[ODFW-News] Commission Plan to Hear Wolf Management Options

[Anne Pressentin]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife =09
Contact: Anne Pressentin Young (503) 872-5264 x5356
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us  Fax: (503) 872-5700
=09
For Immediate Release	Friday, February 07, 2003

Commission Plans to Hear Wolf Management Options in March
Oregon ESA Issues on Wolves Clarified

PORTLAND * The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission asked Friday for a =
report to be delivered March 21 on the range of alternatives that might be =
available to manage gray wolves in Oregon and a proposal to address =
potential livestock depredation by wolves.=20

In a departure from an earlier interpretation, an in-depth legal review of =
Oregon's Endangered Species Act by the Oregon Department of Justice found =
that the act of killing a wolf is prohibited on both public and private =
lands. The Commission has the authority to allow "take" * killing or =
taking possession or control * under certain circumstances if it is =
consistent with conservation of the species. Methods to allow take while =
conserving the species could include scientific take permits, damage take =
permits, wildlife removal and holding permits, harassment permits, =
survival guidelines, endangered species management plans, or incidental =
take permits.=20

The memorandum to the Commission was presented Friday during the regularly =
scheduled monthly meeting of the seven-member panel. The Commission is the =
rule-making body for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.=20

The legal memo, dated Jan. 31, 2003, said under the Oregon ESA, the =
Commission must conserve the species in Oregon and cannot select a "no =
protection" alternative. In addition, the state ESA prevents the Commission=
 from requiring that all wolves migrating to Oregon from Idaho be =
returned.=20
 =20
The information requested by the Commission will be presented by ODFW =
staff at theCommission's next meeting in Newport. The information to be =
presented in March also will include a summary of all the written comments =
received during a series of 15 town hall meetings held from November, =
2002, * January, 2003.

The legal information presented at Friday's meeting will be posted to the =
ODFW Web site Monday at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/ODFWhtml/InfoCntrWild/gr=
ay_wolf/wolf_main.htm . =20

Public comments on wolf issues continue to be accepted by the Commission. =
Written comments may be submitted to ODFW Information and Education =
Division, P.O. Box 59, Portland, OR 97207.


Existing Harvest Caps on Nearshore Goundfish Will Stand for 2003

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission directed ODFW staff Friday to end =
further investigation on a proposal to reduce this year's allowed harvest =
levels on nearshore groundfish by 20 percent. Instead, the caps adopted in =
December, 2002, will stand for 2003.=20

The Commission gave the direction upon hearing the results of a scientific =
analysis of the potential conservation benefits of a harvest reduction and =
the results of public meetings on the proposal. The majority of people who =
attended two public meetings did not support additional cuts.

However, the Commission directed ODFW staff to gather additional input =
from commercial fishers on seasons at a public meeting scheduled for late =
February. Members of the Commission indicated they were in favor of =
managing the season to provide fish markets with a consistent product for =
most of the year and to avoid a "derby" type fishery.=20

Commercial harvest of fresh and live rockfish, cabezon and greenling has =
increased in recent years due to market demand. Complicating matters is =
the lack of biological data on many of these nearshore groundfish species.

The Commission also indicated its support for increasing the minimum size =
of cabezon to 16 inches from 15 inches for sport anglers in 2004, =
continuing nearshore groundfish research and exploring options to curtail =
open access commercial fisheries on blue nd black rockfish.=20

Commission Approves Strategies for Black-tailed Deer Management

The Commission approved recommendations to address changes in western =
Oregon's black-tailed deer populations for implementation during the next =
review of the big game regulations. The recommendations include:
=B7	Retain general rifle and general September archery seasons;
=B7	Maintain current season lengths, but if the rifle season must be =
reduced for biological reasons, the archery season also will be reduced.
=B7	Minimize the opportunity for a hunter to harvest more than one =
deer;
=B7	Pending a review of all archery seasons, make the late season =
archery hunt a controlled hunt;
=B7	Consider changes to the late-season Willamette Unit archery hunt.
=B7	Improve data collection through voluntary tooth collection or a =
mandatory reporting system; and
=B7	Use the Oregon Big Game Regulations as an educational tool.

Archery Hunting Review to Begin in 2003

Responding to concerns voiced recently by many hunters, the Commission =
gave the go-ahead to initiate a two-year review of the state's bow hunting =
regulations and seasons.=20

Hunters have cited equitability of seasons and bag limits, wounding loss, =
hunter crowding and competition from non-resident hunters as concerns.=20

ODFW already has formed an internal working group to begin compiling data. =
An external working group will be formed with management partners and =
interest groups to assist with the review. A random public survey also is =
planned.=20

The following timeline is expected to be followed:
=B7	September, 2003: Issues paper developed;
=B7	November, 2003: Public survey begins;
=B7	June, 2004: Draft recommendations presented to the Commission;
=B7	July-August, 2004: Public meetings;
=B7	October, 2004: Commission review, with any proposed actions =
implemented in 2005 hunting seasons.=20

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 nd mule deer. More =
specific direction will be considered in future rule-making, such as the =
annual adoption of the big game regulations.=20

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.=20

Elk Management Plan Summary:
=B7	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.
=B7	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.
=B7	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.
=B7	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.
=B7	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 espond to =
disease in elk populations.

Mule Deer Plan Summary:
=B7	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.=20
=B7	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.
=B7	Predation and non-harvest losses: Consider determining predation =
and road kill losses in each wildlife management unit.
=B7	Habitat: Identify habitat factors in each wildlife management unit =
that are limiting populations and maintain existing habitat improvement =
programs.
=B7	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.
=B7	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.

Public Testimony Guidelines Communicated=20

The Commission reminded members of the public of the new guidelines for =
giving  testimony at its regular meetings:
=B7	Public testimony is allowed and encouraged on exhibit items on the =
formal agenda. Sign up sheets are located at the back of the room the day =
of the meeting for each agenda item. Speakers are generally allowed five =
minutes.=20
=B7	Public testimony also is allowed on items not on the formal =
agenda. People seeking to testify on "unscheduled" items must call the =
ODFW Director's Office at (503) 872-5272 at least 24 hours in advance to =
be placed on the list. Speakers are limited to five minutes. The number of =
speakes will be limited to about six per meeting.=20
Speakers may provide written testimony and are asked to bring 20 copies if =
they choose to do so.



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