The Big Game Access Program (BGAP) is focused on creating hunting opportunities that benefit both landowners and hunters in southeastern Colorado. Participating landowners benefit from the potential of additional income and hunters benefit from increased hunting opportunities. At the present time, we are looking to establish short-term contracts with landowners to open private land to public hunters who pursue big game in southeast Colorado. The program focuses on deer and pronghorn hunting opportunities on private lands in the following
Game Management Units (GMU): 116, 117, 120, 121, 122, 125, 126, and 127.
Are you interested in participating in the Big Game Access Program?
Landowner Information
Qualifying landowners, in southeast Colorado, can earn extra income from hunting leases. Landowners whose properties meet BGAP requirements receive payment for allowing hunters access to their land. Payments to the landowner will range from $0.25 per acre up to a maximum of $3 per acre. The amount depends on the size of property, type of habitat, and number of access days allowed. All landowner contact information is kept confidential.
The types of land enrolled in BGAP:
- Upland grass or prairie habitat with a focus on pronghorn
- River bottom or riparian land with a focus on deer
Enroll Your Property
A limited numbers of properties will be selected to participate during the 2012 fall hunting season. Property applications will be ranked by habitat quality, the number of pronghorn or deer, and budget limitations.
BGAP Guidelines and Application
The application deadline has now past. The guidelines and applications below are for reference only.
NOTE: Properties previously enrolled in the program must re-enroll to continue participation.
For questions or to request more information, please contact the Colorado Parks and Wildlife office in Lamar (719) 336-6600. Correspondence can be sent to Colorado Parks and Wildlife c/o BGAP, 2500 South Main St., Lamar, CO. 81052.
Hunter Information
BGAP provides public hunters access to big game on private lands. Access to hunt on land enrolled in BGAP is by walk-in-only. Hunters must have a valid license for the season they hunt in, and purchase a $40 BGAP permit to gain access to enrolled properties. BGAP permits may be purchased at any
license agent or
Colorado Parks and Wildlife office. The access stamp will apply to pronghorn and deer hunting only. All other hunting (such as small game) on the properties enrolled in this program will be at the discretion of the landowners.
BGAP enrolled properties are clearly marked with Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) “Walk-in-Access” signs. Sign posting is handled by CPW.
The Big Game Limited Draw License Application Deadline is April 3, 2012.
Enrolled Properties
Properties selected for 2011 and the corresponding maps are left for reference below. 2012 maps should be available in early-July.
| Property Maps (all pdf) |
Acres |
GMU |
Species |
| Overview of all properties (1MB) |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| Hickman Farms (1MB) |
1,120 |
116 |
Deer/ Pronghorn |
| Total for 1 Property above |
1,120 |
|
|
| Trainor Ranch |
5,760 |
120 |
Pronghorn only |
| Wineinger-Davis Ranch |
5,166 |
120 |
Pronghorn only |
| Total for 2 properties above |
10,926 |
|
|
| Camenisch Ranch (1MB) |
12,320 |
121 |
Pronghorn and Deer |
| Hammer Ranch and Farms |
8,971 |
121 |
Pronghorn only |
| Keller Ranch |
5,790 |
121 |
Pronghorn only |
| Kelly Farms |
3,835 |
121 |
Deer/ Pronghorn |
| Total for 5 properties above |
24,197 |
|
|
| Gibbs Ranch |
4,300 |
122 |
Deer/ Pronghorn |
| Rush Creek Cattle Co. |
6,000 |
122 |
Deer/ Pronghorn |
| Scherler Farms (1MB) |
15,058 |
122 |
Deer/ Pronghorn |
| Tallman Farms (1MB) |
22,560 |
122 |
Deer/ Pronghorn |
| Total for 4 properties above |
47,918 |
|
|
| Groves Ranch |
9,160 |
126 |
Pronghorn only |
| Kreutzer Farms |
2,044 |
126 |
Pronghorn only |
| Mockingbird Hill |
600 |
126 |
Pronghorn only |
| Nee Gronde Area |
20,034 |
126 |
Deer/ Pronghorn |
| Ressel Farms |
320 |
126 |
Pronghorn only |
| Salisbury Farms |
160 |
126 |
Pronghorn only |
| Tallman Farms (1MB) |
3,520 |
126 |
Pronghorn only |
| Total for 7 properties above |
35,838 |
|
|
| Tallman Farms (1MB) |
17,360 |
127 |
Deer/ Pronghorn |
| Total for 1 property above |
17,360 |
|
|
| Total Acres for ALL |
143,437 |
|
|
Program History and Evaluation
BGAP, which began as a pilot program in 2007, will continue in 2012 for a sixth consecutive year. In previous years, up to 140,000 acres were enrolled. BGAP is patterned after the highly successful Walk-In Access Program that was created to provide access to hunt small game and upland birds. At the present time, southeast Colorado is the only part of the state where BGAP operates.
This sixth year will provide ongoing private lands access while allowing Colorado Parks and Wildlife the time to complete an analysis of the first three years of the pilot program (2007-2009).
The analysis will review annual evaluations that were conducted to determine the ability to sustain and the potential to expand the program. Evaluations were based on the following criteria:
- Landowner satisfaction
- Sportsmen satisfaction
- Game harvest by species
- Economic viability
- Overall participation in the program