Your Northern Colorado Waterfowl Hunting success rates will drastically improve now that you’ve decided to go with Birds & Bucks. Whether you buy a club membership or book a guided goose hunting or duck hunting trip, you can expect nothing but the best. We take pride in providing you with only the best duck hunting and/or goose hunting guides and properties available in Colorado. We’ve looked long and hard to acquire properties and guides that are second to none and you will be the benefactor of this hard work.
Guiding Properties
Our guided goose hunting properties span from the Severence, Ault, Eaton area all the way south to Watkins (just east of Denver about 30 minutes). If you’re goose hunting in a field, you’ll be in a comfortable lined and heated pit large enough for 6-8 people. Our guides will make sure you’re comfortable and safe while being concealed underground. All of our guides also run fully trained dogs that take great pleasure in making you happy.
Firearms for Northern Colorado Waterfowl Hunting
Of course, your familiarity with your personal firearm is the most important factor, however, the below shotgun types and ammunition recommendations are what we’ve had the most success with.
- Sept – Nov Duck Hunting: At this time, you can expect a great variety of ducks to work your spread. During early September teal season, we recommend 12 – 20 gauge shotguns loaded with 2 3/4″ – 3″ shells and #4 – #6 shot sizes. During the first split of duck season (early Oct – early Dec), you’ll encounter a wide variety of puddle and diving ducks such as teal, widgeon, gadwall, redhead, canvasback, mallard, and pintail. The same caliber shotguns are effective, however, we recommend you size your shot up to #1 – #4 and use 3″ shells. Ammunition manufacturers can vary, just be sure you’re shooting non-toxic shot (steel, bismuth, tungsten, Hevi-Shot, etc). Kent is an excellent manufacturer for these shot sizes.
- Anytime goose hunting: Colorado is home to many subspecies of Canadian geese and getting these birds on the ground can be quite a challenge. We always recommend a 10 – 12 gauge shotgun (20 gauge can be effective with accurate shot placement) and 3″ – 3 1/2″ shells loaded with #BB – #2 shot. When hunting geese, there is always the possibility that ducks will find you and these shotgun and ammunition recommendations will perform very effectively. We’ve come to like Winchester “blind side“.
What to wear
Colorado weather is extremely unpredictable and it’s always best to be prepared for anything. If your not prepared for the diverse conditions Northern Colorado Waterfowl Hunting can present, you may never want to to experience it again. Below are some recommendations for being prepared.
- If you’re planning on goose hunting during the months of November through February, you’ll most likely be hunting in a crop field or on ice that may or may not have snow in it. Sometimes you’ll be setting up decoys in below zero temps then the sun will come out and it will warm up to 50 degrees. Be sure to wear warm clothing that can be taken off or put back on in layers as the weather changes. Long underwear will come in handy as will warm pads that can be stuck to your socks or kept in your pockets. You’ll also be walking around in a crop field that may or may not have snow in it so a good pair of boots are essential. Sorel boots have always been most effective for us.
- Early season duck hunting can present a wide array of conditions. We’ve seen temps as warm as 80 degrees and as low as zero so be sure you’re prepared. A good pair of waders or hip boots is essential to staying dry and warm. We recommend the Cabela’s “Dry-Plus” Breathable hunting waders as you can layer up beneath them to stay warm or wear shorts under them and stay cool. They are also very light and easy to move around in. If you’ve booked a guided duck hunt, communicate with your guide about what clothing items would be best.
Decoys
There are an incredible amount of decoys available out there and it can be important to choose the best ones for your individual needs. We highly recommend “Dakota” decoys as they are light, durable, easy to handle, and very realistic.
- For goose hunting, our guides will sometimes run 25 dozen full body Dakotas attached to motion stands as well as numerous shells or silhouettes. A good goose flag is also key.
- For duck hunting, Dakota also makes very realistic mallard and pintail decoys that come in floating and field varieties. If you’re looking for how to rig your decoys, look into the many products “RigEm Right” offers. From wire rigs that make setup and clean up many times easier to jerk cords that give your decoys just the right amount of motion, RigEm right products will really help make your hunt enjoyable, productive, and safe.