ODFW & OHA Meeting Update

[Hiker of the Woods]

ODFW & OHA Meeting<O</O


1. 2010-2015 Upland Game Bird Frameworks:

The public can view the entire proposal for 2010-2015 at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/hunting/upland_bird/Framework/index.asp
Comments can be provided until August 7, 2009

Quick examples: Increase in season length for pheasant, mountain quail, Ruffed and Blue Grouse.
Increase in turkey tags available

2. Proposed Wildlife Management Unit Boundary Change for 2010:

A minor boundary change is being proposed which would change approximately 7 mi^2 from the northwest portion of the Keating WMU to the south end of the Catherine Creek WMU. The change is proposed because the forest road used as the boundary is overgrown and completely gone. The change would affect relatively few hunters. District personnel posted the area and asked for comment. The District received 9 comments, only one in opposition to the change (5 approved and 3 were neutral).

3. Increased tag numbers for 2009 compared to 2008 tag numbers:

Youth Deer: +1%, Rifle Antlerless Deer: +1%, Rifle Antlerless Elk: +1%, Youth Elk: +2%, Bighorn Sheep: +2%, Mt. Goat: +38%, Youth Pronghorn: +21%, Controlled Spring Bear: +13%, SW Limited Bear: +7%
ODFW is proposing to increase the Spring Bear Season in southwest Oregon from 3,750 tags available in 2009 to 4,000 tags available in 2010.

4.
Western Oregon: Winter came early with heavy snow but moderated and overall conditions were fairly mild and most herds wintered well. The prevalence of Deer Hair Loss Syndrome was down in general and fawns are in good condition.

<ST1Eastern Oregon</ST1lace: Herds went into winter in fair condition. Many areas of the state experienced dry conditions during fall 2008 with little green-up. Overall fawn ratios going into the winter were only fair. In general, winter ranges had normal winter conditions with considerably more snow in the early part of the winter and then a general decrease in precipitation and warmer conditions in the mid to late winter. Winter has lasted long, spring green-up is 2-3 weeks late coming in many areas. Overall, animals present wintered well.

Overall 2009 spring surveys found good winter survival in many deer and elk herds. However, some herds went into winter with low-moderate fall fawn/calf ratios resulting in lower tag numbers particularly for bull and bucks as recruitment declines.

 

[Hiker of the Woods]

5. Cougar:

Three Target Areas (TA’s) were established in the fall of 2006. Through April 20, 2009; 53 Cougar had been administratively removed from the Heppner TA, 24 from the Jackson TA, and 24 from the Beulah TA. ODFW management goal for cougars is to not drop below 3,000 animals. That does not mean they want to reach the very lowest level of management objectives (3,000 cougars). They predict there to be 6,000 cougars statewide at this time.




6. Deer:

-General season black-tailed deer hunter participation increased by 3,000 hunters (4%) to approximately 79,000. Total harvest increased from 16,000 to slightly more than 17,000 and the hunter success rate increased from 21% in 2007, to 22% in 2008.

-Because of continued poor fawn recruitment, the department is proposing a 5% decrease in the number of controlled buck mule deer tags (59,242) for 2009.

-The department is proposing to reduce controlled rifle antlerless deer tags by 2% to 10,573 for 2009.

-Proposed new controlled deer hunts include a new ffice:smarttags" <ST1<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com

Wallowa</st1laceName> <st1laceType w:st="on">Valley</st1laceType></ST1#3 white-tailed deer (centerfire rifles prohibited). Four new controlled archery hunts in the Maury, <ST1<st1laceName w:st="on">Steens</st1laceName> <st1laceType w:st="on">Mtn.</st1laceType></ST1, North Warner, and South Warner Units (see Mule Deer Initiative section for details). The department also proposed 4 new youth hunts: the Melrose Unity Youth, the Dalles Watershed Youth (100 series), Baker Private Youth, and the Malheur County Youth.

-Proposed deer hunt boundary changes being proposed include 80 sq. mi. in the Ukiah #1 and #2 hunts by 80 sq. miles to include additional private lands where damage is occurring. The West Blue Mtns (Archery and Muzzleloader Only) one white-tailed deer hunt is proposed to be expanded by 841 sq. mi. by adding portions of the Heppner and Fossil units outside the National Forest.

7. Elk:

-Proposed controlled antlerless elk tags are similar to last year; populations and calf recruitment remain low in <ST1NE OR</ST1.

-Proposed controlled rifle bull tags have been reduced by 4%. Reductions are proposed in the S<ST1<st1laceName w:st="on">addle</st1laceName> <st1laceType w:st="on">Mtn.</st1laceType></ST1 and several eastern OR units.

-The department proposes a new either sex elk hunt in the Melrose Unit, and two new antlerless hunts, the <ST1SW Alsea</ST1 and Fossil-SE Biggs Agriculture hunt.

-After soliciting input from hunters, the District has decided to leave the Starkey Any Bull Rifle Hunt (252A1) in First Season and not move it to Second Season as was being considered.

-There are two proposed Elk hunt boundary changes. The SW Grizzly hunt would increase by 23 Sq. mi. by moving the hunt boundary to the Unit boundary thereby incorporating an area of private land with damage into the hunt area. The Melrose Plus hunt would expand by 40 sq. mi. to include an area with elk damage.

-The department is proposing long season, low tag number, youth hunts for antlerless elk in most areas.
<O</O8. Miscellaneous Regulation Concepts Being Considered

<O</O-Minor boundary change (7mi^2) from Keating WMU to <ST1<st1laceName w:st="on">Catherine</st1laceName> <st1laceName w:st="on">Creek</st1laceName></ST1 because road used as boundary is overgrown and completely gone.
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-Changing the prohibition on hunting for other species with a centerfire or muzzleloading rifle during many buck deer and elk seasons without a valid, unused deer or elk tag for that species, time period and area on their person. The current rule requires and unused tag; rather than eliminate the department is considering modifying the rule to allow hunters who had a tag for that species, time period and area to continue to hunt after they have filled their tag.
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-Adult hunters during youth hunts: Currently, during controlled youth hunts must be accompanied by an adult at least 21 years of age who, except for during a few specific antlerless deer hunts, may not hunt. The department is proposing to change the regulation thereby allowing the adult to hunt for species they have the proper license and tags for.
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-Cascade Elk/Deer: The department is considering allowing Cascade Elk Season hunters to hunt deer at the same time if they also possess a deer tag valid for the time and area, such as a western <st1:State w:st="on"><ST1Oregon</ST1</st1:State> buck deer tag. The Cascade Elk Season area would remain closed for western <st1:State w:st="on"><ST1Oregon</ST1</st1:State> deer hunters who do not also have a valid (used or unused) Cascade Elk tag.
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