2026 | Jan 15, 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.
Which units cover Pony Express SWA
The CPW unit layer puts Pony Express SWA in 1 GMU: GMU 92.
No antler point limit on bulls in the units of Pony Express SWA. Lion hunters check the quota for group 19 before going out.
Read these as whole-unit numbers: the biggest 2024 total among them was 114 deer in GMU 92.
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.
Where Pony Express SWA is and how to get in
Directions from the 2026 brochure: From I-76 at Julesburg exit (No 180), go 0.1 miles N on Highway 385 to CR 28, then go 1.5 miles W on CR 28 to service road. Go 0.1 miles N to parking lot. Or, from Julesburg, go 0.7 miles W on Highway 138 to CR 39, then go 0.9 miles S on CR 39.
Its map point, 40.9557, -102.2963, 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 of the largest part); checked November 5, 2026.
Towns and outfitters within reach of Pony Express SWA
Count on Julesburg, about 3 miles out, as the first town for supplies. Census 2024 counts 13,114 people in Sterling, the largest nearby. The nearest CPW office is in Brush, 84 miles away.
| Community | County | Residents | Straight line | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julesburg | Sedgwick | 1,223 | 3 miles | northeast |
| Holyoke | Phillips | 2,296 | 26 miles | south |
| Fleming | Logan | 422 | 34 miles | southwest |
| Sterling | Logan | 13,114 | 52 miles | southwest |
| Wray | Yuma | 2,363 | 61 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.
Public places a short drive from Pony Express SWA
The closest other public ground is Sedgwick Bar SWA, 10 miles to the west. Within the six nearest places are 5 SWAs and 1 trust land parcel.
| Nearby | Type | Acres | County | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedgwick Bar SWA | SWA | 885 | Sedgwick | 10 miles | west |
| Sand Draw SWA | SWA | 209 | Sedgwick | 10 miles | southeast |
| Jumbo (Julesburg) Reservoir SWA | SWA | 1,703 | Sedgwick | 19 miles | west |
| Red Lion SWA | SWA | 1,297 | Logan | 19 miles | west |
| Red Lion Ranch STL | State trust land | 200 | Logan | 20 miles | west |
| Tamarack Ranch SWA | SWA | 10,695 | Logan | 25 miles | west |
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.
A look at the country near Pony Express SWA
Pony Express SWA sunrise, sunset and shooting times
In Pony Express 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:16 a.m. | 7:23 p.m. | 5:46 a.m. to 7:53 p.m. | 5:46 a.m. to 7:23 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Duck season opens | 7:01 a.m. | 6:08 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 6:38 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 6:08 p.m. |
| Nov 23, 2026 | Lion season opens | 6:45 a.m. | 4:27 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 4:27 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:10 a.m. | 4:24 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. to 4:24 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.
Pony Express State Wildlife Area: the nearest public range, then clubs
North Sterling State Park Archery Range is 52 miles from Pony Express 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.
Pony Express SWA FAQ from the agency sources
Does Pony Express SWA keep set hours or dates?
The restrictions say: Open 4 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Which GMUs does Pony Express SWA overlap?
Units on the CPW layer: GMU 92.
CWD and antler rules for Pony Express SWA?
No elk antler point restriction in these units. No mandatory CWD testing GMU here; deer testing is not mandatory in 2026.
Which game does Pony Express SWA hold?
Deer, wild turkey, waterfowl, doves, quail, rabbits and squirrels, by the agency list.
Who can answer a question about conditions on Pony Express SWA?
Phone Area CPW Office in Brush, 970-842-6300.
Where should I stay when hunting Pony Express SWA?
Julesburg is your nearest base, 3 miles off.
Can I set out bait, salt or grain on Pony Express SWA?
No bait for big game, turkey, small game or birds; normal agricultural salt and mineral blocks are the only exception for big game.
What blaze orange rule applies on Pony Express 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.
Does the CPW page show camping for Pony Express SWA?
Camping is not offered here.
What clock times bound legal hunting on Pony Express SWA?
Half an hour either side of the sun for big game, which on November 7, 2026 means 5:56 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. in Sedgwick County.
What license or pass gets me onto Pony Express 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 Pony Express SWA?
Check the agency page run by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Which county lines does Pony Express SWA cross?
Sedgwick County; the county page lists the nearby ground.
How much room is there to roam on Pony Express SWA?
Listed size: 1,854 acres.
One last look at Pony Express SWA
Use this page to plan, then reread the agency page for Pony Express 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: Paul VanDerWerf (CC BY 2.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); PierreSelim (CC BY 3.0); grendelkhan (CC BY-SA 2.0); Adam Buzzo (CC BY 2.0).