S-R Hunting Outlook 2015: Birds are back; Upland birds, waterfowl numbers increase

The good ol’ days of upland hunting will never be revived in Washington and Idaho because of habitat changes, but this year may offer a glimpse at the new version of good ol’ days. Pheasants, quail and partridges generally had good hatches in the record-dry month of June. Farther north, ducks that will be returning to the Northwest this fall had record production. Mountain grouse hunters in both states are reporting the best season in memory for ruffs, duskies and spruce grouse. “This summer was hot for crops and people, but it was pretty ideal conditions for birds in the southeastern part of the state,” said Joey McCanna, Department of Fish and Wildlife private lands specialist for far-eastern Washington. Ditto for central and northcentral Washington, said Matt Monda, regional wildlife manager in Ephrata. “We have a lot of shrub lands that burned in fires this summer, but there’s also a lot that hasn’t burned,” he said. “Quail in particular are really coming on strong this year,” he said Monday. “They had broods early and they’re having broods late. They’re really going to town.” Asotin County quail, chukars and gray (Hungarian) partridge hatches were excellent this year, said Bob Dice, Blue Mountains Wildlife Area Complex manager in Clarkston. Neither Washington nor Idaho conduct aerial chukar surveys as they did years ago, but both states are reporting increased number of birds. Wildlife biologists in both states said they’re seeing higher numbers and larger broods of gray partridge this year. Pheasants will be released three to four times this season in 44 Eastern Washington releases that are detailed on the Fish and  Wildlife Department’s website. The first releases will occur today and Friday in advance of this weekend’s youth upland bird season. No additional birds will be released until just before the general pheasant season opens in October, McCanna said. Senior hunters will get a chance to clean up any remaining birds at the release sites during their special Sept. 21-24 season. Nontoxic shot is required at the sites, which are on state wildlife areas as well as areas managed by the Bureau of Land Management and Corps of Engineers. Washington has four programs, detailed on the Fish and Wildlife website that help hunters gain access to private lands: - Register to Hunt, with about six properties in six counties. - Feel Free to Hunt, with about 102 properties in 12 counties. - Hunt by Written Permission, with about 145 properties in 14 counties. - Hunt by Reservation, with about 80,000 acres on at least 102 properties in 14 counties. New properties are still being signed up for these programs as the seasons progress, McCanna said. “You have to keep checking because new properties will show up on the website once we get the contracts signed,” he said. The cooperators for the Hunt by Reservation program are paid per acre with funding federal funding from the Farm Bill, he said.