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SWA · Washington County
Prewitt Reservoir State Wildlife Area, a guide for Colorado hunters
State wildlife area in Washington County and Logan County covering 2,924 acres.
Photo: Paul L Dineen (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Prewitt Reservoir State Wildlife Area
Facts on file for Prewitt Reservoir SWA
By the count in the CPW SWA page, there are 2,924 acres at Prewitt Reservoir SWA. Of 224 state wildlife areas listed here, Prewitt Reservoir SWA ranks 46th for size. Hunters in Washington County can choose from 2 state wildlife areas; this is one. Wildlife officers for Prewitt Reservoir SWA work out of Area 3, Northeast Region; district: Sterling S. The CPW page sends questions to the Area CPW Office, Brush office, 970-842-6300. The printed guide lists deer, dove, squirrel, waterfowl for hunters on Prewitt Reservoir SWA. For a fishing break the brochure lists warm-water. Recreation listed besides hunting: camping, wildlife viewing. CPW does not list camping among the amenities for Prewitt Reservoir SWA.
On the game list: Deer, Waterfowl, Doves, Squirrels.
CPW lists these uses: Hunting, Fishing, Nature Viewing Facilities Restrooms, Boat Ramp.
From the agency page, 2026 Recreation Lands brochure, p. 23 (Colorado Parks and Wildlife); retrieved 2026-11-04, checked November 5, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Prewitt Reservoir State Wildlife Area
Prewitt Reservoir SWA game management units
Prewitt Reservoir SWA lies in 1 game management unit: GMU 96.
Bull elk here are not under the antler point rule. Mountain lion harvest-limit group 19 covers these units.
The 2024 GMU harvest tables below are unit totals, not counts for Prewitt Reservoir SWA; GMU 96 had the largest figure, 191 deer.
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.
Before you walk onto Prewitt Reservoir SWA
Bring a current Colorado hunting or fishing license, or the State Wildlife Area Pass, if you are 16 or over; that is the standing SWA entry rule. Drive only on roads open to motor vehicles and camp only where CPW authorizes it. Only portable stands or blinds may go up, no sooner than 30 days ahead of the season. Parking areas, campgrounds and picnic spots are no-shoot zones for guns and bows.
CPW restrictions, as lettered on the page:
- Note that the $43 annual access permit requirement has been removed. Anyone age 16 or older must now have a valid hunting or fishing license, or the new Colorado State Wildlife Area Pass to access this property, and all other SWAs.
- Maximum of 250 vehicles on property at once.
- From October 1 through dark-goose season, fishing allowed only from dam. Ice fish- ing allowed only within 50 yards of dam. Boating prohibited except craft propelled by hand or electric motor used to set and pick up decoys and retrieve downed waterfowl.
- Hunting prohibited as posted, including from floating devices.
- Discharging firearms or bows allowed only for hunting.
- Waterskiing, glass containers, and per- sonal watercraft, OHV and snowmobile use prohibited.
- Operating a vessel in a manner that cre- ates a whitewater wake is prohibited.
- Sailing, windsurfing allowed only in July and August
- All loud noises that disturb the peace, except legal hunting activities, prohib ited from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. I. Fires allowed within containment structure in designated camping areas. J. Dogs must be under control and on leash by handler, except service animals or when actively hunting, training for hunt- ing or during licensed field trials.
From the agency source, CPW SWA finder; checked November 5, 2026.
Big game dates that apply on Prewitt Reservoir SWA
Big game hunters on Prewitt Reservoir SWA can choose from 7 dated windows, each tied to a hunt code. Every big game row for Prewitt Reservoir SWA is a limited license, so plan on the April draw. 4 private-land-only, Ranching for Wildlife or game damage rows for the same units are left out because they do not apply on public ground. Only the listed species are kept; 9 other big game rows are dropped.
| Animal | Method | Sex | License | Start | End | Valid in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | either sex | Limited draw | Oct 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | 96 |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | buck | Limited draw | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | 96 |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | doe | Limited draw | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | 96 |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited draw | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 3, 2026 | 96 |
| Deer | Rifle | doe | Limited draw | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 3, 2026 | 96 |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited, late | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 | 96 |
| Deer | Rifle | doe | Limited, late | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 | 96 |
Birds and small game
| Species | Hunt | Zone | Begins | Ends |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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.
What lies near Prewitt Reservoir SWA on the map
The list below starts with Messex SWA, 3 miles away to the west. Six neighbours, by kind: 3 SWAs and 3 trust land parcels. Off limits to hunting close by: Pawnee Valley State Trust Land (CPW lists no hunting).
| Public land | Kind | Acres | County | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Messex SWA | SWA | 680 | Washington | 3 miles | west |
| Brammer STL | State trust land | 2,918 | Morgan | 6 miles | west |
| Elliott SWA | SWA | 2,576 | Morgan | 7 miles | southwest |
| Atwood SWA | SWA | 180 | Logan | 7 miles | northeast |
| Atwood STL | State trust land | 120 | Logan | 9 miles | northeast |
| Overland Trail STL | State trust land | 40 | Logan | 10 miles | northeast |
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.
Finding Prewitt Reservoir SWA on the ground
Getting there (CPW): From I-76 and Merino exit, go 1 mile N to Highway 6, then 3.3 miles NE.
The pin sits at 40.4207, -103.3656.
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.
Legal light on Prewitt Reservoir SWA, opener by opener
The sun rises about twenty minutes later at Grand Junction than at Burlington, so use the times worked out for Prewitt Reservoir SWA.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Big game | Birds and small game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:21 a.m. | 7:25 p.m. | 5:51 a.m. to 7:55 p.m. | 5:51 a.m. to 7:25 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Duck season opens | 7:04 a.m. | 6:12 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 6:42 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 6:12 p.m. |
| Nov 23, 2026 | Lion season opens | 6:47 a.m. | 4:33 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 4:33 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:11 a.m. | 4:31 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 4:31 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.
Where to fuel up and buy ice near Prewitt Reservoir SWA
Gas, groceries and a motel bed: Sterling is the nearest, 17 miles away. Closest CPW office: Brush, 17 miles.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling | Logan | 13,114 | 17 miles | northeast |
| Akron | Washington | 1,745 | 19 miles | southeast |
| Fort Morgan | Morgan | 11,835 | 25 miles | southwest |
| Fleming | Logan | 422 | 33 miles | northeast |
| Holyoke | Phillips | 2,296 | 57 miles | east |
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.
Prewitt Reservoir SWA country in pictures
Prewitt Reservoir State Wildlife Area: the nearest public range, then clubs
North Sterling State Park Archery Range is 26 miles from Prewitt Reservoir 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 Prewitt Reservoir SWA
Who looks after wildlife on Prewitt Reservoir SWA?
Reach Area CPW Office in Brush, 970-842-6300.
What is the closest town with services to Prewitt Reservoir SWA?
The closest town with a page here is Sterling (17 miles).
Is it legal to hunt over bait on Prewitt Reservoir SWA?
No. It is illegal to hunt big game, turkey, small game or migratory birds over bait in Colorado, whoever placed it.
Does the orange rule apply on Prewitt Reservoir SWA?
Required for firearm big game; mesh is legal, camouflage orange is not.
Can I pitch a tent on Prewitt Reservoir SWA during the hunt?
Not by the CPW page, which shows no camping.
How early may a rifle hunter shoot on Prewitt Reservoir SWA?
For deer and elk, 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 after sunset; around Washington County on November 7, 2026 about 5:58 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.
What documents must I carry on Prewitt Reservoir SWA?
Entry rule: hunting license, fishing license or SWA Pass at 16 and over. Check the property restrictions for any exception.
Which official page should I bookmark for Prewitt Reservoir SWA?
Colorado Parks and Wildlife publishes it: official page.
Which county lines does Prewitt Reservoir SWA cross?
Washington County and Logan County; the county page lists the nearby ground.
How many acres are listed for Prewitt Reservoir SWA in the agency count?
2,924 acres on the agency count.
Are there date or time limits on Prewitt Reservoir SWA?
Note that the $43 annual access permit requirement has been removed. Anyone age 16 or older must now have a valid hunting or fishing license, or the new Colorado State Wildlife Area Pass to access this property, and all other SWAs.
Which unit should my license be for on Prewitt Reservoir SWA?
GMU 96; GMU lines follow roads and ridges, so check the map near a line.
Are there antler point restrictions on Prewitt Reservoir SWA?
No point minimum for bulls in these units. No mandatory CWD sampling reaches these units this year.
Which seasons matter on Prewitt Reservoir SWA?
Agency sources name deer, waterfowl, doves and squirrels.
Prewitt Reservoir SWA: the final check
Saw poaching on Prewitt Reservoir SWA? CPW's Turn In Poachers program rewards reports that lead to charges with licenses and preference points.
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: Charles Patrick Ewing (CC BY 2.0); DaPuglet (CC BY-SA 2.0); ImagePerson (CC BY 4.0).