I used to dove hunt every September 1st but the opportunity to do it sucessfilly became harder and harder to find (crowded and/or unproductive places became the norm).
I even called some places.that were suggested by my AI here (mostly east of the Front Range) but $250/gun per day has become the going rate on private grounds....& that seems a bit steep to me for a few doves (everything seems to anymore).
I'm guessing with a bit of effort I could likely find something passible but...I'm usually distracted by my preparations for my trip north and this year is no exception.
Good luck to all you folks that are doing it.
Interesting thoughts and takes about dove hunting in Colorado.
I pioneered a hunt comprising several landowners with tree groves in the Yuma area in 1997. Throughout the years our group kept growing with everyone wanting to invite someone but not put it the time & effort to find new spots or landowners, all they wanted to do was show up with their guns and ask where they get to shoot & then complain about that our standing rule to throw fifty bucks into a hat to cover the expenses & efforts of the farmer who owned & mowed the area where we set-up camp every year. Then over the course of 29yrs and the long ongoing drought, microburst winds & some of the farmers tearing out tree groves we kept losing spots to set-up to the point that we had to scale things down & tell most of the long-standing members that we wouldn't be able to have the large group traditional opener get togethers anymore.
There is still a small group getting together, but I haven't been able to attend it for the past three years because of being the sole caretaker for a 96yr old with advanced Alzheimer's. This would have been the 29th year of this shoot and it cuts deep knowing that I wasn't there.
