The Rock Ptarmigan the Hunter Classic is an annual sporting event held in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, USA. It is a hunting competition focused specifically on ptarmigan, a gamebird in the grouse family. The event attracts hunters from across North America to compete and test their skills.
What is the Rock Ptarmigan the Hunter Classic?
The Rock Ptarmigan the Hunter Classic is a multi-day hunting competition held each autumn in the Rocky Mountains. Hunters compete to harvest the most ptarmigan over a defined period of time. The ptarmigan is a small gamebird that blends into its rocky, mountainous environment. Hunting these elusive birds requires stealth, patience, and expert marksmanship.
The competition was founded in the 1980s by a group of avid ptarmigan hunters who wanted to create a special hunting event focused on their favorite gamebird. It quickly grew in popularity among bird hunters and became an annual tradition. Today, several hundred competitors take part each year.
When and where does the competition take place?
The Rock Ptarmigan the Hunter Classic takes place for four days every September in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. The competition is centered around the small mountain town of Gunnison, which serves as the main staging area and headquarters.
Hunting occurs at high elevations above 9,000 feet in the Elk Mountains and West Elk Mountains near Gunnison. This rugged, remote landscape provides ideal habitat for ptarmigan. Competitors hunt across hundreds of acres of open tundra and rocky ridges.
How does the competition work?
The Rock Ptarmigan the Hunter Classic follows a straightforward competition format:
- It is open to individual adult hunters only. No teams or youth hunters.
- Hunters must have a valid Colorado hunting license and upland bird stamp.
- Legal hunting methods are limited to shotguns loaded with birdshot. No rifles or small game ammunition.
- Hunters have the four days of the competition to harvest as many ptarmigan as they can.
- Daily bag limits for ptarmigan imposed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife do not apply during the competition. Hunters may take as many birds as they wish.
- All harvested ptarmigan must be turned in each day for counting and judging.
- The hunter who harvests the most total ptarmigan over the four days is declared the winner.
What are the rules and standards for harvesting ptarmigan?
All ptarmigan taken during the Rock Ptarmigan the Hunter Classic must be harvested cleanly and ethically. Hunters who violate any rules are disqualified. The standards include:
- Ptarmigan must be taken only with approved shotguns and birdshot loads. All other hunting equipment and methods are prohibited.
- All harvested ptarmigan must be in good, whole condition with no excess damage or wounds.
- Purposefully damaging or ruining birds to prevent other hunters from harvesting them is strictly prohibited.
- All ptarmigan taken must be fully retrieved by the hunter. No leaving wounded or downed birds behind.
- Hunters must respect all rules and regulations related to safety and fair chase hunting dictated by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
- Unethical conduct or unsportsmanlike behavior will result in disqualification.
These strict rules ensure fair and ethical hunting practices are followed during the competition.
What prizes are up for grabs?
As a competitive hunting event, the Rock Ptarmigan the Hunter Classic offers a range of prizes and awards:
- The overall winner who harvests the most ptarmigan takes home a custom trophy and prize package valued at $5,000.
- Cash payouts are also awarded to the hunters with the top five highest ptarmigan counts.
- $1,000 for 2nd place, $750 for 3rd place, $500 for 4th place, and $250 for 5th place.
- Daily prizes are awarded each evening of the competition for categories like biggest ptarmigan, most birds taken by a female hunter, etc.
All winners also gain bragging rights for besting their fellow hunters in the challenging ptarmigan competition.
What tactics and skills are needed to win?
Succeeding at the Rock Ptarmigan the Hunter Classic requires a mix of skills, strategies, and old-fashioned luck. Tactics used by top hunters include:
- Hiking into remote areas that other hunters overlook to find undisturbed birds.
- Spotting and stalking wary ptarmigan on rocky, open hillsides before they flush and fly away.
- Remaining perfectly still and camouflaged when birds are near instead of rushing shots.
- Being ready to take quick shots when birds flush wild.
- Carefully patterning bird movements throughout the day to strategically hunt their feeding and roosting areas.
- Studying the weather forecast and hunting accordingly, as ptarmigan seek shelter in bad weather.
- Bringing well-trained bird dogs to help locate and retrieve downed ptarmigan.
Physical stamina is also very important, as hunters may hike 10+ miles a day across high-altitude terrain in pursuit of ptarmigan. It truly tests their skills and endurance as hunters.
Conclusion
For devoted ptarmigan hunters, the Rock Ptarmigan the Hunter Classic represents the ultimate competition and testing ground. This unique event combines challenging mountain terrain, unpredictable wild birds, and friendly rivalries between experienced hunters. While the competition is fierce, it also emphasizes camaraderie and ethical sportsmanship. For the handful of hunters who can claim top prizes each year, their achievement earns them serious bragging rights in the close-knit bird hunting community.
