New to Upland

[ChristianS899]

Hi all. Novice Upland hunter here. I deer hunt over near the Skookumchuck release site and come 8am I always hear all the fun being had over there.
I don’t have a dog and have never pheasant hunted before. Everyone I see there seems to have dogs, what are y’alls thoughts on looking for Pheasant here without a pup?
I live in North Tacoma so I’ve also researched the Belfair, Mason Lake, and Trask Lake sites.
If anyone is ever looking to show a new guy the ropes and get out with someone new send me a PM!


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[MR5x5]

IMHO Pheasant hunting without a dog is just exercise, only dumber.

[follow maggie]

I’ve shot lots of pheasants without a dog in my college days. Just beat the brush & kick hem up. I would tell you to go later in the day, though. After the mad rush. When they open those areas up at 8 or whatever time it is now, they are a major league *censored* show.

[ChristianS899]

IMHO Pheasant hunting without a dog is just exercise, only dumber.

any day I can get outside is a good day for me.


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[ChristianS899]

I’ve shot lots of pheasants without a dog in my college days. Just beat the brush & kick hem up. I would tell you to go later in the day, though. After the mad rush. When they open those areas up at 8 or whatever time it is now, they are a major league *censored* show.

Thanks for the suggestion!


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[nwwanderer]

Spot and stalk can work, been through quite a few dogs, by far the best was a beagle/walker cross.  Sure kept us in shape for football/basketball and rarely if ever lost a down bird.  Just walking with your shotgun is worth the time but do not expect much with native birds that know the ropes and loss of downed birds will be common.  Get after them!

[Iveexcaped3]

I don’t run a dog and do just fine. I don’t know about on the westside but I also have quail mixed in with our pheasants so I kind of chase both. For me first thing in the morning is best because they’re more likely to be cackling and help you with a general direction. I also use a mouth call which helps sometimes. Get close walk slow and start kicking brush

[salish]

IMHO Pheasant hunting without a dog is just exercise, only dumber.

any day I can get outside is a good day for me.


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Absolutely right. I hunted roosters for a few years in the 90's without a dog and did just fine. And I had a blast. Have fun and good luck to you.

[bobcat]

I wouldn't hunt westside release sites without a dog. Just a waste of time and not any fun at all. Find someone with a dog and go with them. Another hunter would allow their dog to hunt more. Or, go hunt in eastern Washington where there's more birds and more public land. A good bird to hunt without a dog would be chukar, if you're in good shape.

[BrandonD]

I'm in a similar boat.  I live right by all the Snoqualmie WA pheasant release sites, but don't have a dog.  They're so close, but is it completely stupid to go hunt those sites dogless?

[Iveexcaped3]

I'm in a similar boat.  I live right by all the Snoqualmie WA pheasant release sites, but don't have a dog.  They're so close, but is it completely stupid to go hunt those sites dogless?

If enough of you no dog guys get together you can almost deer drive (pheasant drive) your way to success

[lovetogrouse]

I'm in a similar boat.  I live right by all the Snoqualmie WA pheasant release sites, but don't have a dog.  They're so close, but is it completely stupid to go hunt those sites dogless?

If enough of you no dog guys get together you can almost deer drive (pheasant drive) your way to success

I've done that on Yakima Nation land and it was pretty successful. We would have gotten more than a few birds if had had our wits about us. If you do that you'll need a special permit, just fyi.

[follow maggie]

I'm in a similar boat.  I live right by all the Snoqualmie WA pheasant release sites, but don't have a dog.  They're so close, but is it completely stupid to go hunt those sites dogless?

If enough of you no dog guys get together you can almost deer drive (pheasant drive) your way to success

With a little practice this works really well, especially with a couple blockers at the end of the cover.

[metlhead]

Flushing and shooting birds without a dog can be done. It is retrieval that can be near impossible at times. Amazing how a stone dead bird can drop on bare ground, and not be there after 10 minutes of looking. Upland hunting truly does become a sport of the dog. Doesn't gotta be top notch$$$ to get the job done. That just makes it sweeter. Maybe a new best buddy is in your future.

[Birdguy]

Having hunted the release sites for a number of years if you are serious and interested stop in to the parking lot on a couple release days. Talk to a  few of the people there. Ask about their dogs and their success or lack thereof. I have hunted several of the Belfair sites, the Skook, Cosmopolis, and Scatter creek and there is almost always a "good guy" who with take a guy out with his dog, maybe after the "rush" so he can work his dog a little different or watch the new guy with the gun, but there are people out there who will offer to take you.....or at least there used to be.

Show up about 7/730 and talk to a few guys, watch the show (from 8 to 10) see if you're even interested. If you are, buy a license and plan to walk it alone but do not be surprised if you're asked to take up a spot in the line and maybe drop a bird or two, Never hurts to offer a guy another hand if he has dog work/training to do as well. Real friendships can be made in the field, I wish you luck.

[GWP]

I can not trick myself into calling a ‘release bird site’ with many people standing waiting for the gate to open ‘hunting’. But whatever. And yes, I understand this ‘may’ be the only time some may be able to get out.
I have hunted with and without dogs. I was careful to not shoot where I would not be reasonably sure I could collect the bird, and you may have a hike to get to the bird. Finding it can be difficult at a ‘non’ release site. Dog really helps there.
You may have birds more prone to running at a release site.
Wait until the ‘crap show’ slows and or stops at a release site, then work the edges first, then any brush clumps.
Good luck!

[J-Bone]

you can definitely hunt birds without dogs, people do, and they claim to have fun. It is difficult for people that hunt birds with dogs to imagine hunting without dogs. It is like watching color TV and then going back to black and white. A smart phone and then reverting back to a flip phone. Anyways you get the idea. If you like upland hunting get a dog, it will increase your fun level 100x.

I would say my dog finds 75% of the birds I shoot. He also finds 100% of the birds I down once shot. If you are hunting in deep cover without a dog you will lose downed birds and spend a lot more time looking for the ones you shoot. If you are hunting wild birds, that sucks. Bird populations are already doing bad across the state wasting birds is a loss for all hunters.

If you'd like to go with a dog, PM me. Happy to take you out. While, I hate to give up my spots, I also realize growing the hunter population, and therefore more people that care about bird populations, is the best way to get the numbers back up again.

[KFhunter]

I had access to really good property in Central WA with loads of Pheasant and we were very successful hunting wild birds without a dog, but there were quite a few guys beating the brush and sending birds to one another, and there were a lot of birds. 

[huntnfmly]

you can definitely hunt birds without dogs, people do, and they claim to have fun. It is difficult for people that hunt birds with dogs to imagine hunting without dogs. It is like watching color TV and then going back to black and white. A smart phone and then reverting back to a flip phone. Anyways you get the idea. If you like upland hunting get a dog, it will increase your fun level 100x.

I would say my dog finds 75% of the birds I shoot. He also finds 100% of the birds I down once shot. If you are hunting in deep cover without a dog you will lose downed birds and spend a lot more time looking for the ones you shoot. If you are hunting wild birds, that sucks. Bird populations are already doing bad across the state wasting birds is a loss for all hunters.

If you'd like to go with a dog, PM me. Happy to take you out. While, I hate to give up my spots, I also realize growing the hunter population, and therefore more people that care about bird populations, is the best way to get the numbers back up again.

Great offer 👍

[ChristianS899]

Sorry for the late replies as I haven't been on here much since creating the thread. Been busy trying not to eat my deer tag!
I appreciate everyone who had feedback, suggestions or just their  !
Now that I did get my deer in the freezer I plan to spend some time trying to figure these birds out! Hope to see some of you out there.