Pheasant Allocation Program and Release Techniques

[CelticSpringers]

Hi There,

I recently moved to Virginia and have purchased my non-resident license to pheasant hunt in Pennsylvania this year. I took some time to go "scout" SGL 249 yesterday morning, with my springer. When I arrived I realized that stocking was supposed to take place Oct. 8-10th for the youth hunt. I did not want to disrupt any birds, but also wanted to have a look at the land so me and the dog took a walk and I made a strong effort to keep her out of normal pheasant holding cover and she knew we weren't "hunting." However to my surprise, we still didn't put up any birds and she never got overly excited or birdy during our hike. She's a veteran hunter and so if there were birds out there I expected we might see 1 or 2 birds at least. So I got to thinking that maybe they hadn't stocked?..but I expected this was not the case. I then thought, maybe I'm not at the stocking area even although I was at the main gate to the SGL with signs and everything. I know that there are multiple access points and during my scouting found another 2 access roads to the area. So as a new PA hunter my question to you guys is how do they stock these areas typically? Do they make a concerted effort to put birds out from all access points or do they just pick one and let the birds all out there? At SGL 249 there is an access road that is gated off, which I figured was utilized for stocking the birds. As you continue into the land you come across three good sized fields. Another question, do they stock birds out the back of there trucks throughout the "three fields" or do they basically get to the first field and let them all out there? A more general question, Are these stocking sites usually packed with hunters on saturday mornings?

Just trying to gain a better understanding of the methods and amount of hunting pressure so that I can plan a general idea of how id like to hunt when the season begins.

I appreciate your help. Hunt Hard, Hunt Safe.

 

[HollowWatcher]

Welcome!

Even though the birds are released make no mistake about it this is still pheasant hunting! The Game Commission does not give specifics for example exact locations where they release birds..instead they will list the various tracts of land they release birds on, then give you an estimated period of time in which they intend to release the birds. They do make a concentrated to effort to release birds in multiple areas, they do a very good job at that! Hunting pheasants in Pa is not like a preserve, it's real hunting which happens to be getting better year by year! The birds are spread out and once they get wise..they act no different than their wild counterparts. These birds will run if they here a car door shut to loud!

Saturday mornings can get crowded..especially the Opener. However, if you try hard enough you can always find some space to yourself! Your going about it the right way..scouting the area out first and I think you will be just fine. Make sure you enjoy yourself and have fun because you picked a great time to pheasant hunt in Pa! If you have some vacation time I would recommend you take a few days during the week because that's when the hunting is the best!

Let's see a picture of your springer!

 

[FLDBRED]

CelticSpringers

Welcome to the site, I think you are going to enjoy it, everyone here has the same passion for upland hunting and the Mods do a great job.
Be careful how you "walk" your pup on State Game Lands from the Monday prior to the start of the youth pheasant season until the close of the youth pheasant season.There is no dog training during this time.

HollowWatcher said it well, the State for the most part tries to spread the birds around as best it can, a lot depends on the access roads available. The birds will quickly spread out once the hunting pressure starts, so exact locations where the birds were released isn't that important. These birds are going to offer you a quality hunt once they get their bearings and in a few days start acting as if they were born out there. If there is good access they will try and release the birds in different corners of the Game Lands to reduce the hunting pressure in one spot.
Yes Saturdays will be crowded, but with some planning on your part you can still have a quality hunt. We use a lot of our vacation time to hunt during the week, many times we have the fields to ourselves.
How good is the hunting...well if you look back at some of the old posts most of us had action everytime out! But the most important thing is to just get outddors and enjoy your time with pup and friends!

Love your screen name! Good luck and we love pictues.

 

[bauerline]

I hunt those gamelands often. First thing to know is that dog training or running them is not allowed at this time due to the youth hunt. You may use your dog if you are hunting on SGL or taking a youth hunting.

SGL 249 is broken up in 3 different locations that are miles apart. Which one were you at? The only location that gets birds for the youth season is between Twin Bridges Road and Gamelands road off of rt. 234. The other sections will get birds during the regular season. When an area is stocked, the PGC truck will stop and open up crates and let the birds fly out. Some fly far, others not so much. They stock many locations and not just 3 fields. The birds will get pushed around and will be just about anywhere. Eventually they go to the thickest cover that most people don't want to walk through.

Early Saturday will be packed with hunters. I tend to avoid going out there on the first day, at least early. If you wait until late morning the birds will be spread out more and there will be less hunters. It is not as bad starting around the 3 weekend of the season.

Check out my posts from last year and you'll get a better idea of how things go. I was getting birds up during the last week of the season last year. Good luck.

 

[parooster]

This is why I love this Forum, while I don't have the experience some of these guys have I love reading the Posts and you can feel the excitement in what they write.
I have seen them release the birds a few times and they do try to spread them out into the larger fields. I am not sure if they still stock private farms open for hunting but that was what they used to do. Good luck and welcome to the forum!