To the hunter who peppered us.

[Stilly bay]

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 

its really obscure. in the waterfowl and upland pamphlet page 34 has a small blurb about release sites (of which there are only 25) it gives you a link you can follow - if you really feel like typing it in.

it will eventually lead you to the western washington pheasant release  program page http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/pheasant/western/

where it is clearly stated in the ninth paragraph down.

like I said, real obscure, -but it is in the opening pages of the WWPRP booklet/pdf so I would imagine if your planning on visiting a release site it would behoove you to read up on them even if your not hunting pheasants.

[huntingfool7]

Fact 1. We got out there early just before 715 to set up our decoys and see what kind of birds were moving around. We were not hunting before 8.
fact2. We have every right to be out there. We understand it's a release site and respect that. It's when pheasent hunts dont give a crap about us and think they own the land.
And finally, the hunter that shot at us knew we were there. He watched us standing on the edge of the field drinking coffee just before 8. It was a direct shot at us through some thick brush.  No i dont have pellets in my skin, but marks on my decoy bag. I was wearing multiple layers thank god.
I would hope to see other hunters show as much respect to other hunters as we do. Doesn't matter what your hunting for, we're all hunting and enjoying being out there.

Kevinp's previous post states, "It was stright on as we got hit hit from our legs to our shoulders on one side of our bodies. I just dont understand the hunters that will sit and wait 30 yards from our set up with their dogs barking for 8:00 to come around and dont think it will interrupt our hunt?? We respect other hunters and dont shoot if people are in the area where we think we might pepper them with falling shot, but to have 8:00 come around and have Pheasent hunters walk 20 yards right in front of us and past our decoys like we're not even there is a joke. Maybe next time we'll just shoot anyways and see how they feel afterwards."

There is a lot to look at here but my main issue is with the assertion that the OP was shot intentionally.  If you preview the last 11 pages you'll find that the "us vs. them" statements come from the OP.  I don't believe that he was shot intentionally.  I don't know anyone nor have I talked to anyone that has ever been hostile toward duck hunters at release sites.  Even if there was some sort of animosity, I don't believe that it would rise to a road rage like incident.

1. The OP states that he (wrongly) was in the field ahead of the pheasant hunters before hours.
2. I'm assuming that the OP was camoed up and not wearing orange.
3. The OP was hiden behind "thick brush".
4. The shot that struck the OP caused no injury and by his own description was "falling shot".

If the OP was shot directly and intentionally at 30 yds he would have sustained some injury regardless of thick brush/heavy clothes and he would not have characterized it as "falling shot".

I take issue with sensationalizing this minor incident into a criminal act on a public forum.

This is not a user group, us vs. them problem. 

[singleshot12]

I am also positive it is just another case of a disgruntled duck hunter trying to make the pheasant release site look bad

[Stilly bay]

Fact 1. We got out there early just before 715 to set up our decoys and see what kind of birds were moving around. We were not hunting before 8.
fact2. We have every right to be out there. We understand it's a release site and respect that. It's when pheasent hunts dont give a crap about us and think they own the land.
And finally, the hunter that shot at us knew we were there. He watched us standing on the edge of the field drinking coffee just before 8. It was a direct shot at us through some thick brush.  No i dont have pellets in my skin, but marks on my decoy bag. I was wearing multiple layers thank god.
I would hope to see other hunters show as much respect to other hunters as we do. Doesn't matter what your hunting for, we're all hunting and enjoying being out there.

Kevinp's previous post states, "It was stright on as we got hit hit from our legs to our shoulders on one side of our bodies. I just dont understand the hunters that will sit and wait 30 yards from our set up with their dogs barking for 8:00 to come around and dont think it will interrupt our hunt?? We respect other hunters and dont shoot if people are in the area where we think we might pepper them with falling shot, but to have 8:00 come around and have Pheasent hunters walk 20 yards right in front of us and past our decoys like we're not even there is a joke. Maybe next time we'll just shoot anyways and see how they feel afterwards."

There is a lot to look at here but my main issue is with the assertion that the OP was shot intentionally.  If you preview the last 11 pages you'll find that the "us vs. them" statements come from the OP.  I don't believe that he was shot intentionally.  I don't know anyone nor have I talked to anyone that has ever been hostile toward duck hunters at release sites.  Even if there was some sort of animosity, I don't believe that it would rise to a road rage like incident.

1. The OP states that he (wrongly) was in the field ahead of the pheasant hunters before hours.
2. I'm assuming that the OP was camoed up and not wearing orange.
3. The OP was hiden behind "thick brush".
4. The shot that struck the OP caused no injury and by his own description was "falling shot".

If the OP was shot directly and intentionally at 30 yds he would have sustained some injury regardless of thick brush/heavy clothes and he would not have characterized it as "falling shot".

I take issue with sensationalizing this minor incident into a criminal act on a public forum.

This is not a user group, us vs. them problem.

x1000
the OP's original story is full of holes and contradictions. and where is the OP in the last ten pages to set the record straight or elaborate on what really happened?

on the bright side his little internet rave up has sparked some healthy debate and possible solutions to old problems.

I would like to thank the OP since his original post lead us to find out that it might actually be illegal for duck hunters not to wear orange on the release sites after all. bringing that to light will solve many a conflict and maybe circumvent future injuries.

[wildweeds]

There are 3 release sites up here in the north,one is lake terrell a known duck shooting spot for the last 50 years,I try not to hunt pheasants there as I know it's a duck spot,the retired manager was a waterfowl guy and as such put most of his efforts into his chosen sport.The other is the intalco release site,20 years ago it had no flooded areas other than one wide spot in a creek near the back.The retired manager put much focus on waterfowl on the property and modified the landscape to flood some really good riparian upland habitat,in doing so his actions put at least 15-20 acres if not more under water,BP release site is another,BP environmental tried flooding an area to create wetland and heron habitat,the schoolboys could not get their wetland habitat done without irrigating it,the funny part is that the retired lake terrell manager with the BS degree in wildlife science told them it would not work,it's funny to see irrigation going on a wetland to make it a wetland.

The other thing that is funny is that on two of those properties there used to be native WILD ringneck populations as well as many other locations in this county.Management people management,control the predators,supply the feed curb the harvest and they will survive.I've worked inside the BP refinery fence for years,I've seen 2 dozen pheasants,hens and roosters feeding in the straw shredded for erosion control on tore up dirt for projects more than once,most times the sightings occured in the spring well after hunting season and winter,I've seen hens and chicks too.Chainlink fence= predator control,Shredded straw=feed...................Non native species=non wdfw management plan.

[singleshot12]

Wow! very interesting, we need more Pheasant Forever people here to help compete with all the DU folks it sounds like.This has been the most educating thread i've read in a long time

[pianoman9701]

Wow! very interesting, we need more Pheasant Forever people here to help compete with all the DU folks it sounds like.This has been the most educating thread i've read in a long time

Yes, great idea. We should get all of the hunting groups to oppose each other in their individual interests so the antis can take a vacation and sit back and watch. Very good idea!

[singleshot12]

Good sarcastic point again P! They apparently already oppose each other. Too bad it comes down to the majority and $ on who determines gets full access to any public land with a puddle on it. We as hunters should all be working together for the common good.

[Kola16]

so I would imagine if your planning on visiting a release site it would behoove you to read up on them even if your not hunting pheasants.

Umm, no! Not even when pheasant is over!

[pianoman9701]

Good sarcastic point again P! They apparently already oppose each other. Too bad it comes down to the majority and $ on who determines gets full access to any public land with a puddle on it. We as hunters should all be working together for the common good.

Some are unsportsmanlike, yes. That certainly doesn't cover all of the hunters out there; not even a large minority. We should be working together, you're absolutely right. Your previous comment speaks of working against and using our individual groups to apply pressure on each other. As a matter of fact, your focus since the beginning of this has at times been contentious and extremely disrespectful of your fellow hunters. This kind of contention and disrespect is exactly what causes many of the problems that happen at these public hunting areas.

[BK Dave]

 

[pianoman9701]

Absolutely correct. I'm done. Thanks for bringing me back to reality, BK.

[Stilly bay]

Absolutely correct. I'm done. Thanks for bringing me back to reality, BK.

you will be back.

typical Pboy. he has been proven dead wrong on two accounts now, so he is going to pack up his toys and go home... but not before throwing a tantrum by attacking the debater instead of the debate with some sanctimonious passive agressive declaration about "how we should all get along"- while at the same time you yourself are guilty of the same accusations you are making.

Some are unsportsmanlike, yes. That certainly doesn't cover all of the hunters out there; not even a large minority. We should be working together, you're absolutely right. Your previous comment speaks of working against and using our individual groups to apply pressure on each other. As a matter of fact, your focus since the beginning of this has at times been contentious and extremely disrespectful of your fellow hunters. This kind of contention and disrespect is exactly what causes many of the problems that happen at these public hunting areas.

Yes, great idea. We should get all of the hunting groups to oppose each other in their individual interests so the antis can take a vacation and sit back and watch. Very good idea!

The above statement is pure paranoia. its not like pheasant hunters and duck hunters are going to war or even having a rumble in the alley. the biggest threat to hunting is losing the people that are NOT against it, but do not hunt themselves. best way to lose them is for them to read about other hunters getting shot or accidentally shooting non hunters.

if all the different hunting groups don't have their own voice for their different interests they will lose out. its not about separation its a bout representation. if the duck hunters don't speak up they will lose out and if a group as small as the pheasant hunters doesn't speak up they will most certainly lose out as well. thank god we have nonprofit organizations  in our own corners to protect our individual group interests.
 this is why we have so many different facets of representation in Government, because you will never have large groups of people agreeing with each other. everything must be hashed out and classified down so that compromises can be made in the hopes of finding a solution everyone can live with. but I thought you knew that, after all that "kumbaya" you were singing one here when the election was over.

at the end of the day were all hunters, and Kindred spirits in one way or another, if we can't debate and argue with each other to find solutions who can we argue with. its never as black and white as you seem to paint it pianoman.  (get it, black and white... piano? ...oh never mind)

[singleshot12]

Your previous comment speaks of working against and using our individual groups to apply pressure on each other. As a matter of fact, your focus since the beginning of this has at times been contentious and extremely disrespectful of your fellow hunters. This kind of contention and disrespect is exactly what causes many of the problems that happen at these public hunting areas.

again

The only disrespect would be directed towards someone who seems to get their jollies spinning a logical point. Some think it's moronic but I think it's sad that a fellow so-called outdoorsman could be that bored sitting behind his computer all day long.

And shame on me for giving you several chances and biting to your non-sense.. spin away

[CP]

This was a useful thread but it’s all played out except for the bickering.  Probably time to lock it.