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SWA · CPW-managed ground
Hunt Totten Reservoir State Wildlife Area: units, rules and dates
State wildlife area in Montezuma County; 250 acres.
Photo: Alan Levine (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Totten Reservoir State Wildlife Area
Inside the Totten Reservoir SWA listing
250 acres is the figure the CPW SWA page gives for Totten Reservoir SWA. Rank by area: 172nd of the 224 state wildlife areas we cover. It is one of 7 state wildlife areas inside Montezuma County. It falls in CPW Area 15, Southwest Region, where the Cortez district wildlife manager patrols. For Totten Reservoir SWA, the page gives 970-247-0855 at the Area CPW Office, Durango office. CPW printed waterfowl under hunting for Totten Reservoir SWA in the 2026 brochure. Fishing line in the brochure: warm-water. Recreation entry: picnicking, wildlife viewing. No camping icon appears on the Totten Reservoir SWA page.
Species the agency lists here: Waterfowl.
Activity icons: Hunting, Fishing, Picnicking, Nature Viewing Facilities Restrooms, Boat Ramp.
From the agency page, 2026 Recreation Lands brochure, p. 28 (Colorado Parks and Wildlife); retrieved 2026-11-04, checked November 5, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Totten Reservoir State Wildlife Area
Access rules on Totten Reservoir SWA
Like every SWA, Totten Reservoir SWA asks people 16 and older for a Colorado hunting or fishing license or the wildlife area pass. Off-road driving is out, and so is camping outside authorized sites. The stand rule is portable equipment only, placed no earlier than 30 days before the season. No shooting a firearm or bow in parking, camping or picnic areas.
Property restrictions for Totten Reservoir SWA:
- Open for public access 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset; no time restrictions for fishing.
- Closed along N shore March 1 to May 31.
- Glass containers prohibited.
- Hunting prohibited in inlet as posted.
- Launching and use of vessels may be allowed as posted. Contact the Durango CPW office for current information. When allowed, operating a vessel in a manner that creates a whitewater wake is prohibited.
- Dogs must be under control and on leash by handler, except service animals or when actively hunting, training for hunting or during licensed field trials.
- Valid hunting or fishing or Colorado State Wildlife Area Pass NOT required to access this property.
From the agency source, CPW SWA finder; checked November 5, 2026.
Where Totten Reservoir SWA is and how to get in
Printed directions: From Cortez, go 3.5 miles E on Highway 160 to CR 29, then 1 mile N.
Mapped centre: 37.3664, -108.5302.
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.
Unit map facts for Totten Reservoir SWA
Check the license against the unit; Totten Reservoir SWA falls in 1 GMU: GMU 73.
Bull elk hunters in GMU 73 must count points before shooting. CWD sampling is required for some rifle elk hunt codes in GMU 73. The lion season closes when group 16 reaches its limit.
There is no property-level harvest figure for Totten Reservoir SWA; GMU 73 topped the 2024 unit tables with 302 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.
Totten Reservoir SWA: which hunts are open when
Only small game or birds are listed for Totten Reservoir SWA.
| Bird or animal | Season | Zone | First day | Last day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ducks and coots | Season (split) | Western zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 |
Season rows from the 2026 Small Game and Waterfowl brochure; property rules still apply; checked November 5, 2026.
Other public ground within reach of Totten Reservoir SWA
Head 8 miles northeast and you reach Puett Reservoir SWA. Around it on the map: 5 SWAs and 1 trust land parcel. Within 25 miles but not open to hunters: Mancos State Park (no hunting designation) and Twin Spruce Ponds State Wildlife Area (CPW lists no hunting).
| Nearby | Type | Acres | County | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puett Reservoir SWA | SWA | 177 | Montezuma | 8 miles | northeast |
| Summit Reservoir SWA | SWA | 526 | Montezuma | 9 miles | northeast |
| Narraguinnep Reservoir SWA | SWA | 764 | Montezuma | 10 miles | northwest |
| Dolores River SWA | SWA | 57 | Montezuma | 11 miles | northeast |
| Joe Moore Reservoir SWA | SWA | 120 | Montezuma | 12 miles | east |
| Weber Canyon STL | State trust land | 441 | Montezuma | 14 miles | east |
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.
Stores, processors and towns for Totten Reservoir SWA
From the Totten Reservoir SWA point, Cortez sits 3 miles away. Durango, 37 miles out, is larger, with 19,811 people in 2024. For licenses in person, the Durango CPW office is 37 miles off.
| Place | County | Population | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cortez | Montezuma | 9,151 | 3 miles | southwest |
| Dolores | Montezuma | 937 | 8 miles | north |
| Dove Creek | Dolores | 663 | 35 miles | northwest |
| Durango | La Plata | 19,811 | 37 miles | east |
| Bayfield | La Plata | 2,923 | 52 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.
Totten Reservoir SWA sunrise, sunset and shooting times
The CPW brochures print Denver sunrise and sunset tables with town offsets; the times for Totten Reservoir SWA here are worked out with the NOAA solar formula for its own location.
| Date | Opener | Sunrise | Sunset | Elk window | Duck window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:45 a.m. | 7:44 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 8:14 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 7:44 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Muzzleloader opens | 6:53 a.m. | 7:29 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 7:59 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 7:29 p.m. |
| Oct 3, 2026 | Duck season opens | 7:10 a.m. | 6:56 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. to 7:26 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. to 6:56 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Second rifle opens | 7:30 a.m. | 6:27 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 6:57 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 6:27 p.m. |
| Nov 23, 2026 | Lion season opens | 7:02 a.m. | 5:01 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:25 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 5:00 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.
Classes and banquets near Totten Reservoir State Wildlife Area
Near this ground as of November 4, 2026: 1 listing ahead, starting with RMEF Cortez Chapter Big Game Banquet.
| Date | Event | Miles off | Where | Sign up | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 12, 2026 | RMEF Cortez Chapter Big Game Banquet · RMEF banquet in Cortez | 3 | Cortez, Montezuma County | Buy tickets | Source |
What the region around Totten Reservoir SWA looks like
Totten Reservoir State Wildlife Area hunters: public range plus clubs
For a no-dues line, Totten Reservoir State Wildlife Area hunters head 47 miles to Bayfield Lions Club Shooting Range. 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.
Totten Reservoir SWA FAQ from the agency sources
Is there an authorized camp area on Totten Reservoir SWA?
Look for a campground nearby; none is listed here.
When must I stop shooting on Totten Reservoir SWA each evening?
6:15 a.m. to 5:42 p.m. for big game on November 7, 2026 (Montezuma County, NOAA solar formula). See the table above for other dates.
Which pass must I carry on Totten Reservoir SWA?
No separate permit in most cases: a hunting or fishing license (or SWA Pass) for everyone 16+, unless the restrictions here say otherwise.
Where can I read the source for Totten Reservoir SWA?
Read the official source before each trip.
What counties does Totten Reservoir SWA reach into?
Inside Montezuma County.
What size is Totten Reservoir SWA on the agency count?
The CPW SWA page lists 250 acres.
Does Totten Reservoir SWA keep set hours or dates?
The restrictions say: Open for public access 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset; no time restrictions for fishing.
Which GMU numbers does Totten Reservoir SWA fall in?
The ground lies in GMU 73, and a big game license must be valid for the unit.
Do elk point rules or CWD testing apply on Totten Reservoir SWA?
Elk point rules: GMU 73. CWD heads must be submitted from selected rifle elk hunt codes in GMU 73, at no charge.
Which animals does the agency list for Totten Reservoir SWA?
On record: waterfowl. Seasons and licenses still decide what is open.
Whom should I phone with questions about Totten Reservoir SWA?
Area CPW Office in Durango, 970-247-0855.
Where should I stay when hunting Totten Reservoir SWA?
Cortez is your nearest base, 3 miles off.
Can I set out bait, salt or grain on Totten Reservoir 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 must I wear on Totten Reservoir SWA during rifle season?
At least 500 square inches of solid orange or pink above the waist and a hat; archers hunting during rifle seasons wear it too.
One last look at Totten Reservoir SWA
Snow and mud close roads in Colorado without much notice; check access to Totten Reservoir SWA before the drive.
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: born1945 (CC BY 2.0); Frank.Vassen (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain).