BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

Baggsy · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Colorado

I have been looking for some good squirrel hunting in Colorado along the front range (Denver area). I did alot of squirrel hunting back in VA and am starting to miss it. Any one have any spots they want to share?

Thanks

Don Fischer · Joined: 24 Mar 2005 Posts: 2503 Location: Antelope, Ore

Welcome to BGH.

I used to go after them now wnd then when I lives up near Greeley. Can't really remember where I went tho, its been over 20 yrs. Best bet for squirrels is head for the mountains. If your looking just for jack rabbits, I used th go north out of Eaton. East on hwy 14 about 3 or 4 mi then a county road north about maybe 10 mi.

Baggsy · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Colorado

Thanks. I actually saw quite a few up near craig this past trip (no elk though). They were all Eberts (sp) squirrels.

CriterGiter · Joined: 18 Mar 2009 Posts: 1

Baggsy -

I too am from VA and have recently moved to the Front Range of Colorado. I'm having the same difficulty. In VA shooting nice size Gray's and huge Fox Squirrel was a regular season for me and my family and great eating too. I also think there is no better way to introduce children into the sport either. I kept seeing all of the Fox Squirrel in the suburban areas and went out and bought a new 22 Mag and a 3X9. It's excellent fun to snipe/head shot them and great practice for Big Game season. I bought the rifle just for the squirrel hunting. As of yet I have not found a good spot. I have seen Elbert's and some other itty bitty squirrels but no where have I consistently seen Fox's in an area that is appropriate to hunt them. If anyone has any ideas on where there is good Fox Squirrel hunting please chime in - I hate to have a new rifle collecting dust.

sqrlyhntr83 · Joined: 11 Jul 2009 Posts: 36 Location: colorado spings co

you guys still thinkng squirrels and did you find any areas I think i might have a few areas and always would like a buddy to go..... also I have mountain curs so all my squirrel hunting will be behind the two of them and if you have never hunted squirrels behind dogs you are in for a treat let me know and we will go kill'em once the season is here....

Hiker · Joined: 23 Jun 2005 Posts: 1536 Location: Colorado

I have seen quite a few black squirrels along Rampart Range Road.

sqrlyhntr83 · Joined: 11 Jul 2009 Posts: 36 Location: colorado spings co

is that land open for small game hunting or will there be big game guys there too?

Hiker · Joined: 23 Jun 2005 Posts: 1536 Location: Colorado

I believe it is open for both. You might see a couple of rifle hunters in there during the early part of squirrel season but rifle season ends in November. So December and January you should have it all to yourself.

Cyrrix · Joined: 30 Sep 2009 Posts: 4

Wante to chime in. Also new to this site as I found it searching for squirrel info.

I am from MN, and used to hunt squirrels tons with my dad. Finally decieded to make my mark here in CO. I am in the springs, but everything I have read thus far points to me heading towards the S platte SWA places. Which is like 3 hours away from me. I am aiming for Fox squirrels since they are bigger and better! I thought abotu trying out holbrook swa, but have not found any really good info on squirrel types or population numbers down there. Also would love to tag along with someone if they know the area somewhat. Seems weird to wander around a big area shooting without really knowing the layout. On the map SWA's don't seem very large

sqrlyhntr83 · Joined: 11 Jul 2009 Posts: 36 Location: colorado spings co

yeah the swa's are about 3 hrs from the springs you can get into pretty good aberts sqs up in the mountains but you can only kill two a day... after that you have to try and get private land in the river bottoms.... good luck let me know what you find.

Cyrrix · Joined: 30 Sep 2009 Posts: 4

WIll do. Hoping the weather allows me to go on my next days off...(Wed, thru, Fri).

HeavyC · Joined: 19 Jul 2008 Posts: 227 Location: Greeley, CO

Dang, I thought you went out to Holbrook after your post on FishExplorer!

Actually, there are some really nice sized SWA around. Holbrook would have prolly done you fine. It is decnt sized too.

Along the platte there are tons, and many of them are 2-4 miles long and a good mile or two wide in some areas. TONS of cottonwoods and brush! I actually saw a few squirrel on Friday at Cottonwood SWA. That is good area to start. Other SWAs within a mile or two are Jean K Pool, Brush & Elliot so right there you are looking at over 10 miles of riverbottom I would bet!

Good luck!

Myke · Joined: 16 Oct 2009 Posts: 4 Location: Colorado Springs

I am trying to take my daughter and 2 nephews rabbit and squirrel hunting next weekend (10/24/09). I e-mailed CO DOW to try to get info on the area around John Martin Reservoir. There are 10 SWA's in a 25 mile radius. I'm going to try to check Holbrook, Rocky Ford, Pergatoire, John Martin and Queens SWA, depending on what I can get out of the game warden and biologist for that area. About 2 1/2 miles from the Springs, not to bad for a day or weekend hunt. The good thing is I work 4 10's so I always have 3 day weekends. I'll let you know what the DOW says and also if we have any luck. This will be my first time hunting squirrels, so it may not be the most accurate assessment of actual probability to have a successful hunt, especially with 3 kids, we'll probably scare the whole squirrel population into hiding as soon as we get out of the truck. They used to have Colorado Springs SWA just south of Fountain, but Colorado Springs Utilities decided they needed the land and after 2 days and talking to 17 different people I couldn't get through to anyone that could give me permission or knew who I needed to talk to to get permission to hunt there.

Cyrrix · Joined: 30 Sep 2009 Posts: 4

HeavyC wrote: Dang, I thought you went out to Holbrook after your post on FishExplorer!

Actually, there are some really nice sized SWA around. Holbrook would have prolly done you fine. It is decnt sized too.

Along the platte there are tons, and many of them are 2-4 miles long and a good mile or two wide in some areas. TONS of cottonwoods and brush! I actually saw a few squirrel on Friday at Cottonwood SWA. That is good area to start. Other SWAs within a mile or two are Jean K Pool, Brush & Elliot so right there you are looking at over 10 miles of riverbottom I would bet!

Good luck!

LOL HC, you stalking me? jkjk. I wanted to, but between the weather, and life I have not made it out anywhere yet, but hoping to try deckers this week. based on it being closer and less time to travel

HeavyC · Joined: 19 Jul 2008 Posts: 227 Location: Greeley, CO

:evil:

FYI...John Martin SWA should be good as well, and if you go even a little further to the east you can cut under the railroad tracks in a few places and get to the back side of the lake and to some nice wooded areas along a canal and also between that canal and the lake.

Here are a couple of pics from when I was there in the middle of August.