Senior Pheasant Hunt Starts Next Week, September 21 through 25

[ChukarBob]

The senior pheasant hunt starts on Monday and I'll be in SE WA looking for a rooster or 2.  While I don't like hunting pen-raised birds as a rule, I might hit some of the release sites if I strike out at other areas.  WDFW will be releasing birds for the youth hunt this weekend and for the senior hunt as well (I asked). 

Will be staying at the Boyer Park marina and campground on the Snake River, about 35 miles SW of Pullman.  If you're in the neighborhood, stop by and say hello (green Subaru Outback, Yellow Lab will be the clues).  I'll probably be sipping a cold 1 or 2 when I get back to my camp site in late afternoon / early evening.  I'll be at the campground Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights and always enjoy sharing bird hunting stories with just about anyone.

Will report on my success, or lack thereof, in a later post.

[ChukarBob]

BTW, my only worry about this hunt is the threat of snakes.  It's early in the season,  the weather will be mild, and my dog is not snake-trained.  I'm gonna take my chances, but if anyone has advice about avoiding rattlers in the early season, please share.  I know enough about snakes, dogs, and pheasant hunting to have some ideas for avoiding snakes, but you can never be too cautious.

[jackson7]

might consider putting a vest on him.

[Bill W]

I will be out also tomorrow morning.  Getting the gear put together as we speak.

[ChukarBob]

The vest would provide some protection, but my Lab will already be challenged by the heat and her age, 10.  She's in fair shape for the first of the season, but I don't have a lightweight (vs. neoprene) vest for her and am also cognizant of heatstroke, given the temps will be in the 70's.  But, thanks for the suggestion.

[Bwana Bob]

I just turned old myself, 65 back in July. Seems like a good deal for us old folk, but the weather will suck for this hunt, dry and warm. I ran my new dog, a 2 yr old Britt, two weeks ago in the okanagan and the dogs had a hard time points bird being that dry. Most of the quail just flushed wild before the dogs could even get close.  I may just go for a day and give it a try. I need to see if my dog will make the transition form planted pigeons to quail and pheasants. If not I'll have more training to do.

The only bright side of being 65 is I'm still alive and in fairly good shape and I drew the 65 plus colockum cow tag. I Rather hook up with a hot 45 yr old divorcee for those 5 days of the pheasant hunt.

[Bill W]

I just turned old myself, 65 back in July. Seems like a good deal for us old folk, but the weather will suck for this hunt, dry and warm. I ran my new dog, a 2 yr old Britt, two weeks ago in the okanagan and the dogs had a hard time points bird being that dry. Most of the quail just flushed wild before the dogs could even get close.  I may just go for a day and give it a try. I need to see if my dog will make the transition form planted pigeons to quail and pheasants. If not I'll have more training to do.

The only bright side of being 65 is I'm still alive and in fairly good shape and I drew the 65 plus colockum cow tag. I Rather hook up with a hot 45 yr old divorcee for those 5 days of the pheasant hunt.

I'd sooner have a bunch of nicely colored pheasants close to the road and also find a 6 pack of beer on ice.

[Bwana Bob]

That would would work Also

[zike]

The senior pheasant hunt starts on Monday and I'll be in SE WA looking for a rooster or 2.  While I don't like hunting pen-raised birds as a rule, I might hit some of the release sites if I strike out at other areas.  WDFW will be releasing birds for the youth hunt this weekend and for the senior hunt as well (I asked). 

 Will report on my success, or lack thereof, in a later post.

I think WDFW lied to you, I hunted down river from you at Willow Bar. There released a few for the kids hunt and none for the senior hunt. Unless the kids killed them all. I would say that the ave. was one bird per hunter for 3 days. I was skunked, didn't hunt monday and hunted wild birds the next 2 days. The only bird in range was one this AM when I let the dog out. I didn't have my gun plus they frown on people shooting in the boat launch.

[ChukarBob]

My report:  Overall, a pretty good hunt.  Because of the warm weather and our lack of conditioning,  my dog, Remy,a Lab, and I spent perhaps 4 or 5 hours total over 3 days (Mon, Tues, Wed) in the field.  We shot 4 roosters, all wild, and I missed a 5th when my dog and I were trudging out of the field the first morning, not paying attention.  But it was still an easy shot that I pooched.  I always seem to miss the first bird of the season and this was no different, I suppose.  Not bad for 5 hours of hunting.

Both the dog and I had some "lameness" issues.  I'm confident Remy will recover quickly.  She flushed 4 of the 5 birds I had shots at and had easy retrieves.  Shot well, knocking all 4 down on the first shot, with only one bird a challenging shot. 

Glad I got out, as I realized that both Remy and I need to be in better condition before we head out to North Dakota in mid November. 

[ChukarBob]

To "Zike": WDFW didn't say that they were releasing pheasants on every release site for the seniors' hunt.  My recollection is that their statement was not so specific, more like 'pheasants would be released at some sites' for the seniors hunt.  This squares with their seasonal release practices, some birds at some sites on some weeks.  Don't think they "lied".

[zike]

Bob I was just going by what you posted " WDFW will be releasing birds for the youth hunt this weekend and for the senior hunt as well (I asked).  "  You didn't say anything about selected sites. They usually stock Willow bar heavy because of the pressure it gets, not so much this year. I think because of the money spent on the wolves they couldn't afford the pheasants.
 I did a short walk at Willow, I wasn't find wild birds in my usual spots. The guys camping there hunted from New York Bar to Swift Bar with little sucess.

[Bwana Bob]

Zike,

From what you saw down your way does it look like it was a poor hatch. May try to hunt down near pomeroy in late nov if the pheasant hatch was good.
I took my 2yr old britt for the first time yesterday and we managed to kill 3 roosters. Tuff hunting in the heat. My dog is making the transition from planted pigeons to pheasants but I won't hunt her on them until she letter perfect on quail. Most of the quail we ran into the last 2 times out won't hold very ell. Even my old dog is having trouble with them.

Bob