Has anyone ventured south of I-70 this year? I know the SE corner didn't get as much precip as NE, but I will have a day and a half this weekend, leaving from Pueblo, and was wondering if I should invest in the extra 1.5 hours to drive to Yuma/Wray area vs. heading down the Arkansas Valley, then either N (Cheyenne Wells/Burlington) or S (Springfield/Walsh). I haven't been out yet this year, and it's killing me! I know it's going to be better in the NE< but if it's even "decent" in the SE, I'd probably go there. Thought/opinions welcome!
Short trip - leaving from Pueblo - where to go?
- Thread starter cokid
- Start date
. I basically just have tomorrow PM and all day Saturday to hunt - don't want to spend half of that time on the road.Royal Flusher
New member
Cokid - My son and I hunted for two days on opening weekend and one day last weekend. All in southern Yuma. We covered cut millo, cut wheat, new crp, old crp and cut corn. Although, we flushed two hens on the WIA properties, we got into plenty of birds on private land - cut corn. My new motto is - If we want birds, we knock on doors. We have not spent a lot of time up there but this weekend we are thinking of heading North. You will have a great day, in gorgeous country either way. Good Luck!
It's a bit late, but if anyone cares for another report, here it is.
I ended up going north with my BIL and his dog for a Saturday-only hunt. We started near Fleming, flushing a rooster out of range in the first field. We worked our way east into Philips Co, seeing or hearing one or two birds in each field, but no roosters in range. About 10:30, we went by some very promising-looking irrigated cut corn with nice corners, so we spent the better part of an hour chasing down the landowner. He initially said no, but after shooting the breeze for a few more minutes, said "I guess you could hunt those corners over there...and those back there", which was pretty much everything we wanted to hunt. The first several corners yielded only one rooster, which I missed. The last corner we hunted I didn't have much hope for; when we first got there, he had a couple field hands putting up fence around the corn, but they had left by the time we got back. There was also a dehydrator and some bins in that corner, and the noise was pretty bad. But we hit it any way, and it turned out to be the jackpot. First we got into a bunch of hens - about 8 - then turning the corner on a windbreak, 7 roosters got up, darn near a simultaneous flush. I managed to drop one and ruffled a second, but they were out of range for my BIL. As it turned out, that was the excitement for the day. We meandered down toward Yuma, but only ended up seeing another 3-4 birds the rest of the day, and 2 of those were "ditch" birds. Overall, I was not impressed. Seemed to me bird number were marginal in the areas we covered, parts of Logan, Philips and Yuma counties - I was not even seeing much sign. Were it not for that one private spot, I would have called it a pretty bad day.
Anyway - I think I can get out for this weekend, again leaving from Pueblo. This time I think I will head SE, since NE wasn't so great for me. Will post back if I do make it out.
I ended up going north with my BIL and his dog for a Saturday-only hunt. We started near Fleming, flushing a rooster out of range in the first field. We worked our way east into Philips Co, seeing or hearing one or two birds in each field, but no roosters in range. About 10:30, we went by some very promising-looking irrigated cut corn with nice corners, so we spent the better part of an hour chasing down the landowner. He initially said no, but after shooting the breeze for a few more minutes, said "I guess you could hunt those corners over there...and those back there", which was pretty much everything we wanted to hunt. The first several corners yielded only one rooster, which I missed. The last corner we hunted I didn't have much hope for; when we first got there, he had a couple field hands putting up fence around the corn, but they had left by the time we got back. There was also a dehydrator and some bins in that corner, and the noise was pretty bad. But we hit it any way, and it turned out to be the jackpot. First we got into a bunch of hens - about 8 - then turning the corner on a windbreak, 7 roosters got up, darn near a simultaneous flush. I managed to drop one and ruffled a second, but they were out of range for my BIL. As it turned out, that was the excitement for the day. We meandered down toward Yuma, but only ended up seeing another 3-4 birds the rest of the day, and 2 of those were "ditch" birds. Overall, I was not impressed. Seemed to me bird number were marginal in the areas we covered, parts of Logan, Philips and Yuma counties - I was not even seeing much sign. Were it not for that one private spot, I would have called it a pretty bad day.
Anyway - I think I can get out for this weekend, again leaving from Pueblo. This time I think I will head SE, since NE wasn't so great for me. Will post back if I do make it out.
Would love a report on the SE if you do make it out, cokid. A buddy of mine has a late-season antelope tag down by Springfield for the month of December and my son and I and were going to tag along and maybe take a few walks to look for birds after the boy inevitably gets bored driving around looking for goats. I'll report back as well if we make it out there.
3 weeks after I initially meant to go, I finally made it out to SE CO. I actually saw a fair number of birds, coming home with 4 roosters and 4 scalies. I truly should have limited on pheasants each day (I hunted 2.5 days) with 4-5 good opportunities each day, but my abysmal shooting kept the cooler lighter for the trip home! Best thing was my 12.5 YO lab still has it - he hunted welll, especially the 3rd day, locating, flushing and retrieving my final bird. As this may be his last hunt (if I don't get out again this year), I was really glad to end on such a good note.
shaneatkinson82
New member
Good thread here to help confirm there are birds out there. A buddy and I hunted NE Co and quickly learned we need dogs for this. We did have a rooster flushed by the duck lab my buddy had. My dog got tired and walked by me. He truly is a house dog and we are not yet pheasant hunters.
Anyways, my question is: have you hunted the SWA in Pueblo for pheasant? Any luck? If you're ever looking for company for a hunt let me know. I can provide shells and would even be willing to drive. I know season is closing down but in the future.
Also, have you shoot at the skeet range in Pueblo?
Anyways, my question is: have you hunted the SWA in Pueblo for pheasant? Any luck? If you're ever looking for company for a hunt let me know. I can provide shells and would even be willing to drive. I know season is closing down but in the future.
Also, have you shoot at the skeet range in Pueblo?
Can pretty well guarantee no phez in the Pueblo SWA. You need to go at least 60 miles east of Pueblo for those. Fair number of scaled quail, however. And turkeys, but those are pretty heavily hunted. My BIL has used the skeet range over the years, but I don't know much about it. As for getting together, if I ever get significant advance notice, I'll contact you - as it is, my trips tend to be last-minute/unplanned events!
shaneatkinson82
New member
Thanks, this is good to know before wasting my time. We duck hunted there a bunch this year. I refuse to talk about the excitement of other hunters hunting my spread.
Good to see another hunter who plans like I do.