Release Site Follies

[Sportfury]

I must be having good luck this year. I have been out at the release sites and everything has been great. I haven't seen the guys that do the hundred dash as soon as 8:00 am hits or the same guys who once out in front of you cut across the whole line of guys. Everyone out in the field has been great and more than friendly, not to mention that it seems like there is not the same amount of people that we usually see. The only folly I have seen this year is two guys hunting the safety zone. It looked like a father and son pair with the old man in his late 70's or 80's and the son being in his late 50's or 60's.

[sled]

  I Got Peppered Twice At Cherry Valley!  Once I Took It As An Accident, The Second Time I Was Pissed.  It Was The Same Group Of People.  I Saw Them In The Lot Before The Hunt, And Knew What Rig They Were In.  I Walked Out Right Away And Called 911.  When The Sheriff Showed I Pointed Out The Car And Filled Out A Report.  Never Heard Anything Back.
  I Have Not Hunted A Release Sight Again.  It Hurt Like Hell!  If You Hunt The Sights Always Take Safety glasses
  Other Than That It Was A Good Time Close To home.

[Stilly bay]

Is it a conversation really worth crapping on people for hunting the release sites? Let me answer that. No. It is not. The release sites are good for numerous reasons from simple to complex Get out and stretch your legs, work and train dogs on days when there's not enough time to drive to e-wa, get the kids out....the list goes on. You guys blasting people for hunting the release sites should back down and quit causing more division among hunters. That's my .02. I live smack in the middle or release site central on east king county. They are a great asset, during season and off season.

 
well said.

[singleshot12]

Is it a conversation really worth crapping on people for hunting the release sites? Let me answer that. No. It is not. The release sites are good for numerous reasons from simple to complex Get out and stretch your legs, work and train dogs on days when there's not enough time to drive to e-wa, get the kids out....the list goes on. You guys blasting people for hunting the release sites should back down and quit causing more division among hunters. That's my .02. I live smack in the middle or release site central on east king county. They are a great asset, during season and off season.

well said

Sure wish there were a few more release sites around to help distribute the hunters tho. Most complaints are due to overcrowding

[jackelope]

I agree.

[wildweeds]

I do go eastside,but I also live less than two miles from two release sites and 5 miles from a 3rd.Lets see,5 1/2 hour drive one way or jump in the truck for 2 hours and walk the dog and maybe see a bird in the last 2 hours, No brainer for me,I work 5 8's and have 3 weeks vacation, Yup I do armed dog walking at home and make 3 week long trips eastside.

[Special T]

Sure wish there were a few more release sites around to help distribute the hunters tho. Most complaints are due to overcrowding

The rub is that release sites are around  BECAUSE they are close to the population to provide more opportunity. Since land is at a premium more efforts need to be made to utilize the land as much as possible through out the year. I am hunting the release sites AND E WA. I use it as a tool to get my chessy on as many birds as possible because he has primarily been a duck dog.

[AspenBud]

Sure wish there were a few more release sites around to help distribute the hunters tho. Most complaints are due to overcrowding

 

I walked around Shillapoo about six years ago, everyone was literally following each other hoping the guy ahead of him was missing birds. A friggen hawk took to wing and everyone just started shooting, dogs started going ape, handlers went ape, and it was generally chaos.

On a separate occasion I was out with a friend of mine, later in the day, but the crowd was still there. I still remember ducking as I heard another hunter's gun go off on the other side of some black berries and the rooster he shot literally falling next to me. Gotta love the sounds of pellets whizzing overhead like angry hornets.

I like the idea of release sites. But they are so few and so packed with hunters they really are an accident waiting to happen at certain times of day.

[ctwiggs1]

I kinda feel that maybe they should have some college intern checker-types out there letting only so many people on in the first hour.  Like only 25-30 hunters total or something like that.

[Sportfury]

They actually should make it reservations only and have an x number of spots. that way you west side guys that are not fortunate enough to hunt the east side don't get stepped on and have a good time imo.

That could be interesting. Do something like they do on JBLM and give each group a two hour time slot and put out birds for each group that goes out.

[Bullkllr]

They actually should make it reservations only and have an x number of spots. that way you west side guys that are not fortunate enough to hunt the east side don't get stepped on and have a good time imo.

That could be interesting. Do something like they do on JBLM and give each group a two hour time slot and put out birds for each group that goes out.

And maybe allow reservations for more than 1 day ahead - say dates for a month at a time or something- so you don't have to spend an hour on the phone every time you want to go out.

[wildweeds]

They allready have things just like y'all are wanting,they are called preserves,you call,buy a bird package and with that package you get the exclusive rights to a field full of birds.

They actually should make it reservations only and have an x number of spots. that way you west side guys that are not fortunate enough to hunt the east side don't get stepped on and have a good time imo.

That could be interesting. Do something like they do on JBLM and give each group a two hour time slot and put out birds for each group that goes out.

And maybe allow reservations for more than 1 day ahead - say dates for a month at a time or something- so you don't have to spend an hour on the phone every time you want to go out.

[Bullkllr]

Excellent point!

[bracer40]

They allready have things just like y'all are wanting,they are called preserves,you call,buy a bird package and with that package you get the exclusive rights to a field full of birds.

They actually should make it reservations only and have an x number of spots. that way you west side guys that are not fortunate enough to hunt the east side don't get stepped on and have a good time imo.

That could be interesting. Do something like they do on JBLM and give each group a two hour time slot and put out birds for each group that goes out.

And maybe allow reservations for more than 1 day ahead - say dates for a month at a time or something- so you don't have to spend an hour on the phone every time you want to go out.

Touche'!!

[Bmcox86]

I met the area manager today, Brian, have his cell phone number and email it anyone wants to volunteer to help out with anything. He's doing a lot to improve the program and seemed to really enjoy his job.