Phillips County Wildlife
By Jack Wieland
When I meet people from other states and they ask me where to go to see wildlife in Colorado’s mountains, I tell them, “If you want to see, go to the mountains. If you want to see more wildlife, go to the eastern plains”! There are more wild species of animals in the plains of Colorado than in her beautiful mountains. Phillips County has 218 wildlife species. Nine of these are amphibians, 22 are reptiles, 51 are mammals and 136 are birds which either migrate to the Phillips county area each year or call the county their home year-round. Phillips County's habitat diversity is shown by this variety of wildlife species. 173 of the wildlife species in Phillips County are non-game (non-hunted) wildlife. 13 of these are state threatened, endangered or species of special concern. The remaining 45 residents or migrant animals are considered game species in Colorado: one amphibian, two reptiles, 17 mammals and 26 birds.
Phillips County's 680 square miles contain several different habitat types. Dry and irrigated cropland covers the most area at just over 583 square miles. The landowners are great conservationists - almost 72 square miles of their property is enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Phillips County also has about 52 square miles of sandsage sandhills, almost half of which is used as cropland. Phillips County has no flowing streams today, but there are still remnants of riparian habitat along her many miles of flatland and sandhill drainages.
Although Phillips County will host a harvest of almost all of the 45 game species, it is concentrated on less than a dozen animals. Summer rain showers can turn usually dry fields into shallow lakes that may cover hundreds of acres. While ranchers may discuss the gift of water against the poor timing and placement of it, all agree that the water is a great attractant to migrating waterfowl during the fall. Waterfowl hunters use the early September teal season as their “hunting opener”. With good numbers of Teal moving south early, and a good population of hunters covering as many shallow ponds as possible in an area, the county offers a great hunt of these small ducks.
Dove season starts in early September as well. As summer temperatures cool off in late August and early September, the plentiful doves in the area bunch up into large flocks designed for traveling south on their annual migration. Two words describe how to obtain a daily bag limit in Phillips County: Hunt early!! During a typical year, the dove population quickly dwindles and the large flocks will be out of the area by mid-month. Although dove season may be short in Phillips County, in 2004, hunters harvested almost 3,000 birds. There are isolated Chukar Partridge populations that are occasionally harvested when the birds wander off of commercial hunting areas. Their season starts in September and closes in late November.
Phillips County really shines when Ring-necked Pheasant and Bobwhite Quail are the center of attraction. Last year in 2005, the county hosted the third largest number of upland game bird hunters in the state and the third largest pheasant harvest as well. The opening weekend and following week are the busiest, followed by the weekends around the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Harvest is highest during the first week and when bad weather bunches the birds. By December, the birds become well educated in the ways of the hunter. These birds can out-fox the average pheasant hunter, even those with bird dogs. This past season I had the opportunity to watch a group of hunters in a corn field. As the hunters entered the field and moved down the rows, the pheasants were already heading to the far end where the blockers were waiting. Before the pheasants got there, they must have heard the blockers or saw them moving. They either took flight well out of range or they ran to the edge of the field where nobody was standing and flew away. Whether you’re hunting alone or in a group, a change in your hunting techniques may help the birds flush. Change your pace as you walk through a field: walk fast, stop, stomp your feet, don’t move, etc. For easier walking, most hunters walk with the rows of grain. Try changing your direction of travel: walk with the rows, after 100 yards turn 45 degrees to your left and continue walking, after another 100 yards turn 90 degrees to your right, etc… Now add in the change in pace and you may end up with more birds in your bag. A hunter can also place their dogs on the edge of the field to help prevent birds from slipping out between the blockers and the walkers. Blockers should remain quiet and may need to kneel down after the walkers have seen them. This may allow the birds to get closer to them before they flush. As a last resort, some lone hunters have left battery powered radios at the ends of the field to “block” for them; some have told me with success! The Colorado Division of Wildlife’s Walk-in Access Program has been a great success for hunters in Northeast Colorado. This program allows pheasant hunters to enter onto enrolled private property to hunt for small game. Last year Phillips County enrolled almost 24,000 acres into the program - almost 38 square miles of pheasant habitat! The Phillips County chapter of Pheasants Forever has played a large part in the program's success in Phillips County through their large monetary donations each year. In past years, the High Plains Land Conservancy in Phillips County has also donated its land to the program. By mid-December and early January, some of the pheasants have learned to avoid the hunters altogether by moving to areas where they won’t be disturbed. These areas are usually private property that isn’t in the Walk-in Access program. Hunters must obtain permission from the landowners before pursuing these birds. There are several commercial upland game bird outfitters in Phillips County. For a fee, these businesses meet the individual needs of the hunter, whether it’s a fully guided hunt with dogs or only directions to the business’s bird enriched fields.
Rabbit hunting should be really good in Phillips County for the next several years as these furry animals have been seen everywhere in the county. Their large relatives, the jackrabbits, are also experiencing higher numbers. Cottontail season starts in October and is over at the end of February. Rabbit hunters are cautioned to wait until after the first hard freeze before harvesting cottontails.
Coyote hunting is very popular throughout Colorado. In past years, Phillips County ranked 13th in the state for the number of coyotes harvested. During 2004, almost 110 hunters spent close to 2,000 days afield and harvested nearly 900 dogs for their efforts. Landowner permission is needed before hunting on private property. As long as a hunter has talked to the landowner and the landowner agrees to make the hunter an “agent” the hunter doesn’t need a small game license to hunt coyotes on that property. However, the hunter does need a license if he plans to sell the furs. Some hunters stalk coyotes, while others call them in with predator calls. Other hunters have dogs trained to chase coyotes. After seeing a coyote, a houndsman will release the dogs (usually greyhounds). The houndsman will then follow the dogs as they chase the coyote. When the dogs finally stop the coyote, the houndman harvests the coyote. It is illegal in Colorado for the houndman to allow the chase dogs to kill the coyote or to use a vehicle to pursue the coyote before releasing the dogs.
Phillips County takes part in four different deer seasons: archery, muzzleloading, regular rifle and late rifle season. Game Management Units (GMU's) 93 and 98 support a healthy population of both Mule and White-tailed deer. Each year, many Mule Deer bucks are harvested that are wide-antlered and score over 180 Boone and Crocket points. White-tailed Bucks have been taken above 130 Boone and Crocket points. Because of the demand by sportsmen for large-antlered deer, a hunter will have to apply for two to five years before drawing a limited buck tag for either GMU 93 or 98, respectively.
Phillips County has a lengthy archery season for deer. These licenses also are limited in number. The season runs from the first of October to the end of December, except when the rifle seasons are open. Archery hunters don’t rely on treestands in the county, although if they do find an adequate tree, they usually find adequate deer. Most archers either stalk their deer or use ground blinds.
The Plains Muzzleloading season takes place in mid to late October. Since the majority of corn is still standing and the deer like to live near these corn fields, hunters should plan on locating deer in the mornings and evenings around these fields. Locating corn fields close to the sandhills can increase your chances as well. As with all deer hunting a successful conclusion is preceded by pre-season scouting.
Regular season rifle (late October-early November) hunters almost always have to deal with standing corn also. Hunting around the edges of standing corn will find you in deer habitat, especially the fields that are adjacent to the sandhills. Late season (first two weeks of December) deer hunters are usually not hindered by standing corn. By this time of year the deer have left the flatlands and migrated into the sandhills that border Phillips County on the south. With only the cover of the sandhills, a deer hunter might think that these deer are vulnerable to the hunter. But, after entering the hills, a hunter soon realizes that he is the one at a disadvantage. Pre- season scouting is the key to locating the deer of your dreams! Phillips County has several big game outfitters to meet individual hunters' needs. For a fee, the outfitter will provide his client with a fully guided deer hunt. For more information on wildlife, visit the Division of Wildlife's website: www.wildlife.state.co.us.
Phillips County is blessed with abundant wildlife. Three quarters of which are non-game and vary from what some would consider the lowly field sparrow, deer mouse and Great Plains toad to the soaring Mississippi Kite, beautifully colored Milk Snake and secretive Long-tailed Weasel. No matter what type of wildlife you are in search of, Phillips County offers something that will be of interest to you. Come see for yourself.
August 15, 2006