Post by: sticky on September 16, 2012, 10:22:16 AM
Post by: sled on September 16, 2012, 10:46:27 AM
Post by: fethrduster on September 16, 2012, 11:44:24 AM
Post by: duck1187 on September 16, 2012, 06:31:32 PM
Post by: NW-GSP on September 16, 2012, 07:01:21 PM
Go ahead. Hope you like getting shot with shotgun pellets!
Go during the week or in the evenings on the weekend
Post by: duck1187 on September 16, 2012, 09:50:23 PM
Post by: bobcat on September 16, 2012, 09:57:52 PM
But I definitely think it's worth the $90, if you have a dog, and if you have the time to hunt at least a couple days every week. It's way cheaper than driving to eastern Washington every weekend.
I have a dog and live across the street from a pheasant release site, but I haven't hunted it for several years now. I just don't have the time anymore. My weekends are busy with big game hunting and scouting. I could probably get in a couple weekends but for that it's not worth $90, to me. If I really want to take the dog out for some birds, I go grouse hunting.
Post by: JimmyHoffa on September 16, 2012, 10:16:00 PM
I can't imagine trying to hunt pheasants without a dog. Unless you want to go at 8:00 and just get in line with everyone else and their dogs, and shoot the birds that happen to fly in front of you.It is real tough just walking around without a pooch. I used to go to the one by port angeles and just use others to my advantage. Most of the dog guys stand around waiting at the gates at one end of the release and all work in one general direction. I would book it as soon as the site opened and head for a corner way ahead of those guys. Most would drive the birds to me and it was like pass shooting. Often times they had dogs that were more excited to be seeing other dogs and were worried about the guys shooting next to them that they wouldn't even shoot at the birds until too late.
Post by: johnnyaustin44 on September 16, 2012, 10:38:58 PM
Post by: bobcat on September 16, 2012, 10:48:37 PM
Post by: johnnyaustin44 on September 16, 2012, 10:50:49 PM
Post by: huntingfool7 on September 17, 2012, 06:48:24 AM
I wouldn't spend the money without a dog. Better off shooting grouse.
That said, if you do it, keep an eye in the trees. Sometimes you'll catch them roosting up high!
Post by: jackmaster on September 17, 2012, 06:54:15 AM
Post by: Heartsblood on September 17, 2012, 08:56:23 AM
I guess the cost is really about the convenience of being able to hunt closer to home more than whatever I might end up taking home.... it got me out 10 to 12 more times than I would have been. Divide that by 80 bucks and I think it was worth it.
During the week, I usually was the only one out there. I'm sure people with dogs do better (at least that's how it sounds listening to dog owners). I've never had a dog and I love bird hunting! Ducks, grouse, pheasant, - I've had great experiences hunting all. What could possibly be bad about taking an hour and a half lunch break to wander around in the fields and woods with a shotgun in hand and a possibility of getting some birds? :)
Post by: akirkland on September 17, 2012, 09:40:43 AM
Post by: Birdguy on September 17, 2012, 10:28:57 PM
I started on the west side with a six month old pup in 96, I loved it. In 2001 after 9/11 the crowds got real think but not too bad. In 03 the people changed from "hunters" to "they are my birds on my release site" people and I quit west side all together. Now my daughter is wanting to pheasant hunt as playing school sports limits her weekend time for deer. We talked it over and we will be going out this fall again on the west side. I am looking forward to shorter days with my daughter :IBCOOL: in the field and my son can tag along as well :tup:. We will see how the crowd acts and as the season goes along. We have a good dog so later in the day with less people and a little more dog work could be a lot of fun. It will also save me a ton of $$$ in fuel driving to the east side.
Post by: fethrduster on September 18, 2012, 06:11:34 AM
Post by: sticky on September 18, 2012, 04:19:19 PM
I would love to get a pup and start some upland training, but it isn't in the cards right now. Maybe next year. Have any of you hunted at the Lincoln Creek release site? That's a little further away, but I am in Centralia at least once a week and thought that might be checking out.
Post by: SpringerFan on September 18, 2012, 07:30:00 PM
Thanks for all the input. I've hunted without a dog nearly every time I've been after ringnecks, so I don't have high expectations in terms of the number of birds I expect to see. I can get out for a couple weeks before modern deer starts and if I end up hunting five or six afternoons, that's pretty cheap entertainment for me. Plus, it will help strengthen up my ankles before switching to blacktails in mid-October.
I would love to get a pup and start some upland training, but it isn't in the cards right now. Maybe next year. Have any of you hunted at the Lincoln Creek release site? That's a little further away, but I am in Centralia at least once a week and thought that might be checking out.
Yep. Once the birds get pushed back it is harder to hunt. Very wooded. Streams. There is a guy who shows up with his wife and about 5 different breeds of dogs. Runs around the whole site like crazy. Missing some teeth.......
That said, not a lot folks go there given the location. Not alot of birds released as well.
Post by: pens fan on September 19, 2012, 12:46:28 AM
Post by: Stickerbush on September 23, 2012, 02:43:25 PM
Post by: singleshot12 on September 24, 2012, 05:02:34 PM