Pheasant Releases Sites

Envitro · #1 08-29-2017, 07:19 PM

Just curious, and might be a dumb question, but with the season opening on Sept 1st, are they going to be releasing birds ahead or just before opening day?

Just curious to know what has been done in the past, or what you guys have experienced in past years...

Cheers!

jrowan · #2 08-29-2017, 07:50 PM

As far as I'm aware they are pretty secretive about when and were they release so I don't know if anyone will know unless they happened to see them a couple days before the season opened previously.

Guide5689 · #3 08-29-2017, 07:54 PM

They don't release dates or times to make it an ethical hunt.

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Guide5689 · #4 08-29-2017, 07:54 PM

Pretty tough if you don't have a bird dog

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elkhunter11 · #5 08-29-2017, 08:10 PM

If you head out opening morning, there will be birds in the field. From that point on, releases are done at random times and on random days, to discourage people from waiting for the truck to arrive. Opening morning will have most of the birds concentrated in a small area around the location where they are released, but as they are hunted, they will spread out over a larger area.

Envitro · #6 08-29-2017, 08:48 PM

Thanks elk, that's exactly what I thought but needed some confirmation.

I don't expect to know when or where they are released on the property. It's not fun that way... but I was really just wondering if I go out on opening day will I even have a chance as they're not going to even have anything there.

elkhunter11 · #7 08-29-2017, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Envitro

Thanks elk, that's exactly what I thought but needed some confirmation.

I don't expect to know when or where they are released on the property. It's not fun that way... but I was really just wondering if I go out on opening day will I even have a chance as they're not going to even have anything there.

Opening day will be a circus, birds concentrated in a small area, and dozens of people trying to get them. I am waiting until next week. If you don't have a dog, it can be tough to find the birds, unless they do a release when you are there, or you show up just after a release. Without a dog, you will walk by birds, and not even know they are there

JoshT · #8 08-29-2017, 09:12 PM

From my understanding they don't release until September 15th as that's what the ACA has listed on their website. Correct me if I'm wrong, elkhunter you do lots of upland hunting right?

Guide5689 · #9 08-29-2017, 09:22 PM

1-3 release per week spending on which of the three grouped areas or 39 total release sites.

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elkhunter11 · #10 08-29-2017, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoshT

From my understanding they don't release until September 15th as that's what the ACA has listed on their website. Correct me if I'm wrong, elkhunter you do lots of upland hunting right?

The ACA site lists each release site and shows when they start releasing at each site.

Envitro · #11 08-29-2017, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoshT

From my understanding they don't release until September 15th as that's what the ACA has listed on their website. Correct me if I'm wrong, elkhunter you do lots of upland hunting right?

The date is site dependent

fortsask · #12 08-29-2017, 10:18 PM

This year they are starting September 1 on five release sites. Others start September 15, and many start October 15. The first 5 have releases 3 times per week over a 2 month season.

http://www.ab-conservation.com/progr...lease-program/

shooter12 · #13 08-29-2017, 10:43 PM

Maybe I missed something or...
I was always hunting pheasants and did only wild birds ,not released.
The legal open day was October 15 as far as I know at least around Calgary.
Sorry to derail OP question, BUT can you still hunt pheasants in released sites early in the season?
In regulations it says October 15th...

Envitro · #14 08-29-2017, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shooter12

Maybe I missed something or...
I was always hunting pheasants and did only wild birds ,not released.
The legal open day was October 15 as far as I know at least around Calgary.
Sorry to derail OP question, BUT can you still hunt pheasants in released sites early in the season?
In regulations it says October 15th...

WMU 212 opens Sept 1st for pheasant

densa44 · #15 08-30-2017, 07:29 AM

Show up on opening day, some one shot Elk last year another nimrod shot a truck, and those are only the ones I know about.

Have at it guys, BTW not a good place for a young dog, wait a day or two.

elkhunter11 · #16 08-30-2017, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by densa44

Show up on opening day, some one shot Elk last year another nimrod shot a truck, and those are only the ones I know about.

Have at it guys, BTW not a good place for a young dog, wait a day or two.

As I posted earlier, on opening day the birds are concentrated in a small area, because they haven't been moved around by the hunters. As well the largest crowds by far show up on opening day, making for a large concentration of people in a small area, which greatly increases the odds of an incident occurring. I was loading my gear into my truck when some idiot fired directly into the parking lot from about 100 yards away. A few days later, another person was hit in the same parking lot. I would definitely wear safety glasses, at least for the first week or so, until things calm down a bit. And with luck the releases will be random, to keep people from waiting for the truck, and shooting at birds as they fly room the crate. If a release occurs while you are hunting, it will be obvious by the sudden outbreak of gunfire that usually lasts 10 to 15 minutes or so. When I hear a release occur, I stay away from the area where the gunfire is coming from, for at least 30 minutes or so. I was present for a few releases, and I led my dog out of the area, and away from the release site, because I didn't want to be around for the resulting circus. The release truck driver remarked that we were the only people moving away from the birds.

waterninja · #17 08-30-2017, 08:20 AM

It's great that they opened up another Qtr. for pheasant hunting at the site nearest Edm, and are releasing more birds. Myself and other hunters have hunted the site many times, and have NEVER witnesed the gong show that other people say occur at some of the sites down south. If the release truck happens to show up, hunters give the driver plenty of breathing room and time to release the birds safely. I hope that trend continues this year, and that everyone has a safe and enjoyable hunt.

Timothy · #18 08-30-2017, 08:42 AM

That's good to hear water ninja! I wanted to try out pheasant hunting this year but was hesitant after all these stories! Now I might try it out. Are you talking daysland or the other one that is close to Edmonton - south plain / vandenberg I believe.

elkhunter11 · #19 08-30-2017, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timothy

That's good to hear water ninja! I wanted to try out pheasant hunting this year but was hesitant after all these stories! Now I might try it out. Are you talking daysland or the other one that is close to Edmonton - south plain / vandenberg I believe.

Whether or not you experience the gong shows at a release site, depends a lot on how often you visit the various release sites. If you only go out two or three times per year, you may never witness the nonsense that sometimes occurs, but if you are out twenty or thirty times, the odds of seeing this increases greatly. I had a new pup last fall, so I spent about thirty days at the various sites, and the nonsense likely occured four or five times while I was present. Once ACA was made aware of the people sitting in their vehicles waiting for the truck to arrive, they made sure that the releases were random, and these people simply stopped showing up at the release sites. When those people stopped showing up, the vast majority of the nonsense stopped.

waterninja · #20 08-30-2017, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timothy

That's good to hear water ninja! I wanted to try out pheasant hunting this year but was hesitant after all these stories! Now I might try it out. Are you talking daysland or the other one that is close to Edmonton - south plain / vandenberg I believe.

I'm sure you will have a great hunt at either one. I should have added that contrary to a lot of what you hear, you don't need a dog to hunt pheasant. Sure a dog is handy, and will help point or flush a bird, but if you keep your eye's open you should have plenty of oppurtunities. We usually go on a weekday when there are less hunters.
Have fun. It's always nice to get out for a nice walk on one of the sites. A big shout out to the ACA for running these pheasant release programs. And remember, if by chance you see a female pheasant, don't shoot it!

Timothy · #21 08-30-2017, 09:31 AM

Thanks a lot for the info guys. I have no dog but like you said, it's about getting out of the house and being in the field. I'd be happy if I saw one all year. Last year was my first year hunting and I loved grouse hunting so I'm thinking pheasants will be a blast! I work 20 and 10's so I have the luxury of hunting on weekdays. Try to avoid weekends if I can.

calvin · #22 08-30-2017, 04:37 PM

also go to the range and shoot your gun a bit prior to heading out. i had to help a fellow last year who bought a new Benelli automatic and had not even shot a shotgun before. his buddy was helping him by showing him how to load it.
As per the other questions, i was told that the 5 sites will have birds in place on Sept 1. I'm staying away but am wanting to head to Wainwright for a day or so.