Free: Contests & Raffles.
The program isn't going anywhere. Only way it will is if people stop buying licenses to hunt pheasants. So introduce people to the sport. Help people learn. Sell those tags. You all are salesmen. If you get selfish and don't want to "crowd" release sites then you will be part of the death of the program. More sold licenses means more birds, more employees to raise birds (currently 5 DURING summer and release season, 2-3 in off season) and eventually more land to release on. The program is funded by you, the hunters. Go sell your sport. It will do nothing but good. P.S. most of the farmers that help raise those 40,000+ birds all spring, summer and through release season barely make over minimum wage and volunteers are obviously doing it for free. So thank them if you run into one. It's a ton of hard work to raise those birds.
I really hope the fake title of this thread never comes true... even though it sounds like a possibility looming on the horizon.I Love the pheasant release program warts and all. as this season came to an end it made realize how much I would have missed if the program was not available. I watched my youngest lab become a pheasant finding machine. after he had enough contacts, he went from a lumbering pup to a pheasant seeking missile that I now have the utmost confidence in. some days my dogs made me look like I knew what I was doing- other days not so much.I got to see a setter pup point and retrieve his first four pheasants ever one morning. he realized pheasants are much more interesting than the tweety birds and barn owls he was pointing before.I missed birds, and shot birds and missed some more.I saw some old friends and made some new ones, I was even there for a first kill.I had some very successful walks and a few successful hunts.I got sunburned and soaked to the bone. I saw old grey muzzled arthritic dogs get an extra spring in their step when they came across fresh scent.I saw young pups running a muck while their owners yelled in vain.I get to try new pheasant recipes and share them with friends if I don't burn them.I saw tiny puppies not yet old enough to hunt, sniff the grass and puzzle over new smells as they trailed the heels of their masters. I made christmas and thanksgiving decorations with pheasant feathers.I helped an elderly hunter limp back to his truck ,who in his own words "knew better than to go after those chinese pheasants, but just couldn't resist"I saw some very young kids proudly carrying the roosters their fathers shot.I also saw a bunch of complete strangers working alone but in unison so that a level of safety could be maintained while walking the crowded fields. outside of freeway driving that doesn't happen much.if it weren't for the program I would have missed it all. because of my work and where I live I wouldn't be able to make it east of the mountains more than once or twice a year. if I could only hunt pheasants once a year I really couldn't justify all the dogs I keep, and lord knows I love my dogs.everyone complains about the release sites (myself included) but Im sure I am not the only one who is also very grateful they are there and glad that we can run our dogs and hunt pheasants on the west side of the mountains. even if it is only pen raised birds - its all some of us wetsiders have.if you hunt release site pheasants, jot down a note on this thread or better yet contact those in charge of the program and give them your input and tell them that you participate and your glad its there and want it to continue.
Did any of you guys shoot some funny looking birds? I ran into a guy that had shot a rooster that was green and black, really exotic looking. I wonder if they're raising a different breed this year?
On the bright side I know the state just spent some money updating the pheasant pens for the west side farm. If their (The State) spending some money to fix up pens thats a good thing.
