To the hunter who peppered us.

[singleshot12]

   The Pheasant Release Program is a GREAT thing folks! and should be supported as much as possible

And I think most people would willingly fork out more than the $90 if the program could be improved with better hunting conditions. More suitable sites need to be established to help dispurse the hunters

[boneaddict]

A few thoughts...

1.  I don't see how arguing between our factions helps us as a whole in a declining sport vying for dwindling resources.

2. The release program used to run on a punch-card system that wasn't paying the bills, thus the $90 license.  My 13 pheasant this season would have cost me around $480 including tax if I paid for them from Cooke Canyon, for example.  My per-bird cost on the state program is over 5 times cheaper, not even factoring in gas or cost of membership.
 
3.  If it wasn't for the Fort Lewis release site, I would not have been able to teach myself how to hunt.  I would not have developed my dog to his full capability, and I would not have had that fire in me that keeps me hunting every available moment with my family... both ditch chickens and wild birds in E. WA, Idaho, etc.  My wife, who used to be averse to hunting would not be asking me for an over-under for christmas.  I would not have taught my dad or his dog to hunt pheasants, either.  These sites can be good, and maybe they aren't perfect and we don't hear about the good stuff, but I have made many priceless friends and memories out there.  Stilly's sentiments earlier made me realize how grateful I am that this program, warts and all, exists.
 
4.  Two wrongs don't make a right.

good post.  enlightening to me

[sidexside]

No, the Westside Pheasant Release Program does not turn a profit.  It actually generates less revenue after the price increase and elimination of the punch cards due to decreased participation.  It is closer to self-funded than any other state program, but it is not turning a proft.

[Atroxus]

No, the Westside Pheasant Release Program does not turn a profit.  It actually generates less revenue after the price increase and elimination of the punch cards due to decreased participation.  It is closer to self-funded than any other state program, but it is not turning a proft.

Have any data to back that up? I am genuinely curious. 

[fethrduster]

I really do wish the state would get out of the pheasant farming business. The release sites could still be used for dog training, or getting new hunters their first bird hunting experience. People would simply have to buy their own birds and put them out before their "hunt."

I've hunted release sites here on the west side, and I've hunted wild birds on the east side. There's no comparison.

I live right across the road from a popular release site, and it's actually embarrassing trying to explain to non-hunters what goes on out there.

To me it's a program that just doesn't make sense anymore. How about taking the time and money that is used for the westside pheasant release sites, and instead put it towards habitat improvement on the eastside of the state?

I couldn't disagree more about their value to hunters on the west side.  Of course they aren't wild birds.  No one pretends that they are.  But to be able to go out within a half hour of my house and get my dog some work on a bunch of birds, keeping him tuned up in between eastside upland hunts, has great value.  And they're delicious too!  I've even been taking a client out with me, since he doesn't have a dog, and he loves it, since he hasn't hunted in about ten years and it gave him a reason to get back into it.  He's 67.  We limited several times together in 20-30 minutes.  He had a blast, and so did I.   For some west side hunters like my client friend, it's the only upland opportunity they have.  We should try to be finding ways to expand it and make it better, not ridicule it and diminish its value.   

[red solo cup]

This is off of the WDFW web sight and I called the FW in mill creek to ask them and they said that Ebey island is not on the 8am to 4pm hour restrictions.
 
Snoqualmie Wildlife Area Hunting Hours Reinstated
Hunting hours from 8am to 4pm have been reinstated for all hunters on the following units: Stillwater, Cherry Valley, Crescent Lake. This will be in effect during the Western Washington Pheasant Season. For the rest of the hunting season normal hunting hours, half hour before sunrise to half hour after sunset, will apply.

[Curly]

This is off of the WDFW web sight and I called the FW in mill creek to ask them and they said that Ebey island is not on the 8am to 4pm hour restrictions.
 
Snoqualmie Wildlife Area Hunting Hours Reinstated
Hunting hours from 8am to 4pm have been reinstated for all hunters on the following units: Stillwater, Cherry Valley, Crescent Lake. This will be in effect during the Western Washington Pheasant Season. For the rest of the hunting season normal hunting hours, half hour before sunrise to half hour after sunset, will apply.

So, this sign is gone now? :

sign

[Stilly bay]

This is off of the WDFW web sight and I called the FW in mill creek to ask them and they said that Ebey island is not on the 8am to 4pm hour restrictions.
 
Snoqualmie Wildlife Area Hunting Hours Reinstated
Hunting hours from 8am to 4pm have been reinstated for all hunters on the following units: Stillwater, Cherry Valley, Crescent Lake. This will be in effect during the Western Washington Pheasant Season. For the rest of the hunting season normal hunting hours, half hour before sunrise to half hour after sunset, will apply.

So, this sign is gone now? :

sign

WTF?

[red solo cup]

I don’t think they were supposed to be up in the first place.

[huntingfool7]

Quotes from WDFW pamphlet regarding Western Washington release sites- Pg. 4 http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01425/wdfw01425.pdf
"The general western Washington hunting season lasts from late September to November 30 each year (see hunting pamphlet for details). Hunting is allowed from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. each day. Some areas do not release birds throughout the season due to flooding or other conflicts."
Also-
"There are several safety issues that hunters should be aware of while hunting on release sites. The sites are usually fairly crowded and often relatively close to houses or other types of recreation. Hunter
orange must be worn by hunters using release sites. Be aware of Safety Zones signs and stay away
from areas posted as such. Other instructions and information will be posted at release sites."

Note bold type sections do not specify which hunters get to choose to be in the field early, late or whether you have an option to wear orange depending on the species you are targeting.

Red Solo Cup- why would you assume that hunting hour signage was not supposed to be there?  Or if that same sign were to disappear, how that is a valid point?

[Stilly bay]

Hunter
orange must be worn by hunters using release sites. Be aware of Safety Zones signs and stay away
from areas posted as such. Other instructions and information will be posted at release sites."

Note bold type sections do not specify which hunters get to choose to be in the field early, late or whether you have an option to wear orange depending on the species you are targeting.

  Absolutely amazing. so duck hunters are supposed to wear orange at a release site ( according to this) afterall... I wonder why it isn't being enforced whatsoever?

can anyone supply evidence to prove this otherwise?

thanks for finding that huntingfool7.

WDFW needs to be contacted, and this whole mare's nest could be avoided by some well placed signs and maybe a little more coverage in the hunting pamphlet.

thats pretty much caps it, all the duck hunters using the release sites without orange have been breaking the law all these years. were all going to live happily ever after!

[huntingfool7]

I know a couple guys that were duck hunting a release site before 8:00 AM several years ago.  There was no sign posted regarding hunting hours when they went in.  When they returned to the parking lot one gamie was nailing a fresh new sign up while the other one pulled out his ticket book. 

[Stilly bay]

that I have seen also. but in all my years of doing this I have never heard of a duck hunter getting a citation for not wearing orange on a release site... bt that doesn't mean its not against the law.

I vividly remember the first time I ever tried to duck hunt on a release site. I was dropped off in the parking lot and saw a sign that plainly stated "all hunters must wear orange between 8:00am and 4:00pm." I had to walk back to town and use a pay phone to call my mom so she could bring me my orange vest. I still managed to kill a couple ducks, but I remember thinking that you would have to be desperate to actually want to hunt ducks there.

the regs at the time said the same thing, yet I never saw a duck hunter wearing orange on the release site...

even the regulations now are vague. it makes no mention of having to wear orange any where but in the pheasant section and I doubt many duck hunters bone up on rules for something they have no intention of hunting.

they really need to put up some signs and make the rules in the book a little more clear, it would save a lot of heartburn.

[Kola16]

Hunter
orange must be worn by hunters using release sites.

  I never knew that. Can anyone find what page it is on in the regs 

[csaaphill]

weird 10 pages on this lol. Weather they were in the wrong or not last I looked being sprayed or whatever would still constitute 1st degree assault. By itself brings ten years with a gun could bring an extra 5yrs. For a total of 15 years.
kind of sounds like whoever shot at them were pissed cuss they were in there before 8am. Even if so, they're damn lucky no one reported it or hasn't yet. My luck if it'd been me I'd of been strung up and be awaiting trial dang.
Anyways ya they should of waitied I guess and could of gotten a ticket as well but that sure beats 15yrs