Quest for wild pheasants & poll

[jeff100]

...and Huns.  I'm tired of looking for ghost pheasants in Crab Creek area.  Heck I'm struggling to find quail this year, and I can NOT believe the garbage that's getting dumped in that area.  If I could just catch one of em.....

I always try to leave an area cleaner than I found it, but I'm just not setup to haul out old tires and big crap that these jerks are dumping.

There's got to be better hunting elsewhere without having to drive across the entire state just for the privilege of banging on doors in the hope of finding some kind soul who will grant permission to hunt private land. (Not that I wouldn't do that if I just knew someone).

Then again, this IS Washington state, maybe there isn't better upland game hunting.

...whew...I kinda got on my soapbox there....sorry...getting kind of frustrated I suppose.

No matter, I've got two outstanding Brittanys that deserve any opportunity to chase birds I can give them.  But they're not duck dogs, I gotta find some upland birds somewhere.... 

I'm planning to scout/hunt Lake Lenore area (Sun Lakes Columbia Basin WA) and Sagebrush Flat WA, for upland birds, hoping to get into a pheasant or two and hopefully put up some Huns.  I never turn my nose up on a Chukar either.  Never hunted these area's before, my question is - can you camp with a small (18') trailer in these areas?  I know there's a state park there, but I like to dry camp outside of campgrounds where it's legal and feasible....

Any comments....any....are greatly appreciated.

Jeff

[Shedseeker]

Try North or South Dakota.

[Sportfury]

Jeff,

Not sure about the pheasants, but I have seen huns up around Fish Lake in the Okanogon. My buddy Peanut always used to go start at Othello and head East and Southeast for Pheasant. They seemed like they would get into birds every year. My son wanted to make a trip over for quail and I was thinking of doing a day trip this weekend. Lets hope some of my hidey holes are doing good.

I have to agree with you on the trash. The last time I was over at Quincy it was trashed . All the people who don't want to pay for camping at teh gorge getting drunk and leaving their trash behind. It was terrible! I was afraid my GWP would get his pads all cut up from the broken glass.

Good shooting and good luck.

Chris   

[shorthair-on-point]

Yes you can camp in that area

[Rowdy]

Jeff,
The Yakima Canyon has quite a few "upland" choices.  Chukar, Quail, Huns (i've heard never seen), and the pheasant release site.  Go up Durr road and start hiking around.  Quail in the valleys, Huns on the grassy slopes, and Chukar on the steep rocky slopes.  There are a decent amount of birds in the Canyon just got to hike around and find em.  With two pups I would think you should do pretty good.

Jake

[DAROB]

I hunted Crab Creek all saturday last weekend. Not a pheasant to be seen. Easily put about 10 miles in criss crossing the place looking for a bird. Dog finally bumped a couple of quail. That was it for the whole day. The whole area looked liked cattle had been in there grazing. Not much cover for birds to be hiding in. I called the Region 2 office and they said they are releasing birds in the area. They wouldnt say how offen, but the lady on the phone told me the last release was for the youth hunt. Dont know where I will go this weekend. 

[fluentvoo]

If you guys are partial to the crab creek area, you can drive up towards wahatis peak and get into some chukar.

[Jerbear]

I hate to say this as I am unhappy with some of stuff the Native Americans have got away with, but the Yakama Nation has been working very hard to build up the pheasant population on the reservation.  All you need is the $30.00 rez permit.  No small game or anything else the WF&W clowns require.  The Yakama Nation took it to court recently.  They proved that the game dept had done nothing for the pheasant population since the 1960's.  The judge made the ruling in superior court in Yakima, that all was required was the rez permit.  A W WL enforcement officer had cited two biologists from the Oregon Game dept.  They had been working with the Yakamas to enhance the pheasant population.  The gameie had to eat the two citations.  I am going over in a couple of weeks.  People I have talked to say it is great hunting.  I have a problem with the Indian situation, but more of dislike for the WDF&W.

[T-Bone]

http://www.ynwildlife.org/huntmaps.php

[jeff100]

Jerbear, let us know what you find out.  I've been considering getting the YN hunting permit and hunting the rez.  A good buddy of mine has done so in the past, and told me that the hunting was too close in to where people lived, he felt like he was hunting in peoples back yards, having to deal with territorial dogs and such.  He said the place was pretty trashed up too, broken down cars and such.  Aside from some birds to shoot at, the 'outdoor' experience sucked.  But I'm keeping an open mind.  If the Yakima Nation is serious about providing a decent hunting opportunity to generate revenue for themselves, I would happily support their efforts.  Besides, I'm part Cherokee myself (a little, teeny part), I've got no more problem with native Americans than any other Americans, so long as they're Americans first by gawd.

Jeff

[270Shooter]

The YN is OK at the beggining of the season but it slows down real quick for pheasants. Most of the feel free to hunt land is old range land and provides little cover. While other spots are so thick with weeds you can hardly walk through it and it is nealy impossible to find a bird.

And you guys are right most spots are relativly close to houses. And they arn't always the friendliest people. I would get a map that shows feel free to hunt land and spend the day hitting up different spots. I hardly even hunt down there anymore though.

[dbur525]

Hi

does anybody know where to get the rez permit to hunt yakima rez?
thanks
Dave

[270Shooter]

I always just go to bi-mart

[T-Bone]

Hi

does anybody know where to get the rez permit to hunt yakima rez?
thanks
Dave

If you go to the link I posted earlier; it lists the locations.

[whitey]

Tri Cities is a great place for wild birds, Went over with my my lab and in 2 1/2 days shot 8 roosters. You kind of got to road it out look for the CRP fields that are not posted. Still lots of feel free to hunt land to be hunted.. We did notice not as many bird seen this last time as they where last season, some of the locals said the winter was hard and the spring wasnt much easier. Good luck!

[fishunt247]

A good buddy of mine has done so in the past, and told me that the hunting was too close in to where people lived, he felt like he was hunting in peoples back yards, having to deal with territorial dogs and such.  He said the place was pretty trashed up too, broken down cars and such.  Aside from some birds to shoot at, the 'outdoor' experience sucked. 

I have hunted and do hunt the rez religiously, weekly. Around Yakima, it is the only WILD pheasant option really. This year isn't the best year to venture there, to be honest. The feel free to hunt land has been cut nearly in half, at least by a third anyways. The bird population pretty much sucks this years. With the guys I hunt with, we have permission on a lot of private land, so we escape some of the problems. And your buddy nailed it with the houses and dogs and unfriendly people. It is a different hunting experience, no long hunts at all. I guess there are a few places, but they are few and far between.

[rainforesthunter]

Come to SD I can kill my limit of ditch chickens in 20-30 minutes most days.

[fishunt247]

I wish I could. After college I will for sure. Wish our state had the same view on the importance of pheasants for residents and the economy that your state does.

[high country]

are you guys hunting with dogs? I have not had a single dry trip yet this year.  when we take 3 dogs we go home early. the land we hunt is all public non tribal land. I will say that this is a down year, but still plenty of birds. instead of hunting areas that hold multi species, try targeting areas specific to one species.

[fishunt247]

I'm hunting with dogs. I guess your hunting one hell of a spot if you limit every time out. We are starting to see more birds now that the corn is mostly all gone, but it still is a little rough. The last group hunt we had, the day after thanksgiving, we had like 11 guys and 13 dogs, and we killed 9 roosters I think. I guess last year we were spoiled

[high country]

I never said I limit every trip. when I hunt just one dog it is a 1-2 rooty day average. when we hunt 3 dogs it has been pretty hot. we hunt over a draht, a setter and an english pointer......they cover a rediculous amount of ground.

what kind of cover are you seeking out? we shoot our roosters from typically non pheasant holding ground. I heard someone saying they were hunting super thick grass, well mix that with mud, cattails, and any brush that will rip you and your dog up and you are into birds. wild birds are a bitch........that is the fun of it.

[fishunt247]

Agreed, tons of fun. We hunt a lot of weedy fields next to a food source, lots of asparagas, lots of thick red brush when I hunt with fewer guys (don't have any idea what it is called), and overgrown ditches too. Later in the year, especially when it snows, I have most of my luck in the red brush and cattails. Its seems to me, and this comes from plenty of experience, that the cattails and red brush creek bottoms hold a few birds early in the season, but once it snows they are loaded. Like the birds just come out of the woodwork seeking the thicker cover. Usually this time of year, I see a lot of "road birds," birds that will fly from roosting weeds before shooting light, stand all day in the middle of a green field, and fly back into the weeds after shooting hours. I'm not seeing these birds at all this year, so its not because I have *censored*ty dogs or don't know how to hunt pheasants, I'm calling it a lack of birds.

[high country]

there is supposed to be a cold snap coming soon. I have always had my best luck when it is super cold hunting the cattails.

funny you mention the open field birds. last weekend we busted 3 rootys in the shortest stubble you could cut. I never saw a bird till they flew. I thought the dog had gone retarded at first. the cover you describe sounds good, but I tend look at more nontraditional stuff on public ground that gets hunted. the one constant I have found is that cold weather and big wind lock the birds up in the thickest cover, and usually that is cattails.

[RPM]

i was told the yakima firing range has opened back up. it's been good for chuckars and quail in the past. quilimene and wiskydick usualy is good for chuckars huns and quail. rough roads there. i like the yak. rez. late and just target quail.  good luck wherever you go

[GermanShorthair]

whitman country seems to being pressured pretty hard, i see birds when im out they just flush when i pull up 

[rainforesthunter]

fishhunt247 WDFW manages people not game it has been that way for a long time.I just moved to SD a couple of years ago and was amazed that SD Game Fish & Parks and the people of SD have a completly different view of wildlife and our resources in general.I love WA but it has been ruined my dad still lives in Ellensburg and he said he can hardly find a bird to shoot at this year.

[fishunt247]

rainforest, if south dakota or montana had salmon and steelhead I would move there tomorrow. But since they don't I'm here. OH well, I'll just have to travel to get in on a few of those days that I'm sure are commonplace for you.

[rainforesthunter]

fishhunt247 trust me I miss salmon and steelhead fishing big time.Washington has the potential to be one of the best fishing and hunting states around it just needs to be managed better.The only reason I'm here is I work for the railroad its not because of the scenery.I'm moving back next year so I will come out for a week every year to hunt.And if you do ever get out here to hunt don't spend a bunch of money on a guided hunt there are just as many birds on public land and walk in areas.The state even puts out a hunting atlas every year showing public and walk in areas.

[fishunt247]

Sweet, thanks. I don't think I could EVER bring myself to hire a guide for birds anywhere, doesn't seem necessary.