Post by: Carl on September 22, 2012, 05:58:40 PM
The prospect of getting out after work and doing a lot more hunting is sounding pretty attractive.
I live in Redmond, so these three area are not far; Crescent Lake, Cherry Valley, and Stillwater.
Can those of you with some experience or knowledge of these areas give me your :twocents: worth?
Unfortunately, no dog, so I’ll just be walking and walking... :bash:
Thanks for any information; I’m sure it will help.
Carl
Post by: Stilly bay on September 22, 2012, 06:23:18 PM
save your money or make friends with a dog owner, there are plenty of westside guys that would love to let their dogs get into another limit of birds during the day as long as you can display safe gun handling.
Post by: sled on September 22, 2012, 06:35:06 PM
If you like battle hunting, and are faster runner than other hunters have fun.
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on September 22, 2012, 06:46:58 PM
Post by: Stilly bay on September 22, 2012, 06:54:14 PM
Post by: ORCA_SIX on September 22, 2012, 06:54:46 PM
Post by: akirkland on September 22, 2012, 09:02:28 PM
$85 this year i think. sounds like a lot but if you own a bird dog on the west side its probably the cheapest way to get your dog into training birds.Dont ever train your bird dog on boxed chickens. :twocents: And as far as hunting pheasant without a dog, save your $85. Dont mean to sound negative. Just neither are good ideas :twocents:
Post by: Carl on September 22, 2012, 09:23:35 PM
But honestly, I thought this was the case. I’m not sure when a dog is in my future.
Post by: ORCA_SIX on September 22, 2012, 09:39:21 PM
Here is the deal, it's not like we live in South or North Dakota and gas is pretty expensive. If you live on the Westside and you want to hunt pheasants without having to pay 100 dollars in gas to go East, plus possibly food and lodging it becomes pretty apparent what is economical.
If I didn't have a dog I would save my money unless you have a friend that does. I get the pleasure of getting out with my dog so I am willing to spend the money. Pheasant seems to taste the same from either North Dakota or pen raised Washington, etc. from what I can tell. Maybe other people have a more refined palette. There is a difference in tactics on how to hunt and how the birds fly from wild birds but getting out is what is important.
Pheasant is not the only birds to hunt on the Westside. You could forgo the cost of a Pheasant tag and scout for deer/elk and possibly shoot some grouse or dove or with some luck Mountain Quail.
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on September 22, 2012, 09:56:30 PM
Post by: Stilly bay on September 22, 2012, 10:21:00 PM
I would rather hunt/train on "boxed chickens" than box quail or chukars. a half dead pen raised pheasant has more to teach a bird dog than dozen boxed chukars or quail. but if your training for trials Im sure a asthmatic pen raised bobwhite might be more suitable. :chuckle:$85 this year i think. sounds like a lot but if you own a bird dog on the west side its probably the cheapest way to get your dog into training birds.Dont ever train your bird dog on boxed chickens. :twocents: And as far as hunting pheasant without a dog, save your $85. Dont mean to sound negative. Just neither are good ideas :twocents:
to the OP, I am sure there are guys locally that would take you out, maybe put an ad up in the classifieds and offer to pay for gas or lunch... it would still be cheaper than getting your own dog.
just make sure you follow the dog owner's rules, DON'T TRY TO GIVE HIS DOG COMMANDS, and you will probably get invited again.
Post by: scottr on September 22, 2012, 11:32:26 PM
Post by: Maligator on September 22, 2012, 11:37:43 PM
I've hunted cherry valley, and cresent lake both. Been shot by other hunters 3 times! 2 at cherry and 1 at cresent.
If you like battle hunting, and are faster runner than other hunters have fun.
:yike: Well that's just plain scary!!!! :yike:
Post by: Carl on September 22, 2012, 11:42:35 PM
I'll try to throw out a post to see if I can tag along with someone and their dog (I REALLY hate to ask for such things).
Maybe an offer to take some quality pictures of their dogs working will be of some interest. We'll see.
Thanks to all,
Carl
Post by: pens fan on September 23, 2012, 01:24:55 AM
Post by: Stickerbush on September 23, 2012, 02:48:31 PM
Post by: aaronoto on September 23, 2012, 05:17:22 PM
Does anyone know how many birds get released on a site? I read an article and I think it said something like 60 birds.
Post by: thinkingman on September 24, 2012, 09:14:11 AM
I don't know what the numbers are for the general season.
Post by: Shannon on September 24, 2012, 12:00:14 PM
Post by: aaronoto on September 24, 2012, 12:19:36 PM
The Samish unit is only being used as a release sight for the Youth and Senior weekends. The rest will be released at a crappy (in comparison to the Samish) location on Ershig Road. They have it listed at 350+ acres but most of it is timber and clear cut with about 40 acres or less of pasture. I'm not sure who picked the spot but I'm hoping they find a better area for next year otherwise they won't get my money again. I like taking the dogs for a run in the afternoons just for the exercise to keep them in shape for wild bird hunting.
I just downloaded the new regs and noticed that... Pretty crappy site indeed. The Samish Unit was closest to me, but that clear cut site looks horrible. Guess the decision has been made for me.
Post by: ORCA_SIX on September 24, 2012, 04:27:08 PM
When I called the Region 4 WDFW the lady on the phone said that they were only going to release birds there for Youth and Senior. So don't know whats up with the site. I would give them a call to verify.
Post by: Stilly bay on September 24, 2012, 04:51:18 PM
I haven't looked at it yet but It sounds like its land locked. without some type of large water barrier, half the pheasants run off the site before anyone even gets a crack at them.. which IMO is a waste of our money.
Post by: singleshot12 on September 24, 2012, 04:55:20 PM
Finding a perfect release site is hard these days in Western Wash. Most farmers and land owners don't want anything to do with opening up their land to public hunting. If WDFW wasn't so broke they could purchase a suitable 300-500 acre farm plot instead of trying to find a lease.
Post by: Johnb317 on September 24, 2012, 05:22:28 PM
they don't release fliers.... unless you step right on them.
thank god she never grabbed any over the limit. :chuckle:
Post by: Stilly bay on September 24, 2012, 05:55:47 PM
maybe WDFW should figure out how to keep its sporting money within its own bounds... not that this hasn't been discussed a thousand times over already.
Finding a perfect release site is hard these days in Western Wash. Most farmers and land owners don't want anything to do with opening up their land to public hunting. If WDFW wasn't so broke they could purchase a suitable 300-500 acre farm plot instead of trying to find a lease.
you know me, I will take phez any way I can get them and would greatly prefer to actually hunt birds rather than look for them on a golf course like setting... and there is no denying its better than nothing; but what we are getting is another vessel that won't contain the investment. the birds stay on the land for maybe half a day and the rest of the week its just another empty wildlife area that is basically void of game animals because of the hunting traffic. meanwhile all the birds we payed for are getting eaten by varmints or hit by cars.
the samish area was close to being an Ideal release site despite the duck hunter conflicts, and its too bad we couldn't keep it.
but that being said I am a beggar, and beggars can't be choosers so I will quit my grumbling and just be happy about the new one :tup:
Post by: singleshot12 on September 24, 2012, 06:49:42 PM
I think the Bow Hill site is just a temporary fix for an on going procrastination issue by the managers. I haven't seen the new site yet but if it is as it sounds it will have wasted birds.
Post by: Hermit on September 24, 2012, 07:08:14 PM
Post by: GrampasGuns on September 25, 2012, 12:44:02 PM
Post by: ORCA_SIX on September 27, 2012, 04:15:15 PM
Post by: Carl on September 27, 2012, 06:43:11 PM
Steel shot... Check
:yike:
Post by: Cascade_fisher on September 27, 2012, 07:52:06 PM
Post by: ORCA_SIX on September 27, 2012, 08:34:28 PM
Post by: singleshot12 on September 28, 2012, 07:38:36 AM
Post by: MP123 on September 28, 2012, 07:57:51 AM
Does anyone know if it's legal to shoot hens that escape a release site? There is always a few pheasant that survive the orange army and end up on adjacent private property.
I've wondered about that too. Hens and Roosters are both legal to shoot on the Westside at least. You might need to have a license and wear orange to legally shoot escapees that made it to your private property, I'm not sure...
Post by: bobcat on September 28, 2012, 08:50:10 AM
Post by: MP123 on September 28, 2012, 08:59:52 AM
You can only shoot hens on the release sites.
I've never seen that in the regs.
It's a nice idea that some might escape and establish a native population. Most of the Pheasants I run into off the release sites or after season are male though and I've never seen chicks on the wetside.
Post by: akirkland on September 28, 2012, 09:14:41 AM
Post by: singleshot12 on September 28, 2012, 09:23:44 AM
You can only shoot hens on the release sites.
I'm just having a hard time seeing that stated in the regs :dunno: All I found was either sex for west side. I'm all in favor of not shooting hens off of a release site in hopes one will make it to nest.
Post by: Carl on September 28, 2012, 09:37:19 AM
Did you find a hunting partner?
Pens fan, has graciously offered to take me out this Saturday! :IBCOOL: Hopefully I’ll get some good pictures of his dog working the birds. If so, I’ll post them.
I would love to do the same with some other folks too. So, please keep me in mind.
Thanks to everyone, you’ve been a real blessing to someone new to the area. :tup: :tup:
I'm looking forward to when I can reciprocate and help out someone else - when I figure out what’s going on! :chuckle:
Carl
Post by: bobcat on September 28, 2012, 09:39:28 AM
Post by: mrmoskillz on September 28, 2012, 10:52:13 AM
Post by: GrousePointer on September 28, 2012, 11:03:10 AM
You can only shoot hens on the release sites.
I've never seen that in the regs.
It's a nice idea that some might escape and establish a native population. Most of the Pheasants I run into off the release sites or after season are male though and I've never seen chicks on the wetside.
I've seen pheasant chicks in Longview. But it was near a blackberry infested spot and it has been many years ago now.
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Post by: bobcat on September 28, 2012, 11:14:02 AM
I live right across the road from Scatter Creek, and there are lots of wild pheasants around here. Definitely not like it used to be, because of all the development that's happened in the last 15 years or so.
I just saw a hen pheasant with about 8 chicks on my street in August.
I guess I can now start shooting the hens in my back yard. :bdid:
Post by: Stilly bay on September 28, 2012, 12:13:14 PM
Sorry for posting incorrect info. I don't know why they changed it, but apparently they did.I thought you couldn't shoot hens off the release sites either....
I just called and talked to the powers that be, and they said as long as you have a pheasant release site permit and permission from a landowner you can shoot your limit of hens anywhere on the westside. she said pheasants CANNOT survive in western washington so they do not even try to manage them ... :bash:... where as in the past ( before they misappropriated funds and went broke) they had a slim hope a hen pheasant could escape and live a happy damp life on the west side and contribute to the wild population.
since I was just assured pheasants cannot survive on the westside, I am trying to take into account all the times I have seen what I thought were broods of young pheasants during my travels on the wet side of the state... must have been sage grouse. :dunno:
Post by: singleshot12 on September 28, 2012, 04:12:53 PM
All I know is it wasn't too long ago when parts of Western Wash. had repopulating established wild birds. Which also makes me believe not only do you need the right habitat but you also need the right strain of pheasants for the West side.
So maybe it's less expensive for the state to release pen birds for shooting rather proper management.
Post by: wildweeds on September 28, 2012, 05:36:39 PM
Post by: Stilly bay on September 28, 2012, 05:56:23 PM
HMMMMM can't survive on the wetside.................... the state has brainwashed their braindead employees,I can remember hunting wild pheasants on the wetside,it was a ton of years ago.I also see them quite frequently inside the refinery fences adjacent to the release sites,no predators from the ground and the birds will make it,it's a case of cover,feed and saftey from predators.One april morning at the refinery we stopped the truck and counted 20+ pheasants,roosters and hens scratching for feed in an area that was worked up and had straw shredded over it for runoff protection.If anyone believes they cannot make it they are being buffaloed.When partaking in the chicken ticket hunt.................. I myself leave the hens be to live another day.I've also seen the hens in the summer with clutches of chicks as well.:yeah:
wether they belong or not I know there is a small population of WILD west side pheasants, despite what I heard on the phone this morning.
I think an increase in avian predators (making a come back from DDT), ground predators (like feral cats-opossums-coons) and maybe some new avian diseases are the reason why westside pheasants can't make it big. we certainly have the habitat to support them, probably better pheasant habitat on the west side than most of east side these days with all our hobby farms and green belts.
an easy guess would be the weather, but when first 30 pheasants were originally brought to america they were released in the willamette valley and the population exploded towards the millions just a decade or so later. now I know the willamette valley can't be that much different from wester wa... maybe it was a hundred years ago?
either way they are the nations most favored invasive species and they are slowly drying up, maybe its time to genetically engineer a better chinese ditch parrot?
Post by: GrousePointer on September 28, 2012, 09:21:55 PM
The other?
Cowlitz County
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Post by: Cougar125 on September 29, 2012, 12:18:24 PM
Either way, I have a dog that is a bird finding fool, and as long as you don't mind fetching your own birds, you can display safe gun handling, and you promise not to shoot my dog (even if it is an accident), I don't mind having one to two people join me. Just be sure to return the favor to somebody else when they need somewhere to go.
Post by: pens fan on September 29, 2012, 04:19:01 PM
The final score...three went up, two went down.
Post by: singleshot12 on September 30, 2012, 07:33:07 AM
Post by: bobcat on September 30, 2012, 08:01:03 AM
Be careful out there!! Found a couple empty 3 1/2 in 4 buck Dead Coyote casings some nut case was using for long range pheasants :dunno:
Or someone was hunting coyotes out there?
Post by: Bmcox86 on September 30, 2012, 08:03:22 AM
Post by: akirkland on September 30, 2012, 08:31:07 AM
Post by: singleshot12 on September 30, 2012, 08:49:58 AM
Post by: singleshot12 on September 30, 2012, 08:52:05 AM
Be careful out there!! Found a couple empty 3 1/2 in 4 buck Dead Coyote casings some nut case was using for long range pheasants :dunno:
Or someone was hunting coyotes out there?
I hope you're right! either way Kevlar and safety goggles should be required :)
Post by: GrousePointer on September 30, 2012, 09:25:53 AM
Minnesota has a pretty good habitat program and the Dakotas have had great numbers thanks to CRP.
All of the above states have harsher climates than we do. But the ones that have birds have HABITAT. The states that historically had them and no longer do have seen a huge decline in numbers as a result of habitat degradation, Iowa is a great and more recent example. Ethanol is not the pheasants friend.
I'll buy that to some extent climate plays a role here. Wet springs aren't good for nesting. But a near total lack of good habitat on the west side also plays a role, if not a much bigger one. Proper habitat gives them a place to nest, to find food, and hide from predators.
And finally, pen raised birds tend to not survive iin the wild. Something in their generic makeup causes them to have a high die off rate. I believe the mortality rate is over 90% even in areas with prime habitat.
But the fact remains, if you want wild pheasant, you need habitat.
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Post by: singleshot12 on September 30, 2012, 02:36:52 PM
Post by: fethrduster on October 05, 2012, 08:29:13 PM
So maybe it's less expensive for the state to release pen birds for shooting rather proper management.
Bingo. It's the same as fishing a stocked trout lake. My dog doesn't seem to know that the rooster flushing and cackling in front of him isn't a wild one, so I have no problem with it. Beats sitting at home, and I'm not driving to South Dakota either.
Post by: singleshot12 on October 06, 2012, 08:58:33 AM
So maybe it's less expensive for the state to release pen birds for shooting rather proper management.
Bingo. It's the same as fishing a stocked trout lake. My dog doesn't seem to know that the rooster flushing and cackling in front of him isn't a wild one, so I have no problem with it. Beats sitting at home, and I'm not driving to South Dakota either.
It's "generic hunting" at it's finest but like you say the dogs don't know the difference and it is all about the dog right? With high gas prices and lack of places east hunting pen raised birds make more sense for most. Problem is everyone else seems to be hunting the west side and I have noticed the release sites having double the hunters this year which makes it very much less enjoyable not to mention dangerous. Sure there seems to be a few less hunters out on the none release days but I have also noticed very few left over birds. Easy solution is to open up more suitable sites to help distribute the hunters, but so far have not seen that happening infact just the opposite with a few closing. So with that said I will not buy my western pheasant next year if things don't realistically improve.
Post by: Stilly bay on October 06, 2012, 11:12:19 AM
It's "generic hunting" at it's finest but like you say the dogs don't know the difference and it is all about the dog right? With high gas prices and lack of places east hunting pen raised birds make more sense for most. Problem is everyone else seems to be hunting the west side and I have noticed the release sites having double the hunters this year which makes it very much less enjoyable not to mention dangerous. Sure there seems to be a few less hunters out on the none release days but I have also noticed very few left over birds. Easy solution is to open up more suitable sites to help distribute the hunters, but so far have not seen that happening infact just the opposite with a few closing. So with that said I will not buy my western pheasant next year if things don't realistically improve.
you can't quit the ditch parrots and you know it! let it rain and get some puddles on the ground to take away some of the hiding spots. let duck season open, let deer season open and it will be a completely different game.
My dog doesn't seem to know that the rooster flushing and cackling in front of him isn't a wild one, so I have no problem with it.
as far as pointing dogs go there is a huge difference. the pen raised birds let the dogs get way too close, while the wild birds are hoofing it half way across the county or flushing wild because they got bumped... one of the many reasons why I don't like to hunt the weekends much with my setter, by monday after noon through friday the birds have a chance to get a little wiser and it keeps my dog from turning into the sight pointing dumb ass I know he wants to be. :bash:
with labs or springers its game on and great practice for the real thing.
Post by: Cascade_fisher on October 06, 2012, 01:15:49 PM
Post by: birdwacker on October 06, 2012, 03:03:27 PM
Post by: Kola16 on October 06, 2012, 03:06:15 PM
I still have a pellet in my nose from a moron at carnation who shot a rooster that was flying head level right at me. Don't waste your time without a dog. :bdid:
:yike: How long has it been in there :dunno:
Post by: MP123 on October 06, 2012, 04:09:58 PM
Post by: birdwacker on October 06, 2012, 06:08:37 PM
About 15 years, one hit the back of my left hand and I thought the one that hit my nose just creased it until after a few years the small bump I felt worked it's way to the surface and I have this gray spot on the tip of my nose #4 steel I think. Thought about having it cut out but the scar might look worse than the small gray spot I have now.I still have a pellet in my nose from a moron at carnation who shot a rooster that was flying head level right at me. Don't waste your time without a dog. :bdid:
:yike: How long has it been in there :dunno:
Post by: Mr56Jeep on October 08, 2012, 06:37:22 PM
About 15 years, one hit the back of my left hand and I thought the one that hit my nose just creased it until after a few years the small bump I felt worked it's way to the surface and I have this gray spot on the tip of my nose #4 steel I think. Thought about having it cut out but the scar might look worse than the small gray spot I have now.I still have a pellet in my nose from a moron at carnation who shot a rooster that was flying head level right at me. Don't waste your time without a dog. :bdid:
:yike: How long has it been in there :dunno:
OMG!!! Dude!!! :sry: We NEED a picture of this one!!! PLEASE??? :peep:
Post by: birdwacker on October 08, 2012, 09:19:01 PM
About 15 years, one hit the back of my left hand and I thought the one that hit my nose just creased it until after a few years the small bump I felt worked it's way to the surface and I have this gray spot on the tip of my nose #4 steel I think. Thought about having it cut out but the scar might look worse than the small gray spot I have now.I still have a pellet in my nose from a moron at carnation who shot a rooster that was flying head level right at me. Don't waste your time without a dog. :bdid:
:yike: How long has it been in there :dunno:
OMG!!! Dude!!! :sry: We NEED a picture of this one!!! PLEASE??? :peep: Here ya go.
Post by: singleshot12 on October 08, 2012, 09:39:38 PM
About 15 years, one hit the back of my left hand and I thought the one that hit my nose just creased it until after a few years the small bump I felt worked it's way to the surface and I have this gray spot on the tip of my nose #4 steel I think. Thought about having it cut out but the scar might look worse than the small gray spot I have now.I still have a pellet in my nose from a moron at carnation who shot a rooster that was flying head level right at me. Don't waste your time without a dog. :bdid:
:yike: How long has it been in there :dunno:
OMG!!! Dude!!! :sry: We NEED a picture of this one!!! PLEASE??? :peep:
You would have to ask :rolleyes: looks like no.4 lead to me :yike:
Post by: birdwacker on October 08, 2012, 09:48:38 PM
About 15 years, one hit the back of my left hand and I thought the one that hit my nose just creased it until after a few years the small bump I felt worked it's way to the surface and I have this gray spot on the tip of my nose #4 steel I think. Thought about having it cut out but the scar might look worse than the small gray spot I have now.I still have a pellet in my nose from a moron at carnation who shot a rooster that was flying head level right at me. Don't waste your time without a dog. :bdid:
:yike: How long has it been in there :dunno:
OMG!!! Dude!!! :sry: We NEED a picture of this one!!! PLEASE??? :peep:
You would have to ask :rolleyes: looks like no.4 lead to me :yike: funny thing is I was at the dentist getting a xray and they said you didn't tell us you had a peircing and I said I don't , they then showed me the pellet on my xray which confirmed my suspicions.
Post by: singleshot12 on October 08, 2012, 09:53:23 PM
Post by: Stilly bay on October 08, 2012, 11:02:57 PM
Post by: Mr56Jeep on October 09, 2012, 08:21:35 AM
Here ya go.
Oh My Gawd?!?! Dude.... I'm SO sorry. That scares the crap out of me. That could have been an eye or a dogs eye or a just your friggan nose!!!
I always make sure to wear glasses but now I'm not sure I want to even go out there any more.
Thank You for posting!!! and EVERYONE, remember to use caution!!!!
Post by: Maligator on October 09, 2012, 08:34:05 AM
Post by: thinkingman on October 09, 2012, 09:15:38 AM
Dang...Makes me nervous to hear about things like that...Some people have no muzzle awareness :DOH: Glad you came out of it OK..so to speak.Has nothing to do with muzzle awareness.
There are something like 50 shotguns in a 1 mile area at 8am.
There are likely going to be 20 birds flushed in the first 10 minutes.
The guys on the other side of the blackberry line, 75 yards away are completely invisible to the shooter.
I wear big Oakley eyeshields and they're not to make a fashion statement.
Post by: birdwacker on October 09, 2012, 05:43:37 PM
Post by: CP on October 09, 2012, 06:15:08 PM
If people wouldn't shoot at low flying birds it wouldn't matter how crowded it was. Always be sure of your target and what's behind it! :bash:
Half the birds can't get out of there own way, they're half grown, all pecked up and their wings are usually wet. Small wonder that they can't get enough altitude to get off a safe shot at them.
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on October 09, 2012, 06:25:42 PM
:yike:Thats crazy .. but then again to be a wetside pheasant release site hunter you have to be crazy :yeah: :chuckle:About 15 years, one hit the back of my left hand and I thought the one that hit my nose just creased it until after a few years the small bump I felt worked it's way to the surface and I have this gray spot on the tip of my nose #4 steel I think. Thought about having it cut out but the scar might look worse than the small gray spot I have now.I still have a pellet in my nose from a moron at carnation who shot a rooster that was flying head level right at me. Don't waste your time without a dog. :bdid:
:yike: How long has it been in there :dunno:
OMG!!! Dude!!! :sry: We NEED a picture of this one!!! PLEASE??? :peep: Here ya go.
Post by: Stilly bay on October 09, 2012, 07:04:19 PM
Post by: singleshot12 on October 09, 2012, 07:57:30 PM
Dang...Makes me nervous to hear about things like that...Some people have no muzzle awareness :DOH: Glad you came out of it OK..so to speak.Has nothing to do with muzzle awareness.
There are something like 50 shotguns in a 1 mile area at 8am.
There are likely going to be 20 birds flushed in the first 10 minutes.
The guys on the other side of the blackberry line, 75 yards away are completely invisible to the shooter.
I wear big Oakley eyeshields and they're not to make a fashion statement.
I disagree, Typically a pheasant release site is around 300 acres, typically around 30 birds are released and volunteers usually spread the birds in differant areas. It's all about muzzle control. Accidents could totally be avoided if hunters spread out and didn't shoot through brush or towards another hunter within a hundred yards or so. Most hunters are careful and responsible but there's always that one say out of ten with tunnel vision or just plain crazy. Stay away from the cluster *censored*s and you should be fine :twocents:
Post by: SpringerFan on October 09, 2012, 09:15:46 PM
Spent about an out there to get the dog out and scenting more than pigeons. About 25 minutes in to it, bam!!! Up came a hen that flushed straight up. Bird down.
Have to agree though. Never go early. I let all the runners get their limit........then let the dogs actually work.
Post by: thinkingman on October 09, 2012, 09:33:26 PM
The hunters that follow the rules don't advance past the safe zone until 8am.Dang...Makes me nervous to hear about things like that...Some people have no muzzle awareness :DOH: Glad you came out of it OK..so to speak.Has nothing to do with muzzle awareness.
There are something like 50 shotguns in a 1 mile area at 8am.
There are likely going to be 20 birds flushed in the first 10 minutes.
The guys on the other side of the blackberry line, 75 yards away are completely invisible to the shooter.
I wear big Oakley eyeshields and they're not to make a fashion statement.
I disagree, Typically a pheasant release site is around 300 acres, typically around 30 birds are released and volunteers usually spread the birds in differant areas. It's all about muzzle control. Accidents could totally be avoided if hunters spread out and didn't shoot through brush or towards another hunter within a hundred yards or so. Most hunters are careful and responsible but there's always that one say out of ten with tunnel vision or just plain crazy. Stay away from the cluster *censored*s and you should be fine :twocents:
They certainly aren't spread out over 300 acres at 8am.
I talked to a volunteer who said 60 birds planted the night before. The coyotes and hawks leave about 45 of those for the hunters.
I have been there enough to know what it's like for the first 20 minutes of a weekend hunt.
Post by: Stickerbush on October 10, 2012, 03:55:19 PM
Ended up shooting my first pheasant today, dogs first year legitimately pheasant hunting, lot of firsts today. Walked around and ended up getting this rooster around 12:45, dropped it on one shot with a Praire Storm load. :IBCOOL:
Post by: Stilly bay on October 10, 2012, 04:27:06 PM
The hunters that follow the rules don't advance past the safe zone until 8am.Dang...Makes me nervous to hear about things like that...Some people have no muzzle awareness :DOH: Glad you came out of it OK..so to speak.Has nothing to do with muzzle awareness.
There are something like 50 shotguns in a 1 mile area at 8am.
There are likely going to be 20 birds flushed in the first 10 minutes.
The guys on the other side of the blackberry line, 75 yards away are completely invisible to the shooter.
I wear big Oakley eyeshields and they're not to make a fashion statement.
I disagree, Typically a pheasant release site is around 300 acres, typically around 30 birds are released and volunteers usually spread the birds in differant areas. It's all about muzzle control. Accidents could totally be avoided if hunters spread out and didn't shoot through brush or towards another hunter within a hundred yards or so. Most hunters are careful and responsible but there's always that one say out of ten with tunnel vision or just plain crazy. Stay away from the cluster *censored*s and you should be fine :twocents:
They certainly aren't spread out over 300 acres at 8am.
I talked to a volunteer who said 60 birds planted the night before. The coyotes and hawks leave about 45 of those for the hunters.
I have been there enough to know what it's like for the first 20 minutes of a weekend hunt.
if you don't understand the basics muzzle control don't come out. its especially important when duck season starts and you have highly concealed hunters mixed with highly visible. if you only shoot at birds with sky behind them you are doing your part.
that being said those pellets still have to come down, no matter how high in the sky you aim. when you get pellets raining on you slow your roll and try not to take it personal. there is nothing worse than the dick out there screaming bloody murder because he thinks people are shooting low or even at him when in reality its just pellets losing velocity and falling down.
the more you are at release site the better your odds of getting dusted by pellets. safety glasses should be as mandatory as steel shot on release sites. if your not wearing them you get a ticket or sent home just like if your weren't wearing enough orange.
and for PHUXACHE why can't people figure out how to hand signal one another out in the field to show which way they are going instead of playing chicken with you? I lost count of how many times people have pushed me off my course by just barging straight ahead, or cutting me off.
Post by: CP on October 10, 2012, 04:41:31 PM
safety glasses should be as mandatory as steel shot on release sites. if your not wearing them you get a ticket or sent home just like if your weren't wearing enough orange.
No, we don't need any more nanny rules from big brother. Wear glasses if you want, or not, they're your eyes.
Post by: Stilly bay on October 10, 2012, 05:00:23 PM
safety glasses should be as mandatory as steel shot on release sites. if your not wearing them you get a ticket or sent home just like if your weren't wearing enough orange.
No, we don't need any more nanny rules from big brother. Wear glasses if you want, or not, they're your eyes.
CP if I am not wearing glasses and your errant shot rains down and blinds me, not only will I sue you and win, but you will probably lose your hunting rights. sure it might have been a bad Idea on my part not wear glasses but someone has to pay for the Dr. bills and my pain and suffering.
Post by: CP on October 10, 2012, 05:05:48 PM
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on October 10, 2012, 05:07:28 PM
Single12 ..If your from up North I know where your hunting :chuckle: You can avoid the crowds if you have access to private land where alot of birds end up up there :chuckle: :chuckle: I have hunted around there years ago , even built a house for some people and used to take an hour for lunch and turn my dog lose in there back field and sometimes he caught more than I shot :yike:Dang...Makes me nervous to hear about things like that...Some people have no muzzle awareness :DOH: Glad you came out of it OK..so to speak.Has nothing to do with muzzle awareness.
There are something like 50 shotguns in a 1 mile area at 8am.
There are likely going to be 20 birds flushed in the first 10 minutes.
The guys on the other side of the blackberry line, 75 yards away are completely invisible to the shooter.
I wear big Oakley eyeshields and they're not to make a fashion statement.
I disagree, Typically a pheasant release site is around 300 acres, typically around 30 birds are released and volunteers usually spread the birds in differant areas. It's all about muzzle control. Accidents could totally be avoided if hunters spread out and didn't shoot through brush or towards another hunter within a hundred yards or so. Most hunters are careful and responsible but there's always that one say out of ten with tunnel vision or just plain crazy. Stay away from the cluster *censored*s and you should be fine :twocents:
Post by: Curly on October 10, 2012, 05:09:21 PM
Seems like it would work a lot better if guys could go in before 8 am and get set on a line to start walking and spread out at least 60 yards apart. (You know, just get inside the fenceline a bit and wait until 8. Instead everyone gets funneled through the openings at the parking lot......... I stopped hunting there at 8 am after the first time I went.........it was crazy. :yike:
Post by: Stilly bay on October 10, 2012, 05:09:49 PM
Have at it, if I shoot you, you should sue.
Meh, I would rather just have an anecdote about how wearing shooting glasses saved my vision.
Post by: engelwood on October 10, 2012, 05:11:55 PM
Just hunted a release site today. Got there a little late at about 8:30 the lots were PACKED!!! But thank God I had missed the revolutionary war style march at 8am. Walked out and everyone seemed pretty spread out, foggy. One thing I would suggest is to always have a orange or bright colored hat on. Sometimes with the tall grass you can barely see anything so it really helps to have bright headgear. Also I think I'm going to be using a whistle more with my dog, good communication and lets other hunters know where you are. A time or two I heard shots and I could hear the pellets hit the trees above me :(, that can be pretty sketchy. Anyway this was my first time hunting release sites over here (besides the youth hunt with my little brother). And it worked out ok for me today, you just have to figure out how to hunt them. Most of the people were gone by 10am either with limits or just bored and not willing to work for it.
Ended up shooting my first pheasant today, dogs first year legitimately pheasant hunting, lot of firsts today. Walked around and ended up getting this rooster around 12:45, dropped it on one shot with a Praire Storm load. :IBCOOL:
Nice work!!!! Good to get the dog out and get it some work!
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on October 10, 2012, 05:19:16 PM
What I find silly, is that at Scatter Creek, they won't let you walk just inside the fence and spread out a bit before 8 am.Thats how it used to be :dunno: and why they changed it is beyond me ...just had to keep your dog on a leash ...
Seems like it would work a lot better if guys could go in before 8 am and get set on a line to start walking and spread out at least 60 yards apart. (You know, just get inside the fenceline a bit and wait until 8. Instead everyone gets funneled through the openings at the parking lot......... I stopped hunting there at 8 am after the first time I went.........it was crazy. :yike:
Post by: Stilly bay on October 10, 2012, 05:29:55 PM
:yeah:What I find silly, is that at Scatter Creek, they won't let you walk just inside the fence and spread out a bit before 8 am.Thats how it used to be :dunno: and why they changed it is beyond me ...just had to keep your dog on a leash ...
Seems like it would work a lot better if guys could go in before 8 am and get set on a line to start walking and spread out at least 60 yards apart. (You know, just get inside the fenceline a bit and wait until 8. Instead everyone gets funneled through the openings at the parking lot......... I stopped hunting there at 8 am after the first time I went.........it was crazy. :yike:
so everyone waits in the parking lot and walks out single file at 8? back in the day when you start along the fence line half the hunters treated it like a foot race, must be an all out cluster now. throw in some fog and the pheasant snipers that hike in from the black river side and I bet it can get hairy.
Post by: singleshot12 on October 10, 2012, 08:24:33 PM
The hunters that follow the rules don't advance past the safe zone until 8am.Dang...Makes me nervous to hear about things like that...Some people have no muzzle awareness :DOH: Glad you came out of it OK..so to speak.Has nothing to do with muzzle awareness.
There are something like 50 shotguns in a 1 mile area at 8am.
There are likely going to be 20 birds flushed in the first 10 minutes.
The guys on the other side of the blackberry line, 75 yards away are completely invisible to the shooter.
I wear big Oakley eyeshields and they're not to make a fashion statement.
I disagree, Typically a pheasant release site is around 300 acres, typically around 30 birds are released and volunteers usually spread the birds in differant areas. It's all about muzzle control. Accidents could totally be avoided if hunters spread out and didn't shoot through brush or towards another hunter within a hundred yards or so. Most hunters are careful and responsible but there's always that one say out of ten with tunnel vision or just plain crazy. Stay away from the cluster *censored*s and you should be fine :twocents:
They certainly aren't spread out over 300 acres at 8am.
I talked to a volunteer who said 60 birds planted the night before. The coyotes and hawks leave about 45 of those for the hunters.
I have been there enough to know what it's like for the first 20 minutes of a weekend hunt.
Even if hunters are clustered up there is always one in the group that lacks muzzle awareness. So if someone gets peppered at close range it's a result of "lack of muzzle control" plain and simple! You don't shoot into brush just assuming there is nothing behind it and you don't shoot towards another hunter or dog within stinging range.
There is always going to be a few reckless hunters out there, but hopefully they will be weeded out.
Pheasant release sites get popular fast with over crowding becoming a problem also that is exactly why we need more sites established in more county's.
Post by: singleshot12 on October 10, 2012, 08:30:27 PM
Single12 ..If your from up North I know where your hunting :chuckle: You can avoid the crowds if you have access to private land where alot of birds end up up there :chuckle: :chuckle: I have hunted around there years ago , even built a house for some people and used to take an hour for lunch and turn my dog lose in there back field and sometimes he caught more than I shot :yike:Dang...Makes me nervous to hear about things like that...Some people have no muzzle awareness :DOH: Glad you came out of it OK..so to speak.Has nothing to do with muzzle awareness.
There are something like 50 shotguns in a 1 mile area at 8am.
There are likely going to be 20 birds flushed in the first 10 minutes.
The guys on the other side of the blackberry line, 75 yards away are completely invisible to the shooter.
I wear big Oakley eyeshields and they're not to make a fashion statement.
I disagree, Typically a pheasant release site is around 300 acres, typically around 30 birds are released and volunteers usually spread the birds in differant areas. It's all about muzzle control. Accidents could totally be avoided if hunters spread out and didn't shoot through brush or towards another hunter within a hundred yards or so. Most hunters are careful and responsible but there's always that one say out of ten with tunnel vision or just plain crazy. Stay away from the cluster *censored*s and you should be fine :twocents:
Yeah that is what I'm waiting for :tup: Once they get a few days taste of freedom and start eating bugs and berries, they tend to wise up and even run and flush faster, almost like hunting wild roosters, almost :yeah: