Fewer birds bagged last season
Colorado pheasant hunters bagged approximately 2,000 fewer birds during a 2008-09 season marked by drought and a decline in participation.
The Division of Wildlife estimated last season’s bag at 41,000, compared with 43,000 the previous year and 37,000 in 2006-07.
State small-game chief Ed Gorman said hunter success actually grew to about three birds per hunter for the season.
“The average has been 2.25 to 2.8 in recent seasons, but we’ve had a three-bird total in two of the last three,” he said.
Gorman rates Yuma, Kit Carson and Phillips counties in the top tier of pheasant success, followed by a bracket of Sedgwick, Logan, Morgan, Weld, Prowers and Baca counties.
More time to hunt
What: The Colorado Wildlife Commission voted at its Thursday meeting in Fort Collins to extend the eastern Colorado pheasant season through Jan. 31, bringing this most productive region into line with neighboring states.
When: The upcoming season will be Nov. 14 to Jan. 31.
Details: The same extension holds true for quail in the southeastern part of the state, marked by a boundary east of Interstate 25, south of Interstate 70 to Byers, then south of U.S. 36. The commission also extended the season in those parts of Pueblo, Fremont, Huerfano and Las Animas counties west of I-25.
