About 50% of Colorado’s annual statewide duck harvest occurs in 5 counties (Logan, Morgan, Sedgwick, Washington and Weld) along the lower South Platte River corridor in northeastern Colorado. Over 60% of Colorado duck hunters hunt in this area, and a majority of these hunters hunt exclusively or regularly on public lands.
Duck hunting is a major activity which requires management emphasis on 26 State Wildlife Areas (SWAs) and several State Trust Lands (STLs) located in the South Platte corridor from Greeley to the state line. The Colorado Division of Wildlife historically has managed to provide a range of duck hunting opportunities on SWAs along the South Platte corridor.
Some properties have few or no restrictions on hunting beyond the statewide regulations, and the management emphasis is on maximizing hunting opportunity, including Nakagawa SWA, Greasewood Lake STL, Weldon Valley STL, Cottonwood SWA, Messex SWA, Dune Ridge SWA, Knudson SWA, Ford Bridge STL, Duck Creek SWA, Red Lion STL, Sedgwick Bar SWA, Julesburg SWA and Pony Express SWA.
Helpful Information
Below is a collection of helpful information for the Colorado duck hunter:
License Year Change: Beginning April 1, 2009, all annual fishing licenses, senior fishing licenses, small game licenses, furbearer licenses, combination fishing and small game licenses, Colorado waterfowl stamps, habitat stamps and walk-in access permits will be valid from April 1, 2009, through March 31 of the following year. If you bought one of these licenses in 2008, it is valid through March 31, 2009. If you buy one of these licenses after Jan. 1, 2009, it will be valid from the date of purchase through March 31, 2010.
Pacific Flyway Ducks: The canvasback season is closed in this flyway.
The Scaup bag limit has changed. The daily bag limit for ducks and mergansers is 7 in the aggregate. Of these, no more than 2 can be female mallards, 1 pintail, 2 redheads and 2 scaup. No scaup can be taken after Janurary 6.
Light Geese: The daily bag limit is now 10 in the Pacific Flyway.
| Ducks | |||
| Regular Seasons | |||
| | |||
| Central Flyway – Eastern Plains Zone | Pacific Flyway | ||
| 1st split | 2nd split | 1st split | 2nd split |
| 10/4/08 – 11/30/08 | 11/8/08 – 1/25/09 | 9/27/08 – 10/12/08 | 10/29/08 – 1/25/09 |
| | |||
| Central Flyway – Mountain/Foothills Zone | | ||
| 1st Split | 2nd Split | ||
| 10/4/08 – 11/30/08 | 12/19/08 – 1/25/09 | ||
| | |||
| Youth Days | |||
| Central Flyway – Eastern Plans | Central Flyway – Mountain/Foothills | Pacific Flyway | |
| 9/27/08 & 9/28/08 | 9/27/08 & 9/28/08 | 10/18/08 & 10/19/08 | |
2008 Fees
| Resident | Non-Resident | |
|---|---|---|
| Small Game | 21.00 | 56.00 |
| Small Game (One Day) | 11.00 | 11.00 |
| Combination Small Game and Fishing | 41.00 | - |
| Military with 60% or more disability | Free | - |
| Youth Small Game (Under 16) | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| Colorado Waterfowl Stamp | 5.00 | 5.00 |
| Federal Waterfowl Stamp | 15.00 | 15.00 |
| Costs include 25-cent search and rescue fee, and a 75-cent surcharge for the Wildlife Management Public Education Fund. | ||
In the map below, the Pacific Flyway is west of the Continental Divide, and the Central Flyway is east of it.
