So any reports on any good bird hunting East of the hills? I am going over this weekend and if bird hunting does not pan out we might hit the rivers for some steelies.

I've been hunting in the Vernita/Mattawa area. There's birds around but you have to put in some time, that's for sure.

Also hunted around Sunnyside on the opener for pheasants and it was kind of a bust. Did well on the quail over there but the pheasant were few and far between.

Put your time in and you'll whack a few.

If you have time, the dayton area is great, with lots of public land. And with the recents snows the hunting should be outstanding. I limited out twice over the thanksgiving holiday.

Is the area around dayton the release sites down along the snake river?

Birds are released at a couple spots over there: up the Patit Creek Rd and also along the Snake below Little Goose dam. Used to live over there and got to know some of the landowners pretty well, so mostly chased the wild birds. May want to look into the release schedules though, as the releases may stop come December. Just make sure you know your property boundaries!

If the hunting isn't any good, steelhead fishing should be good on the Tucannon above hwy 12.

Even if they are not releasing any planter birds, there are plenty of wild ringnecks to fill your day with action. And plenty of land that is open to hunting.