While last year’s pheasant season might be a tough one to top for many hunters, the early outlook suggests the season that opens Saturday just might do it.
“It’s hard to know the exact pheasant numbers, but by all indications, we have more this year than last year,” said Ed Gorman, small-game manager for the Colorado Division of Wildlife. “And last year was an excellent year.”
Similar observations — with all the attendant excitement — are being voiced by others.
“Our birds in eastern Colorado might be the best they have ever been,” said Bob Hix, regional director of Pheasants Forever, which has brought three new biologists to the state to work with the DOW, landowners and others to improve habitat for pheasants and other wildlife.
“I base that on the reports I’ve been getting from our local members in the field who have been out harvesting their corn,” Hix said. “They’re saying they haven’t seen so many pheasants while doing their cutting in years, maybe never.”
Gorman attributes the bumper crop of ringnecks to two basic factors: a large number of birds that carried over from last year, and a wealth of precipitation, especially last fall, that produced good ground moisture for growing nesting cover in the spring.
Though some localized areas might have been affected by hail, the weather remained generally favorable through the summer. Suitable ground cover and food sources were readily available to pheasants.
The overall population appears to be well distributed across Colorado’s traditional pheasant range. All areas have better numbers than in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
By one rule of thumb, the farther east, the better the prospects.
“That’s just the reality of the rain pattern,” Gorman said. “The eastern areas always get more rain.”
The late summer and early fall were warm and dry. Consequently, the corn harvest is almost complete, unlike last year, when cutting was delayed and the standing crop provided an early-season haven for pheasants that was off-limits to hunters.
In a notable change from the past, hunters no longer need to buy a special permit for entry to properties enrolled in the state’s popular Walk-In Access Program.
The updated late cropland atlas is available at license outlets and on the DOW’s website (). It complements an earlier edition, published shortly before Sept. 1. Hunters should check both.
State wildlife areas offer other public hunting access. Otherwise, permission is required to hunt on private land.
“Don’t hesitate to ask, but be respectful of the landowners,” Gorman said.
Hunting seasons
Pheasants: Saturday through Jan. 31 east of Interstate 25; Saturday through Jan. 2 west of I-25. Daily limit, three roosters; possession limit nine roosters.
Quail: Saturday through Jan. 2 east of I-25 and north of I-70 from I-25 east to Byers and U.S. 36 from Byers to Kansas; Saturday through Jan. 31 east of I-25 and south of I-70 to Byers and U.S. 36 to Kansas, and in the portions of Pueblo, Fremont, Huerfano and Las Animas counties west of I-25; Saturday through Jan. 2 west of I-25 except in Pueblo, Fremont, Huerfano and Las Animas counties. Daily limit, eight of each quail species; possession limit 24 of each species (scaled, northern bobwhite and Gambel’s).
Banquets
Five eastern Colorado chapters of Pheasants Forever are hosting banquets during opening weekend of the pheasant hunting season. All are welcome to attend. Proceeds remain with the local chapter for habitat work in their area. Locations are:
Friday: Sterling, Sterling Elks Lodge, 321 Ash St., contact Jim Edwards, jime@naent.net.
Saturday: Holyoke, Phillips County Fairgrounds Recreation Center, contact Margret Wall, mjwall@petelcom.coop; Yuma, Irrigation Research Farm, north on Highway 59, contact Jerry Thompson, zoeythumper@centurytel.net; Lamar: Cow Palace Motel, contact Lee Lirley, llirley@bresnan.net; Springfield, VFW Lodge, contact Tara Manuel, harleyd 316@yahoo.com
