Reversing a two-year policy, the Wildlife Commission approved a return to an opening of pheasant and quail seasons on the second Saturday in November – Nov. 12 this year.
For the past two years, the season opened on the third November Saturday, presumably to accommodate corn harvest, a process that increasingly has proved unpredictable.
Meanwhile, eastern Colorado merchants progressively have watched hunters drive past en route to earlier openers in Nebraska and Kansas.
“A week makes virtually no difference in the corn situation,” said Tom Remington, manager of the Division of Wildlife Terrestrial Section.
Nor does it have any biologic impact on a pheasant population expected to be slightly improved over last season throughout eastern Colorado.
Pheasant season will be Nov. 12-Jan. 16 in eastern Colorado, Nov. 12-Jan. 2 in the west. Quail dates are Nov. 12-Jan. 2 in the northeast, Nov. 12-Jan. 16 in the southeast and Nov. 12-Jan. 2 in the west.
