Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Bird Dogs => Topic started by: Packers10 on January 12, 2011, 12:54:29 PM

Title: westside training birds
Post by: Packers10 on January 12, 2011, 12:54:29 PM: Looking to get my hands on some birds for dog training...don't care if they are pigeons, chukar, pheasant, etc.....just want cheap...I will be using a launcher so looking to spend the least amount I can on the birds but want to pick them up on the westside...close to Seattle is best. Any thoughts? Thanks
Title: Re: westside training birds
Post by: landcruiserwilly on January 12, 2011, 01:12:12 PM: i believe sky valley traders in monroe has pigeons. they're on hwy 2

willy
Title: Re: westside training birds
Post by: Packers10 on January 12, 2011, 02:02:27 PM: Quote from: landcruiserwilly on January 12, 2011, 01:12:12 PM
i believe sky valley traders in monroe has pigeons. they're on hwy 2

willy
I checked...no luck.
Title: Re: westside training birds
Post by: Happy Gilmore on January 13, 2011, 10:19:48 AM: not many people keep a lot of birds during hunting season.
Title: Re: westside training birds
Post by: Packers10 on January 13, 2011, 11:02:14 AM: No luck finding birds so far....is the closest upland game farm to Seattle in Ellensburg? Seems like there ought to be a one on the wetside somewhere....maybe not.
Title: Re: westside training birds
Post by: WDFW-SUX on January 13, 2011, 11:23:55 AM: Anyone know the going rate for a pigeon?
Title: Re: westside training birds
Post by: Shannon on January 13, 2011, 08:16:49 PM: $3-$5 depending on quantity and where your at.
Title: Re: westside training birds
Post by: Old Dog on January 13, 2011, 11:11:16 PM: I have some roosters left, but they're not "cheap". With feed running nearly $15 for 50# you ain't going to find "cheap" :twocents:
Title: Re: westside training birds
Post by: MP123 on January 14, 2011, 09:14:41 AM: check on craigslist there's usually some there.
Title: Re: westside training birds
Post by: thinkingman on January 14, 2011, 11:46:53 AM: BTW, I wouldn't mention 'training birds' to the seller.
You're shopping for pets, get it?
Title: Re: westside training birds
Post by: Happy Gilmore on January 14, 2011, 12:11:29 PM: saw pheasants on Craigslist and listed for dog training yesterday or the day before for $25 each i think. They looked scrawny too.....that is what ya get this time of year.
Title: Re: westside training birds
Post by: Packers10 on January 14, 2011, 12:38:43 PM: Cool, I will check Craigslist again....are there any regulations for using Pheasants? I am going to use them for training and plan to let a couple escape (simulates my shooting skills :)) but want to make sure there are not rules against this...
Title: Re: westside training birds
Post by: MP123 on January 14, 2011, 04:17:07 PM: If your training with them on WDFW land I believe you need to band the birds with zip ties or something identifyable and also get a permit from them but I haven't checked in a while. They could tell you more. On private land pretty much anything goes AFAIK. This might be a case of "don't ask don't tell" ;)
Title: Re: westside training birds
Post by: Birdguy on January 14, 2011, 09:14:00 PM: In the state of Washington if you are releasing ANY gamebird you MUST have the proper paperwork (receipt from the licensed gamefarm) and any gamebird you release for training or any purpose must be banded, State or private land makes no difference, nor does the fact there would be no wild pheasants for miles :bash:. You can buy the bands from the state (like the pay to play clubs like Cooke Canyon/Coyote Ridge use) or use another type of band that identifies the birds as ones you released, zip ties work great and are what I use.

As mentioned this time of year birds are tough to come by, guys that have them have a good deal of feed into them and most likely are planning on using them for breeders this spring so they will not be cheap. Birds are only close to cheap in the late summer and early fall when the guys raising them have not been feeding them for months. I am sorry the days of $5-8 pheasants in western WA are over, nothing is cheap anymore. That being said be sure you are getting legal birds if you plan to "release" any. If Old Dog has a few pheasants take him up on them, he is in Tacoma and is licensed, and has good birds :twocents:.

Another option is the auction in Enumclaw they have pigeons there from time to time and they generally run about $5 each. PM me if you have any other questions I would be glad to help if I can.

PS If you find CHEAP gamebirds that have the proper paperwork let me know...I can save thousands of dollars in feed and countless hours raising my own if I can find a cheap legal place to buy them, my kids will love you :chuckle: