Hunting Pheasants

[Trashmonkey]

I would like an opinion on paying to hunt pheasants.  More or less a guided hunt.  I'm thinking about going that route this fall, but personally I think it's rather expensive.  I'm not looking to start any trouble, but, I live in the southwest portion of the state and pheasant hunting here is tenuous to say the least.  Has anyone called any of those business adverstized in the waterfowl reg pamphlet?  If so, I would like to hear your experience...if it's ok.  Thank you all

TM

[arrowflinger]

If I remember correctly, they release birds for you to shoot. I have done a couple when my dog was young. It was more training for her then hunting.

[Trashmonkey]

If I remember correctly, they release birds for you to shoot. I have done a couple when my dog was young. It was more training for her then hunting.

Yes they do release birds and in my experience last year, it's a total free for all those days they release.  The problem for me is just too many people in too little of an area.  Everybody bumping in to everybody.  I don't really have a technical definition of a bird dog, he's just a dog who thinks he is...although he's completely affraid of water, briars, tall grass, etc.  But, he gets excited just go. 

[Trashmonkey]

Thanks for the feedback everyone.  I will look up Cooke Canyon and check it out.   In the mean time, Pheasants start next week, wish me luck on not getting my a@@ shot off. 

[Trashmonkey]

Well....it's the end of the second day of Pheasant season here in S.W. Washington and I'm proud to say that I'm still in one piece.  Today(Sunday) the dog and I decided to venture out and see if we could muster something up.  Mind you that my dog is NOT a bird dog.  In fact I get strange looks when ol' thor jumps out of the Dodge.  Some times down right dirty looks.  Anyhow, I digress.  So, were sloging around in the rain getting soaked, thinking I'm all by myself...Finally I can hunt in relative peace.  WRONG!!, HOLY CRAP! within a mater of minutes there were dog's and orange and gun fire everywhere.  So, I packed it up and headed to another release site farther away.  Long story short.  I shot my very first rooster.  I got so damn excited I forgot to take a picture.  So, now I look like a total tool cause I said somewhere in this site that I would take pictures of everything I shoot.  I suppose I can take a pic of me eating the bird....Honey, get the camera.  I'll keep ya'll posted.

Good luck
TM

[sisu]

Very good. I shot my first last year. Never lived where there were pheasant. Lots of fun.

[Bighorse]

You know its a privlage to hunt those birds and while I'm out running my dogs close to home on the W. side I really do appreciate some sense of fraterity while on the release sites.

Its doesn't have to be a free-for-all uncontrolled/unsportsman environment.  Were all out there enjoying our leasure and trying to get our pups ready for the real stuff on the E. side.  The shooting is just a minor part of the game. 

Please enjoy yourself and send a smile and wave my way.  I'm genuinely happy to be in the field enjoying released birds in the the go ol' US of A!

[Shadow Cat]

Congrats! I am still waiting to shoot my first one, but without a dog, it is really hard to do it.

[singleshot12]

It's like hunting high fence,just can't reduce myself to play that game.It's possable that all types of hunting will soon be generic.

[jackelope]

wow...
sorry you feel that way.

[singleshot12]

No need to be sorry...to me it's worlds apart from traditional hunting,your signature explains it fairly well.
Maybe it's just me,but if it's not "fair chase" I don't feel right harvesting it.
There used to be wild pheasant all over Western Wash. until the habitat was degraded.I would rather see funds go toward wild release and habitat restoration.

[Choclab]

A healthy wild pheasant population in Wa is a thing of the past. Farm equipment is so damn effecient now a days. The don't leave much cover any more. It's nothing against the farmer, he needs to eat too. Plus all the devolopment equals permanent habitat loss. And the areas that have a small populations are all private. I have been to a few of the release sites over here....It's combat, pure combat.  I got peppered and everything. Guys out there don't care who is where...they just shoot anyways. Wetside pheasant hunting is a joke

[Trashmonkey]

Amen to the combat zone.  I went out this morning to one of my local sites and guess what.......I was completely alone.  I had two full hours of worry free hunting time allowing my dumb bell dog (who I love) to run around trying to catch a scent.  I've read the previous posts and I feel bad that I have bitched alot.  I really really enjoy pheasant hunting along with waterfowl.  I apologize for being so negative.  I wish that everyone who comes to a certain site here around Vancouver would just have some courtesy and respect for others in relation to there position.  Anyhow, I look so forward at the chance to get outdoors and muck around in the bush.  For me, it's more about the experience than if I shoot anything.  I like having great experiences.  That's what makes memories that I want to share with others.

TM

[Shadow Cat]

I went out for a while this morning. Only heard a few shots and saw a few hunters. I decided to leave so I did not kick the crap out of some bozo. I was walking along a road and found a dog. I looked around me and did not see anyone close to me. I saw one guy a LONG way off and I yelled at him to get his attention. No such luck. I got the dog close and she was shivering and soaked to the bone. I looked at her tag and got her name and then decided to see if she belonged to the guy way out in this field. 10 minutes later, I got to the guy and asked if he had a dog. He said yes and I asked him the dogs name and he told me. I asked him if he knew where she was and he said she was behind him. I told him I found his dog across the road from where I was and she was standing NEXT to me, NOT behind him. I gave him his dog and he did not even say thanks! If I had a house, I would have kept that dog because it was obvious to me that he did not keep track of her or even care for her. That dog was so cold her teeth were chattering! It was time for me to go home when the guy said "Oh." and turned around and walked away without even looking at his dog!   

[Choclab]

Too many *censored*s like that over here

[ICEMAN]

Too many *censored*s like that over here

No kidding, the dog would surely be in better hands with shadowcat... and asswipe would be better off without the dog.

[Shadow Cat]

I don't know how someone can do something like that to a dog.

[Trashmonkey]

That's a real shame.      I know plenty of folks who would love to have a hunting buddy.  Should have kicked the dude in the happy sack Shadowcat.

[Shadow Cat]

I would have, but it would have been to hard to get my boot back!   

[singleshot12]

Most of the guys I ran into out in the field were good guys and were also respectful to other hunters and their dogs,but I did see a couple guys beating their dogs for whatever reason I don't know.
And a couple others shocking the hell out of their dogs like it was going out of style.Other than seeing the abuse of man's best friend,
it was an o.k. day.

[boneaddict]

I wouln't mind puting a shock collar on a few guys I have ran into while hunting.

[singleshot12]

LMAO,That would work it really would. Karma has a way of working out too  .