burlington rotary club hunt

D

dead pheasants forever

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Does anyone here do the Burlington Rotary Club hunt? If so, would you consider the habitat and bird numbers any better than WIA properties in the area? Any advice you may have is greatly appreciated. Not looking for any honey holes or specifics, just general impressions. Thanks.
 
I've heard it was a good time, but have no first hand experience. If you decide to do it, let us know how it is.
 
I'm giving the Burlington Rooster Round-up a try; I've never been Pheasant Hunting and am hoping someone will take me under their wing and show me the ropes.
I'l make sure to give you a "Rookies Viewpoint" when possible.
 
I have been to similar type affairs in other states. In those instances the local Rotary or other philathrophy, negotiated access from as many farmers as possible for a weekend hunt, sometimes longer, participants pay a fee to hunt, and have, usually a huge amount of property to hunt. For sure the money goes for a good cause, I have no doubt you will have a good time, usually some festive events scheduled around the event, even for non-hunters. Gives you a real good opportunity to meet landowners under advantageous circumstances, maybe a guy can develop a relationship, and invitation to come back later in the year. Good luck.
 
I have not tried the Burlington Rotary Rooster Round-up in the past, but I did sign up this year after some friends had good success last year. I have done the Akron Rotary Flying Pheasants a few years ago but not much success. The habitat around Akron was not he best, even though you could hunt around 45,000 acres. I think the Burlington one is about the same amount of acreage. So I am trying the Burlington one this year and I'll keep you posted.
 
I am thinking about it to... For $100 a person you get access to 50,000 acres (for reference, the entire WIA program is just over 200,000). And you can use the land ALL SEASON, not just one hunt. And the money goes to a good cause. Really don't see how you could lose on it.

Oh, plus you get a hat. :thumbsup:

PS: Eneranch, if you do it, hit me up and we can hike some fields together some weekend...
 
Eneranch: I'm right there with ya as far as newbie status goes. I've already contacted JHoch and have been trying to get together with grumpyolddude for a couple weeks now. Hopefully JH, you and I can hit some fields during the week and have ourselves a good time!
 
report

I did end up hunting the Burlington Rooster Roundup on opening day. Here's a report:

I hunted alone with my young pointing lab. I mostly scouted, but did some hunting. After driving around after sunrise looking at property for an hour or two, I started at a nice looking fence row next to some cut corn. I was literally unpacking my gun when my dog goes on point at the end of the fence row 30 yds from where I parked. Unfortunately, the rooster flushes before I'm loaded. Lesson: step 1) unpack gun, step 2) let dog out. Then, I saw a number of birds flush out of range before one flushed within range. I knocked the bird down, but not cleanly. The dog made a good mark and tracked it back to the fence row, but then I saw the winged bird 200 yds away running 15 mph across an off-limits cut wheat field next to us. No good.

After that, I spent most of the day driving around. There were LOTS of hunters. I would say that 9 of 10 areas where I wanted to hunt already had hunters or had obviously just been hunted. I probably could've squeezed in on a couple tracts, but I like to give everyone their own space. While driving around, I saw ~15 birds land in some small cover at one point. I parked 400 yds downwind, then started working my dog towards the birds. Meanwhile, two jerks come driving up the road slowly, slam on the brakes, and then one shoots at the birds on the ground from the truck window. Disgusting. Fortunately, he managed to miss. I didn't hunt much after that. Though I didn't bring any birds home, I definitely found some good spots for next time and saw plenty of birds. The Burlington Rotary Club property generally looked better than the WIA areas that I tried last year, just too many people on Saturday. I'll be sure to try again when the crowds thin out. Send me a PM if you want to join.
 
I hunted the Rooster round up. I would say that I was in like total shock :eek::eek::eek:

on how many birds I saw and all the shots I got. I took my 11yr old son on his first hunt and he even got some shots. I got two birds, should have had more however I probalby had the worst shooting day that I have ever had that I can remember.

The first field we hit was pretty much all roosters and I will just say there were alot.

Lots of guys, big groups, however I know things will thin out and with having access until the end of January I will definitely be going back.

I am only like 2hrs drive from the Springs. We ate at the breakfast (good stuff, sack lunch). Nice folks and all the money goes back to the community which is awesome.

I will do it next year. I scouted alot of areas and I know where to go now.

Got my hat and I can say that there are actually wild pheasants in Colorado :10sign::thumbsup:
 
retrvrman said:
I hunted the Rooster round up. I would say that I was in like total shock :eek::eek::eek:

on how many birds I saw and all the shots I got....
Click to expand...

+1 ---- I only hunted Saturday but had a great time. Lots of birds and lots of misses.

I'm hoping to make it back the weekend after Thanksgiving. If anyone else would like to hook-up for a day, send me a PM :cheers:
 
Well it was Opening Day in Burlington!! And I found it to be alot like a Rockies Opening Day. Large crowds, good people (a few buttheads), a lot of anticipation, A lot of hits, more outs and a few runs brought home. Comfortable my team and I left it all on the field, dragging our sorry old butts home, tired and satisfied. Knowing that tomorrow is another day and we'll score more then........ Probably my home field for the year, but I'll play a few away games also.
 
So am I right to think you guys would recommend a trip to burlington over Yuma and/or Phillips County? Does the ground you guys were able to access on the Rotary Club program look better than WIA. Have a buddy who chases ducks and geese on Bonny and may have him talked into a couple hours of pounding the CRP. Does any of the rotary club land lie in or around Joe's? Any info much appreciated.
 
I only hunted around Burlington so I won't comment on other places.
For $100 I am able to hunt over 72,000 acres of private land throughout the season, anytime I wish. :10sign:
There is only one WIA area that I saw, didn't spend any time scouting it due to the fact that the private land looked much better.
 
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Almost 1,000 hits on this thread already (the most on the entire CO forum) & the lurkers/shoppers haven't even started/finished telling all their buddies yet - hmm, wonder how long this "deal" is gonna last??? Even the locals are gonna wind up pissed...Leave me one bird will ya! :thumbsup: :cheers:
 
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Honey Holes

I don't know if I missed your honey hole directions but I am thinkin must be in the greater Longmont area :D. Let's face it honey holes in Colorado better come with GPS coordinates cause rattlin' off names of eastern towns will not reveal our guarded grounds. I am headed to Iowa (wife's family) so I'll use up my good shots there so when I return the poor little guys won't have to worry and will be there when you get there. We're all good...and on the same team.:)
 
As I said, no worries I hope I didn't ruffle your feathers. I'm just pokin' fun. Doubt you'll ever see me where you are. Like I said, it's all good and I wish you nothin but the best. Knock'em Dead.
 
Introductions

By the way, my name is Rob, grew up in Conifer and Bailey now live in Littleton, love bird hunting and glad to be part of it wherever or whatever it is. Hunting behind a pointing lab named Wheeler and not sure if I like the vinci I shoot. Hope this smoothes out the introduction part.
 
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