Pheasants ready for release

More than 20,000 rooster pheasants have been ordered for release at designated sites in Eastern Washington for upland bird seasons, Washington Fish and Wildlife officials said.

Some of those birds will be released next week for the youth-only bird hunt that runs Sept. 22-23. The two most popular pheasant release sites for the youth opener are the area along the west side of Fishtrap Lake and the Sherman Creek Wildlife Area southwest of Kettle Falls.

The next release will be just before the Oct. 20 opener of the pheasant season. Additional releases are planned from late October or early November, before the Thanksgiving holiday weekend and possibly at the beginning o December, said Mick Cope, Washington Fish and Wildlife Department upland game bird manager.

Hunters looking for less competition for the pen-raised pheasants should consider traveling to one of the release sites in the Columbia Basin.

“I think the birds we release are underutilized at sites like Banks Lake, Gloyd Seeps, Quincy and Winchester Lake,” said Matt Monda, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife regional wildlife manager in Ephrata.

Hunters who want to know where the pheasants will be released can pick up an Eastern Washington Pheasant Enhancement Pamphlet, which should be available by the end of this month at regional offices in Spokane, Ephrata and Yakima. Or check the department’s Web site at http://wdfw.wa.gov.

The release sites are on public lands, including state wildlife areas, Corps of Engineers habitat units and BLM lands.

A former pheasant release site near the mouth of the Walla Walla River will be reopened by the Corps of Engineers this season, officials said.

The closest Eastern Washington pheasant release sites to the Spokane area include:

Sherman Creek in Ferry County.

Fishtrap Lake near the Lincoln-Spokane county line.

John Henley area near Little Goose Dam in Whitman County.

Willow Bar and Rice Bar on the Snake River upstream from Central Ferry.

Hartstock area along the Tucannon River in Columbia County.

Pintler Creek along Meyer Ridge in Asotin County.

Chief Timothy area upstream from the state park along the Snake River west of Clarkston.

Banks Lake south of the dam and Highway 2.

Steamboat Rock just south of the state park.