Hunting opportunities exist throughout the state and hunting in Colorado can take place on public lands, such as national forests, or on private property, managed in conjunction with the Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife (CPW). Hunters should plan their outings according to the game they pursue. Luckily for residents and visitors, the state is full of hunting grounds, which can be access in areas throughout the entire state. Because of the abundance of wildlife in the state, several great locations can satisfy any hunter’s thirst.
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Elk hunters can be successful on both public and private lands. The White River National Forrest is heavily hunted, but a good place to venture out.
Keith McCafferty of Field and Stream named this site one of the ten best public lands for elk hunts. He notes that, “Some bigger bulls live in the Flat Tops Wilderness Area of this tract, but it’s all thin air and you can get snow up to your knickers very quickly here,” so caution should be taken before venturing to the flat tops.
Hunting in national forests and wilderness areas can include limited-draw hunts. Whether designated for bow hunting or rifle hunting, hunters may be required to accumulate points toward tags, which can take years of applying. The tags are worth the wait because the areas see light hunting activity, increasing a hunter’s odds of nabbing a mature bull.
Ducks need a good nesting cover and Colorado’s northern region plays host to migrating duck flocks every year. The states waterfowl begins in October when hunting in Colorado provides great opportunities for duck hunters. As time passes, however, hunters have better luck in the river bottoms of the eastern plains, where winter is less brutal.
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Colorado's spring turkey season often sees cottonwood creek bottoms full of Rio Grande turkeys, while the ponderosa hillsides are the preferred spots of Merriam’s turkeys. Turkeys can be heard as early as February throughout the state but hunting in Colorado requires that participants stay patient until opening day in April. The season ends in May but turkey hunters can return to the fields in September and October for a second chance for a turkey dinner.
Game and Fishing magazine recommends grounds “west of Interstate 25 and south of Highway 160 in the southern part of the state, in the Front Range, in the southwest corner and on the Western Slope.” Rio Grandes can be found along the Platte and Arkansas rivers, according to the magazine.
The best hunting advice is available through the states Parks and Wildlife website, including information about public and private hunting ranges and maps of these Game Management Units (GMUs).
This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before hunting.
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