Using my Small game Licenses?

[TheWhitetailNut]

Every year I have to buy a number of hunting licenses so I can apply for Big Game draws. This year I applied for only low odds tags so it's probable I'll have a bunch of small game licenses and no tags. Are there any cool bird hunting experiences in NM, CO, WY, or MT? I used to hunt Pheasants on the farm where I grew up and Ruffed Grouse in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Also did Pheasants and Quail once in KS. Are there any lowkey opportunities that don't require specialized gear?

 

[wytx]

You bet, we don't have a dog and take lots of grouse every year. Large variety of birds to hunt in the states you mentioned.
Add sage grouse to that list, with chukar and others.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Go out during some seasons you'd like to eventually experience and scout / grouse hunt.

 

[bdg848]

You bet, we don't have a dog and take lots of grouse every year. Large variety of birds to hunt in the states you mentioned.
Add sage grouse to that list, with chukar and others.

Ruffed or some sort of mountain grouse? Do you just walk trails and jump shoot? Spot n stalk?

 

[TheWhitetailNut]

Go out during some seasons you'd like to eventually experience and scout / grouse hunt.

What?

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

What?

I don’t know what you’re saving up for in the various states but say it’s Elk season X in state/units Y. If grouse is open then go during season X to Y and scout/observe elk activity and hunt grouse. Learn the unit/elk behavior and hunt small game.

 

[TheWhitetailNut]

I don’t know what you’re saving up for in the various states but say it’s Elk season X in state/units Y. If grouse is open then go during season X to Y and scout/observe elk activity and hunt grouse. Learn the unit/elk behavior and hunt small game.

Oh I see. Yes.

 

[CJF]

Wanna real fun challenge go hike a few miles above tree line on ridge tops looking for ptarmigans.

 

[Carr5vols]

What others have said take a shotgun and go backpack hunt during elk season...same experience almost...

 

[TheWhitetailNut]

Wanna real fun challenge go hike a few miles above tree line on ridge tops looking for ptarmigans.

I honestly didn't even know Ptarmigan were in Colorado until 20 min ago looking at the seasons. I've bumped them a bunch in Alaska.

 

[Hondo0925]

NM and AZ have good quail hunting. I have buddies that go on our big game hunts all the time in New Mexico just to shoot quail.

 

[LongWayAround]

Ptarmigan and sage grouse come to my mind. I think the Columbia (?) sharptail and sage grouse seasons are pretty close together in September for Colorado. Both are in deer/elk country.

I can't find a dusky to save my life, unless I'm bow hunting...

 

[wytx]

Sept is prime for dusky grouse(bluegrouse). We always carry flu flu arrows when elk hunting for them and always have a .22 in the truck for the ones we spook along the roads.
Sage grouse could be found out in the desert-y areas and a shotgun is needed for those.
Western side has ruffed grouse along with duskies.
Huns and sharp-tails can be found across our state too.

Hit some old clear cuts and drive the roads mid morning and mid day. The old logging roads can produce grouse as well.

 

[PredatoryProwler]

Plenty of dusky grouse in CO the hard part being finding them. Once you find them its like shooting fish in a barrel.

 

[LA Hunter]

It seems like every time we find grouse, it's when we are close to elk or in the thick of them. Found on steep, north-facing slopes mostly along timber/grass transitions. We had to refrain from pulling the trigger a few times out of fear of spooking our main target.

This year, I got a suppressor for my .22 and sighted in with subsonic loads. At 25 yards, there's zero difference between regular bullets and the sub's. I can't wait for this season with my 'Hollywood-quiet' set-up.

 

[houghton_hunter]

You can hunt WY wilderness areas with a small game license as a non-resident without a guide. You should go and blast a bunch of stuff, get some birds, coyotes, etc. I hear grouse are especially abundant near guide camps.

Good luck!