West Side Pheasant

[Stickerbush]

I will be hunting around there have a newbie dog that is just starting to learn the trade, if you ever want to meet up I'll be in that area

[aaronoto]

Good thread.  I live 2 minutes from a release site so I thought I'd give it a try just because I'm close, if nothing else it would be some good exercise... I've got a dog, but he's no bird dog! 

Does anyone know how many birds get released on a site?  I read an article and I think it said something like 60 birds.

[thinkingman]

60 birds released on Friday for the youth hunt.
I don't know what the numbers are for the general season.

[Shannon]

The Samish unit is only being used as a release sight for the Youth and Senior weekends. The rest will be released at a crappy (in comparison to the Samish) location on Ershig Road. They have it listed at 350+ acres but most of it is timber and clear cut with about 40 acres or less of pasture. I'm not sure who picked the spot but I'm hoping they find a better area for next year otherwise they won't get my money again. I like taking the dogs for a run in the afternoons just for the exercise to keep them in shape for wild bird hunting.

[aaronoto]

The Samish unit is only being used as a release sight for the Youth and Senior weekends. The rest will be released at a crappy (in comparison to the Samish) location on Ershig Road. They have it listed at 350+ acres but most of it is timber and clear cut with about 40 acres or less of pasture. I'm not sure who picked the spot but I'm hoping they find a better area for next year otherwise they won't get my money again. I like taking the dogs for a run in the afternoons just for the exercise to keep them in shape for wild bird hunting.

I just downloaded the new regs and noticed that... Pretty crappy site indeed.  The Samish Unit was closest to me, but that clear cut site looks horrible.  Guess the decision has been made for me.

[ORCA_SIX]

I went out to that site today with my dad for the senior hunt (I did not hunt because of my age for the internet board police on here, but I wore orange  ) and it was not great at all. I live close to Ebey so will stick with that.

When I called the Region 4 WDFW the lady on the phone said that they were only going to release birds there for Youth and Senior. So don't know whats up with the site. I would give them a call to verify.

[Stilly bay]

what's the problem with the new site? are we going actually have to hunt for our birds there?   

I haven't looked at it yet but It sounds like its land locked. without some type of large water barrier, half the pheasants run off the site before anyone even gets a crack at them.. which IMO is a waste of our money.

[singleshot12]

The new clear cut site is definately not N. Dakota style pheasant hunting but it's better than nothing. I just look at it as long tail grouse hunting style. There is still plenty of cover and the dogs still have just as much fun as any other site.
Finding a perfect release site is hard these days in Western Wash.  Most farmers and land owners don't want anything to do with opening up their land to public hunting.  If WDFW wasn't so broke they could purchase a suitable 300-500 acre farm plot instead of trying to find a lease.

[Johnb317]

My lab is getting too old to hunt, but in her prime she got more birds on the west side than I did.
they don't release fliers.... unless you step right on them.

thank god she never grabbed any over the limit.   

[Stilly bay]

Finding a perfect release site is hard these days in Western Wash.  Most farmers and land owners don't want anything to do with opening up their land to public hunting.  If WDFW wasn't so broke they could purchase a suitable 300-500 acre farm plot instead of trying to find a lease.

maybe WDFW should figure out how to keep its sporting money within its own bounds... not that this hasn't been discussed a thousand times over already.

you know me, I will take phez any way I can get them and would greatly prefer to actually hunt birds rather than look for them on a golf course like setting... and there is no denying its better than nothing; but what we are getting is another vessel that won't contain the investment. the birds stay on the land for maybe half a day and the rest of the week its just another empty wildlife area that is basically void of game animals because of the hunting traffic. meanwhile all the birds we payed for are getting eaten by varmints or hit by cars.
 the samish area was close to being an Ideal release site despite the duck hunter conflicts, and its too bad we couldn't keep it.

but that being said I am a beggar, and beggars can't be choosers so I will quit my grumbling and just be happy about the new one

[singleshot12]

Yep all good points and I wish there were an easy answer to all the imperfections. It is too bad about the Samish unit, phez hunters and duck hunters really should learn how to co-exist. But since we can't maybe the only answer then would be to turn Samish into a salmon estuary too. 
  I think the Bow Hill site is just a temporary fix for an on going procrastination issue by the managers.  I haven't seen the new site yet but if it is as it sounds it will have wasted birds.

[Hermit]

It'd definatly commando "hunting". If you don't have a dog just lag behind the line. I've done better dropping birds that get missed...... And dress in layers, so the shot doesn't penetrate........ AND I always carry some  OO buckshot just in case a point must be made........

[GrampasGuns]

Hey Carl, I am in Redmond too. Unfortunately, and fortunately they will not be releasing phez at cherry valley this year. It will be alot better for ducks now though, I have a gun dog and if I find my self needing a partner I will let ya know.

[ORCA_SIX]

Did you get a license?

[Carl]

License... Check
Steel shot... Check