Post by: Hilltop123 on October 21, 2016, 09:03:12 AM
Post by: wildweeds on October 22, 2016, 08:34:19 PM
Post by: Old Dog on October 22, 2016, 11:15:31 PM
Post by: huntingcl on October 23, 2016, 12:44:51 AM
Post by: jdb on October 23, 2016, 05:58:41 AM
Sad,just sad that We destroy fish Wildlife have managed to miss manage yet another resource that used to be common on its own into a canned type outdoor experiance. :sry:i completely agree that wdfw ruin a nocturnal emission but you do realize that pheasant aren't native
Post by: wildweeds on October 23, 2016, 07:44:07 AM
Sad,just sad that We destroy fish Wildlife have managed to miss manage yet another resource that used to be common on its own into a canned type outdoor experiance. :sry:i completely agree that wdfw ruin a nocturnal emission but you do realize that pheasant aren't native
Post by: boneaddict on October 23, 2016, 07:56:34 AM
Post by: wildweeds on October 23, 2016, 08:11:53 AM
I thought they already released. Well that's good, I hope a couple make it over the hill to my place. I usually winter a couple as I leave corn and stuff up for them. I haven't seen a single female this fall. They need to start thinning out a few raptors if they ever want pheasants. You know that will never happen. And yes, better management.
Post by: Hilltop123 on October 24, 2016, 06:11:37 AM
Post by: boneaddict on October 24, 2016, 07:21:52 AM
Post by: T-Bone on October 24, 2016, 07:52:41 AM
Take a mid-late Winter drive through the Palouse or E.WA away from the WDFW Areas and ask yourself, "Geez if I were a pheasant...Where would I find protection, food and a safe hiding space in plowed fields covered in white?" Closing, shortening the season and reducing bag limits doesn't provide that, but those non-solutions cost nothing to WDFW or farmers; so despite studies showing ZERO benefit; folks keep insisting in mentioning them and stupidly stocking pen raised birds on the plowed fields to feed the coyotes.
Post by: metlhead on October 24, 2016, 03:29:37 PM
Post by: Hilltop123 on October 24, 2016, 03:38:53 PM
Study after study after study on increasing pheasant #'s...HABITAT! Not shortening the season, not reducing the bag limits, not shooting state and federally protected raptors; many of which prey primarily on rodents (especially barn owls). Pheasants can't carryover without shelter belts and brush to protect them from the Winter weather and predators. Also, the over use of herbicides and pesticides along with cosmetic mowing and other modern "clean farming" methods do untold damage to adult pheasants and especially young pheasants that feed on insects. That said, I have nothing against shooting coyotes and truly feral cats that hunters encounter out in the field.This is directly connected to the farming practices of today. IMHO
Take a mid-late Winter drive through the Palouse or E.WA away from the WDFW Areas and ask yourself, "Geez if I were a pheasant...Where would I find protection, food and a safe hiding space in plowed fields covered in white?" Closing, shortening the season and reducing bag limits doesn't provide that, but those non-solutions cost nothing to WDFW or farmers; so despite studies showing ZERO benefit; folks keep insisting in mentioning them and stupidly stocking pen raised birds on the plowed fields to feed the coyotes.
Post by: JLS on October 24, 2016, 03:49:41 PM
Study after study after study on increasing pheasant #'s...HABITAT! Not shortening the season, not reducing the bag limits, not shooting state and federally protected raptors; many of which prey primarily on rodents (especially barn owls). Pheasants can't carryover without shelter belts and brush to protect them from the Winter weather and predators. Also, the over use of herbicides and pesticides along with cosmetic mowing and other modern "clean farming" methods do untold damage to adult pheasants and especially young pheasants that feed on insects. That said, I have nothing against shooting coyotes and truly feral cats that hunters encounter out in the field.
Take a mid-late Winter drive through the Palouse or E.WA away from the WDFW Areas and ask yourself, "Geez if I were a pheasant...Where would I find protection, food and a safe hiding space in plowed fields covered in white?" Closing, shortening the season and reducing bag limits doesn't provide that, but those non-solutions cost nothing to WDFW or farmers; so despite studies showing ZERO benefit; folks keep insisting in mentioning them and stupidly stocking pen raised birds on the plowed fields to feed the coyotes.
Well said.
You can't stockpile upland birds. You have to provide with good habitat that provides nesting cover, aerial cover, forbes and insects that are critical to chick survival, and so on.
I don't care if you shoot every hawk and owl you see, it's a temporary fix as well as illegal.
When you look at how farming practices have changed over the last 25 years, it's pretty easy to see why upland bird numbers are a shadow of what they used to be.
Pheasants can utilize the thick cover just as well as quail can, so obviously something in the habitat has changed that favors one over the other.
Post by: Wacenturion on October 30, 2016, 06:55:54 PM
Study after study after study on increasing pheasant #'s...HABITAT! Not shortening the season, not reducing the bag limits, not shooting state and federally protected raptors; many of which prey primarily on rodents (especially barn owls). Pheasants can't carryover without shelter belts and brush to protect them from the Winter weather and predators. Also, the over use of herbicides and pesticides along with cosmetic mowing and other modern "clean farming" methods do untold damage to adult pheasants and especially young pheasants that feed on insects. That said, I have nothing against shooting coyotes and truly feral cats that hunters encounter out in the field.
Take a mid-late Winter drive through the Palouse or E.WA away from the WDFW Areas and ask yourself, "Geez if I were a pheasant...Where would I find protection, food and a safe hiding space in plowed fields covered in white?" Closing, shortening the season and reducing bag limits doesn't provide that, but those non-solutions cost nothing to WDFW or farmers; so despite studies showing ZERO benefit; folks keep insisting in mentioning them and stupidly stocking pen raised birds on the plowed fields to feed the coyotes.
Absolutely right on. All those other things people allude to really have little impact on pheasant populations when the correct habitat is in place.
Post by: GoBeavs85 on October 30, 2016, 07:15:42 PM
[/quote]
Pheasants can utilize the thick cover just as well as quail can, so obviously something in the habitat has changed that favors one over the other.
[/quote]
I'm fairly new to Washington. For those that have been here for a long time, have you seen an increase in Russian olive?
I know I find a lot of quail in places w sage and Russian olive. Sometimes we'll kick a phez out of that but not too often. What I notice is quail escape through Russian olive just fine because they are so quick and good at maneuvering. Pheasant have a harder time. Just wondering if Russian olives are taking over as the common thick cover and it doesn't suit pheasant it could be part of why quail have taken off. You don't see a lot of evergreen shelter belts that seem to be what pheasant prefer for winter nesting.
My dad lived here 30 years ago and he almost never got into quail. This weekend he came for a hunt and we shot 2 roosters, 14 quail, and 2 Huns. Sounds like there has been a shift.
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Post by: boneaddict on November 01, 2016, 10:46:00 AM
Probably farming practices or habits of rearing of eggs. Once disturbed a pheasant abandons their nest. Quail are more determined. Quail also seem to be more hardy. Better survival rates. They are more soften able to double up their broods as well. Just ideas. ???
Post by: MR5x5 on November 01, 2016, 01:27:34 PM