Pelee Island Pheasant hunt back in 2021..

Hello: Good news...I revived this email yesterday..

Hello Everyone,
A previous email stated incorrect sale dates for the 2021 Pheasant Hunts. Licences will be on sale JANUARY 4TH TO APRIL 1ST, 2021. There will be NO sales after APRIL 1ST, 2021.
Main Hunt Dates:
Thursday October 21st – Saturday October 23rd, 2021
Thursday October 28th – Saturday October 30th, 2021
Thursday November 4th – Saturday November 6th, 2021
Cleanup Hunt Dates:
Thursday November 11th – Saturday November 13th, 2021
Thursday November 18th – Saturday November 20th, 2021
Thursday November 25th – Saturday November 27th, 2021
Thursday December 2nd – Saturday December 4th, 2021
2021 Pheasant Hunt Prices (including taxes):
Main Hunt Licence: $282.50
Cleanup Hunt Licence: $141.25
Sales for 2021 Pheasant Licences are FINAL there will be NO refunds or transfers outside of 2021 hunts available. However, transfers can be made within 2021 between hunts, as well as between hunters for an additional fee of $25.00.

This is good news...however....how do you feel about the License commitment dates and the fact that no refunds will be given if the hunt is cancelled in 2021?
I like the clean up hunts...but I always purchased my License after the regular hunts.....due to weather and other outside commitments that affect my decisions...now we need to decide by end of April on which hunt to attend and then arrange accommodations and make commitments.
I wonder if the Island people providing accommodations will have the same policy on refunds?

Chocolateman

Great news, I am glad it is back on for 2021. As for buying the licenses so far ahead of time, I would prefer the old way of course, but I can totally understand in terms of planning and buying birds ahead of time for the staff organizing the hunt. A lot of guys, including myself some years, would buy the license when when we arrived on the island for the hunt, so I could see how it could mess up planning a bit for them.
As for refunds, I assume we would get a refund if the hunt itself gets cancelled, (i.e. Covid gets worse), I think they mean that you will not get a refund if you can't go for whatever reason. I have never had any ferry issues getting across, but I think if the ferry doesn't run for both Wednesday and Thursday, you would also get a refund ... but I could be wrong on this - maybe someone else here knows. As for the cottage rentals, I believe each owner is different ... they all have their own set of rules. For example, with the cottages I have rented in the past, the owners would give a full refund if you cancel with 30 days notice, and if the ferry doesn't run on both days, also get a refund ... all depends on the owner's rules, but I find that the people on Pelee are very good with this kind of stuff.
Looking forward to it, booked my spot the 3rd hunt :)
Lorenzo

Hi Lorenzo.
Agree with you...this is great news and I plan to attend as well.
However...just so we all know....I had the same assumptions you have...refund if hunt is cancelled due to covid or Ferry cancelled....so I emailed them yesterday..
The response I revived was .....
"For the 2021 pheasant hunts, there will be no refunds or transfers available outside of the 2021 hunts for any reason."

I wanted to put that out there so we all know and can make our decisions based on that information.

Interesting, thanks for the heads up on this!
Lorenzo

Thanks for sharing this info!

Every year I get excited when I hear about the Pelee hunts, and then I look at the dates and they mostly coincide with big game hunting which I have commitments on! I can only (potentially) manage the very last clean up hunt from the dates posted above, and from what I've been reading the ferry can be most questionable at that time.
Oh well, I shall keep on dreaming for a bit longer I guess... But can a licence be purchased at the last minute for any of these hunts?

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Originally Posted by Hawkman

Every year I get excited when I hear about the Pelee hunts, and then I look at the dates and they mostly coincide with big game hunting which I have commitments on! I can only (potentially) manage the very last clean up hunt from the dates posted above, and from what I've been reading the ferry can be most questionable at that time.
Oh well, I shall keep on dreaming for a bit longer I guess... But can a licence be purchased at the last minute for any of these hunts?

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From the information Pelee has provided so far....No...a Hunting license cannot be purchased @ the last minute. All licenses must be purchased by April 1 2021...which includes the cleanup hunts.

Thanks chocolateman.
I guess one has to take his chances and invest in a hopeful future, eh?! :D

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Originally Posted by Hawkman

Thanks chocolateman.
I guess one has to take his chances and invest in a hopeful future, eh?! :D

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That's for sure......and remember.....we are all in this together

I bet they lose money with not taking last minute sales.... Seems like their no refund policy is going to hurt them.

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Originally Posted by fratri

I bet they lose money with not taking last minute sales.... Seems like their no refund policy is going to hurt them.

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think their policy is to minimize loss. Since they need to know how many pheasant to purchase guess a firm number is needed.

Yeah that's exactly it finsfurfeather, they can plan the bird purchase much better knowing exactly how many licenses are sold. That being said, as fratri noted, they will likely loose sales with the no refund policy and not selling last minute - plus as the border currently remains closed, I doubt there will be any American hunters going this year - so will be fewer hunters in total for sure. Hopefully all goes well with Covid and the hunt happens, looking forward to it - even if I have to risk the cost of the license.
Lorenzo

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Originally Posted by Lor79

Yeah that's exactly it finsfurfeather, they can plan the bird purchase much better knowing exactly how many licenses are sold. That being said, as fratri noted, they will likely loose sales with the no refund policy and not selling last minute - plus as the border currently remains closed, I doubt there will be any American hunters going this year - so will be fewer hunters in total for sure. Hopefully all goes well with Covid and the hunt happens, looking forward to it - even if I have to risk the cost of the license.
Lorenzo

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With the uncertainty and the cost would not tiny be a better option?

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Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers

With the uncertainty and the cost would not tiny be a better option?

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Oh yeah, I still intend on hunting all my favorite local spots within an hour or so from my home, (which is 90% of my hunting), but I like Pelee as a change of scenery and a treat for myself, just to get away from it all. I also have a second dog on the roster this year, so I want to get her on as many birds as possible, and Pelee fits the bill - its always a blast.
Lorenzo

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Originally Posted by Lor79

Oh yeah, I still intend on hunting all my favorite local spots within an hour or so from my home, (which is 90% of my hunting), but I like Pelee as a change of scenery and a treat for myself, just to get away from it all. I also have a second dog on the roster this year, so I want to get her on as many birds as possible, and Pelee fits the bill - its always a blast.
Lorenzo

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I feel the same. Tiny can make for a very short hunt sometimes if you’re just after big fat bazants ;)

Purchased licenses for Hunt #2 :goodstuff:

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Originally Posted by ninepointer

Purchased licenses for Hunt #2 :goodstuff:

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Awesome Ninepointer, enjoy the hunt!!

Lorenzo

Remember, the deadline to purchase your license is April 1 this year!!!
https://www.pelee.org/pheasant-hunts/

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Originally Posted by ninepointer

Purchased licenses for Hunt #2 :goodstuff:

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Me too! See you on the island :)

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Originally Posted by dilly

Me too! See you on the island :)

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Did you guys reserve the Ferry yet?

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Originally Posted by chocolateman

Did you guys reserve the Ferry yet?

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Ferry not taking fall bookings yet. Soon they say.

I checked the Ontario ferries site and it looks like ferry bookings will commence in May for the pheasant hunt dates.
Lorenzo

Thanks Lor. I called the other day and the guy I spoke to didn’t know anything. He said they were trying to get an online system up and running.

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Originally Posted by dilly

Thanks Lor. I called the other day and the guy I spoke to didn’t know anything. He said they were trying to get an online system up and running.

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No problem Dilly. I also called and emailed and they didn’t seem to know what was happening. I was hoping to
book the ferry before I buy the licence. Hopefully it’s the usual expanded ferry service with both boats going during the hunts, we’ll see what happens.
Lorenzo

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Originally Posted by Lor79

No problem Dilly. I also called and emailed and they didn’t seem to know what was happening. I was hoping to
book the ferry before I buy the licence. Hopefully it’s the usual expanded ferry service with both boats going during the hunts, we’ll see what happens.
Lorenzo

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I wonder if they are holding back to see what the volume of license sales looks like before they commit the boats? I know they will be buying birds based on sales this year. I heard they may be arranging for adult birds to be brought over instead of pen rearing them on the island.

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Originally Posted by dilly

I wonder if they are holding back to see what the volume of license sales looks like before they commit the boats? I know they will be buying birds based on sales this year. I heard they may be arranging for adult birds to be brought over instead of pen rearing them on the island.

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I think that’s exactly it Dilly, I thought the same thing ... can’t say for sure but it makes sense.
Lorenzo

Heads up folks, looks like there is an update again on ferry reservations. Looks like they will be taking reservations for ALL sailings up until late November on March 15 2021. check out the Ontario ferries website to make sure, but it looks like it’s this Monday now.
Lorenzo

Thanks Lorenzo.

Just called and looks like the hunt reservations are again on hold until May 2021. Very confusing this year, as the update said reservations for ALL SAILINGS start on May 15th 2021.
Lorenzo

Thanks again for the update. I forgot to call today. You saved me calling tomorrow.

Hey guys,
I’m booked for the second hunt. Really looking forward to it as last year got canceled and that was supposed to be my first time going

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Originally Posted by C.F.

Hey guys,
I’m booked for the second hunt. Really looking forward to it as last year got canceled and that was supposed to be my first time going

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Same here. Taking my son too. Looking forward to it :)

The sailings are finally open for the pheasant hunts guys. You might have to sit on the phone for awile to get through, but you can book now.

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Originally Posted by dilly

The sailings are finally open for the pheasant hunts guys. You might have to sit on the phone for awile to get through, but you can book now.

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Thanks for the update Dilly...however....I called this morning and they are not taking any more reservations until further notice?
The person who answered could not tell me why or when reservations would be accepted for the hunt?
Suggested I keep checking the Ontario Ferries Website.
This is all very strange....I purchased a license for the hunt...booked accommodations...but...they won't let us book a ferry crossing?
Anyone else having any luck?
Phil

I wonder if they got swamped. The lady I dealt with over the phone was doing all of the entries manually and it took several minutes. I was 42 in line when I called and waited on hold for over an hour. They have an online booking system and I was puzzled as to why you couldn’t just do it that way for these particular sailings. I wonder if they finally tapped out and decided to put it online.

Yeah it has been a bit frustrating this year with the Ferry schedule/booking times/dates. I have been checking the Ontario Ferries site almost daily for updates, as they said they would be posting the hunt specifics there. Just called now but the wait time was 1 hour and 20 minutes, so will have to try later or tomorrow. Dilly, did you happen to book a spot for the hunt dates?

Thanks,

Maybe they are realizing they need to add more sailings too. There were only 2 sailings on the days I booked. In the past there has been 3 or 4.

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Originally Posted by Lor79

Yeah it has been a bit frustrating this year with the Ferry schedule/booking times/dates. I have been checking the Ontario Ferries site almost daily for updates, as they said they would be posting the hunt specifics there. Just called now but the wait time was 1 hour and 20 minutes, so will have to try later or tomorrow. Dilly, did you happen to book a spot for the hunt dates?

Thanks,

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Yes Lor. I booked a day before and the day after the second hunt dates. My wait time was long too at first, but as people gave up, it sped up quite a bit. I just did other stuff while the phone was on hold. They keep you posted where you are in line.

Thanks so much for the update Dilly, I will make sure to look into this ASAP.

Thanks,

Hey all - just got off the phone with the Ferry, and they are not booking reservations right now for the pheasant hunt. I asked to speak to a supervisor, as I just found out that a few friends of mine also booked yesterday, and the sup explained that they will be releasing a full hunt schedule very soon (possibly in the next 1-2 weeks or so), with possible added sailings for WED and FRI. Anyway, make sure to check the Ontario Ferries website/Twitter daily, as it should be out soon.

Over the 4 or 5 times I’ve checked in over the summer, I get the same polite but clearly frustrated lady, and each time her message/advice changes. Last week she told me to watch the Pelee.org website, not the ferry website, for an announcement.

Hey all, online reservations are up and schedule for phez hunt is posted on the Ontario ferries site. Go book your spot!

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Originally Posted by Lor79

Hey all, online reservations are up and schedule for phez hunt is posted on the Ontario ferries site. Go book your spot!

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Thanks Lor79....called this morning and booked...we are all set

No problem, glad you booked your spot! Nice to see they added quite a few ferry runs, with both the new and old ferry. Looking forward to it!

Booked our boat! Thank goodness it’s online now.