Outdoors and wildfire - Eastern Plains
A State Wildlife Area in Prowers County is not the same as a park
State Wildlife Areas in Prowers County have their own access rules and generally require a hunting or fishing license or an SWA pass to enter.
Published June 10, 2026 - Last verified June 15, 2026
Driving around Prowers County, you may pass green public-land signs marked “State Wildlife Area.” It is easy to treat these like a city park or a state park, but they are managed for a different purpose, and the rules are not the same.
State Wildlife Areas, or SWAs, are lands the state manages mainly for wildlife and for hunting and fishing. Many also draw birdwatchers, because water and trees on the plains pull in a lot of species. But access is tied to wildlife use. In general, everyone 16 or older needs a valid hunting or fishing license, or a State Wildlife Area pass, just to set foot on one — even for a quiet walk.
Each SWA can also have its own posted rules: which seasons it is open, what activities are allowed, and where you may and may not go. What is fine at one may be closed at another nearby. In Prowers County, Mike Higbee State Wildlife Area east of Lamar is one example managed under these rules.
So before you treat an SWA as a casual day-trip spot, it is worth checking. The point is not to discourage a visit — it is to show up with the right pass or license and follow the rules for that specific area.
Check the access rules and current status for each State Wildlife Area with Colorado Parks and Wildlife.