Colorado is a great place to hunt for pheasant, and there are a number of other species native to the area; quail, chuckar, and partridge to name a few. The state plays home to more than 40 vast preserves devoted to nurturing the populations of these birds for the hunter's sake. For a hunter with a dog there are a number of areas, many less than an hour out of Denver, that will provide well trained pointers and flushing dogs the opportunity to work prime pheasant habitat. Because Colorado is so centrally located, many hunters from the surrounding states of Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, New Mexico, and Utah make use of the close proximity of some of the finest bird hunting in the area.



The ring-neck pheasant originates in Asia, and all but one of the 49 species can still be found there. Of the four found in the United States, the Chinese ring-neck is the most abundant in Colorado. This species is an especially durable bird because of it's ability to sense danger. Since they can't fly for long periods of time they prefer to run from prey. The Chinese ring-neck is greatly prized for it's brilliant color. They are found mostly in wetlands, grasslands, brushy thickets, and woodlands. It is for this reason that a dog becomes a serious asset to a hunter looking for pheasant.

State laws vary, but as in most, only a few male birds may be taken each day. A hunter has a lot of options when searching out pheasant. It would be nearly impossible for a few hunters to work a large field, so it's a better strategy to stick to the field edges and fencerows. In midday, pheasant will seek ditches and marshes for shelter, and if that doesn't work, they'll look for denser cover.

In early morning and again in the late afternoon pheasant will move towards their favorite feeding grounds; these are the best times to hunt them. It is also best to work with a few partners in searching for pheasant; the birds cover too much territory for a hunter to locate himself.