Deep into Colorado’s pheasant season, Corners for Conservation properties provide healthy winter habitat and welcome the next generation of hunters.

Wading through a tangle of chest-high grasses on a cold morning. Pheasants flushing underfoot, cackling on the wing as they break for the horizon. Gold and pink light waxing across the sky at sunrise. Scanning the little green county road signs, looking for just the right number. Big smiles, and plenty of miles.

In this episode of the Colorado Outdoors podcast, we take the show on the road. We visit some of our Corners for Conservation properties on the Eastern Plains in hopes of finding winter time roosters, and learning a thing or two along the way.

From pollinator habitat and songbird stopovers to prime cold season country for Colorado’s wild pheasants, Corners for Conservation fields are full of benefits (all year long). In the winter, they also serve as a place of exploration and learning for novice hunters, thanks to Pepper Canterbury and her hunter outreach program.

Listen along as we chase birds, explore the prairie and soak up the rewards of a successful hunt.

To kick off the first episode of Season 3, host John Livingston sits down with CPW Wildlife Damage Specialist Max Morton, who assisted the agency in standing up the range rider program in 2025.

Range riders are eyes and ears on the landscape, collecting important information for livestock producers, wildlife managers, and biologists alike. In addition to providing human presence that can deter wolf conflict, riders collect data that allows CPW and CDA to determine best approaches for addressing conflict through adaptive, coordinated plans.

CPW hired 11 range riders to assist in efforts to minimize wolf depredation of livestock on range in 2025. CPW opened the application process to as many as 24 range riders for the 2026 season.

Morton, who discusses his past experience as a range rider in Arizona and New Mexico, details what range riding is, how it is most effective and why it was important for CPW to implement the program.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is currently in the middle of big-game rifle hunting seasons, and the Colorado Outdoors Podcast returns this month for a wide-ranging chat with CPW Big Game Manager Andy Holland.

A passionate big-game hunter, Holland shares some of his hunting success stories and some of his strategy for applying for big-game hunting licenses not only in Colorado but also out of state.

In this episode, we also talk about CPW’s new bison management planning effort, upcoming changes to the 2028 big-game draw and what factors into big-game license setting in Colorado.

We also dive a bit into current trends in hunting and try to get into the mind of an elk.

If you’re on your way to a third or fourth rifle season camp or if you’ve already wrapped up your 2025 hunting season, join us for a quick conversation on Colorado big-game hunting.