[ODFW-News] Waterfowl seasons and 2004 angling rules to be decided Aug. 8

[ODFW News]

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

For Immediate Release	Thursday, July 31, 2003

Waterfowl seasons and 2004 angling rules to be decided Aug. 8 

ASTORIA - The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will adopt the 2003-04 game bird and waterfowl seasons and the 2004 angling regulations at its meeting Friday, Aug. 8, at the Astoria Red Lion Inn.

With reports of improved breeding conditions during the past year for North American ducks, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will recommend the Commission adopt a liberal 107-day hunting season for most species of ducks and geese. Wet weather in south central Canada led to good duck production. 

A 107-day duck season, the maximum allowed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, would be consistent with the number of hunting days allowed in recent years.

In northwest Oregon, ODFW is proposing to make cutbacks in check stations in the Northwest Permit Goose Zone, but all private lands are expected to stay open to goose hunting during the allowed season. ODFW also is considering reducing the number of open hunt days during the week from four to three. These cutbacks are the result of the loss of federal funds to assist with goose depredation issues in the region. Check stations are required to determine the harvest of the rare dusky Canada goose.

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission is the rule-making body for ODFW. The seven-member panel meets monthly to adopt rules and set policy for ODFW to implement. The Commission meeting will begin at 8 a.m. at the Red Lion Inn, 400 Industry Street, Astoria.
The night before the meeting, the Commission will host an informal reception beginning at 7 p.m. at the same location. 
 
The Commission also will vote on angling regulations for 2004. Proposals were drafted to meet critical conservation needs, correct inadvertent mistakes or restrictions, or implement basin management plans. They include:
·	Reducing the statewide annual sturgeon bag limit from 10 to five fish per year to meet conservation goals;
·	Redefining the definition of adipose fin clip to "a clipped adipose fin and having a healed scar at the location of the clipped fin" to allow anglers to legally harvest hatchery fish with partial fin clips and to aid with enforcement;
·	Allowing standard fishing practices for tuna, including chumming, to be used in Oregon waters;
·	Establishing selective fisheries for  harvest of fin-marked hatchery spring chinook salmon from lower Columbia River tributaries and select area fisheries;
·	Eliminating the one-per-day and five-per-year bag limits for fall chinook in the Rogue River because the population has recovered;
·	Reducing the allowed harvest of wild  spring chinook salmon in the Rogue River because populations have declined;
·	Prohibiting angling after 7 p.m. at the "Hatchery Hole" along the Rogue River to reduce illegal fishing activites;
·	Requiring all retained trout be adipose fin-clipped in Hills Creek Reservoir in the Willamette Zone to protect wild bull trout;
·	Clarifying Willamette Zone trout regulations;
·	Prohibiting sockeye salmon harvest in the Columbia River;
·	Reducing the daily bag limit for surf perch from 25 to 15 per day to conserve the species; and
·	Limiting the number of crabs that may be held in a holding pot for 24 hours in bays and estuaries to no more than two daily limits, or 24 crabs.

In addition to the bird hunting and angling regulations, the Commission will: 
·	Hear a briefing on regional activities;
·	Select dates and sites for 2004 Commission meetings;
·	Hold an executive session to consult with legal counsel on records not open for public inspection pursuant to ORS 192.660(1);
·	Hear a report on progress to amend administrative rules to ensure consistency with the Native Fish Conservation Policy adopted in 2002;
·	Approve Restoration and Enhancement Program funding requests and appoint board members;
·	Adopt regulations for bass and walleye tournaments;
·	Adopt final orders on contested cases related to developmental fisheries permits; and
·	Hear a briefing on 2004 groundfish harvest levels and management.

Public testimony will be taken on each agenda item with the exception of the executive session and contested case hearing. Sign-up sheets will be provided at the meeting. Agenda item exhibits may be requested by calling the ODFW Director's Office at (503) 872-5272. 

Persons seeking to testify for up to five minutes on other issues not on the formal agenda may do so by making arrangements at least 24 hours in advance. "Unscheduled testimony" must be arranged by calling Mike Lueck, ODFW Director's Office, at (503) 872-5272. Unscheduled testimony occurs around 1 p.m. and is limited to about six speakers.


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Information and Education Division
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
(503) 872-5264 ext 5528