Pheasant release sites .

[dennisb]

I just did my 6th trip to a release site this season. The first 3 at Hopwell, then Frank lake twice and Namaka yesterday. I have yet to see a pheasant. Seen pheasant parts but no pheasant. I’ve got a new GPS pup and I’m sure it’s not due to her.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by dennisb

I just did my 6th trip to a release site this season. The first 3 at Hopwell, then Frank lake twice and Namaka yesterday. I have yet to see a pheasant. Seen pheasant parts but no pheasant. I’ve got a new GPS pup and I’m sure it’s not due to her.

Lots of birds at Tilley, Ross Creek, Sprouse, Nd Long Pump fir us , plus some wild roosters and hens yesterday
Cat

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by dennisb

I just did my 6th trip to a release site this season. The first 3 at Hopwell, then Frank lake twice and Namaka yesterday. I have yet to see a pheasant. Seen pheasant parts but no pheasant. I’ve got a new GPS pup and I’m sure it’s not due to her.

Timing is everything, if you arrive shortly after a release, you will have birds, if your timing is bad, and it has been a couple of days, and there are a lot of hunters, you may not find any. And this year , it seems that there are fewer birds, and a large crowd that shows up for many releases, and wipes out a large number of birds as the truck is driving away.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

Timing is everything, if you arrive shortly after a release, you will have birds, if your timing is bad, and it has been a couple of days, and there are a lot of hunters, you may not find any. And this year , it seems that there are fewer birds, and a large crowd that shows up for many releases, and wipes out a large number of birds as the truck is driving away.

We haven't been to a site this year where the birds were released that day, most were at least one if not two days, but yes we have seen lots of hunters .
A good dog is imperative to finding a good number of birds
Cat

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

We haven't been to a site this year where the birds were released that day, most were at least one if not two days, but yes we have seen lots of hunters .
A good dog is imperative to finding a good number of birds
Cat

It depends what you consider lots of hunters. A slow weekday at Daysland, is three or four groups out at a time, a busy day can be a dozen groups hunting at once. A friend counted 14 vehicles last Saturday on one drive around the site, and the most that I have seen is 26 at one time. So over the course of a day, there can easily be 50-100 hunters out. With so many hunters out, it doesn't take long to kill or drive out the vast majority of the birds. And having people waiting to slaughter birds as the truck releases them, just makes it worse. It used to be, that as long as we were out within two days of a release, we would get our birds, but this year, I have been out two days after a release, not found a single bird, and heard one single shot. I have a very experienced dog, and I usually get my birds , even when most people aren't finding any, but this year, it seems that birds are a lot more scarce than in previous years. I don't know if they are releasing less birds, or are releasing less often, or if having so many killed during the release is the issue, but everyone that I have talked to , other than the people that always seem to be present for the releases, has noticed the same thing.

[catnthehat]

The sites we hunt are very crowded.
Cat

[sns2]

Less releases. Less birds per release seems to be the experience of all I know personally, and the fellow hunters I have spoken to at the releases. Kinda disappointing to say the least.

[Pioneer2]

Over 20 + fresh predator kills within a 100 yard radius at Bigelow last week.

[densa44]

For old times sake I stopped at Conds Thursday night. There was a rooster on the road at the southern enterence and one more behind the truck where I parked. Days limit before I let the dogs out of the truck.

[WinefredCommander]

Sure is a bunch of whiners! ITS CALLED HUNTING! You’d be lucky to flush a wild bird if you ever ventured off release sites.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by WinefredCommander

Sure is a bunch of whiners! ITS CALLED HUNTING! You’d be lucky to flush a wild bird if you ever ventured off release sites.

I really believe that if it weren't for release sites a lot of pheasant hunters would not hunt them.
Hunting Sharptails over dogs is not for the faint of heart either, but we do it even though some days you can't get within 60 yards before they get up.
We feel blessed whenever we get into wild birds and really get excited when the dogs put up hens as well, it's great to see them.
However we live far up north, and only get to hunt down here once or twice a year so we make the most of it
Cat

[WinefredCommander]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

I really believe that if it weren't for release sites a lot of pheasant hunters would not hunt them.
Hunting Sharptails over dogs is not for the faint of heart either, but we do it even though some days you can't get within 60 yards before they get up.
We feel blessed whenever we get into wild birds and really get excited when the dogs put up hens as well, it's great to see them.
However we live far up north, and only get to hunt down here once or twice a year so we make the most of it
Cat

100% agree Cat! But those who complain they can’t find any dumb release birds and they expect better is wrong. Northerners are lucky they have an option period!

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

I really believe that if it weren't for release sites a lot of pheasant hunters would not hunt them.
Hunting Sharptails over dogs is not for the faint of heart either, but we do it even though some days you can't get within 60 yards before they get up.
We feel blessed whenever we get into wild birds and really get excited when the dogs put up hens as well, it's great to see them.
However we live far up north, and only get to hunt down here once or twice a year so we make the most of it
Cat

I start every fall at the Camp Wainwright sharptail hunt, and it is still my favorite hunt of the season. I also enjoy Huns, but again, it involves a fair drive to get into good numbers. Wild pheasants require even more driving, so I don't get to hunt them often. That leaves released pheasants, which we can hunt 30 minutes from home. I don't want to be around during releases, the next two days after a release require actual hunting, but unfortunately, there are people that won't go, unless they know that the truck has just released, or that there will be a release. Going to random releases, pretty much made the release day sideshow disappear, but unfortunately, someone appears to be notifying certain people as to when releases will occur, at certain sites, and the sideshow has resumed, which results in huge crowds, and a large number of birds being slaughtered, before the truck is even rolling down the highway. I do appreciate the opportunity so close to home, but I would like to see it go back to when everyone showed up to hunt, not to slaughter birds as they are being released.

[britman101]

As others have mentioned, I also believe less pheasants have been released this year. Looks like no melanistic pheasants were released this year too. For those making the trek down South this week, prepare for colder conditions as snow has started falling today. Release sites are not a guarantee of getting a bird, but I like to hit a few during the season. In my opinion a great way to spend the day during the Fall,.....enjoy it.

[coyote_man]

Originally Posted by Pioneer2

Over 20 + fresh predator kills within a 100 yard radius at Bigelow last week.

Are you meaning human predator,birds of prey, or coyote?If its not the human predator, a person could have a great coyote hunt in the area.

[Pioneer2]

Likely teaching pups to hunt, having a kill fest. On two occasions I witnessed coyotes in mid day chasing pheasants across open fields between cover surrounded by both dogs and hunters. Very bold. Not close enough to intervene. Great Horned owls are also natures sociopaths, like weasels killing for the pure joy of killing.Whoever leased the land at Bigelow illegally destroyed the habitat for hay including cut all cover out of the ditches. Other than impenetrable
carigana jungle they may as well be released on a a golf course. Doesn't matter now the predator feeding program is over for another year. I find lots of birds problem is they are dead. Some self righteous individuals that think if they're not wild birds it's like shooting ditch parrots have graduated to the ignore list. Heading out this am to look for survivors. I know the difference between hunting and a safari to the local zoo. Released birds grow brains real quick if they make it through the night.

[Vacation]

I too saw coyotes and a lot of predated pheasant at Bigelow. It was sad but that’s nature. Put on lots of miles this year. Only 1 bird. May have heard on shot over the several times I was there. Very disheartening. Just going for rufffs now.

[bessiedog]

Done one site last week … numbers were good and birds ran and ran, real challenge!


Nice long tails, only one was super scrawny.

Cat, keep us posted (or PM me) about what your seei g for wild birds…
I’m seeing surprisingly good populations at the two patches I’ve been to…

This is Lucy’s first take wild bird.

I gotta shoot better as she’s popped up lots before this one….. heh.

[catnthehat]

We jumped over to Tilley last Friday afternoon, put up a covey of Huns ( took two ) and found some roosters as well.
Cat

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by bessiedog

Done one site last week … numbers were good and birds ran and ran, real challenge!


Nice long tails, only one was super scrawny.

Cat, keep us posted (or PM me) about what your seei g for wild birds…
I’m seeing surprisingly good populations at the two patches I’ve been to…

This is Lucy’s first take wild bird.

I gotta shoot better as she’s popped up lots before this one….. heh.

That's a great looking bird!
Cat

[trigger7mm]

Do you need to purchase a pheasant license to hunt at a release site? Thanks for your reply.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by trigger7mm

Do you need to purchase a pheasant license to hunt at a release site? Thanks for your reply.

Yes, on a Game Farm, no
Cat

[Camdec]

Originally Posted by bessiedog

Done one site last week … numbers were good and birds ran and ran, real challenge!


Nice long tails, only one was super scrawny.

Cat, keep us posted (or PM me) about what your seei g for wild birds…
I’m seeing surprisingly good populations at the two patches I’ve been to…

This is Lucy’s first take wild bird.

I gotta shoot better as she’s popped up lots before this one….. heh.

Love it!