Tamarack Ranch State Wildlife Area: where and how to hunt

Entry requirements for Tamarack Ranch SWA

The statewide SWA rule covers Tamarack Ranch 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 weekend of late plains rifle deer season, only deer hunting permitted.
• Mandatory check in and check out at check station. Hunters must park at hunting area checked into. After 9 a.m., hunters may hunt adjacent areas. Deer and turkey hunters only required to check into E, W or S Tamarack Area.
• From October 25 through end of regular duck seasons, reservations available but not required on weekends and state and federal holidays. See “Reservations: Hunting” (page 1) for details.
• Field trials may be authorized February, March, August and September Maximum of 3 trials in February, March or Aug, maximum of 1 trial in September
• Launching or takeout of vessels prohibited during waterfowl seasons.
• Camping only in designated areas. AUGMENTATION PONDS:.
• Waterfowl hunting is by lottery drawing from the opening day of second duck season through end of dark-goose season.
• Hunting allowed only on specific pond/hunt area each day.
• To enter drawing, send postcard or letter postmarked by September 30 to CPW Area Office in Brush, with name, address, phone number, CID number and desired reservation dates. Hunters must have valid license and stamps to hunt waterfowl to enter. Hunters may apply for multiple hunt dates on one submission.

Special access text: ['d. From October 25 through end of regular duck seasons, reservations available but not required on weekends and state and federal holidays. See “Reservations: Hunting” (page 1) for details.', 'g. Camping only in designated areas. Augmentation Ponds: a. Waterfowl hunting is by lottery drawing from the opening day of second duck season through end of dark-goose season.', 'c. To enter drawing, send postcard or letter postmarked by September

Hunting Reservation System bookings open at 9 a.m. online or by phone at 1-800-244-5613.

From the agency source, CPW SWA finder, Big Game brochure, reservations; checked November 5, 2026.

Route and map files for Tamarack Ranch SWA

Directions from the 2026 brochure: From I-76 at Crook exit (No 149), go 0.5 miles N on Highway 55.

Its map point, 40.8491, -102.7476, 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.

Shooting-light table for Tamarack Ranch SWA

In Tamarack Ranch SWA, the light goose conservation order and furbearer hunting both run to half an hour after sunset.

Lion hunting hours match big game.

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.