release site bird numbers not adding up.

[Stilly bay]

all season long I had the suspicion that they weren't releasing the same amount of birds at my local site ( leque/smith farm) as they have in the past. I have been chalking it up to an above average amount of hunters frequenting the release site this season.

last friday I talked the volunteer who releases pheasants and he confirmed that they are releasing about 40-45% less birds than they did last year at smith farm.  the weekends getting a grand total of 60-70 birds when in past years they were releasing around 120

he also said that they will no longer be releasing all the leftover birds for thanks giving like they have in the past.

what I would like to know is why this shortage of birds  not mentioned when they gave out the schedule BEFORE we bought our licenses.

I would also like to know if other people are finding their local release sites lacking in bird numbers this year.  if you would rather not air you opinions publicly, send me a PM.

[CP]

I’ve noticed less birds in the last week or two at Cherry V & Ebey island but earlier, no there have been plenty of birds released.

[Stilly bay]

I should also ad that the birds being released at smith farm are let go entirely too close to the river, highway, and no shooting areas so that many fly out of the box straight off the release site before anyone gets a chance at them the next day.

since we pay for these birds with license fees and taxes they are considered assets, and IMO are being mishandled but thats a whole 'nuther can of worms.

[CP]

I don't know about Smith farms but they are running out of dry land in the Snoqualmie Wildlife Area.

[Stilly bay]

don't those shut down because of flooding?

[CP]

If it gets bad enough they will stop releasing birds.

[NW-GSP]

I liked it allot more when you had to buy the punch cards. Seemed like a lot more people hunted the sites back then

[Stilly bay]

I liked it allot more when you had to buy the punch cards. Seemed like a lot more people hunted the sites back then

from what I am seeing over at the smith farm site there is no shortage of people hunting them now. the way its working out its probably five hunters per bird released over at smith farm on the weekends, and the weekdays aren't much better. t

[Mr56Jeep]

I liked it allot more when you had to buy the punch cards. Seemed like a lot more people hunted the sites back then

I wish I could say I had seen that but my personal observations show as many as ever.

[singleshot12]

maybe they're releasing more birds on other sites where the true elitists go and that deserve special treatment . that's bs if they're doing that, they're suppose to release the same amount of birds at all sites. maybe the volunteers are taking a few to release elsewhere to hunt for themselves, iv'e heard of that before .. Time to get some answers, let us know what you find out Stilly

[Wa hunter]

Seems like a lot less birds in years past

[Stilly bay]

maybe they're releasing more birds on other sites where the true elitists go and that deserve special treatment .

but Im a true elitist and I never got that memo...

maybe the volunteers are taking a few to release elsewhere to hunt for themselves,

I think I would prefer to be boned by WDFW than find out a volunteer was doing it.   

[Mr56Jeep]

I have been wrong before but don't they ask you where you hunt the most when you buy the license? 

I think they use that to allocate how many birds go to what release site?   

[Stilly bay]

I have been wrong before but don't they ask you where you hunt the most when you buy the license? 

I think they use that to allocate how many birds go to what release site?   

I am pretty sure they don't use that information for bird release purposes since no one is bound to a particular site, but I have been wrong before.

[singleshot12]

yeah but you are one of few out there Stilly

bird production was suppose to be way up this year to accommodate the increase of hunters so  ...

maybe they're releasing more birds on other sites where the true elitists go and that deserve special treatment .

but Im a true elitist and I never got that memo...

maybe the volunteers are taking a few to release elsewhere to hunt for themselves,

I think I would prefer to be boned by WDFW than find out a volunteer was doing it.