As a Colorado resident and avid turkey hunter, I get asked all the time – where are the best places to hunt for wild turkey in Colorado? Our state has excellent turkey hunting opportunities across a wide range of terrain. In this article, I’ll share my tips on the top units and areas to target turkeys, plus provide key advice for a successful hunt.
Overview of Turkey Hunting in Colorado
Let’s first cover some turkey hunting basics in Colorado:
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We have both Rio Grande and Merriam’s turkey subspecies that are native to the state
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Turkeys occupy habitat ranging from plains grasslands up to mountain forests and canyons
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Spring turkey season runs from mid-April to late May for bearded birds only.
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Fall turkey season is for either sex from October through November.
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Hunting is limited to specific game management units determined by Colorado Parks & Wildlife.
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You need a valid small game or turkey license as well as a habitat stamp to hunt turkey.
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Shotguns, bows, and air rifles are legal methods for taking turkey. Electronic calls are also permitted.
Now that you know the basics, let’s jump into the details on the prime public land turkey hunting areas across Colorado.
Best Areas for Spring Turkey Hunting
Spring is by far the most popular season for hunting turkey in Colorado. Here are some of my favorite units to target in spring:
Northeast Region
Northeast Colorado offers the state’s top turkey habitat. Focus on these units:
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Units 2, 201, and 202 – Excellent hunting along the South Platte River and tributaries. Mix of riparian vegetation and agricultural fields. Holds a lot of Rio Grande turkeys.
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Unit 140 – Crosses high plains prairie and riparian areas. Big turkey populations spread along Republican River.
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Unit 131 – Prime turkey habitat around North Platte River and North Park valley. Mix of public and private lands.
Southeast Region
Southeast Colorado is stark plains terrain but holds solid turkey numbers. Look to these units:
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Units 93 and 133 – Arguably the best area in southeast CO. Arkansas River Plus state wildlife areas near Las Animas and Lamar.
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Units 95, 96, and 97 – Decent hunting along Purgatoire River. Mix of piñon-juniper woodlands and shrublands.
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Unit 140 – Offers sweeping plains terrain with prairie dog towns that attract turkeys. Tons of public land.
Northwest Region
The northwest corner of Colorado delivers beautiful canyon turkey hunting:
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Units 1, 2, 10, and 201 – Excellent hunting along the Yampa and Little Snake Rivers plus tributaries.
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Unit 4 – Focus on the White River National Forest near Rio Blanco Lake. Aspen and mixed conifer forests.
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Unit 5 – Hunt the areas surrounding Stagecoach and Yamcolo Reservoirs for quality public land opportunity.
Southwest Region
In southwest Colorado, zero in on these prime public land units:
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Unit 70 – Hunt the San Juan National Forest, especially along the Dolores River corridor.
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Unit 77 – Target the San Miguel and San Juan River areas around Telluride.
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Units 74 and 751 – Quality hunting on BLM and state trust lands. Pinon-juniper forests.
Additional Notable Units
A few other public lands units I recommend scoping out:
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Unit 11 – Great turkey habitat in the Arkansas River Valley near Canon City.
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Unit 18 – Decent numbers of Merriam’s turkeys in the foothills west of Denver.
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Unit 361 – Look for turkeys in the oak brush around Trinidad and Lathrop State Park.
Top Areas for Fall Turkey Hunting
While more challenging, don’t overlook fall turkey hunting in Colorado. Here are some promising areas to explore:
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Unit 9 – Target the area between Grand Junction and Delta along the Gunnison River.
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Unit 201 – The prairies and agriculture fields northeast of Denver hold turkey flocks.
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Unit 441 – Hunt the San Isabel National Forest southwest of Pueblo.
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Unit 55 – Decent numbers of birds in the La Garita and Cochetopa Hills area.
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Unit 54 – Pine forests and aspen groves in the Creede and South Fork vicinity.
As with spring, Units 1, 2, 10, 93, 133, and 140 also offer fall turkey hunting potential on public lands.
Key Turkey Hunting Tips
To close out this guide, here are some vital tips to remember when turkey hunting in Colorado:
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Scout pre-season – Spend as much time as possible scouting your chosen unit before opening day. Locate flocks, roost sites, and patterns.
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Use calls – Expert calling can make the difference between success and failure. Practice with slate, box, and mouth calls.
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Go mobile – Be prepared to cover ground and move quickly once birds are located. Pop-up blinds can be useful.
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Focus on food – Find and set up near flock feeding areas in early morning or late evening.
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Watch the weather – Hunt during and after snow or rain when birds are more active. Bad weather keeps other hunters home.
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Be patient – Calling in and harvesting a wary tom takes patience. Stay alert and don’t give up.
Follow these tips and you’ll be ready to tag your first Colorado gobbler. Just be sure to verify season dates and license requirements before heading out. With a bit of pre-planning and effort, you can experience amazing spring or fall turkey hunts all across this great turkey state. Happy hunting!
Private Ranch Turkey Hunts
On your guided turkey hunt, you can hunt over 5,000 acres of private ground with a great Merriams turkey population. Our ranch has several types of habitat including riparian river bottom, agricultural fields, thick juniper and pinon pine cover, deep valleys, and open mountain meadows.
This is a fully guided turkey hunt with the primary hunting tactic being spot & stalk, sitting, waiting, calling, and using decoys in the right scenarios to bring the birds to you…or chasing the gobbles on foot which is always very exciting!
Spring Turkey Hunting in Colorado
Turkey hunting in Colorado is unlike any kind of turkey hunt that most people have experienced. This area of SW Colorado has vast mountains, rolling hills, deep canyons loaded with juniper and pinon pine, and river bottoms that intersect the mesas that sweep down from the San Juan Mountains, which serve as a magnificent backdrop for our hunts.
One common thing among all out turkey hunts is the heart-pounding experience of chasing or calling in a big tom during the spring. Our Merriams Turkey hunts are done exclusively during the Spring season when the birds are fired up and looking for hens. Our guides have many years of Colorado turkey hunting experience under their belts and know how to call in a big tom or make the perfect setup for bow or gun hunters to get the shot they need.
If you need a Merriams for your turkey grand slam, we will help you make that happen!
How To Hunt Turkey In COLORADO On Public Land | MIKE HUNTS |
FAQ
Where are the most turkeys in Colorado?
Merriam’s turkey is primarily found in high elevation foothills west of I-25. They may move to higher elevations in the summer and move up to 40 miles between summer and winter habitats. Rio Grande turkey is primarily found on the eastern Colorado plains east of I-25.
Where is the best place to turkey hunt in Colorado?
Pagosa is a beautiful place to hunt them, lots of public land, and they are Merriam’s turkeys. There are multiple locations across the western half of CO in the mountains to hunt them. The SW corner of the state probably has the highest concentration.
Is turkey hunting in Colorado good?
Hunting turkey in Colorado is growing in popularity with sportspeople and is a good sporting opportunity for hunters to hone their skills and gain confidence before they go hunt big game. We’re here to help make sure you do your research, plan carefully, and stay safe while enjoying the outdoors.
Are there turkey hunts in Colorado?
We are excited to offer spring Turkey hunts. Come experience your Colorado wild turkey hunting adventure with us. We see both marriam and rio grande turkeys at various locations. Excellent hunting opportunities along the Arkansas river in southeast Colorado Hunt for turkey. Not sub species specific
What are the best state parks for turkey hunting in Colorado?
Some of the best state parks for turkey hunting in Colorado include: * Chimney Rock State Park – This park is located in southeastern Colorado and offers excellent turkey hunting opportunities. Hunters can find turkeys in the open meadows and aspen groves of the park.
Are there private ranches in Colorado for turkey hunting?
There are a number of private ranches in Colorado that offer turkey hunting opportunities. These ranches offer a variety of hunting experiences, from guided hunts to self-guided hunts. Hunters can find turkeys on a variety of private ranches in Colorado, including open meadows, aspen groves, and ponderosa pine forests.
Is hunting turkey a good sport in Colorado?
Hunting turkey in Colorado is growing in popularity with sportspeople and is a good sporting opportunity for hunters to hone their skills and gain confidence before they go hunt big game. We’re here to help make sure you do your research, plan carefully, and stay safe while enjoying the outdoors. Turkey hunter with decoys.
What do you need to hunt a Turkey in Colorado?
1. Hotel in holly or Lamar Colorado 2. otc spring turkey license 3. Food and non hunting travel 4. cooler and supplies for turkey 5. full camo. face mask and gloves 6. shotgun (with plug in) turkey ammo 7. weather appropriate clothing 8. Rangefinder 9. Turkey call * Blind Hunts- Layered clothing for temperature changes through the day.
When is turkey hunting season in Colorado?
* Seasons: The turkey hunting season in Colorado runs from April 15 to May 31. * Bag limits: You are allowed to take one turkey per day, and two turkeys per season. * Legal methods: The only legal methods of hunting turkeys in Colorado are calling, decoying, and spot-and-stalk.