Worst season to date..( finally)

[rosscrazyelk]

I have always chased wild birds. I have never visited a release site but after the season I have had I think that might change , I am not sure yet still struggling with that but it is a possibility.
I have seen alot of birds this year but have yet to fire my gun at anything. In all the trips I have gone on we will get a occasional rooster to  raise in front of us. All of them in front of friends so far.. And also the frequent hen but for the most part birds are getting up 70 to 200 yards ahead of us.
I find this frustrating and cannot understand why or how they can see or hear us from over 100 yards away. My dog has got on a couple but all hens. He is learning and I am happy with the results so far but like I said frustrating..
Anyone else experiencing the same?

[Dhoey07]

I hunted friday and had the same experience.  I kicked up a dozen pheasants but didn't fire a shot.  Did find some quail that wanted to play though and ended up with 3 before i left them alone

[L-ofalab]

I hunted south of Spokane yesterday in the wind they held good. I got 2 and could have shot 2 more if I could have identified them earlier. When they get up and fly straight away I have trouble with the ID. My youngest dog has just figured out the pheasant hunting and she had several points but those were all hens. I was hunting with 3 dogs and the other dogs put up the birds I killed.

[merkelman]

As far a chukar go it seems to be a slow year for me. But then again you have to sprout goat legs to cover the areas necessary to do well. Have seen only one good covey this year so far. Seasons not over yet though.

[JLS]

I've been doing pretty well.  Bird numbers aren't through the roof, but they are decent.

[Cascade_fisher]

A little snow will help hold them tighter. 
I've had a good year overall with a few "uneventful" days. 

[Fishnfowler]

I've seen more pheasant than I generally do, but I sure do wish it would snow a bit.  The quail and huns seem to be having a good year.  The chukar seem to be hit and miss.  Some places the numbers are good and others not so much. 

[Labs07]

This year has been good to us!  I have seen more birds than I have seen in a long time and actually limited out a few times this year, this is rare for me.  I went out last Sunday and only flushed two hens but it was a very strong wind and just could not find any roosters so called it early.

[Big game archer]

It's been pretty good for me this year on the wild roosters. However, i have had days where they continually flush 60-80 yards out.

[PaulM]

Went out yesterday.  After reading the post I was trying to see if I thought the birds were more jumpy than usual. I had some birds flush early.  I would say this some hens were more jumpy than I expected as they usually hold so tight that they flush right at our feet . Later I decided the birds were just running more in sage brush open cover. In heavy cover we still had birds holding and I was getting the short easy shots my pointing dogs usually give. Did see OK numbers and if I had shot better would have have got my limit earlier. Great day with very good dog work. I love the retrieves my dogs give me in Catails because without their noses and prey drive its a needle in a haystack.

[Birdguy]

PaulM, looks like a pretty good day and a mixed bag to top it off, good work  .

[rosscrazyelk]

I am sure that I am just having bad luck. I hope I get one more chance to try. Fingers crossed I can get a couple days off before the season ends

[Bowgina]

you can get birds but it aint real easy, at least for me...

[fethrduster]

I'm having a good year overall, but I've definitely had to work for my birds.  6-8 miles is an average hunt I would say.

[jjhunter]

I went out last week for the first time.  Limited in about 20 minutes on Saturday and 1.5 hours on Sunday.  Buddy limited as well.  Seemed pretty good to me for so late in the season.

[merkelman]

Planted birds...

[jjhunter]

I grew up in the Palouse and this is my 20th season bird hunting.  The worst hunting that I have ever seen was in 94 or 95?  There were NO birds to speak of.   I think that this is an average year.  2005 was the best year I have ever seen.  The early 2000's were good.  I had a couple 100 bird years in there when I was able to hunt 4-5 days a week.  No dog back then 

[merkelman]

Went to my faithful chukar spot and hit two covies within an hour of the hunt. Of course that was after the 800-1000 ft climb!  Too bad the fog shut us down early!

[jjhunter]

Apparently, it wasn't a fluke on the "planted birds."       Pretty nice to grab the dogs and head out the back door of my parents' over the Christmas holiday.   Ran out of shells on Christmas morning before I was able to secure my 3rd straight day of limiting out.

[merkelman]

LOL, so thats the trick, mom and dads back yard...pretty cool stufff!  Where is all the snow???

[deaner]

LOL, so thats the trick, mom and dads back yard...pretty cool stufff!  Where is all the snow???

dont hate on mom and dads back yard, that place has provided me with a couple nice bucks.

[Crunchy]

Ive given up on the bird hunting.  After four years in N. Dakota there is just nothing close to it.  Hunting pheasant, grouse without dogs and getting them everyday. Long seasons, duck and geese like you wouldnt believe.  I cannot bring myself to going bird hunting in this state.  Kudos to you that do.  Besides the old lady aint gona take kindly to another game animial to hunt. 

[jjhunter]

LOL, so thats the trick, mom and dads back yard...pretty cool stufff!  Where is all the snow???

You can see the snow about 500 yards up the hill.   The  house is just below the snow line.   Several inches up on top.

As for hunting my parents' sanctuary, I'll take 'em any way that I can get 'em.   

[rosscrazyelk]

LOL, so thats the trick, mom and dads back yard...pretty cool stufff!  Where is all the snow???

You can see the snow about 500 yards up the hill.   The  house is just below the snow line.   Several inches up on top.

As for hunting my parents' sanctuary, I'll take 'em any way that I can get 'em.   

take me with you

[RifleRidge]

you can get birds but it aint real easy, at least for me...

This would be a good photo for the December contest...

[BOWHUNTER45]

sweeet ...some fat ones  Must of been eating out of the parents garden 

[eastsidemallard74]

Kind of sad to say, I RARELY hunt Washington for Pheasant anymore because after visiting ND for a week,it;s no fun chasing 2 or 3 birds around.Plus its cheap. I haven't been hunting a long time, but I remember going to Yakima,and having decent numbers of birds,but its gotten horrible and dangerous to hunt there.So I stick to my yearly ND trip and shoot an ridiculous amount of birds in 4 days.

[rosscrazyelk]

I must be cursed this year. Out on the palouse today. Over 50 birds today. All hens in front of me. Rosster for my buddies. Tomorrow is the final day. Can I really go a whole season without a rooster flush?
The plus is the hot tub at the best western in colfax feels good

[rosscrazyelk]

Finally after to many trips to count . At 330 yesterday it all came together. After flushing this bird three times at far distances he finally held. Could not of ended on a better note.

[10Key]

Nice work! Those late season roosters are wily little devils

[Caseyd]

 

[fethrduster]

That is a very nice trophy.  Reading lots of excuses here.  No one ever bagged a bird sitting on their couch.  Get out there and hunt!

[merkelman]

Amen to that. Lol