Panelists criticize late pheasant hunt

Apparently for the first time, pheasant hunters in Eastern Washington will be allowed to pursue roosters in the month of January.

But don’t be surprised if 2006 is the last time, too, with the closing date reverting back to the traditional Dec. 31 as early as next winter.

Two state Fish and Wildlife Commission members – both from Eastern Washington – made it clear at the panel’s recent meeting in Vancouver that they aren’t keen on the idea of January pheasant hunting.

The current pheasant season is scheduled to continue through Jan. 16.

“It bothers me, moving the pheasant season into January,” said Jerry Gutzwiler of Wenatchee. “It’s a hard season and those birds already are under stress.”

Chuck Perry of Moses Lake had similar comments.

“I’ve gotten calls from landowners in the Columbia Basin who feel pheasants should not be hunted when there’s snow on the ground due to the lack of cover.”

The commission voted last spring to extend the pheasant season into January to appease hunters who were complaining about losing hunting days as the commission has postponed the opening of the pheasant season in recent years.

This year, the season did not open until Oct. 22. In 2002, the pheasant season opened Oct. 5.

The opening date of pheasant season in Eastern Washington has bounced around during the past 30 years.

It’s been the first Saturday in October. It’s been the second Saturday in October. It’s been the first Saturday after Oct. 10 and this year it was the fourth Saturday.

Mick Cope, upland game section manager for the Department of Fish and Wildlife, cited two reasons for this year’s late start.

The department has heard about conflicts between hunters and landowners trying to harvest their crops, he said. There’s also been friction between pheasant hunters and deer hunters when their seasons open the same day, particularly in Southeast Washington.

Cope said adding days in January is an attempt to not have the late opener result in a shorter hunting season.

Hunting in January is not a biological issue, he said, noting that only roosters can be shot. Partridge and quail seasons have extended into January for years.

The agency would like a standard pheasant season, he added.

Fred Shiosaki, a commission member from Spokane, said he thinks there will be few pheasant hunters still afield by January.

Cope said the department is curious to see how much hunting effort there is in January and needs to make arrangements to monitor it.

The Fish and Wildlife Commission will adopt in April a three-year hunting regulations package for 2006 through 2008.

Public meetings on the entire package of hunting regulations in Washington are scheduled for Jan. 24 in Wenatchee, Jan. 25 in Pasco and Jan. 26 in Spokane.

(Outdoors editor Rich Landers contributed to this story.)