Westside Release site crowds

[Birdguy]

I broke down and bought westside pheasant licenses for the kids and I, had I known the local sites would be closed for fire danger I might not have done that. My question is to those who have been out how are the crowds at Scatter Creek, Skookumchuck, and Hunter Farms? We went to Hunter Farms for the youth season and I was really surprised how small it was. With the other local ones closed I imagine it is pretty crowded. I hunted release sites for years and know what I am getting into, but I was hoping not to expose my kids to the ugly parts just yet. I would be going later in the day to the local ones but I do not want to spend the whole weekend hitting Scatter Creek later on. All of these sites are over an hour away with Scatter Creek being an hour and a half easy. I would like to go early and still be home to get some things done around the house before heading out for deer next week. Thanks for the input.

[Stilly bay]

I haven't been to the three you listed in several years, but I am guessing they will be as packed as the ones up here. I think all this sunny weather is a factor in the heavy overcrowding I have seen this so far this season. once we get a good rain it will separate the serious from the not so serious. duck and deer season opening will hopefully help to thin the crowds down too.

[Curly]

Scatter Creek is crowded first thing in the morning.  About 9:30 it starts thinning out.

[fethrduster]

That's one of the main reasons I like Ft. Lewis.  They only allow so many people in and it's much more orderly and regulated. 

[ZachG]

The Ebey Island site near Snohomish is a tough spot. I am mostly upset because it used to be some solid duck hunting and now it has pushed all the duck out or to the other side of the river. Yet for pheasant, it seems alright, just crowded, and not as big as you would think.

Zach

[gasman]

PM sent 

[trouthunterjohn]

Scatter creek has been a zoo lately.  Avoid opening hours.

[dawei]

I release Pheasants at the Skookumchuck Wildlife Area Pheasant Release Site. I have not noticed an increase or decrease in hunter numbers. Numbers are the same as in past years.

[jplmyers]

+1 for Fort Lewis.  There's a max number of people, and if you act like a fool, you can get banned.  That and there are actual game wardens you will see enforcing out there from time to time.

[NW-GSP]

The Ebey Island site near Snohomish is a tough spot. I am mostly upset because it used to be some solid duck hunting and now it has pushed all the duck out or to the other side of the river. Yet for pheasant, it seems alright, just crowded, and not as big as you would think.

Zach

I would hunt it but most of the cover has been covered in wa in the past few years and the water is full of cow crap so the dog
needs to be washed after every hunt

[Birdguy]

Thanks for the replies guys  . We decided to get some more things done around the house last weekend as we really needed to get them done before deer season this coming weekend. If the rains do not come like they say we will be joining the late in the day crowd as I know the dog works good, and the kids will do better with fewer people. I will also make the time next year to get registered at JBLM if the kids want to pheasant hunt again. I just would not have figured we would have such dry conditions this late in the year, woods closed for pheasant hunting is not something I thought about when buying tags  .