Ptarmigans in Colorado

[T Bone]

they are usually extremely vocal. So locating them can be super easy.

I have to be real choosy where I take my lab, that fool will go right off a cliff to flush them. She's a nut.

Some birds are dumb as rocks, and you could get a limit with a tennis racket.

That Corgi is a machine! Love seeing the hunting pics of that dog.

 

[glass eye]

Sometimes you don't even need a gun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ppd9KqalY8M&feature=youtu.be

 

[Kharper]

I've hunted them twice in Colorado, without a dog. Like t bone says, They are vocal and I've usually heard them first and walked up for the flush.

 

[Elkhunter24]

Good luck!

 

[rmyoung1]

I ran into a bunch of those things while hunting sheep in S66. Pretty tasty.

 

[rmyoung1]

Great picture!
I have a spot in that unit marked for boots on the ground investigation.

These were at the head of the Fryingpan River. Probably easiest to access that country from Hwy 82, hike up Lackawanna Gulch, then over the pass.

 

[TheGreek]

I'm aware that this thread is 5 years old. I've also verified that several who posted are still active today of the site.

So...I'll be in Colorado the week of 17 September hunting dusky grouse with two pointing dogs. I've got my heart set of going after ptarmigan at least once. I'll be in the southern central area. I have several areas of interest marked for possible ptarmigan locations. Anyone interested in going on a mountaintop hike?

Good luck! I’ve got plans to try and get after a few in NW CO come the season.

 

[jlmatthew]

Tasty little boogers

 

[Don Fischer]

I started out bird hunting using a dog to get more birds. Today with no dog I wouldn't hunt birds! The real pleasure of bird hunting is watching the dog for me. have read there's ptarmigan but never hunted them and lived there a number of years. Also lived in alaska a couple years and never hunted them there either. In both places Grouse was my bird of choice! But like I said, without a dog, I wouldn't hunt crows!

 

[Don Fischer]

If they are anything like the ones in northern Canada, then they are really easy to bag. We were shooting them with a bow... yes that close.

good luck to all
the dog

Made a few trip's up to Prudoe Bay in a truck years ago on the haul road and the things were every where out on the tundra, Like a bunch of barnyard chickens!

 

[elkduds]

I did make it to Colorado last fall and had a successful blue grouse hunt. Unfortunately my oldest dog wasn't doing well with the terrain/elevation so rather than lock him in the car all day at a trailhead while I hiked up for ptarmigan, I chose to not pursue them on that trip. Back in early June the old dog was diagnosed with an enlarged heart. Within two weeks he passed in my arms.

As it does, life keeps moving for the living. It took a lot of persuasion but I've talked my friends into a Colorado bird hunting trip for Sept '25 (we plan early to get the lodging). They will be there for 5 days and we'll concentrate on blues. The next 5 days I'll be solo with my dogs and putting all effort into ptarmigan!

Sorry to hear of the passing of your hunting partner. Good to hear you and dogs will be back next year. Man, I love bird hunting with good dogs!

 

[tormenter]

Good luck! I’ve got plans to try and get after a few in NW CO come the season.

Let me know if you find any in NW CO. I pounded the Zirkels last year sheep hunting and could never find anything above timberline except blues.

 

[TheGreek]

Let me know if you find any in NW CO. I pounded the Zirkels last year sheep hunting and could never find anything above timberline except blues.

I gotta call the CPW office and try to get confirmation if any are still up there. Maybe going based off a 20 year old Hiking the ‘Boat mention of where they were back then wasn’t the best idea.

 

[huntingman121]

I sent you a pm on dialated cardiomyopathy.