Overlap of Pheasant and Goose/Public Land

[pianoman9701]

During the last couple of weeks of Westside pheasant at the release sites, there's a conflict because goose starts. Goose hunters go out at 4 AM to set up their spreads and when shooting starts, here come pheasant hunters, who have every much a right to be there as the goose guys, walking around the spreads in their hunter orange and with dogs running. I've seen this create very many arguments, some quite heated.

Although I'm usually against asking WDFW to restrict hunting any more than they already have, I wonder if during these two weeks if it might be a good idea to have goose hunting on one of the weekend days, and pheasant on the other. Again, this is only for a couple of weeks when they overlap. Does anyone else have thoughts on this if it affects you?

[Fishnclifff]

Been happenin for yearss.
The worst is the pheasant guys comin out at waterfowl shooting time and standin in the fields to reserve their spot.
Shilapoo, Stanwood, all have the same problem. Stanwood shut down, but we had guys in orange and dogs walk right through the decoys.

[CP]

Yep.  Pheasant hunters get pissed at the waterfowlers for tramping through the fields before hunting hours and scaring all the pheasants.  Waterfowlers get pissed at the pheasant hunters for tramping around in blaze orange and walking through their sets.  Bad scene but we usually work it out.  I’ve only seen one fist fight.

[pianoman9701]

So, what do you guys think about alternating days for those few short weeks?

[singleshot12]

So, what do you guys think about alternating days for those few short weeks?

That would be a good one to write in and comment to the commission or directors 

With the majority of the pheasant hunters only hunting 3 days a week and mostly between 8:00am to 10:00am duck hunters really don't and shouldn't have a reason to bitch tho. I think it's only a small percentage that have an axe to grind and are A-holes. They need to live with it and get over it! WDFW Public hunting grounds aren't for just ducks and geese.

[Heartsblood]

Last year at Cherry Valley I was walking back to my truck pert near 10amish, and some guy starts yelling at me about blaze orange. "You gotta be wearin' blaze orange out here!" He shouted. He even called the gamies. I was long gone by then, but being a newish  duck hunter, I wanted to be sure so I called the wdfw. Gal asks me if i was out at Cherry Valley. I say "yep". She says, "Yeah we got a call and sent someone out there. They're educating the gentlman who called in. You enjoy your hunting now."

Felt sorta good to know I'd read my regs correctly. Plus, I'd taken two birds that morning, and that woulda really bummed me out if I'd done something uncool. Turns out it wasn't me.

I dunno. I think we all can work it out. People need to be less uptight. Besides, the pheasant guys get there right about when a lull in the action starts anyweys. And likes been said, it's only for a coupla weeks. My buck fiddy and then some.

[singleshot12]

He must have been convinced you were pheasant hunting and not duck hunting, but yeah people are weird sometimes.

[pianoman9701]

So, what do you guys think about alternating days for those few short weeks?

That would be a good one to write in and comment to the commission or directors 

With the majority of the pheasant hunters only hunting 3 days a week and mostly between 8:00am to 10:00am duck hunters really don't and shouldn't have a reason to bitch tho. I think it's only a small percentage that have an axe to grind and are A-holes. They need to live with it and get over it! WDFW Public hunting grounds aren't for just ducks and geese.

And they're not just for pheasants, either. I don't know where you hunt, but near Vancouver Lake and at Schillapoo, the pheasant hunters hunt all day long. That's why I'm asking and precisely why I made the statement that all have a right to be there. I wanted to get a consensus before writing the commission. As far as living with it and getting over it are concerned, why isn't that your attitude toward pheasant hunters? This is the reason I'm asking this question.

[CP]

I hunt both pheasants and waterfowl and I would not support alternating the days for each.  If I’m out beating the bushes for pheasants and a duck flies by I like to shoot it.

[Heartsblood]

Nice!

I almost shot a coupla pheasants last year until I realized that I needed to pay another hunnerd bucks to do it. Had quite a few pop up in my path last season.

I guess to clarify my answer, I wouldn't really be in favor or splitting it up either. I like to have as many opportunities open as possible -  work schedules only allowing for certain times as it is.

[singleshot12]

So, what do you guys think about alternating days for those few short weeks?

That would be a good one to write in and comment to the commission or directors 

With the majority of the pheasant hunters only hunting 3 days a week and mostly between 8:00am to 10:00am duck hunters really don't and shouldn't have a reason to bitch tho. I think it's only a small percentage that have an axe to grind and are A-holes. They need to live with it and get over it! WDFW Public hunting grounds aren't for just ducks and geese.

And they're not just for pheasants, either. I don't know where you hunt, but near Vancouver Lake and at Schillapoo, the pheasant hunters hunt all day long. That's why I'm asking and precisely why I made the statement that all have a right to be there. I wanted to get a consensus before writing the commission. As far as living with it and getting over it are concerned, why isn't that your attitude toward pheasant hunters? This is the reason I'm asking this question.

I duck hunt too but not around pheasant release sites. From talking with managers and others the ones doing most of the complaining are the duck hunters. Duck hunters(that only hunt ducks) hunting on pheasant release sites need to live with it just as much as pheasant hunters live with them. Like I said it's probably only about 10% of duck hunters that complain and want the whole area to themselves. Most of the ducks are out in the bay anyways. I hunt Skagit and Whatcom.
I hope something is resolved before loosing one or the other.

[pianoman9701]

So, what do you guys think about alternating days for those few short weeks?

That would be a good one to write in and comment to the commission or directors 

With the majority of the pheasant hunters only hunting 3 days a week and mostly between 8:00am to 10:00am duck hunters really don't and shouldn't have a reason to bitch tho. I think it's only a small percentage that have an axe to grind and are A-holes. They need to live with it and get over it! WDFW Public hunting grounds aren't for just ducks and geese.

And they're not just for pheasants, either. I don't know where you hunt, but near Vancouver Lake and at Schillapoo, the pheasant hunters hunt all day long. That's why I'm asking and precisely why I made the statement that all have a right to be there. I wanted to get a consensus before writing the commission. As far as living with it and getting over it are concerned, why isn't that your attitude toward pheasant hunters? This is the reason I'm asking this question.

I duck hunt too but not around pheasant release sites. From talking with managers and others the ones doing most of the complaining are the duck hunters. Duck hunters(that only hunt ducks) hunting on pheasant release sites need to live with it just as much as pheasant hunters live with them. Like I said it's probably only about 10% of duck hunters that complain and want the whole area to themselves. Most of the ducks are out in the bay anyways. I hunt Skagit and Whatcom.
I hope something is resolved before loosing one or the other.

But, as you can tell from the title of the thread, this is about goose and pheasant hunters here in SW WA. Duck hunters don't come into the picture at all in this situation.

[pianoman9701]

Nice!

I almost shot a coupla pheasants last year until I realized that I needed to pay another hunnerd bucks to do it. Had quite a few pop up in my path last season.

I guess to clarify my answer, I wouldn't really be in favor or splitting it up either. I like to have as many opportunities open as possible -  work schedules only allowing for certain times as it is.

Understood. Thanks. I was looking for that opinion, hopefully from more of us down here in this area.

[pianoman9701]

Nice!

I almost shot a coupla pheasants last year until I realized that I needed to pay another hunnerd bucks to do it. Had quite a few pop up in my path last season.

I guess to clarify my answer, I wouldn't really be in favor or splitting it up either. I like to have as many opportunities open as possible -  work schedules only allowing for certain times as it is.

Great, that's what I was looking for. I won't suggest alternating.

[ICEMAN]

How about requesting the alternating time frame, plus extending the season for both to accomodate the change?