[ODFW-News] Cougar Season in Northeast Oregon Closes Nov. 15

[ODFW News]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife =09
Contact: 	Anne Pressentin Young (503) 872-5264 x5356=09
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us  Fax: (503) 872-5700

For Immediate Release	Thursday, November 07, 2002

Cougar Season in Northeast Oregon Closes Nov. 15

PORTLAND - The Blue Mountains cougar hunt zone in northeast Oregon will =
close to cougar hunting a half hour after sunset Friday, Nov.15, because =
the 2002 cougar harvest quota will be met, the Oregon Department of Fish =
and Wildlife announced today.=20

No other 2002 cougar hunt zones are expected to close before the end of =
the calendar year. Hunters with an unfilled general season cougar tag may =
hunt in any of the other five cougar zones in the state. "Blue Mountain =
Additional" cougar tags are not valid elsewhere in the state. The 2003 =
general cougar season begins in all six zones Jan. 1, 2003, for those =
hunters with a 2003 cougar tag and a 2003 hunting license.=20

The cougar quota system was adopted by ODFW to more evenly distribute =
cougar harvest throughout the state. The Blue Mountains Zone has accounted =
for more than 50 percent of the total state harvest this year. Quota =
levels are set to manage population levels and distribute hunters.

The Blue Mountains cougar hunt zone, also called Zone E, has a 2002 quota =
of 98 cougars. As of Nov. 7, 94 cougars had been checked at ODFW offices. =
Most cougars are harvested during deer or elk hunting seasons.

Statewide, the total allowed sport harvest in the 2002 calendar year is =
408 cougars. As of Nov. 7, hunters have taken 177 cougars. For 2003, the =
Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission approved a 20 percent increase in the =
allowed harvest to 510 animals to provide additional hunting opportunities.=
 The decision was based on a re-evaluation of current cougar population =
trends. The Blue Mountains Zone harvest quota for 2003 will increase to =
123 cougars.=20

Hunters may check if the season is open in other zones by calling a local =
ODFW office, calling the general information line at (503) 872-5268 or =
clicking on http://www.dfw.state.or.us/ODFWhtml/Regulations/2002_reg_change=
s.htm#biggame and scrolling down to the cougar quota information.=20

More information about Oregon's cougar season can be found on pages 38-40 =
in the 2002 Oregon Big Game Regulations.
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