2012 Pheasant Release Sites
 

Here is a detailed web page for the Upland Birds Alberta 2012 pheasant release sites and estimated dates. We will be adding maps over the next day or so as well.

http://www.albertaoutdoorsmen.ca/pheasant

Great stuff, thanks Rob. Great forum by the way.

"Release days are variable through the season, and hunters are discouraged from “following the truck” as this is both unethical and can be a safety hazard to release personnel."

What a shame that this statement has to be written and that people are doing this. The word hunters is realy not the right word here. It is a sad situation we have when this is hapening.

Pete

Thanx Rob!

Looks pretty sweet. Having never hunted pheasants before, can a guy hunt them effectively without a dog?

I know people that road hunt pheasants very successfully. I used to, but now that I have a dog I'd never do it any other way!!

I hunt pheasants, not from a truck, without dogs, and am sucessful every year.

if youre willing to put on your boots and thump through the good pheasant brush, your gunna put up some birds!

So why don't they implement the no hunting after 2 pm at all release sites? Or at least release the birds at different times so people aren't waiting when the truck arrives.

Sadly it happens everyday during the season, witness the fun at the Brooks aqueduct during October. To be more effective however they should have a sign on the truck that says that because we know nobody here would do this...

Does anyone know the average age of the roosters they release? I'd like to get a mature one for a taxidermy mount this fall.

I'm pretty sure they would all be hatched last winter unless you get a wild one. They don't over winter many birds - too costly

This sounds great!

No Dog?
 

Even with a very good dog it is tough getting a rooster to fly. I think you would have to do a lot of "tramping" to get some birds.

At Bigalow the truck comes after dark and I say good for him!

Rob thanks for the info.

Following truck
 

I am not sure I mind the guys waiting for the truck

its the guy shooting them on the ground in the parking lot

at Bobby hale that bugs me ....He shot a truck a couple of years ago .

The FW cops were called said nothing they could do ....you dont have to

have a dog or let them fly ....c'est la vie...:mad0030:

One mans sport is another mans grocer bag

Chances are you're going to want a mature wild rooster. There are still some around often in the wildest country. Awesome that the release program is once again getting some support.

I just don't get it.I must be from a diferent time.
Why bother releasing birds into a slaughter field, instead of randomly releasing them across the country. It would make better sense to have a few survive to become wild than a put and take shooting fest . Sure the coyotes will have a feast, but better a coyote than a slob following the release trucks with a shotgun.
Pete

Thanks for the info!

Pheasant release site ...
 

Interesting topic ... I have a couple of small dogs that dearly love hunting pheasants. I often hunt them at a release site and the schnauzers .. being the same height as the birds will follow up the scent trail and usually flush them ... and find them in the cat tails when shot ... There is another spot fairly close that has wild birds in it and I rarely bother them. Like jack rabbits seem to be in my area there seem to be very few of them and they have enough problems without me whacking them ... Not working any more I have all the time in the world to hunt them ... and that is what works for me....(at least in theory):)

Thanks for the info--I promise not to follow the truck.

This is so awesome. I was still trying to decide whether or not to get a pheasant license and this will make it more viable for me. I think it will be a lot of fun to go walking in the prairies to hunt one of these beautiful birds.

I for one would think it's halarious if they sent empty trucks out to the planned release sites on the scheduled days. :D

That would be funny.:sHa_shakeshout:

The Birds
 

Thanks Rob

Hey Nympher -- I dont have a dog and never done the pheasant hunt before but going to do it this year -- send a pm to me if you wanna chat

Cheers

Ian

They could run a decoy truck one way and the truck with the birds in it another 5 minutes later!:sHa_sarcasticlol:
Cat

I have always thought the same way. Let them get climatized to their new enviroment. Makes it more sporting than shooting birds that very often don't even get up just run. If you need to follow the truck to find birds you don't need to be out there.

Ive bird hunted the brooks area for years with my dogs, but last year was the first time in 12 years i didnt go out, it was getting really bad, i was out one day with my britt and on the way back to the truck i COUNTED 15 trucks on the road waitng for the wagon, as it pulled in and released the birds about 20 hunters, 20 dogs and pellets from all directions, actually had to hit the ground as a rooster flew towards me and a round of pellets comming my way, brutal. if people would calm down and use thier heads and let the birds settle, youve got a better chance of getting youre bird if you just wait.

The RCMP can do something, charges could be laid for dangerous/careless use of a firearm.

Right Map
 

Have been looking up the private stockings on my landowner maps but is there a map of the whole province you can look up the Locations

and what are these called NW 19-18-20 for instance .

Thanks W101

bump - help with map coordinates
 

Hi AO - I too am having trouble referencing the locations using the coordinates as they are given.
Can someone help?
:confused:

the numbers are for legal land descriptions. the first number is the legal subdivision of a section....or sometimes like above just say NW which would be the northwest quarter of the next number which is the section. the third number is township and the last is range. the roads around alberta have signs on them like TWP 16-3. that would be township road 16....the htird mile. a township is 6 miles north to south, and a range is 6 miles east to west. a lot of maaps have those numbers along the top and bottom and edges indication twps and rngs. if that doesnt make sense....google legal land descriptions in western canada.