Public Land pheasant stockings.

[Aimrite]

I hear how crowded it is on these areas so I was hope to hit few of them in northern part of the state,during the week when not so many people around. Were do I get info on when and where stockings happen? How many people usually there during the week?
This is my first year with my pup and upland is a new game for me.
Aim

[PoliticalDog]

Here's some info


PHEASANT RELEASE AREAS
The Division of Wildlife provides put-take pheasant hunting
at the Maumee State Forest, North Turkeyfoot area of Mary
Jane Thurston State Park, and the following wildlife areas
during pheas ant hunting sea son: Delaware, Pleasant Val ley,
Kill deer Plains, Wyandot, Resthaven, Willard, Ox bow Lake,
Beach City, Berlin, Grand River, Highlandtown, Shreve,
Spencer, Wellington, West Branch, Zeppernick, Dillon, Salt
Fork, Fallsville, Indian Creek, Spring Valley, Rush Run, Caesar
Creek, and Darke. The number of pheasants released will
depend upon numbers available. Releases are scheduled
during the pheasant season for opening day, the second
and third Saturdays, and Thanks giving Day. Hunting hours
are sunrise to sunset.

Ringneck Pheasant November 7 January 4 Limit 2
You may only take rooster pheasants.

[george tinkham]

i have seen 2 pheasants in athens county,in the last week.i have seen a total of 3 pheasants in over 20 yrs...2 of them last wk.are they comin back to southern ohio.they were all over the place in the 60s .grouse an quail too

[CritterGitter]

Good thorough information posted by PoliticalDog! I will add a little piece about Delaware Wildlife Area. This a vast area that covers thousands of acres. Also, the majority of this wildlife area is open prairie fields and thick brushy areas. The weekends are VERY crowded. However, they don't get all the birds. The hunting can be really good Monday thru Wednesday after a stocking. Again, I believe they release the birds the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month + Thanksgiving Day. Delaware Wildlife Area also has a dog training site. If it isn't too far you could bring your dog up and get him familiar with the area. Hope this is helpful information.

CG

[PoliticalDog]

Great info...I have a bit more to share too.

Sometimes this area sounds like a war zone...above all make sure your new dog is not gunshy....You hear guns going off everywhere.

Another thing is that 2 of the weekends are dedicated for youth hunts only.

Good Luck
Rick

[CritterGitter]

Youth hunts should be the 2 weekends prior to the November 7th Opening Day. They release birds for the youth hunts as well. The youth hunts might not apply to all the areas previously mentioned by PD, but they do apply at Delaware. Hey PD, I don't know about you, but I went there opening day only once! I learned not to do that again! It aint worth it. I will go on a Monday or a Tuesday!

CG

[PoliticalDog]

Yea....I hate to admit it..I learned the hard way too...

I usually take my sones to the youth hunts and a buddy of mine brings his dog over..Its fun...but boy its hard to watch them miss those gravy shots...:D

I don't hunt pheasant to much myself. I like hunting grouse so I travel around the state to do most of my hunting.

Rick

[Lance]

The state will actually post the schedule of release dates and the number of birds to be released at each wildlife area sometime between August and September. Like the others said opening day gets a little nuts so unless you've figured out a spot over the years with minimal presure :cool: or hunt after lunch time it may not always be the best idea. Another thing you can do is hunt the areas that get fewer birds. The more birds an area gets the more hunters it gets. I've flushed a number of birds on weekdays and it's MUCH more relaxing than Saturdays.!

[Beau Martin]

Ihave been to Darke County oncce or twice when they release the birds it can be a mad house. I have had a bad expereance a couple of times there. Are all the places like that?

[Lance]

Put it this way you can't pay me enough to go out to Berlin Dam on a morning that birds were stocked, with or without my dogs. The guys go through the fields in waves. The youth hunts are fine but regular season is nuts.

Maybe some time after lunch but not before.

[george tinkham]

oh well...

[vvarmitr]

I've done the Beach City release area & yeah it's crowded. In fact I can't believe that anyone would find much to hunt after the day of release. If a bird didn't get shot he got stepped on. :D
I've had a good time everytime & there have been no mishaps.......yet. :rolleyes: I'll tell you one thing you'll see all kinds of hunters.

[Aimrite]

I work secound shift so weekday mornings will workout god then.
Ed