Governor Polis Visits Colorado’s Newest State Wildlife Area at Collard Ranch

PARK COUNTY - Today, Governor Jared Polis toured Colorado's newest State Wildlife Area at Collard Ranch. This pristine 1,860-acre property, acquired by Colorado Parks and Wildlife in March 2024, protects critical habitat, animal migration corridors, and increases hunting and fishing opportunities for Coloradans. With five miles of access along Tarryall Creek, Collard Ranch provides fantastic recreational opportunities for Coloradans, enhancing our Colorado way of life. Collard Ranch SWA will open to the public for hunting in October 2024, and will be fully open in the Spring of 2025.

"Protecting our iconic great outdoors for ourselves and future generations to enjoy is critical to our Colorado way of life. With Colorado's newest State Wildlife Area at Collard Ranch, we are showing Colorado's commitment to protecting our wildlife, increasing Coloradans' access to recreation, and enhancing what makes Colorado the best state for anglers, hunters, and outdoor enthusiasts. I encourage Coloradans to find time to visit once Collard Ranch is fully open to the public next Spring," said Governor Polis.

Governor Polis speaks at Collard Ranch alongside Pam Denahy the Great Outdoors Colorado chair, Allen law from Western Rivers Conservancy, and Heather Disney Dugan from Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Collard Ranch SWA is an important wildlife migration corridor and winter habitat range for elk herds. In addition to elk, the land is home to pronghorn, raptors, beavers, bobcats and coyotes.

Blue skies and open fields and Collard Ranch. View of Collard Ranch from above with people gathered near a tent to take in the view.

"Land like Collard Ranch doesn't come around often. With development increasing and Colorado's population growing each day, our opportunities for land with hunting and fishing access shrink. At Colorado Parks and Wildlife, we've felt that pinch, which is what makes Collard Ranch so special," said Heather Disney Dugan, Deputy Director for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. "It's through the hunting and angling communities' purchases of habitat stamps that we are able to make purchases like this one."

"We are grateful to the partnerships which made this land acquisition a success," said CPW Area Wildlife Manager Mark Lamb. "Wildlife migration corridors deserve protection to continue to grow our thriving elk population in Colorado."

The acquisition was funded using Habitat Stamp and Great Outdoors Colorado funding. Hunters and anglers buy the $12.15 Habitat Stamp in conjunction with a hunting or fishing license.

"It's hard to overstate the impact of the Collard Ranch acquisition," said GOCO Executive Director Jackie Miller. "Thanks to the collaboration of our partners, these thousands of connected acres will continue to support wildlife and people for generations to come. It's easy to imagine Coloradans years from now saying, 'Thank goodness Colorado did this back then.' And GOCO is so proud to have helped make it happen."

"Thanks to a great partnership with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, we were able to purchase this amazing five-mile stretch of Tarryall Creek so it could become a new State Wildlife Area. Seizing such an urgent opportunity would not have been possible without funding from Great Outdoors Colorado's Centennial Program and the Colorado Habitat Stamp. We're thrilled to have protected an important headwaters stream and elk migration corridor while also opening new fishing and hunting opportunities so close to the Front Range," said Allen Law, Project Manager, Western Rivers Conservancy.

Gov. Polis also toured the Cline Ranch State Wildlife Area to view an active beaver dam and discuss stream restoration projects. Following this visit, he also toured the Park County Shooting Range to discuss partnerships which are vital to safe recreational shooting opportunities.

With an anticipated opening to public access in October 2024 for hunting and fully to the public in Spring of 2025, hunters and anglers who want to recreate at Collard Ranch SWA will need to purchase a State Wildlife Area pass through CPW. CPW manages more than 350 wildlife areas for the benefit of hunters, anglers and wildlife statewide. These lands are specifically dedicated to sportspeople. Recreation opportunities and regulations may differ in each SWA. Sportspeople are encouraged to check restrictions and any reservation needs before choosing to recreate.

Link to media kit with drone footage and photos

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