Pheasant release program meeting for NW Thursday, July 18 6:30-8:30 pm

[Special T]

I plan on attending this meeting, and I would hope that some of those who are trying to get the Stillwater and Cherry Valley lands improved would come up.

Greetings Pheasant Hunters:
 
This is to let you know that our annual meeting to discuss issues related to the upcoming pheasant hunting season will be on Thursday, July 18, 2013, from 6:30-8:30 pm.  The meeting location will be the same as last year, the Mount Vernon Senior Center, 1401 Cleveland Street.  Department staff will be present to update you on operating details for the 2013 pheasant release program in Region 4.
 
Agenda items will include:
Introductions
Updates from Wildlife Area Managers
Replacement Lands
Hunter and Bow Hill Resident Survey Results
Release numbers and Schedules
Volunteer Needs
Other?
 
UPDATES:
 
WDFW Game Farm Production
The rising feed and other costs at our game farm forced WDFW to re-evaluate our pheasant production goal.  Part of the concept of the Western Washington Pheasant License has been that the revenue it generates should cover operating costs at the game farm.  This has not been the case since the license change went into effect and the gap with expenses widened significantly over the past two years.  Our new production goal is 38,000 birds for release and all indications are that we will meet that target.  The primary cost savings will be in the amount of feed we purchase which has been the primary cost increase item.  The other significant change is reduced seasonal staffing during the hatching and rearing season.  We will be looking for other cost savings and creative marketing options to increase revenue generated through license sales.  A draft release schedule with bird numbers by site will be available at the July meeting.  One important point is that even with the reduced number of birds noted above, we will still be producing more birds per hunter than was the case before new licenses went into effect.  The root of the issue is that hunter numbers dropped, as expected with any license fee increase, but have not gone back up as much as was predicted at the time.
 
For more information contact: Brian Calkins, 360-902-2691 or Brian.Calkins@dfw.wa.gov
 
Snoqualmie Wildlife Area
The access hours during the pheasant season will again be 8 am to 4 pm for both pheasant and waterfowl hunters.  Hunting hours per the pamphlet will apply after November 30th.  Reasons for the change include hunters being in the fields before and after pheasant hunting hours, possibly shooting or flushing pheasants off the area, and volunteers releasing pheasants when duck hunters are in the field.  In addition, WDFW Enforcement officers have a difficult time regulating pheasant harvest before and after legal pheasant hunting hours.
 
The units affected by these hunting hours include: Stillwater, Cherry Valley, Crescent Lake and Ebey Island.
 
For more information contact: Brian Boehm, 425-327-4869 or Brian.Boehm@dfw.wa.gov
 
Skagit Wildlife Area
The Samish Unit will continue as a youth and senior hunt for the 2013 season.  There will be no additional releases for general season pheasant hunting.
 
Justification for this includes the Samish Unit was purchased with funding from the North American Wetland Conservation Act grant for waterfowl habitat management.  Since the acquisition in the mid-1990’s, a number of wetland enhancements to improve waterfowl habitat and waterfowl hunting opportunities have been implemented with funding from private donors and project partners.  The annual agricultural enhancements have been funded by the State Duck Stamp and are directed towards wintering waterfowl forage and hunting opportunity.  There is concern that continued pheasant release on the site may impact support for this funding priority if the site shifts to multiple use hunting.
 
Waterfowl and pheasant hunting are two different hunting styles.  The visible nature and movement of pheasant hunting discourage waterfowl use of the site and therefore decrease waterfowl hunting opportunity and success.  In a normal year, this disturbance to waterfowl activity can result in numerous user conflicts.
 
The Leque Island and DNR Bow Hill site will continue youth, senior and general hunts for the 2013 season.
 
If you have questions or want additional information, contact: Belinda Rotton, 360-445-4441 or Belinda.Rotton@dfw.wa.gov
 
Whatcom Wildlife Area
No changes from last year.
 
If you have questions or want additional information, contact: Richard Kessler, 253-589-7235 or Richard.Kessler@dfw.wa.gov
 
Let me know, if you have anything to add to the agenda and please share this correspondence with anyone you feel may be interested.
 
Thanks and hope to see you in July!
 
Russell Link
Wildlife Program Manager
Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
16018 Mill Creek Blvd.
Mill Creek, WA 98012
 
Office: 425-775-1311 ext. 110
Cell: 425-231-3988

[Shannon]

What are they going to discuss? It sounds like they already know what they are going to do this fall. I was hoping to get rid of the crappy Bow Hill site this year. Looks like thats not going to happen. I'll skip buying the tag until they get a better site for Skagit County general season. I do it for the dog training and getting ready for out of state wild bird hunting but I can't get excited to go to a muddy clear cut and call it pheasant hunting. More for the rest I guess that are willing to go there.

[wildweeds]

So from this information is one to believe that Mr. Kesseler has moved up the ladder and is no longer the manager of the Lake terrell game range?

[Stilly bay]

 
WDFW Game Farm Production
The rising feed and other costs at our game farm forced WDFW to re-evaluate our pheasant production goal.  Part of the concept of the Western Washington Pheasant License has been that the revenue it generates should cover operating costs at the game farm.  This has not been the case since the license change went into effect and the gap with expenses widened significantly over the past two years.  Our new production goal is 38,000 birds for release and all indications are that we will meet that target.  The primary cost savings will be in the amount of feed we purchase which has been the primary cost increase item.  The other significant change is reduced seasonal staffing during the hatching and rearing season.  We will be looking for other cost savings and creative marketing options to increase revenue generated through license sales.  A draft release schedule with bird numbers by site will be available at the July meeting.  One important point is that even with the reduced number of birds noted above, we will still be producing more birds per hunter than was the case before new licenses went into effect.  The root of the issue is that hunter numbers dropped, as expected with any license fee increase, but have not gone back up as much as was predicted at the time.
 

38K? how many were they releasing before?

Rising cost of feed and lack of people buying the expensive WWP License?
This seems like a no brainer, people bitched about the price of a pheasant permit when it was only $40 and they jack it up to $90 and lost all the guys that buy licenses just to hunt two or three weekends out of the season. This goes for all licenses and permits, I would wager if you kept them inexpensive you would not only have all the people that would have bought the license any way but all the thousands of people that either couldn't afford a license or only have a passing interest.

If they brought the price back down to what it was I wonder how big of an increase in license sales they would see? They should just try it for one season.
I get to hunt the release sites a lot and unfortunately would happily pay whatever price they wanted for a permit, but for the average joe without dogs that only hunts a few times a season $90 is too big an investment for some pen raised chickens. IMO the one weekend pass is too damn much $. I think they must have shot themselves in the foot with that one or its just one more excuse to do away with the program- I think it is probably the latter.

[Widgeondeke]

I stopped buying the year the cost skyrocketed. I used to hunt 3-5 days a year with my kids. Haven't hunted pheasants now for years.
I've contemplated buying my youngest kid a license/permit if he shows interest, but I would not be hunting. It would cost me $60 just for him to hunt on the youth weekend, since they don't offer a 3 day option for kids 
So if you want to see if your kid wants to try it you must get the full season license. 

[Bmcox86]

No matter what it's still cheaper than buying birds for training every week or going to a game farm. Now I just wished they enforced the no entry between 4pm and 8 am better. I think I called to report ppl still hunting at 530 over 10 times and never even got a call back

[wildweeds]

Truth be known,you could hunt it sans license,fact is they don't patrol it in 30 years of armed dog walking I've been checked twice.90 bucks for a chicken ticket is chicken feed if you think about the potential hours afield.I shot 8 rounds of sporting clays last weekend in about 4 hours and spent 64 bucks for targets and 56 bucks on shells,and it didn't include ferry fee and gasoline to get there  so........... at 90 bucks  for a season long chicken ticket it's cheap entertainment IMO.

[Stilly bay]

... at 90 bucks  for a season long chicken ticket it's cheap entertainment IMO.

I agree 110% especially if you live within walking distance to a release site like some people I know.
Like I said I would happily pay for it at any price , at $90 its a bargain to get your dogs into some birds regularly.

But if I didn't have dogs, and my nearest release site was an hour or more ( which it could easily be for some) and I didn't have more than a couple weekends to hunt during the short two month season and if I was feeling the effects of a chitty economy and gas was hovering around $4.00 a gallon then a Western Wa pheasant license would seem like an insane amount of money at $90.

[AspenBud]

Depending on what you drive, $90.00 can buy a lot of gas for grouse hunting.

I personally hate the release sites. Too many people at the one in Vancouver and Woodland has always been second rate. I go because I like to eat pheasant, but frankly I've had more enjoyable hunts going after five birds for $100.00 on private preserves. At $40.00 it didn't really matter much if I came home with birds or not. But at $90.00 it's not just a fun morning out.

[Shannon]

I'd gladly pay the $90 if the release site wasn't a clear cut mud bog.

[wildweeds]

Drive north a small piece,start heading this way at noon,you'll arrive at the very best time

I'd gladly pay the $90 if the release site wasn't a clear cut mud bog.

[ghosthunter]

I have attended this meeting every year since they started them in Mt. Vernon.
When they flooded the island at Head Quarters thy promised a equal site in Skagit County. Still do not have the site. It is a dog and pony show of excuses.

They could use the D Bay swan area for pheasants, the swans don't use it. But they are unable to walk down the hall and work out.

It is stupid.

[singleshot12]

What are they going to discuss? It sounds like they already know what they are going to do this fall.

Atleast we have the chance to voice our opinion give input that will hopefully make a positive difference

But i call b.s. on the lack of funds to raise and release more pheasants this year. Even with the $90 fee increase the release sites are just as crowded as ever which tells me there are still plenty of participants.

[Forks]

If lawmakers don't get a budget plan passed soon you won't have to worry about release sites much longer. The increase to $90.00 a couple years ago was a last minute fix. If you think WDFW has piles of money to throw at this, think again.

[Forks]

 
WDFW Game Farm Production
The rising feed and other costs at our game farm forced WDFW to re-evaluate our pheasant production goal.  Part of the concept of the Western Washington Pheasant License has been that the revenue it generates should cover operating costs at the game farm.  This has not been the case since the license change went into effect and the gap with expenses widened significantly over the past two years.  Our new production goal is 38,000 birds for release and all indications are that we will meet that target.  The primary cost savings will be in the amount of feed we purchase which has been the primary cost increase item.  The other significant change is reduced seasonal staffing during the hatching and rearing season.  We will be looking for other cost savings and creative marketing options to increase revenue generated through license sales.  A draft release schedule with bird numbers by site will be available at the July meeting.  One important point is that even with the reduced number of birds noted above, we will still be producing more birds per hunter than was the case before new licenses went into effect.  The root of the issue is that hunter numbers dropped, as expected with any license fee increase, but have not gone back up as much as was predicted at the time.
 

38K? how many were they releasing before?

Rising cost of feed and lack of people buying the expensive WWP License?
This seems like a no brainer, people bitched about the price of a pheasant permit when it was only $40 and they jack it up to $90 and lost all the guys that buy licenses just to hunt two or three weekends out of the season. This goes for all licenses and permits, I would wager if you kept them inexpensive you would not only have all the people that would have bought the license any way but all the thousands of people that either couldn't afford a license or only have a passing interest.

If they brought the price back down to what it was I wonder how big of an increase in license sales they would see? They should just try it for one season.
I get to hunt the release sites a lot and unfortunately would happily pay whatever price they wanted for a permit, but for the average joe without dogs that only hunts a few times a season $90 is too big an investment for some pen raised chickens. IMO the one weekend pass is too damn much $. I think they must have shot themselves in the foot with that one or its just one more excuse to do away with the program- I think it is probably the latter.