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SWA · Saguache County
Russell Lakes State Wildlife Area, a guide for Colorado hunters
State wildlife area in Saguache County, 4,739 acres listed.
Photo: David Herrera (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Russell Lakes State Wildlife Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Russell Lakes State Wildlife Area
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 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.
Russell Lakes SWA: size, game and management
Acreage on record for Russell Lakes SWA: 4,739, from the CPW SWA page. In a size ranking of 224 state wildlife areas, Russell Lakes SWA lands at 36th. Saguache County holds 3 state wildlife areas in this guide, Russell Lakes SWA among them. CPW manages it within Area 17 of the Southwest Region, in the Monte Vista district. CPW lists the Area CPW Office, Monte Vista office at 719-587-6900 for this property. Brochure hunting entry: rabbit, dove, waterfowl. Visitors also come for wildlife viewing. Camping: yes, by the CPW page icons.
Game named for this ground: Waterfowl, Doves, Rabbits.
The page shows: Hunting, Nature Viewing.
From the agency page, 2026 Recreation Lands brochure, p. 24 (Colorado Parks and Wildlife); retrieved 2026-11-04, checked November 5, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Russell Lakes State Wildlife Area
Russell Lakes SWA: units, rules and 2024 harvest
Hunt codes for Russell Lakes SWA follow its 1 unit: GMU 682.
None of the units on Russell Lakes SWA carries the elk antler point restriction. Lion group: 14.
Unit-wide 2024 results, all manners of take; top line: GMU 682, 54 elk.
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.
Russell Lakes SWA entry and conduct rules
No license, no entry: on Russell Lakes SWA every visitor aged 16 or up holds a hunting or fishing license or an SWA Pass. Motor vehicles belong on open roads only, and overnight camping needs CPW authorization. Stands and blinds: portable only, never more than 30 days before opening day. Keep guns and bows quiet in lots, camps and picnic areas.
Lettered restrictions:
- Open for public access July 16 to February 14. and as otherwise posted. Sect. 29 closed during waterfowl seasons.
- Closed after 1 p.m. during first split waterfowl season.
- Parking only in established parking areas.
- Camping during waterfowl hunting seasons by licensed waterfowl hunt- ers and only in self-contained units in designated areas.
- Field trials may be authorized February, March, August and September
- Hunting or fishing license or Colorado State Wildlife Area Pass required, except for parking area and restroom located off Highway 285.
From the agency source, CPW SWA finder; checked November 5, 2026.
Licenses and dates for Russell Lakes SWA
No big game appears on the Russell Lakes SWA list, so the unit big game seasons are not repeated here.
| Species | Season | Applies in | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mourning dove | Season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 |
| 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 |
| Cottontail | Season | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 |
Season rows from the 2026 Small Game and Waterfowl brochure; property rules still apply; checked November 5, 2026.
Russell Lakes SWA: next-nearest hunting ground
Nearest neighbour on the map: Russell Creek STL, 3 miles east. The neighbour mix: 6 trust land parcels. Do not mistake these places for open ground: Orient Mine State Wildlife Area (CPW lists no hunting).
| Public land | Kind | Acres | County | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russell Creek STL | State trust land | 1,920 | Saguache | 3 miles | east |
| Werner Arroyo STL | State trust land | 640 | Saguache | 4 miles | northeast |
| Burro Springs STL | State trust land | 28,905 | Saguache | 9 miles | west |
| Mishak Lakes STL | State trust land | 2,567 | Saguache | 10 miles | east |
| Saguache Creek STL | State trust land | 2,714 | Saguache | 11 miles | east |
| Laughlin Gulch STL | State trust land | 640 | Saguache | 14 miles | northwest |
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.
Finding Russell Lakes SWA on the ground
How CPW says to get there: From Saguache, go 9 miles S on Highway 285 to CR R, then go 1.5 miles E.
The record point for Russell Lakes SWA is 37.9462, -106.1053, the centre of the mapped parcel.
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.
Legal light on Russell Lakes SWA, opener by opener
Deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and lion may be hunted from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset; turkey, small game and waterfowl stop at sunset.
| When | Event | Rise | Set | Big game | Small game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Resupply and services around Russell Lakes SWA
Saguache is the closest town on this site to Russell Lakes SWA, 10 miles as the crow flies. Of the five, Alamosa is the biggest at 9,906 residents (2024 estimate). CPW staff closest to Russell Lakes SWA work from Monte Vista (25 miles).
| Town | County | Pop. 2024 | Miles off | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saguache | Saguache | 530 | 10 miles | north |
| Crestone | Saguache | 140 | 23 miles | east |
| Del Norte | Rio Grande | 1,410 | 23 miles | southwest |
| Monte Vista | Rio Grande | 4,030 | 26 miles | south |
| Alamosa | Alamosa | 9,906 | 35 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.
Pictures for planning a Russell Lakes SWA hunt
Range stops on the way to Russell Lakes State Wildlife Area
Chaffee County Shooting Range (per the CPW page) is 50 miles from Russell Lakes State Wildlife Area. 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.
Quick answers about Russell Lakes SWA
Which office should I call before visiting Russell Lakes SWA?
Try Area CPW Office in Monte Vista, 719-587-6900.
Is pink allowed instead of orange on Russell Lakes SWA?
Fluorescent pink counts the same as orange; firearm big game hunters wear 500 square inches plus a hat.
Is it legal to hunt over bait on Russell Lakes SWA?
No. It is illegal to hunt big game, turkey, small game or migratory birds over bait in Colorado, whoever placed it.
From what time can I take a shot on Russell Lakes SWA?
On November 7, 2026, roughly 6:06 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. for big game in Saguache County; bird and small game hours end at sunset.
Can I spend the night on Russell Lakes SWA?
CPW lists camping.
Who publishes the rules for Russell Lakes SWA?
Colorado Parks and Wildlife, on its website.
Do I need anything beyond a hunting license for Russell Lakes SWA?
A valid Colorado hunting or fishing license, or the SWA Pass, covers entry for visitors 16 and up; your game license covers the hunt.
How many acres of hunting ground is Russell Lakes SWA?
4,739 acres, by the CPW SWA page.
What part of Colorado holds Russell Lakes SWA?
Look in Saguache County.
What are the GMU numbers for Russell Lakes SWA?
Units on the map for this ground: GMU 682.
Are there date or time limits on Russell Lakes SWA?
Open for public access July 16 to February 14. and as otherwise posted. Sect. 29 closed during waterfowl seasons.
What species are listed for Russell Lakes SWA?
Listed game here: waterfowl, doves and rabbits.
Do I need to test an elk from Russell Lakes SWA for CWD?
CWD testing is voluntary here ($25), since no unit is on the mandatory elk list. Bull elk here are not under the point rule.
What is the closest town with services to Russell Lakes SWA?
The closest town with a page here is Saguache (10 miles).
Russell Lakes SWA: the final check
Sign and attach your carcass tag right after the kill, and keep your license and hunter education card with you on Russell Lakes SWA.
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: Larry Lamsa (CC BY 2.0); ImagePerson (CC BY 4.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain).