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ODFW
2/7/03
Amended Management Plans Adopted for Elk and Mule Deer
The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted management plans Friday that provide generalized direction on management of elk and mule deer. More specific direction will be considered in future rule-making, such as the annual adoption of the big game regulations.
The plans maintain the existing population and bull-ratio management objectives, but contain recommendations to initiate a public process within two years to consider changes. Management objectives drive decisions on controlled hunt tag allocations and general hunting seasons. In addition, the plans indicate the need to start a public review process this year on archery seasons.
Elk Management Plan Summary:
Plan objectives were amended and expanded to 1) maintain calf recruitment to support desired population levels and recreational benefits; 2) maintain bull ratios at or above management objective levels; 3) maintain population numbers at or near management objectives; 4) maintain, enhance and restore elk habitat; 5) maintain consumptive and non-consumptive recreational elk resources; 6) minimize elk damage consistent with a new damage policy currently under development.
Habitat: Identify habitat factors limiting elk populations, cooperate with other landowners and managers to improve habitat, seek funding for specific projects, find innovative alternatives to reduce elk damage on private property, consider new incentives to provide public access to private land and streamline the Landowner Preference tag allocation process.
Population Structure: Review all bull-ratio management objectives in the next two years and improve the ratios where needed, re-evaluate all population management objectives and continue elk nutrition/predation research studies.
Hunter Management: Initiate a public review process in 2003 to address concerns with archery seasons, evaluate other special interest hunting opportunities, support efforts to enhance law enforcement.
Management considerations: Coordinate with public land managers to restrict all-terrain vehicles and reduce game harassment, provide controls on elk ranching to protect wild populations and monitor and respond to disease in elk populations.
Mule Deer Plan Summary:
Plan objectives were amended to: 1) Optimize recruitment of mule deer populations and maintain buck ratios at approved levels, 2) Maintain, enhance and restore mule deer habitat, and 3) Enhance all recreational uses of the resource.
Information needs: Consider mandatory reporting of hunter success, the elimination of the third-tier of the post-season buck ratios and reduced opportunity for multiple controlled and general season deer tags.
Predation and non-harvest losses: Consider determining predation and road kill losses in each wildlife management unit.
Habitat: Identify habitat factors in each wildlife management unit that are limiting populations and maintain existing habitat improvement programs.
Management considerations: Encourage courts to increase enforcement fines, support increased revenue for enforcement through tags or fees, monitor disease in wild populations, limit expansion of cervid ranching, support enforcement of all-terrain vehicle rules and the expansion of travel management areas during hunting seasons.
Hunter management: Consider reductions in the total number of hunting days, delayed buck season opening, and rules for collection of shed antlers. Also, support consolidation of public lands and providing funding to increase public access.
2/7/03
Amended Management Plans Adopted for Elk and Mule Deer
The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted management plans Friday that provide generalized direction on management of elk and mule deer. More specific direction will be considered in future rule-making, such as the annual adoption of the big game regulations.
The plans maintain the existing population and bull-ratio management objectives, but contain recommendations to initiate a public process within two years to consider changes. Management objectives drive decisions on controlled hunt tag allocations and general hunting seasons. In addition, the plans indicate the need to start a public review process this year on archery seasons.
Elk Management Plan Summary:
Plan objectives were amended and expanded to 1) maintain calf recruitment to support desired population levels and recreational benefits; 2) maintain bull ratios at or above management objective levels; 3) maintain population numbers at or near management objectives; 4) maintain, enhance and restore elk habitat; 5) maintain consumptive and non-consumptive recreational elk resources; 6) minimize elk damage consistent with a new damage policy currently under development.
Habitat: Identify habitat factors limiting elk populations, cooperate with other landowners and managers to improve habitat, seek funding for specific projects, find innovative alternatives to reduce elk damage on private property, consider new incentives to provide public access to private land and streamline the Landowner Preference tag allocation process.
Population Structure: Review all bull-ratio management objectives in the next two years and improve the ratios where needed, re-evaluate all population management objectives and continue elk nutrition/predation research studies.
Hunter Management: Initiate a public review process in 2003 to address concerns with archery seasons, evaluate other special interest hunting opportunities, support efforts to enhance law enforcement.
Management considerations: Coordinate with public land managers to restrict all-terrain vehicles and reduce game harassment, provide controls on elk ranching to protect wild populations and monitor and respond to disease in elk populations.
Mule Deer Plan Summary:
Plan objectives were amended to: 1) Optimize recruitment of mule deer populations and maintain buck ratios at approved levels, 2) Maintain, enhance and restore mule deer habitat, and 3) Enhance all recreational uses of the resource.
Information needs: Consider mandatory reporting of hunter success, the elimination of the third-tier of the post-season buck ratios and reduced opportunity for multiple controlled and general season deer tags.
Predation and non-harvest losses: Consider determining predation and road kill losses in each wildlife management unit.
Habitat: Identify habitat factors in each wildlife management unit that are limiting populations and maintain existing habitat improvement programs.
Management considerations: Encourage courts to increase enforcement fines, support increased revenue for enforcement through tags or fees, monitor disease in wild populations, limit expansion of cervid ranching, support enforcement of all-terrain vehicle rules and the expansion of travel management areas during hunting seasons.
Hunter management: Consider reductions in the total number of hunting days, delayed buck season opening, and rules for collection of shed antlers. Also, support consolidation of public lands and providing funding to increase public access.
