Anyone Hunt Ebey Island?

[NeuroToxin109]

Hello Everyone!

Does anyone hunt Ebey Island that has first hand experience on what's decent there and what to bring? My wife and I are wanting to take up hunting and have approximately no experience between the two of us. We're getting gear and preparing this year to go next year.

We're going to do Hunters Ed shortly but I was hoping for some insight on what kind of gear would be needed to hunt whatever game is present on Ebey Island. I know it's a Pheasant release site so I would assume there's Pheasant there. Are there other species of waterfowl and upland bird present too? Any other small game like rabbit or grouse?

Also any tips, tricks, advise would be hugely appreciated. We don't know anyone who hunts to get help from.

Thank you!

[NW-GSP]

The pheasants are farm raised planted birds. It is a pretty marshy wet area so I would say no to seeing rabbits and due to that I have never seen any there. There is some waterfowl but there are far better places in snohomish county go go then ebey island. My advice is to find other areas to hunt. I have hunted the area open to pheasant and it's terrible, basically a farmers field that cows are in most of the year so when it gets wet your dogs end up smelling horrible.

[dmv9]

+1

[NeuroToxin109]

Thanks for the feedback that's good to know! It also looks like there's Spencer Island a maybe a mile or two north. Also the Corson Natural Wildlife Area. And to the south past Monroe there's the Crescent Lake, Cherry Valley and Stillwater Wildlife Areas.

Would any of those be better bets? Thanks for the help!

[Widgeondeke]

Spencer Island is tidal, meaning the water can go from 2' deep to 4' deep in a few hours.  Be VERY careful there.  It is decent for waterfowl, but you pretty much need a boat or good dog to retrieve.
The Crescent Lake, Stillwater & Cherry Valley are also pheasant release sites. Not bad, just can be crowded and if you don't have a dog its difficult. The birds like to sit.  The major crowds typically disperse after 10am.  I used to hunt them before WDFW jacked up the permit cost to $90+. They all can hold waterfowl also.

[NeuroToxin109]

That's good to know about Spencer Island. Does Crescent Lake, Stillwater & Cherry have any other small game like rabbit or grouse? Or is it pretty much pheasant and waterfowl?

[7mmfan]

There could be rabbits at either, Crescent Lake is probably more likely to have rabbits and grouse, but I've spent a fair amount of time in the woods at these areas and never seen either.

If rabbits and grouse are on your list, you're better off driving/walking National Forest roads, or walking in behind closed DNR gates, etc... While you can and will find grouse in river bottoms, there does tend to be more at mid to higher elevations.

West side rabbits are hit and miss. They are definitely around, but harder to come by. The hunting for them gets better later in the winter.

[NeuroToxin109]

That's good to know. I'm not really set on trying to target anything specific just yet. I'm just trying to find out what's worth pursuing in my general area. It seems like Snohomish county is mostly waterfowl and upland bird.

What are the opportunities for deer like in this area?

[CP]

I've never seen a grouse on any of these.  Very few rabbits.  Spencer is a *censored* hole - look out for tweekers

Be sure you observe the 8:00am - 4:00pm regulation for the release sites - it applies to all.  I'd where orange as well - best to not get shot.

 

[NeuroToxin109]

Yeah I read on another forum as well that Spencer had issues with cars being broken into. And definitely going to wear orange.

[Netminder01]

I've never seen a grouse on any of these.  Very few rabbits.  Spencer is a *censored* hole - look out for tweekers

Be sure you observe the 8:00am - 4:00pm regulation for the release sites - it applies to all.  I'd where orange as well - best to not get shot.

Yes, watch your lines and watch other people too. I've been peppered there more than once and don't go back anymore because of it. Pretty good place but it's changed (for the worse if you ask me) over the years.

Good luck and be safe! Don't store anything of value in your truck either...

[NeuroToxin109]

Awesome, well thanks for all of the advice guys!

[bronczilla]

Ebey Island has Pheasant, ducks, geese, rabbits, deer and coyotes to name a few. The problem is access, all land next to Fish and Game is private property, make sure you know where the boarders are. In my opinion there is almost no point hunting pheasant, too many hunters for that small area. To hunt waterfowl you need a blind and as far as I know there are only two on Fish and Game property and its first come first serve which is usually spoken for by 4AM.

Basically I would avoid Ebey Island unless you want to deal with the orange army pheasant hunting or you know someone that will let you hunt private property.