Dove Hunting

[Roger]

I got this email through the site's information account. Can anyone help this guy out?


To Whom It May Concern:


I have had bad luck with hunting out here. Not that I don’t spend the time and money and do my part. This is the second year I’ve put in for deer and antelope tag. I did get drawn for a doe antelope (whoopee) and sifted to the leftover tags and went with a zone 20 antlered deer only tag for November 3-9 (chose this for my work schedule, and nervous about the weather ruining this).

I am now searching for a dove field to hunt in early September. I drove all the way out to Ellicott yesterday looking for any potential places. I stopped at this place that says “Welcome Hunters” on the side. So I stop in for a cold drink and ask if he knew of anyone that would be having a dove field this year. The old man of all of 75 years says, “What’s that? I’ve been in business for 40 years and never heard of a dove field.”

What is this with deer tags being for 8 days, you have to do your scouting and decide where you want to hunt 6 months in advance. Then if someone offers to take you hunting anywhere else you are just out of luck again. All hunting information about public land is so buried in the details that it is REDICULOUS. Hunting clubs and outfitters are trying to make six figures off of a handful of hunters. Colorado Hunting is so commercialized and only accessible to the wealthy and the ranchers. I am in the Navy and I get a “shore tour” every 4 years. Needless to say my military career has not been conducive to something I love such as hunting, but I regret wasting my time in such a liberal state.

I know it’s not your fault, but if anyone cares, I am expressing the viewpoint of many military members that love the outdoors and all that it entails. There are some things that I love about Colorado, but I don’t want to bash Coloradan’s for something that they can’t help. Unfortunately Colorado hunters need to make a serious overhaul of who is running the show out here. I wish I could go back to South Carolina, but that’s not where my duty takes me. Hope you haven’t taken offense to anything I have said, just venting and looking to try to make this year better than the last in Colorado.

Respectfully,

Julian
Colorado Springs

[HunterCO]

CO is not a big dove hunting state. There are dove fields but they are all private. CO has walk in areas you have to buy a $20 stamp but that is geared toward pheasants.

He draws a doe antelope tag and then says whoopee? Well WTF did he put in for a doe tag if that is not what he wants to hunt? He buys a left over deer tag and bitches about the weather. [Bang] I am sorry that in CO we can not control the weather like they can in SC. There is over 14 million acres of national forest and another 2 million of BLM more than enough places to hunt on public land.

This guy is no hunter he is a shooter. He wants somebody with a food plot to let him shoot a deer for next to nothing. I think the Navy should relocate him to NY, CA, NJ, MA or IL so he can get a lesson on what a liberal state is really like.

EDIT: I left the one out meant 14 not 4.

[Marlin]

Heck, I've seen so many Doves in town this Year it might be a good one "IF" the weather holds. Like Tim said, The Guy sounds more like a shooter than a hunter.

I might add, It's the Guys like that, I haven't really been serious about hunting the last few years. Sounds like the type the would say; "Oooh, look an orange deer, Them must be rare"

[shrapmetal]

orange deer taste the best

[Colorado Osprey]

I am now searching for a dove field to hunt in early September. I drove all the way out to Ellicott yesterday looking for any potential places. I stopped at this place that says “Welcome Hunters” on the side. So I stop in for a cold drink and ask if he knew of anyone that would be having a dove field this year. The old man of all of 75 years says,

He was soooo close. Just 5 miles south of where he was having a drink is a State Trust Land called "Squirrel Creek" and it has stock tanks on it that at morning and evening have dove coming into them.

[shrapmetal]

He was soooo close. Just 5 miles south of where he was having a drink is a State Trust Land called "Squirrel Creek" and it has stock tanks on it that at morning and evening have dove coming into them.

yes, but i belive you have to be on horse back or walk in don't you? that may be too much effort for someone that can't find a place to hunt in colorado.

[Colorado Osprey]

True, very true, you will walk 1/2 to 1 mile into the land to get to the stock tanks. But driving up either Peyton Highway, Ellicott Highway or Squirrel Creek Road and you will see lots of dove on the power wires so you know they are around. These are 2 of the 3 roads that border the trust land. This is not a walk in access land that you have to pay extra for, but there is no auto traffic allowed.

[HunterCO]

True, very true, you will walk 1/2 to 1 mile into the land to get to the stock tanks. But driving up either Peyton Highway, Ellicott Highway or Squirrel Creek Road and you will see lots of dove on the power wires so you know they are around. These are 2 of the 3 roads that border the trust land. This is not a walk in access land that you have to pay extra for, but there is no auto traffic allowed.


Come on now that is not hunting you expect me to walk 1 mile and then have to haul out some doves? If I can't take my ATV to haul out my game especially if I get five or six doves that is too much work.

The whole reason CO hunting sucks is because of this, You should be able to pull up in your truck hang the barrel out the window and shoot something ten feet from the road.

[Coffee]

[Wallary]

O M F G! What a wiener Juilan must be. Give me a break (Ellicott) lol! What's that a whole 15 mile outside the city limits of Co.S. You ain't in Kansas anymore Dorthy! The last time I checked you can't hunt Dove in the Bars. Drive out in the country and find the birds is what we've all done in the past. Common sense tells me to check with the CDOW before you hunt in an area your not familiar with not the locale pub. Last year with all the snow they got in South East Colorado you'd think the winter wheat would of been the best it's ever been in decades. Thus creating some good habitat for migrating Dove this spring. I'll bet the CRP grasslands will be flourishing with Dove this year.

[shrapmetal]

i live out east and see dove everyday going to work. it's really green out here and i have seen more wildlife out here than ever before.

[HunterCO]

i live out east and see dove everyday going to work. it's really green out here and i have seen more wildlife out here than ever before.

I guess I will bring a shotgun also when I come out to antelope hunt. There are usually a lot of doves on Bill's place in the trees behind the house.

Maybe we can meet nothing major just say hi when I come out in a month for antelope. I will be staying at the preston ranch it is located about 6 miles north of Yoder on Singbell Rd.

Let me know.

[Colorado Osprey]

Anyone down near the Arkansas River?

I am curious if the sunflowers are starting to drop seed yet?

Everywhere I've seen in El Paso county the sunflowers are still underdeveloped and are not holding birds yet. Maybe they will develope before the fist cold weather and it will be a good dove year.

Anybody remember the frost in late August in the late 1980's...no dove that year?

[car-15]

I had 9 on the power lines behind my house when I got home today, I'll be hunting dove this weekend with my trusty beeman pellet rifle, from my back porch[Flower]

[shrapmetal]

I guess I will bring a shotgun also when I come out to antelope hunt. There are usually a lot of doves on Bill's place in the trees behind the house.

Maybe we can meet nothing major just say hi when I come out in a month for antelope. I will be staying at the preston ranch it is located about 6 miles north of Yoder on Singbell Rd.

Let me know.

sounds like a plan. i live about 4 miles west of there. i have a 85yd range if you want to site in before your hunt, but i have no trees and my wife mowed the lawn so no doves. i see one or two one my fence about every other day. i have been thinking of putting up some decoys so they think it's safe and bring some friends over for dinner.

[SS109]

Dove hunting should be good anywhere this year!

The only downside is the doves may not need to hit the water tanks since everything is still green this late.

On his other point, big game hunting is getting more commercial but I still usually can find a few small herds on National Forest land.
The big herds are all on private property in South Park by the time I hunt in November.

[HunterCO]

On his other point, big game hunting is getting more commercial but I still usually can find a few small herds on National Forest land.
The big herds are all on private property in South Park by the time I hunt in November.

There are ten times more Elk in the national forest around South Park than in South Park. You just have to be willing to go after them. The ones that hang out in SP are not pressured by hunters so they are an easy target. Can't blame them they figured out where to go and not get shot at. (Hence why there are big herds on private)

Like I said do you want to hunt or do you just want to shoot something.

What is commercial about game going to places they are not hunted?? That makes no sense in any way shape or form. I can tell you this if I was being shot at I sure as hell would try to find a place I didn't get shot at.

If you wan't commercial go to a game ranch SP sure as hell in no way shape or form has anything to do with commercial hunting.

[cleaner72]

Maybe you guys can give this dude a break. Hes new to Colorado...has NO clue where to go. Its a big state with tons of places to hunt but ONLY if you know where the public land is...he was just venting his frustration at not knowing anyplace to go. Not all of us were born here in colorado and have been hunting here all our lives...some of us might need a helping hand and or advice instead of a large fire and flames. Not only that hes military fellas...maybe a small amount of respect is deserved for that? He wasnt disrespectful to anyone here. Plus you guys try living in colorado on military pay and trying to hunt. It aint cheap. Living here aint cheap neither. Ive been lucky enough to hook up wiht guys from my work to take me out. Just my opinion.


Edit: Just so you know I grew up in Texas where as a boy I was taught to sit in a blind overlooking a feeder...thats the way we did it. Not my fault I was taught that way....that was the only way I knew how to hunt deer till I was older. Ive been in Colorado 9 years now and NEVER would hunt like that again. Again remember not everyone hunts like we do in Colorado.

[Wallary]

Maybe you guys can give this dude a break. Hes new to Colorado...has NO clue where to go. Its a big state with tons of places to hunt but ONLY if you know where the public land is...he was just venting his frustration at not knowing anyplace to go. Not all of us were born here in colorado and have been hunting here all our lives...some of us might need a helping hand and or advice instead of a large fire and flames. Not only that hes military fellas...maybe a small amount of respect is deserved for that? He wasnt disrespectful to anyone here. Plus you guys try living in colorado on military pay and trying to hunt. It aint cheap. Living here aint cheap neither. Ive been lucky enough to hook up wiht guys from my work to take me out. Just my opinion.


Edit: Just so you know I grew up in Texas where as a boy I was taught to sit in a blind overlooking a feeder...thats the way we did it. Not my fault I was taught that way....that was the only way I knew how to hunt deer till I was older. Ive been in Colorado 9 years now and NEVER would hunt like that again. Again remember not everyone hunts like we do in Colorado.Your Dude said..."I have had bad luck with hunting out here." Sounds like this isn't the first time hunting here to me. Then he makes this statement that seems to apply to all Colorado Hunting. I disagree! The information is out there for all to read so us hunters can be legal and to protect the land owners from the morons who break the laws. "All hunting information about public land is so buried in the details that it is REDICULOUS. Hunting clubs and outfitters are trying to make six figures off of a handful of hunters. Colorado Hunting is so commercialized and only accessible to the wealthy and the ranchers." And then he tries to tell us we ain't good enough for him anyways!
"Unfortunately Colorado hunters need to make a serious overhaul of who is running the show out here. I wish I could go back to South Carolina." That right there it what bothers me. I totally respect our Men and Woman in the arm services. I don't care if your in the military or not, If you bad mouth my Mama your going to get it. He acts like we're helpless buffooneries and I was just venting!!!!!!!!![Rant2]

[Colorado Osprey]

Ok, poor shooting and 40 rounds only landed me 5 dove opening day evening.

If I remembered how to shoot I could have limited out easily.

[shrapmetal]

it seemed to me that he was doing a lot more complaining than asking for some advise. i guess its all in the way you ask.

[mr_dove]

Jokes about Dove hunting were hot stuff when I was growing up (grade school and high school). I suppose my parents are to blame. Anyone want to throw a Dove hunting joke my way to make light of my hippie name?

[cedrick]

Im from Or and honestly I think hunting here is quite confusing and some of the rules are so foriegn that it seem your on another planet I do feel some of what this guy is feeling and didnt think his post was all bad ,just a moment of pure frustration with a system and land you dont understand ,I had one of those a few months ago and blabed away on here & 7 helped me out ,now next year I might take a stab at something somewhere ,even though whereing orange is silly

[car-15]

Im from Or and honestly I think hunting here is quite confusing and some of the rules are so foriegn that it seem your on another planet I do feel some of what this guy is feeling and didnt think his post was all bad ,just a moment of pure frustration with a system and land you dont understand ,I had one of those a few months ago and blabed away on here & 7 helped me out ,now next year I might take a stab at something somewhere ,even though whereing orange is silly
we only have to wear orange, so the out of staters dont confuse us for game.[Coffee]

[Wallary]

Jokes about Dove hunting were hot stuff when I was growing up (grade school and high school). I suppose my parents are to blame. Anyone want to throw a Dove hunting joke my way to make light of my hippie name? Can't think of any Dove Hunting Jokes? Humm? Jokes eh? That's a one of a kind of name, You must be feeling kind of... (Lonesome Dove), Name the dirtiest birds on the face of the earth...( Soiled Doves ), A group of Mr Dove's friends went Dove Hunting the other day and Mr. Dove suggested they paired up in twos. Okay these are pretty crappy jokes. Why don't you enlighten us on some of the good ones you've heard over the years? [Abused]

[cedrick]

Thats a good one Wallary