Western WA Pheasant

[Tanners Owner]

I hunted on JBLM today in the rain & wind. All in all a decent day afield with my dog & friends.  We all came home with birds and each had shooting opportunities.

[Sportfury]

My son and I went to Rochester today. Not a lot of people, a ton of rain, and quite a few birds. My GWP did her job and had some great points with wind and wet weather. Now the only thing we need to improve is my son's shooting. Watch him flub an easy shot on a rooster that flushed behind me and I didn't put my gun up thinking he would get it. All in all it was a good day just a lot wet.

[Cascade_fisher]

Here my boy with his two hens.  What difficult conditions today. See you tomorrow.

[Bmcox86]

Cascade, check your pms

[kinoko]

We went out to Ebey on Sunday.  The conditions weren't too awful.  I know they probably release fewer birds there because it's smaller, but I feel like only 6 or 7 were shot that morning, while the opener at Stillwater last year was filled with birds flying every which way and guns going off right and left.  My pup did well though, this was her first "hunt".  At first she wanted to play with the other dogs and wasn't sure what was going on, but after that first bird went up near her and someone shot it, she went to hunting and found her first rooster.  Too bad I missed it   Came back late afternoon and gave my trial dog 30 minutes to cover the entire front portion, but no birds.  Didn't hear any shots from the other hunters out there at that time either.  I'd like to take the trial dog out in the mornings on release days, but I feel like other hunters are going to scream at me when he starts covering the whole thing right in front of them  :\

[Special T]

They actually released MORE birds on Ebey and Leque Islands because they didn't release any at the bow hill location. They are working on a parking lot so you don't need a DP... So those 2 locations got an extra 15-20 or so birds each. I was out Sat at Leque. Had a good time. Trying to get my chessy to use his sniffer a little more so i ran him with my buddies German Wirehairs. We put up a bunch but many of them took a wrong turn and were shot by other hunters. It was a good time, and i hope it will help my dog for when i take him over to E wa.

[BOWHUNTER45]

They actually released MORE birds on Ebey and Leque Islands because they didn't release any at the bow hill location. They are working on a parking lot so you don't need a DP... So those 2 locations got an extra 15-20 or so birds each. I was out Sat at Leque. Had a good time. Trying to get my chessy to use his sniffer a little more so i ran him with my buddies German Wirehairs. We put up a bunch but many of them took a wrong turn and were shot by other hunters. It was a good time, and i hope it will help my dog for when i take him over to E wa.

Glad you mentioned that about Bow Hill ...I was thinking of buying one just get get our new pup on some birds ....

[Special T]

They are "in the works" on providing another parking lot. When will they get that finalized?    Suposidly the old land owner wastired of the parking and trash. a new location has been selected and just needs the ink. 

[singleshot12]

We went out to Ebey on Sunday.  The conditions weren't too awful.  I know they probably release fewer birds there because it's smaller, but I feel like only 6 or 7 were shot that morning, while the opener at Stillwater last year was filled with birds flying every which way and guns going off right and left.  My pup did well though, this was her first "hunt".  At first she wanted to play with the other dogs and wasn't sure what was going on, but after that first bird went up near her and someone shot it, she went to hunting and found her first rooster.  Too bad I missed it   Came back late afternoon and gave my trial dog 30 minutes to cover the entire front portion, but no birds.  Didn't hear any shots from the other hunters out there at that time either.  I'd like to take the trial dog out in the mornings on release days, but I feel like other hunters are going to scream at me when he starts covering the whole thing right in front of them  :\

It gets awfully confusing especially for a young pup on release mornings. It might be more beneficial for you and your dog to hunt during non-rush hour. There are still birds around and your pup will learn to hunt harder for them if she isn't subjected to instant gratification conditions

[MP123]

They are "in the works" on providing another parking lot. When will they get that finalized?    Suposidly the old land owner wastired of the parking and trash. a new location has been selected and just needs the ink. 

I can't imagine where the new lot will be at Bow Hill.  In one of the yards with the "No Pheasant Site" signs?  I guess the neighbors are all fed up with it.  There's that gravel road that runs into the site itself but peoples trucks would probably get all shot up in there.

I hope they figure something out soon, it's pretty close to me.

[Special T]

Its my understanding that IF people park on th eproperty they need a Discover pass. and that is the hang up.... Where? dunno....

[MP123]

Its my understanding that IF people park on th eproperty they need a Discover pass. and that is the hang up.... Where? dunno....

Don't they give out parking passes when you buy a license?  At least I got one when I did.  The Welts site by Samish Island had a few birds running around but I guess they were leftovers from the youth hunt and they aren't releasing there anymore...

[Special T]

The property is owned by DNR... ONLY WDFW lands are good with the passes we get from hunting LIC.

[BOWHUNTER45]

We went out to Ebey on Sunday.  The conditions weren't too awful.  I know they probably release fewer birds there because it's smaller, but I feel like only 6 or 7 were shot that morning, while the opener at Stillwater last year was filled with birds flying every which way and guns going off right and left.  My pup did well though, this was her first "hunt".  At first she wanted to play with the other dogs and wasn't sure what was going on, but after that first bird went up near her and someone shot it, she went to hunting and found her first rooster.  Too bad I missed it   Came back late afternoon and gave my trial dog 30 minutes to cover the entire front portion, but no birds.  Didn't hear any shots from the other hunters out there at that time either.  I'd like to take the trial dog out in the mornings on release days, but I feel like other hunters are going to scream at me when he starts covering the whole thing right in front of them  :\

It gets awfully confusing especially for a young pup on release mornings. It might be more beneficial for you and your dog to hunt during non-rush hour. There are still birds around and your pup will learn to hunt harder for them if she isn't subjected to instant gratification conditions

I agree ...I would never involve a young dog in that madness ...Like ya said ..wait until afternoon or rush hour is over and you will be alone or a lot less people ...I remember going to Fir island with my lab and we would go in the afternoons and hunt the cattails out toward the bay ...we would just clean up on roosters that got away or gotten smarter ...they get into those cattails and grow old 

[MP123]

The property is owned by DNR... ONLY WDFW lands are good with the passes we get from hunting LIC.

Ahhh, that makes sense now...  Too many darn passes and agencies.  So the new parking must be off the site so no DP required but still close enough to walk in.