The Game and Fish has already released a boatload of pheasants for the Springer Special Pheasant Hunt, but they have plenty more to turn loose. There are likely still lots of pheasants that escaped the dogs and the shotguns out at Springer, and that area will be open to all hunters on Friday.
In addition, many other hunting areas around the state will be getting infusions of pheasants. During the season, they’ll release even more birds at Springer, as well as Table Mountain, Glendo State Park, and Goshen County Walk-In Area #63. These areas will all be stocked at least twice a week, and Game and Fish says they believe they’ll have enough pheasants to keep stocking the areas through the middle of December.
Keep in mind, though, that Glendo will be open only to youth hunters on Sundays through November. Glendo has some specific regulations and requires a Glendo permit. Be sure to check the regulations before you go.
Also, the Table Mountain Wildlife Habitat Management Area has new shooting hours this year. Be aware that you can’t hunt that area until 8 a.m., which is a change in the regulations from the previous legal shooting time that started a half hour before sunrise.
Unfortunately, though, they won’t be releasing birds in Goshen County Walk-In Area #24 or Laramie County Walk-In Area #2 this year. Drought conditions have not allowed those areas to get enough cover.
In total, the Game and Fish has 17,500 pheasants to release. That ought to keep all of us and our dogs busy for most of the rest of the year.
