Quest for wild pheasants & poll

[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.