Year 2 Hunting in Co

C

COHunter

New member
Well after many unsuccessful hunts last year I am going to stick closer to home for Dove this year. Mainly the SWA's east of Greeley look most promising. Could anyone recommend any one over another, and why?

Brower SWA
Mitani-Tokuyasu SWA
Nakagawa SWA
Centennial Valley SWA


I did go out to Nakagawa last year, but was told they didn't want anyone hunting in or around the crops????? So I staid on the west side and a few sparse shots.

Pheasant on the other hand I think I will pass on this year. It's been so dry this year i can only image the Pheasant populations are way down. No since in driving 3-4 hours to walk a dry field.
 
But what about all the irrigation that went on out in NE CO? That should have kept some bir pretty birds alive.
 
BritChaser said:
But what about all the irrigation that went on out in NE CO? That should have kept some bir pretty birds alive.
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There have been draining lakes around Denver to provide water for farms east of here. Between the drought, fires, large fish die offs, it's been a hard summer all over.
 
I would go much further east!

Those four you listed are hit amazingly hard! :eek: I found no less than 40 trucks at Centennial over all of opening weekend, and it did not start on a Sat last year!

...and probably 20 trucks at Nakagawa over the opening days as I drove by! So few birds anyways, not worth it! And yes,do not go into the crops, but hunting around them is fine. Wear a helmet though, as you will get pelted with shot.

Brower and Mitani...no way would I even think about hitting either of them as they are WAY too small and even closer to town!

I'd seriously suggest those out by Ft Morgan/Brush...Elliot, Cottonwood, Jean K, etc....
 
HeavyC said:
I would go much further east!

Those four you listed are hit amazingly hard! :eek: I found no less than 40 trucks at Centennial over all of opening weekend, and it did not start on a Sat last year!

...and probably 20 trucks at Nakagawa over the opening days as I drove by! So few birds anyways, not worth it! And yes,do not go into the crops, but hunting around them is fine. Wear a helmet though, as you will get pelted with shot.

Brower and Mitani...no way would I even think about hitting either of them as they are WAY too small and even closer to town!

I'd seriously suggest those out by Ft Morgan/Brush...Elliot, Cottonwood, Jean K, etc....
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very good to know, thankyou
I did hit Jean K last year and had some luck. Do I need to say out of there durring Duck/Deer/Turkey?

LOL, like the helmet, reminds me of duck season back out east.
 
Yep, I believe it is stay out during the first week of regular plains deer:thumbsup:
 
COHunter said:
Well after many unsuccessful hunts last year I am going to stick closer to home for Dove this year. Mainly the SWA's east of Greeley look most promising. Could anyone recommend any one over another, and why?

Brower SWA
Mitani-Tokuyasu SWA
Nakagawa SWA
Centennial Valley SWA


I did go out to Nakagawa last year, but was told they didn't want anyone hunting in or around the crops????? So I staid on the west side and a few sparse shots.

Pheasant on the other hand I think I will pass on this year. It's been so dry this year i can only image the Pheasant populations are way down. No since in driving 3-4 hours to walk a dry field.
Click to expand...

hunt the west side along the fence.Birds will fly from the East to the West or From the North. Get back to the Northeast corner where the fence turns back to the west . Have a couple buddies with you and spread out 60 yds apart along the fence! If someone else tries to split you, tell them no way! Nakagawa has always produced, but crowding has become a issue!!! Now this is a secret spot, Try the CPER ( Central Plains Experimental Range) 15,550 acres around the Pawnee. There are some Cottonwoods with water around. You must check and sign in! Call Mary @ 9708972226 and she will mail you a form! Do some scouting out there! Check in and drive around!!!!! Good luck!!:cheers:
 
sdt-Evergreen said:
How about a few pheasent spots?
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There are NO pheasant spots to see here. Move along.:rolleyes:

JK!... those are pretty tough to find in CO. Specially in a drought year like this one has been. Better wait and hear from some of the eastern CO guys to fill us in.

Me, I just hit the walk-in areas like all the other crazies:D
 
I think that it will be hit or miss this year with the drought.

I was talking to Bob Porter at Strasburg Game Birds last weekend and he said that his place is dry as a bone. Bob mentioned that the most rain that he has received this year at one time has been 1/2 inch. Unusually small grasshoppers, no mosquitoes and hardly any other bugs, which basically means nothing to eat. Also, Bob mentioned hardly any cover. SGB is 30 min east of Denver, but I can't imagine that the conditions are better further east.
 
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