Post by: Stilly bay on November 05, 2012, 01:27:42 PM
last friday I talked the volunteer who releases pheasants and he confirmed that they are releasing about 40-45% less birds than they did last year at smith farm. the weekends getting a grand total of 60-70 birds when in past years they were releasing around 120
he also said that they will no longer be releasing all the leftover birds for thanks giving like they have in the past.
what I would like to know is why this shortage of birds not mentioned when they gave out the schedule BEFORE we bought our licenses.
I would also like to know if other people are finding their local release sites lacking in bird numbers this year. if you would rather not air you opinions publicly, send me a PM.
Post by: CP on November 05, 2012, 01:46:31 PM
Post by: Stilly bay on November 05, 2012, 02:00:17 PM
since we pay for these birds with license fees and taxes they are considered assets, and IMO are being mishandled but thats a whole 'nuther can of worms.
Post by: CP on November 05, 2012, 02:08:44 PM
Post by: Stilly bay on November 05, 2012, 02:15:57 PM
Post by: CP on November 05, 2012, 02:16:43 PM
Post by: NW-GSP on November 05, 2012, 02:26:02 PM
Post by: Stilly bay on November 05, 2012, 02:31:26 PM
I liked it allot more when you had to buy the punch cards. Seemed like a lot more people hunted the sites back thenfrom what I am seeing over at the smith farm site there is no shortage of people hunting them now. the way its working out its probably five hunters per bird released over at smith farm on the weekends, and the weekdays aren't much better. t
Post by: Mr56Jeep on November 05, 2012, 03:11:33 PM
I liked it allot more when you had to buy the punch cards. Seemed like a lot more people hunted the sites back then
I wish I could say I had seen that but my personal observations show as many as ever.
Post by: singleshot12 on November 05, 2012, 04:09:04 PM
Post by: Wa hunter on November 05, 2012, 04:31:16 PM
Post by: Stilly bay on November 05, 2012, 04:41:27 PM
maybe they're releasing more birds on other sites where the true elitists go and that deserve special treatment :dunno:.but Im a true elitist and I never got that memo...
maybe the volunteers are taking a few to release elsewhere to hunt for themselves,
I think I would prefer to be boned by WDFW than find out a volunteer was doing it. :dunno:
Post by: Mr56Jeep on November 05, 2012, 04:49:55 PM
I think they use that to allocate how many birds go to what release site? :dunno:
Post by: Stilly bay on November 05, 2012, 04:55:18 PM
I have been wrong before but don't they ask you where you hunt the most when you buy the license?
I think they use that to allocate how many birds go to what release site? :dunno:
I am pretty sure they don't use that information for bird release purposes since no one is bound to a particular site, but I have been wrong before.
Post by: singleshot12 on November 05, 2012, 04:55:41 PM
bird production was suppose to be way up this year to accommodate the increase of hunters so :dunno:...
maybe they're releasing more birds on other sites where the true elitists go and that deserve special treatment :dunno:.but Im a true elitist and I never got that memo...maybe the volunteers are taking a few to release elsewhere to hunt for themselves,
I think I would prefer to be boned by WDFW than find out a volunteer was doing it. :dunno:
Post by: singleshot12 on November 05, 2012, 04:58:04 PM
I have been wrong before but don't they ask you where you hunt the most when you buy the license?
I think they use that to allocate how many birds go to what release site? :dunno:
No I heard from the horses mouth that that is just for survey purposes only
Post by: Stilly bay on November 05, 2012, 04:59:56 PM
its all a conspiracy theory to get hunters to lose interest in leque island so that when the time comes to flood it again we won't put up a fight.
Post by: akirkland on November 05, 2012, 05:13:10 PM
Post by: singleshot12 on November 05, 2012, 05:19:35 PM
I heard they were dumping extra into that miserable site at Bow, I don't know if there is any truth to it or not.
its all a conspiracy theory to get hunters to lose interest in leque island so that when the time comes to flood it again we won't put up a fight.
I heard that too
Conspiracy theory or not it could very well be true and be the only thing as to why
Post by: Maverick on November 05, 2012, 05:23:06 PM
Post by: Mr56Jeep on November 05, 2012, 05:24:48 PM
Anyone have any good words about Scatter Creek?
Nope... Splatter Creek scares the crap out of me.
Post by: Stilly bay on November 05, 2012, 05:29:13 PM
From what I understand the state is cutting down on pheasant release sites. I believe its because the state thinks it (costs too much)this is why I will be requesting financial statement and records. with all the pheasant hunters I have seen this year (at $90 a pheasant license) something just isn't stirring the koolaid.
What I noticed at Skookumchuck is the releaser pulls over on the shoulder, opens a crate and the birds fly into the trees. I like hunting there but ive never sone very well. Anyone have any good words about Scatter Creek?
I love the skookumchuck release site, but as you said they fly right into the trees or across the river. luckily you can hunt all around the release site or up off thompson creek road.
similar problem with scatter creek, they can run right off the property. I always did way better there when the creek flooded. it would keep the birds from running off.
Post by: Atroxus on November 05, 2012, 06:03:22 PM
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Post by: Roo on November 05, 2012, 06:27:15 PM
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Post by: wildweeds on November 05, 2012, 07:13:39 PM
Post by: singleshot12 on November 05, 2012, 07:16:07 PM
Post by: Stilly bay on November 05, 2012, 07:24:48 PM
which release site is that?yeah, everyone should just pass by smith farm and head up to XXXX where wild weeds hunts.
Post by: singleshot12 on November 05, 2012, 07:28:16 PM
Post by: wildweeds on November 05, 2012, 07:34:34 PM
Post by: Stilly bay on November 05, 2012, 07:41:16 PM
,Perhaps you guys are going to early,the birds come out of the brambles in the afternoon when the traffic is down,to dry off for one,and sun themselves if the sun is out...........................That is the secret.
..... that is the secret true enough.... I don't show my face until at least 10:00. every time I go early I regret it.
but we can't implement the secret if there are no birds to implement them on. :dunno:
EDIT: there are always holdovers just not in the numbers I have enjoyed in the past
Post by: Shannon on November 05, 2012, 07:51:10 PM
Post by: Stilly bay on November 05, 2012, 08:23:22 PM
Post by: Birdguy on November 05, 2012, 09:52:47 PM
I still believe that if the state got proactive the volunteer base in our area could put in heck of a release site that would last a long time and be a place that sportsman could take their kids and or dogs for a great time.
Stilly good luck in your search :tup:, post your findings, thank you.
Post by: Stilly bay on November 05, 2012, 10:07:46 PM
Release sites could be such an awesome tool for the state to get folks into upland hunting, dog training, and a real love of the sport. It is too bad our state is constantly telling the sportsman to suck it up, the good old days are gone, you will pay lots more for less or you will have none :twocents:.
I still believe that if the state got proactive the volunteer base in our area could put in heck of a release site that would last a long time and be a place that sportsman could take their kids and or dogs for a great time.
Lets put our heads together and make it happen! the state seems to just be going through the motions. I wish I knew where to start, hell I got the time.
I tried contacting Pheasants forever about working on the release site situation but so far no one has got back to me, and its been awhile.
Post by: wildweeds on November 05, 2012, 10:45:56 PM
Post by: MP123 on November 06, 2012, 08:06:44 AM
you obviously haven't been there since they added the new hip deep mud feature. its the chit.
Yeah, all those clearcuts are flooded now. It's all one nasty swamp, the birds probably drowned. It wasn't too bad before it started raining but the area is just too small. Better than the old Samish Is. site I guess but I doubt they'll use it next year.
Post by: akirkland on November 06, 2012, 08:39:35 AM
Release sites could be such an awesome tool for the state to get folks into upland hunting, dog training, and a real love of the sport. It is too bad our state is constantly telling the sportsman to suck it up, the good old days are gone, you will pay lots more for less or you will have none :twocents:.Im all about saving the release sites. Thats first in my opinion. Then build on them. I am more than willing to help any way I can.
I still believe that if the state got proactive the volunteer base in our area could put in heck of a release site that would last a long time and be a place that sportsman could take their kids and or dogs for a great time.
Lets put our heads together and make it happen! the state seems to just be going through the motions. I wish I knew where to start, hell I got the time.
I tried contacting Pheasants forever about working on the release site situation but so far no one has got back to me, and its been awhile.
Post by: fethrduster on November 06, 2012, 09:55:08 AM
maybe they're releasing more birds on other sites where the true elitists go and that deserve special treatment :dunno:.but Im a true elitist and I never got that memo...maybe the volunteers are taking a few to release elsewhere to hunt for themselves,
I think I would prefer to be boned by WDFW than find out a volunteer was doing it. :dunno:
OMG. Too funny. :chuckle:
Post by: bracer40 on November 06, 2012, 02:00:19 PM
What's been very dissappointing is the drop in birds on the East side sites though. Plenty of quail, barely any pheasants. The few we've seen so far struck me as wild birds by the way they flushed and flew.
Post by: singleshot12 on November 06, 2012, 05:41:34 PM
Release sites could be such an awesome tool for the state to get folks into upland hunting, dog training, and a real love of the sport. It is too bad our state is constantly telling the sportsman to suck it up, the good old days are gone, you will pay lots more for less or you will have none :twocents:.Im all about saving the release sites. Thats first in my opinion. Then build on them. I am more than willing to help any way I can.
I still believe that if the state got proactive the volunteer base in our area could put in heck of a release site that would last a long time and be a place that sportsman could take their kids and or dogs for a great time.
Lets put our heads together and make it happen! the state seems to just be going through the motions. I wish I knew where to start, hell I got the time.
I tried contacting Pheasants forever about working on the release site situation but so far no one has got back to me, and its been awhile.
TTT :yeah: The Pheasant Release Program is a great thing but WDFW apparently needs help to keep it up and running or other wise we may loose it.
Post by: BurleyDog on November 08, 2012, 01:47:38 PM
I bet if they opened it up for Volunteers they could get quite a few birds raised by retired folks, etc.
Post by: singleshot12 on November 08, 2012, 03:59:11 PM
Yes we may have to take over some day if we, our kids and our dogs want to hunt pheasant in the future :twocents:
Post by: rangerGSP on November 11, 2012, 09:44:34 AM
Post by: Bullkllr on November 11, 2012, 06:09:31 PM
That is verbatim what I would say about Skookumchuck this year. All/90% of the birds planted in a couple shall we say "popular" spots, shootout in a crowd, over very quick (and I choose not to participate in the 8:00 footrace/shootout).
I've been doing the release site thing off and on for about 40 years. Still enjoy it. But I would say its getting tougher to find birds in "off" areas or later in the day.
Clearly remember the first day I pheasant hunted on the old release site in a clearcut off Mckenna Hwy.
I shot at 11 different birds with a Stevens single shot!