Western Wa Pheasant Release Program

[labsetters]

Looks to be on the chopping block to end this program by those who control the budget purse strings.

This is the only real/reliable upland opportunity in Western Wa, with the exception of grouse, which are generally hit or miss, in my experience.

Unless something has changed in the past few days, rumor has it that the entire program will go away with this budget cycle, including closing the Bob Oke Game Farm. Not only will this end the Western Wa release program, birds are also provided for Eastern Wa release sites.

The next blow in the ongoing attempts to end hunting in Washington. It is my understanding that this program, considering the cost of the pheasant release permit, actually comes fairly close to break even in costs. Maybe a slight increase in the permit fee, or adding the requirement for a small game licence in addition to the pheasant permit might be enough to save the program, but I don't know if the politicians even want to consider keeping any hunting program.

Ending this program will severely impact reasonable opportunity to get out in the fall. Some folks might head to Eastern Wa, but reasonable opportunities there are few and far between, especially considering there is also another gas tax increase on the table. Also shifting to the East side will just add more impact on already tenuous upland resources.

Might be worth sending correspondence to your local politicians to see if this program can be saved. I think there is a big budget vote this weekend.Even if you don't hunt release sites, we are all hunters in the same boat and should stick together. Remember spring bear. Predator hunting may be next. All part of the plan to be the first state to "end hunting".

If this program dies, my dogs may try to disown me.

[EnglishSetter]

Thx for the heads up.  Being an avid upland guy with 2 release sites within 45 minute drive, these are important to me.  While I hunted pheasant in 4 states (WA, OR, SD, CA)  this year, that likely isn't my norm.  Weather can play a big part in the 2nd half of the bird season as well.  Can be a not so safe time to drive east and a day trip kinda becomes out of the question for me.

The "safety issue" might be a good one to push to the legislators.

I already buy a small game license.  I thought it was required.  I could stomach a price increase.  Lot cheaper than a tank of gas.  Hmmm...increased use of fossil fuels might be another angle.

I hunted release sites early before other states opened and it was really nice to go bang a couple birds Thanksgiving morning.

[Bullkllr]

According to this document the savings is $320K per year. I'd like to see it continue. It's not perfect, but undeniably provides a lot of hunting opportunity.

https://ofm.wa.gov/sites/default/files/public/budget/statebudget/2025-27/feb25reductionoptions/477DFW.pdf

[2MANY]

Labsetters please site your source.

[B4noon]

It’s in the budget proposal along with hatchery closures Naches, chelan, omak, and Arlington all at the same time a 40% increase in license fees pay more get less legislators need to here your concerns soon

[Bullkllr]

That line item is not very well defined in the governor’s spending plan either, but according to Susewind, “would impact hatchery production and recreational opportunities for hunters and anglers.”

• $320,000 reduction in General Fund support for the Western Washington pheasant program.

This one “would mean closing our own pheasant production facility and severely reducing or eliminating pheasant hunting in Western Washington, beginning in July 2026,” Susewind warned.

https://nwsportsmanmag.com/smelly-state-budget-tidings-wash-into-wdfws-north-of-falcon-salmon-forecast-reveal/#:~:text=As%20alarming%20as%20Cunningham's%20words,including%20%2421.5%20million%20at%20WDFW.

It's on the axe list.

[CP]

Given its popularity and the cost of the license, I’m surprised that this program doesn’t pay for itself.

[MADMAX]

I’m sure the money was reallocated to some ridiculous blue haired program

[Shrimper]

This program was set up to self-sustaining and it was.  Maybe things have changed since 2018 which was the last year I was involved with the program.  WDFW just spent a bunch of money improving the Ebey site.

[JBG]

I also saw a newspaper article that in Centralia where the phez Farm is they are having water quality issues that some locals are trying to blame on runoff from the farm. 

"Though many of the residents in the neighborhood still have septic tanks — which could be leaking and a possible contamination source — many believe there is another source of nitrate contamination in the area.

That possible source is the Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW) Bob Oke Game Farm, near Centralia High School along Mt. Vista Road in the neighborhood.

The game farm breeds and raises between 40,000 and 45,000 pheasants for hunters annually. It is named after the late Washington state Sen. Bob Oke."

https://www.chronline.com/stories/centralia-county-staff-continue-testing-fords-prairie-neighborhood-wells-cause-of-nitrate,370676

[Dan-o]

It’s in the budget proposal along with hatchery closures Naches, chelan, omak, and Arlington all at the same time a 40% increase in license fees pay more get less legislators need to here your concerns soon

This whole downward slide just makes me sad for my kids and grandkids.

[shotguunar]

Boy my dog is not going to be happy she lives for this every year its going to be a sad day in washington 

[BA Mongor]

I agree 100% Dan'O. It's just another opportunity gone that assist's in teaching young ones the benefits of the outdoors, as well as the outdoor culture that teaches kids the morals, ethics and values of hunting.

Like someone said, I'm sure the money will be allocated to something really important, like the making of Rainbow Flags for Transtesticals!

[labsetters]

First time back on the site for a while.

Discussed the Pheasant Release program with several folks recently (I will omit all names), several who are very familiar with the program, some long standing for years. The general consensus seems to be that the program could likely financially support itself, if a few tweeks were made. I am not completely sure, but it seems like the fees for the Pheasant "license" don't fully go into the program but instead appear to be directed into the general fund, which reallocates money to run the Bob Oke Game Farm and support the pheasant release program (think this also happened a few years back with most of the licenses/fees...?Gary Locke days). I don't have a reliable number for the total expenses, because the Game Farm itself has expenses related to its operation-WDFW employees, electricity, fuel/supplies etc. I think the birds are generally self sustaining due to the excellent management of the folks running the Game Farm. Enough birds are carried over each year to lay the eggs for the current season.

There was a quote earlier in this thread about an approximately $320,000 cost to the general fund, which approximates what I was told this weekend. I have heard that there are approximately 4000 or so pheasant licenses sold on average each year. That's a lot of gas, snacks, dog food and vet bills, upland gear, shotguns and shells in use. Probably more than the cost of the program, especially if my dogs and poor shooting are included in these numbers. Can't imagine the amount of Pittman Roberson funds lost if the program goes away, not to mention tax dollars which would go directly into the General Fund. With just a little encouragement, this program might actually be a money maker.

The pheasant numbers previously quoted are consistent with what I have been told for the past several years. It should be noted that Bob Oke also provides birds for Eastern Wa release sites, as well. Years ago, I was at Little Canyon Shooting Preserve in Peck, Idaho and was told they provided birds for Eastern Wa at that time, and I also heard that one of the prisons in Eastern Wa used to raise some birds as well, reportedly of a much less quality. Due to the expense of the purchased birds and issues with the prison raised birds, a shift was made to rear birds at Bob Oke. Although the Eastern Wa release program is much less robust (numbers of birds and numbers of releases, if the Western Wa program goes, so does the Eastern Wa program. This would certainly put a damper on the youth hunts.

Another issue seems to be that the state appears not to believe or credit the amount of volunteer hours and numbers of volunteers
used to assist with many of the state programs-not just pheasant release volunteers, Bob Oke work parties etc but also other habitat work, fisheries/hatchery work and the list goes on. Some of the people I discussed this with did not have a good reason why numbers for volunteer hours do not seem to compute with the non-WDFW people. Using myself as a bad example, I have worked at Bob Oke and have done habitat work in both Eastern and Western Wa, as well as being involved in the elk hoof rot surveys. I always signed in for hours credit but never took any on the milage money (when provided by the particular program), so maybe they didn't think I was actually volunteering. Don't know why there would be a question about volunteer hours but it sounded like some of the state non-WDFW folks don't want to believe that we outdoorsmen and ladies do as much volunteer work as we do. I think it would be interesting to compare some of our politicians work hours with our Pheasant Release volunteer hours. I bet most of the releasers would certainly hold their own for the pheasant release season.

Some considerations which might help fund some of the financial shortfalls might include and increase in the $84.50 Western Wa Pheasant permit/license. Some people talked about bumping it to $100. Probably still a bargain with the increasing gas prices currently, and the pending 6-9 cent increase still to come unless someone on the budget committee comes to their senses. A small game license is required to hunt upland in Eastern Wa but is not required to hunt the Western Wa release sites/release program (still need it to grouse hunt in Western Wa). Might consider adding this to the pile and direct out this piece of the pie based on the number of Pheasant license/permits sold.

No one wants to see fees/licenses go up, most of all me. I am so cheap I squeek when I walk. In my opinion, an increase as noted above would still be worth it if the Western Wa Release Program could be saved. It ain't cheap to drive to Eastern Wa. Miles on the roads add to repair bills for the roads and my vehicle. A few extra folks adding to the Eastern Wa numbers could quickly further diminish the bird numbers, as would a shift to more grouse hunting anywhere in the state. If the state shut down the program, what would happen to the Bob Oke Game Farm? Do they lay off a few more WDFW employees? Do the lights and heat go out? Do they maintain a caretaker on site? Might as well keep growing pheasants.

The elephant in the room no one wanted to discuss...there is a budget crisis, not made by us the citizens of the state. Is the real reason for the projected closure of fish hatcheries, the pheasant release program etc etc really an agenda to squeeze out consumptive use of the outdoors (especially with regards to hunting) in Washington by eliminating programs and increasing license fees for less opportunity?

In my opinion, it might be beneficial to contact any and all of the state and local representatives, house and senate. Also directly to the governor. Can't hurt.

If the pheasant release program is shut down, and Bob Oke gets mothballed or sold or turned into something else, we will never again have pheasants in Western Wa. My dogs will be sad.