WDFW and game birds

[fishunt247]

It would be especially hard for farmers to devote land to habitat in these *censored*ty economic times too. If they didn't hunt, they probably would see no reason to do so...ever. All we can do is hope the game dept. keeps trying (or tries harder) and that some farmers will see the need for habitat.

[shorthair-on-point]

On a side note: I think the harvest numbers that they publish are total BS.  They show Whitman county pheasant harvest at 15000 + birds.  That means on average there are a 165 birds a day killed throughout the season.  Put another way that means 50+ guys a day have to shoot their limits every day of the season.  There's no way.  Apart from opening weekend, Thanksgiving weekend, and parents weekend at WSU I'd be shocked if their are 50 guys even hunting on most weekend days.... let alone all shooting limits or hunting during the week.  Their harvest reports are full of crap.  

Intruder

I agree. The numbers are BS now. Those of us that hunt them know how bad it really has become. Those numbers include released birds and private game farm birds now. The state released birds alone account  for over 25,000 pheasants state wide.

[shorthair-on-point]

The loss of cover from the crp is bad but pivots are worse. Pivots not only waste a lot of water but it is almost impossible for a birds to nest or roost in a field that has a pivot. The more pivots you see the less pheasants you will see. Water rights/irrigation methods need to be re-evaluated in this state. I wish they gave incentives for drip/siphon irrigation.

[jjhunter]

Growing up in Colfax and belonging to a farming family, I would have to strongly disagree with lack of habitat, 10 dollar wheat, etc as exuses for lack of birds in Whitman.  In 1994, there was very little CRP in Whitman county - the amount of CRP cover that we have today is 10 fold what we had 10 or 11 years ago.  We had 10 dollar wheat for one year - have you looked at recent wheat prices?  I can also tell you that very little CRP came out to plant crop!  Farmers could barely afford to plant the fall crop this year with inflated diesel and fertilizer costs.  The harsh winter and wet spring are the reasons you are not seeing birds.  Three years ago was the best pheasant year we ever had.  You would see 500 birds a day easy on our place.  This year you will be lucky to see 40.  This is not from overhunting or lack of habitat - we allow very limited hunting and the habitat was outstanding this year with the wet spring.  My

[Gamblin Guy]

 

From the conversations I've had with the farmer who lets us hunt his place, JJ's got it right.

[fishunt247]

Are pivots the sprinklers that move in a circular motion, revolving around the cernter piece that is anchored to the ground? If so, I think PF has a program called corners for wildlife or something to that nature to deal with the corners the sprinkler doesn't hit and isn't farmed. I've killed a few birds this year in corners just like this that were left to just grow weeds. In the greater Yakima Valley, a lack of habitat (I think) is a big reason why the pheasants aren't doing great. Granted this year is terrible for birds, but other years too.

[hornhunter]

i came across about a dozen different feeders this weekend, all of wich were NOT in use.  The feeders were so over grown they could not be used.  Forget the pheasant, what about the wild birds (chukar and quail) that need a little help in the winter.  Who feeds the birds???  Some of the feeders I saw were full of sticker bushes.  Is the feed not in the budget or is it the labor to fill the feeder?

[bobcat]

Why would wild birds need to be fed? They should be able to survive on their own if the habitat is adequate. If it isn't, then maybe they shouldn't be there.

[fishunt247]

Should we not feed elk then? Should food plots be banned? Should high fences with nets stretched over be put around any artificial source (alfalfa, wheat, etc)? (Thats a stretch, I know) I think it is just a way to help out the population. We do tons of stuff to help our bird, bucks, and bulls that aren't 100% natural. I've manned a turkey feeder in central WA for quite a few years, just to help the birds out, because the snow can accumulate up there. Sadly, it is about a fifteen minute drive from a biologist's house/game dept office, and we have to drive up there, pick up the food from him, and go put feed in the feeder. Why him or another one of the guys that work up there can't do it, I'm not sure. Back to the topic though, it is just a means of helping them out I guess.

[bobcat]

Feeding elk is a terrible idea that probably never should have been started. Now we've got elk populations that the habitat can't support, and there's nothing that can be done but continue feeding them every winter. What would have been better than feeding is to preserve a good portion of winter range where the elk could sustain themselves through the winter without us feeding them as if they were livestock.

[yelp]

Many of these feeders are used in eastern washington to supply feed for upland birds in areas that snow depth make it hard for quail to scratch. Also upland feeders are used as release sites for trapped quail the wdfw releases after hunting seasons are over.  Many public hunting areas get pounded by hunters and there is no way a natural population can repopulate to recover, so quail are trapped and released on these areas to keep the right number available for breeding and keep numbers up.  Many of the eastside wildlife areas used to practice this, but some managers find it a waste of thier precious time.  Many of the managers and biologists that still do it have great hunting on those lands they manage.  Other upland birds get the benefit from them too.  Chukars use quite a few of them in areas.  some hunters fill feeders to specifically attract birds for hunting..which is very unethical in my book.  many managers wait until after hunting season ends before filling or releasing trapped quail.  

Another comment on the pheasant releases...The legislature voted to purchase pheasants for hunters via the small game license.  $10.00 per small game license goes to purchase pheasants.  The WDFW really was forced to get back into the game farm/pheasant release issue.  Habitat is the key not game farm birds.  Also WDFW used to have pheasant farms all over the state the cost was about $15.00/bird from egg to release.  Now the State Prisons and a few remaining game farms raise the pheasants you see released.  It would be nice to see that money purchase habitat or enhancements instead of pheasants.  I think it would be a wiser investment.  

[yelp]

Hornhunter what county  were the feeders in?

[fishunt247]

Bobcat,
Value your opinion, but totally disagree. But this isn't the place for that on this forum. I'm going to start a topic on the elk forum. Check it out.

And habitat is the key. Period.

[hornhunter]

Yelp

A few places  For now Ill say mostly wildlife areas up and down the Columbia river frow the Wahluke North ( I havnt hunted much S or E) All the feeders seem to be un used, I realize They are used outside of the hunting seasons, but some were filled with bushes and there is NO way they could be used anytime.  Some were OK and some are run down.   


You dont know much about sustaining a good Elk heard do you bobcat.........dont feed them = dont hunt them. 

[shorthair-on-point]

Bobcat,
The feed stations for elk are more about keeping the elk out of farmers fields in the winter than keeping elk alive that would starve without the feed stations.