Public Lands in Colorado

No problem in Colorado. Did you know that Colorado has an incredible amount of public land available for all types of recreational activity? This includes US Forest Service land of approximately 18 million acres, Bureau of Land Management – 8.4 Million acres, and State Land Trust and Wildlife Areas of nearly a million acres. Additionally, there are 10 National Parks and Monuments.

US Forest Service
This agency controls the eleven National Forests in Colorado and includes selected wilderness areas within some of the National Forests. As discussed in our hunting article, many ranch properties in Colorado border various National Forests providing the owners a feeling of a much larger property and enabling greater recreational opportunities. National Forests, as the name implies are usually the higher alpine forested areas of 8,000 feet and above. Hunting and fishing is allowed in the National Forests and vehicle traffic is generally allowed on designated roads. The exception to this is in the Wilderness Areas where access is by foot and horseback only.

Bureau of Land Management
BLM land typically covers the lower elevations of 5,000 to 8,000 feet. This includes the majority of the canyon lands of Colorado and provides valuable winter range for Colorado’s big game herds. Additionally, these vast areas can produce outstanding hunting, especially in the later seasons. Most of the BLM holding are easily accessible and few restrictions exist.

State Wildlife and Land Trust Areas
Colorado has done an excellent job of acquiring prime hunting and fishing properties scattered throughout the State. The “sweet spot” provide the sportsman some new and exciting properties that are frequently overlooked by the general hunting population.

National Parks and Monuments
Most visitors to Colorado include a stop at Rocky Mountain National Park, and it is well worth while. In addition to Mesa Verde National Park, there are several National Monuments. Hunt is not allowed in the national Parks, but, in some of the Monuments, hunting is allowed.