Merriam hunt flying to Denver…

[FLGobstopper]

Saw a bunch of merriams in RMNP near Estes Park late last spring. It's super close to Denver.

[Hobbes]

Colorado puts out a relatively accurate map that shows turkey distribution.  It'll be on their website.  Most everything in the plains is a draw but you can find public land birds in the Colorado mountains.  They are spread thin so you'll find them in pockets and not evenly distributed. Besides that you are within reasonable driving distance of a couple other states with Merriam's.

Regardless of what you see on YT, Merriam's are often a hike your  off, call your brains out, locating effort.  In some places you can drive a lot also.

Outright asking where to go isn't the best way to come up with good advice, but I suspect the majority of the folks are just pissed that your first post was asking for a handout.  Most folks haven't hunted enough Merriam's to have good advice anyway.  There's at least one guy in the previous responses that has hunted Merriam's a lot.

[fallhnt]

Come on fellas...post your public hot spots and don't forget to hit the like button.

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[Yoder409]

Reference each states bird outlooks or studies they have done recently. Pick out a neat spot and study it. Go give it a try and if it doesn't produce start driving. That's the beauty of out west. Good luck.

I just did a quick Google-fu of public turkey hunting opportunities in that area.  There's more public land to hunt turkeys within 4 hours drive of Denver than a guy could hunt for the rest of his life...........if he lived to be 400 years old.

Few phone calls to about 3 states' DNR's and you'd narrow your search.

This guy gets it!

This guy's DONE it !!

There's a large measure of satisfaction that goes with doing the intel on a spot you've never set foot on or even seen except on Google Earth.   Then making some intelligent phone calls in hopes of gathering a bit of firsthand info.  Then taking off and driving half way across the country.......driving into the Google Earth picture in the dark.......and seeing what it really looks like when the sun comes up.  Then learning the "ins and outs" over a few days and coming out with a couple Merriam's tags punched.

If I can do it............and I know other guys on OG who've done it............it must not be that impossible.

[Dtrkyman]

I went to Co. cold last year, contacted game and fish and a friend who had been there with no success.

Was there the last few days of season and heard one bird gobble twice in that time!  Found some sign near a water hole and set up there doing some cold calling, 3 solo hens came early then a group of 6 jakes and one tom, got my first CO. bird in a not so dramatic way!

I drove hundreds of miles and hiked over 30 in those hand full of days, and had a hell of a time finding any sign despite being in the best looking mountain turkey habitat you could imagine.

Now bears, that is a whole other story, they were virtually everywhere I went!  Including one true giant I had a face to face with in a narrow draw at 20yds!   

[Jimspur]

WOW! I can't believe no one is willing to give up their best public hunting
spot for Merriam's near Denver to a brand new poster.
He's new guys, help him out. He'll probably give you a shout out on
Fakebook with his hero picture. Wouldn't that make it all worthwhile to
trash your spot for 4 likes from strangers you'll never meet.

He might even give you a free mouth call.

I too crave the affirmation of strangers.

Bwaahaahaa!

[fallhnt]

Should we call this,"Affirmative Action Hunting" ?

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[TrackeySauresRex]

 

[m2benelli]

I travel for a living.  You may find a cheap flight but that is about where cheap ends
Rental car prices are brutal then add gas and that alone is worth the price of admission
Into the " I am broke and naked on the floor club"
Hotel rates not any better. We all know about food
Would seriously suggest putting the pencil to paper for cost before booking anything
Unless of course money is not an issue then all of the above is worthless

[Jimspur]

Should we call this,"Affirmative Action Hunting" ?

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Yes!
6 people like this.

[joey46]

As one who is "always planning" that elusive trip out west I checked rental car prices yesterday from Denver CO and Bozeman MT.  Bozeman's cars now out of sight and out of budget.  Denver doable but creeping up.  As has been my recent pattern I appear to have again waited too long.  Crazy times. 
Add - airfares also on the zip line up but I have enough SWA points to fly to Hawaii so that's not a big consideration although Bozeman is no longer what I would consider a good deal.  Rental cars the deal breaker - again.