Training areas near Denver for a young pup?

F

FredB

New member
Ok, so I'm a month out from getting my pointing lab and I can't tell you how excited I am. Been waiting for him since September. I've read every book and watched every video on training. So I'm not looking for anyone's secret training areas, just some really varied terrain close to Denver that I can get him out for his daily walks. I know I won't find birds close by, but just some areas that have tall grass, water, hedges, etc.

Any advice/stories would be greatly appreciated for this soon to be PL owner! Thanks in advance.
 
What part of Denver?

We live on the north end of town and go to Westminster Hills Open Space Park at ~104th and Simms. The property goes out to Indiana ... There are usually so few people on the Indiana side of the park that I will fire my blank pistol and use the retrieve dummy launcher.

http://www.ci.westminster.co.us/ExploreWestminster/OpenSpace/Openspaceareas/WestminsterHills.aspx


We are members of the Colorado Gun Dog Association and there is a member training/field trial property in Strasburg, CO. From Aurora, it is a quick drive out to Strasburg on I-70. The CGDA property is very nice, and certainly worth $85/year.

Boulder has the "Green Tag" program for Open Space and there are some nice areas at the intersection of HWY 93 and 128. We get off of the trails and bushwhack our way through the parks. We have never encountered an Open Space Ranger more than 200 yards from the parking lot.

We go to Arapaho / Roosevelt National Forest in late spring, summer and early fall. Also, in most National Forest areas it is OK to target shoot. So I sometimes do a combined dog training /shooting session ... just don't drive all that way and forget to bring your shotgun. ;)

Further north there is Banner Lakes and Cobb Lake State Wildlife Areas. There are 2 training bird suppliers within 2 miles of Cobb - Field Trial Game Birds and Cobb Lake Game Birds.
 
Last edited:
Wow... thank you so much for sharing! Super helpful. The only one I really knew about was Cherry Creek Res. I'll look into all those. I'm located around Wash Park, but as you know Denver is fairly easy to get out of so I'll do some exploring for sure. Thanks again!
 
Best close public place is Banner Lakes SWA just east of Hudson.
You can get a permit from state Wildlife and Parks to release birds and shoot them for dog training even when the season is closed. There is also guy nearby the area who sells chukars pretty cheap....the permit is also good for training at Cobb Lake up near Ft Collins/Wellington...same deal...there is a guy one mile north of the area that sells birds for training.
 
FredB said:
Ok, so I'm a month out from getting my pointing lab and I can't tell you how excited I am. Been waiting for him since September. I've read every book and watched every video on training. So I'm not looking for anyone's secret training areas, just some really varied terrain close to Denver that I can get him out for his daily walks. I know I won't find birds close by, but just some areas that have tall grass, water, hedges, etc.

Any advice/stories would be greatly appreciated for this soon to be PL owner! Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...


Fred get ahold of Vic at the Rocky Mountain Pointing Lab Club, They do have training days, just dont know where,,,, plus very good help!!:10sign:
 
Great advice all around guys! I wouldn't have had a clue as to where to start looking, you all really saved me here.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top