HUNTING -- Pheasants are scheduled to be released this week at up to 44 Eastern Washington sites that are detailed in the Fish and Wildlife Department’s Pheasant Enhancement Program website.

The first releases occurred in September in advance of the youth upland bird season. This week will mark the fourth and last release at most sites.

"We usually do not say when we release pheasants, but our last release of the year usually has been the week of Thanksgiving," said Joey McCanna, who coordinates the release of pen-raised pheasants in the Spokane Region. "All sites in Region 1 will receive pheasants."

He pointed out that there's also a good crop of wild birds holding out in good habitat around the region, although he's had reports that wild roosters have been flushing wild.