Mixed Message In Eastern Washington Once-Grim Bird Forecast Now More Optimistic

Wildlife biologists who keep track of upland birds were somewhat pessimistic a couple of months ago about populations of pheasants and partridges in Eastern Washington.

After seeing good-sized broods the last few weeks they’re saying that hunting could be good in some parts of the East Side this fall.

But they’re still qualifying their observations.

Broodstock numbers of most birds were high before the nesting seasons this year as the result of a mild winter. Biologists pointed out in the Fish and Wildlife Departments hunting evaluation pamphlet that “a late cold, wet and long spring in many parts of the state could offset (the big broodstock population) with a loss of hatchlings.

Since the pamphlet was published, however, the biologists have been revising their opinions.

“Pheasant hunting may be very good in parts of Whitman County,” Spokane region central biologist Jerry Hickman said.

He said pheasant broods in his district averaged four to five young during July. In late August, he said, he saw one brood of eight large young birds in Whitman County.

This could be a good year to hunt quail and partridges, Hickman said.

“Quail are being seen with good-sized broods, even in marginal habitat,” he said. “Of 41 broods counted recently, the average size was nine birds.”

Both chukar and gray (Hungarian) partridges apparently did well along the Snake River breaks.

Hickman said Hun broods averaged 11 young birds. In late August, he said, he saw three broods of chukars in Steptoe Canyon with broods that averaged 10 young birds.

“I have not seen this many chukar broods since the early 1980s in that canyon,” he said.

Other biologists in Eastern Washington were cautiously optimistic. They said there is a potential in some areas for good hunting this fall.

Some veteran pheasant hunters are not optimistic. For example, Gene Hackney, a former operator of the resort at West Medical Lake who lives in north Whitman County, said he thinks there may be a few more pheasants where he lives than there were last year, but he added that he thinks the hunting will be mediocre.

A Spokane hunter who has talked with several farmers in Whitman and Lincoln counties the last couple of weeks said most of the landowners felt this year’s pheasant population is up a little but not much.

Indications are that pheasants along the Snake River breaks had a better nesting season than those in Lincoln, Spokane and north Whitman counties. In fact, pheasant hunting could be better along the breaks than in the Columbia Basin, where pheasant numbers are far below those in the 1970s and 1980s.

As in the past, the limit for pheasants is three cocks a day. Hunters can take 10 quail, 6 chukars and 6 Huns a day.

This sidebar appeared with story: HUNTING SEASONS Upland birds

Eastern Washington

Forest grouse: Sept. 1-Dec. 31

Partridge: Oct. 1-Jan. 15

California quail: Oct. 7-Jan. 15

Pheasant: Oct. 7-Dec. 31