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Sikes Ranch State Wildlife Area hunting access and seasons
State wildlife area in Baca County and Las Animas County, about 7,139 acres.
Photo: Heath Alseike (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Sikes Ranch State Wildlife Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Sikes Ranch State Wildlife Area
- TrailheadTrailhead · 3.6 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.
Sikes Ranch SWA: licenses, dates and restrictions
Anyone 16 or older on Sikes Ranch SWA needs a valid Colorado hunting or fishing license or a State Wildlife Area Pass, unless the property rules below say otherwise. Stay on open roads in a vehicle and use only authorized camp spots. Portable blinds and tree stands are the only kind allowed, and not earlier than 30 days before the season. Firearms and bows may not be discharged in parking lots, camps or picnic grounds.
Rules posted for this property:
- Open for public access 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset. Hunters may remain as long as reasonable to retrieve downed game. Night hunting with permit also allowed.
- Access prohibited in building envelope and designated safety zones, as posted.
- Parking allowed only in designated areas.
- Trapping allowed with permit only. Permits must be on trappers at all times while trapping. Permits available at CPW Area Office in Lamar.
From the agency source, CPW SWA finder; checked November 5, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Sikes Ranch State Wildlife Area
Sikes Ranch SWA at a glance
Measured by the CPW SWA page, Sikes Ranch SWA runs to 7,139 acres. Sorted by acreage, Sikes Ranch SWA sits at number 24 of the 224 state wildlife areas in this guide. Counting Sikes Ranch SWA, Baca County has 4 state wildlife areas. On the CPW map it sits in Area 12 (Southeast Region) and the Pritchett/Kim district. The office named for Sikes Ranch SWA is Area CPW Office, Lamar; the number is 719-336-6600. Hunting, per the printed 2026 brochure: deer, turkey, predators. Fishing here: green sunfish, black bullhead catfish. Plan to sleep somewhere else, since camping is not listed.
You can pursue, by the agency list: Deer, Wild turkey, Furbearers.
Activities on the CPW page: Hunting, Fishing.
From the agency page, 2026 Recreation Lands brochure, p. 26 (Colorado Parks and Wildlife); retrieved 2026-11-04, checked November 5, 2026.
2026-27 seasons in the units of Sikes Ranch SWA
For Sikes Ranch SWA the season list holds 11 lines across its GMUs. OTC here means wild turkey; everything else is by limited license. Rows that need private land (11) stay off this table. 10 rows for species the agency does not list here are not shown. The spring turkey rows are the 2026 season; CPW has not yet published spring 2027 dates.
| Game | Weapon | Sex | Type | First day | Last day | GMUs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | either sex | Limited draw | Oct 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | 143, 144 |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | buck | Limited draw | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | 143, 144 |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | doe | Limited draw | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | 143, 144 |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited draw | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 3, 2026 | 143, 144 |
| Deer | Rifle | doe | Limited draw | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 3, 2026 | 143, 144 |
| Deer | Rifle | either sex | Limited draw | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 3, 2026 | 143, 144 |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited, late | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 | 143, 144 |
| Deer | Rifle | doe | Limited, late | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 | 143, 144 |
| Deer | Rifle | either sex | Limited, late | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 | 143, 144 |
| Wild turkey | Spring | – | OTC | Apr 11, 2026 | May 31, 2026 | 143, 144 |
| Wild turkey | Fall | – | OTC | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | 143, 144 |
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.
GMU rules that reach Sikes Ranch SWA
GMU overlay for Sikes Ranch SWA (2 units): GMU 143, GMU 144.
The antler point restriction list does not include any unit here. Group 20 set the lion harvest limit here.
| Unit | Counties | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| GMU 143 | Las Animas | lion group 20, spring turkey OTC, plains unit |
| GMU 144 | Baca | lion group 20, spring turkey OTC, plains unit |
GMU totals from 2024 give a sense of the game: GMU 143 produced 67 elk.
| GMU | Animal | Taken | Hunters | Success rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 143 | Elk | 67 | 143 | 47% |
| GMU 143 | Deer | 10 | 68 | 14% |
| GMU 143 | Pronghorn | 38 | 101 | 38% |
| GMU 144 | Elk | 31 | 120 | 26% |
| GMU 144 | Deer | 63 | 148 | 42% |
| GMU 144 | Pronghorn | 43 | 146 | 29% |
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.
Sikes Ranch SWA route and map files
Route, per the brochure: From Prichett, go W on Highway 160 to CR 3. Go S on CR 3 about 8 miles.
Coordinates used on this page: 37.1803, -103.0506.
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.
Supply towns and CPW help near Sikes Ranch SWA
The handiest town is Kim, 17 miles off in a straight line. A bigger stop is La Junta: population 6,986 in 2024. CPW Lamar Office is the closest CPW office, about 66 miles.
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kim | Las Animas | 65 | 17 miles | west |
| Springfield | Baca | 1,298 | 28 miles | northeast |
| La Junta | Otero | 6,986 | 62 miles | northwest |
| Las Animas | Bent | 2,361 | 62 miles | north |
| Hasty | Bent | – | 64 miles | north |
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.
Sikes Ranch SWA and the land around it
If Sikes Ranch SWA is busy, Sikes Ranch STL lies under a mile to the south. Close by you will find 6 trust land parcels.
| Area | Kind | Acres | County | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sikes Ranch STL | State trust land | 641 | Baca | under a mile | south |
| East Carrizo Creek STL | State trust land | 640 | Las Animas | 3 miles | northwest |
| Pat Canyon/Whitby STL | State trust land | 1,302 | Baca | 5 miles | southeast |
| Kirkwell STL | State trust land | 640 | Baca | 6 miles | east |
| Savory East STL | State trust land | 640 | Las Animas | 9 miles | north |
| Utleyville STL | State trust land | 657 | Baca | 9 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.
Game and terrain near Sikes Ranch SWA
Sikes Ranch SWA: when the legal day starts and ends
Walk-In Access properties open an hour before sunrise and close an hour after sunset, two hours for waterfowl, deer, elk and pronghorn hunters.
| Day | Moment | First sun | Last sun | Rifle hours | Shotgun hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:21 a.m. | 7:20 p.m. | 5:51 a.m. to 7:50 p.m. | 5:51 a.m. to 7:20 p.m. |
| Oct 28, 2026 | Duck season opens | 7:10 a.m. | 5:58 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. to 6:28 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. to 5:58 p.m. |
| Nov 23, 2026 | Lion season opens | 6:37 a.m. | 4:36 p.m. | 6:07 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. | 6:07 a.m. to 4:36 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:00 a.m. | 4:36 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 4:36 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.
Public and private ranges before Sikes Ranch State Wildlife Area
Prowers County holds the CPW-listed range nearest Sikes Ranch State Wildlife Area: Two Buttes State Wildlife Area Shooting Range (43 miles).
From the CPW Shooting Range Finder, ranges’ own pages and directory listings, checked November 5, 2026.
Sikes Ranch SWA: questions hunters ask
Which CPW contact handles Sikes Ranch SWA?
Area CPW Office in Lamar, 719-336-6600. Poaching tips can go to CPW Turn In Poachers.
Orange or pink on Sikes Ranch SWA?
Solid orange or pink, at least 500 square inches above the waist, and a hat, for firearm deer, elk, pronghorn, moose and bear.
Can deer or elk be baited on Sikes Ranch SWA?
No. Deer and elk may not be hunted over bait; migratory bird hunters also follow the federal 10-day baited-area rule.
What legal shooting hours apply on Sikes Ranch SWA in November?
Big game: half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset. On November 7, 2026 that works out to 5:50 a.m. to 5:18 p.m. in Baca County (NOAA solar formula).
Is camping allowed on Sikes Ranch SWA?
Camping is not listed as an amenity; plan to stay off the property.
Is there an official website for Sikes Ranch SWA?
Yes, run by Colorado Parks and Wildlife: the official page.
Is there an entry fee or permit for Sikes Ranch SWA?
Carry a Colorado hunting or fishing license or a State Wildlife Area Pass if you are 16 or older.
Roughly how much country does Sikes Ranch SWA take in?
About 7,139 acres in all.
Which county sheriff and county roads serve Sikes Ranch SWA?
GIS puts it in Baca County and Las Animas County.
Which game management units cover Sikes Ranch SWA?
The CPW GMU layer gives GMU 143 and GMU 144.
Is Sikes Ranch SWA open every day of the season?
Open for public access 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset. Hunters may remain as long as reasonable to retrieve downed game. Night hunting with permit also allowed.
What animals can be hunted on Sikes Ranch SWA?
Deer, wild turkey and furbearers.
Is CWD testing required for elk from Sikes Ranch SWA?
Testing is optional in these units; CPW charges $25 for a voluntary test. The antler point rule does not reach these GMUs.
Where do I buy gas and ice near Sikes Ranch SWA?
Kim is 17 miles from the record point.
Wrap-up for Sikes Ranch SWA
Confirm your hunt code, GMU and the open dates for Sikes Ranch SWA before you load the truck.
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: fishhawk (CC BY 2.0); Russ (CC BY 2.0); Adam Buzzo (CC BY 2.0).