[ODFW-News] Commission adopts tag numbers, appoints wolf committee

[Anne Pressentin]

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	Friday, June 6, 2003

Tag Numbers Approved for Limited Entry Big Game Hunts
Wolf Advisory Committee Appointed


PENDLETON * The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission Friday allocated 167,281 tags for this fall's limited entry hunts for deer, elk, pronghorn, bighorn sheep and rocky mountain goat. 

The approved tag numbers represent a 3 percent overall decline compared to last fall. However, the number of tags increased slightly for bighorn, pronghorn and Roosevelt elk. A drop in antlerless tags for Rocky Mountain elk and black-tailed deer account for the bulk of the tag reductions. The reductions were necessary because agricultural damage situations have been resolved with elk in eastern Oregon and black-tailed deer populations have declined in western Oregon.

The Commission is the rule-making body for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The seven-member panel meets monthly to establish policies and administrative regulations for the agency to implement. 

Today's step was the final one in a process that began in the spring of 2002, when staff biologists first presented the Commissioners with a conceptual look at their general 2003 season recommendations.  In the fall of 2002, the Commission formally adopted regulations to select the season dates, locations and other specific information for the 2003 regulations. Today's commission action incorporated the most recent biological data to establish 2003 controlled hunt tag numbers, which were adopted as Oregon Administrative Rules, for many deer and elk hunts and all bighorn sheep, rocky mountain goat and pronghorn hunts. 

The process now begis to award controlled hunt tags to those hunters who applied by May 15. Results will be available June 20. Hunters who were not drawn in a lottery to award the limited number of tags may choose to hunt the general seasons for western Oregon deer and/or elk. There is no limit on the number of general season tags sold to hunters. Cougar and fall bear hunting seasons also are managed as general seasons. 

Two permanent rule changes were made that will take effect this fall. One was to address some confusion expressed by Oregon hunters about last year's change in the 'evidence of sex' rules. Rules adopted today now provide hunters the option of following either the old rules requiring the scalp with the eyes and antlers attached, or new rules, described in the 2003 Oregon Big Game Regulations, where either the head or reproductive organs must remain attached. 

In addition, the Commission adopted a permanent rule that aims to prevent the importation of chronic wasting disease to Oregon. Hunters bringing meat back from states with CWD and cannot import any portion of the head or spinal column unless it has been cleaned of all meat and brain tissue. Allowed carcass parts include: cut and wrapped meat, quarters or other portions without the spinal column or head, boned out meat, hides and/or capes without head, skull plates with antlers attached and no tissue attached, upper canine teeth and finished taxidermy heads. 

The following summarizes the Commission's actions Friday:

Deer: 

The total number of available controlled hunt deer tags for 2003 will decline by 4 percent to 99,020 tags from those approved last year. A 2,396 tag drop in western Oregon antlerless tags accounted for much of the decline. The number of buck rifle tags declined by 2 percent, or 1,303 tags, to 70,873.

The reduction in tags occurred due to isolated mule deer population declines and the more widespread decline in black-tailed deer populations due to the effects of deer hair loss syndrome. 

The Commission made one change tothe ODFW staff proposal and reduced the number of antlerless mule deer tags by 100 in the Silver Lake and East Fork Rock hunts to address a concern made during public testimony about the number of deer on the summer range in that area of south central Oregon.

The Commission also changed the general bow season bag limit to 'any deer' in the Biggs, Columbia Basin, Hood Maupin, Silver Lake management units and that part of the White River Management Unit outside of the national forest. 

The Commission gave preliminary approval for 2004 general and controlled deer season dates as well as the addition of two antlerless hunts in northeast Oregon and the deletion of two antlerless hunts in northwest and northeast Oregon.

Elk: 

The Commission approved a 3 percent increase, or 438 tags, in the number of Roosevelt elk tags for 2003 and a 5 percent decline, or 2,224 tags, in the number of Rocky Mountain elk tags for 2003. Statewide, the number of controlled elk tags will decline 3 percent to 60,570 tags compared to 2002.

Roosevelt elk populations in western Oregon look healthy this year and 75 percent of population surveyed met the biological management objectives bull to cow ratios. With healthy populations, the Commission increased antlerless tags to address agricultural damage situations. In contrast, the bull to cow ratios in eastern Oregon's Rocky Mountain elk dropped in 2003 and only 38 percent met the biological management objective. 

The Commission gave preliminary approval for the 2004 general and controlled elk season dates and the addition of 12 cow hunts and the deletion of eight cow hunts. Three of the deleted hunts and thee of the added hunts will allow the annual weapons rotation in southwest Oregon. The other hunt changes were preliminarily approved because population and damage-reduction goals have been achieved or to address new agricultural damage situations. 

Pronghorn (Antelope):

The Commission approved a 4 percent increase in pronghorn tags for 2003 compared to 2002 because f continued increases in doe to fawn ratios and overall pronghorn numbers in south central Oregon. The total number of tags approved is 2,706 for 55 hunts.

The Commission gave preliminary approval to a bag limit change for 2004 to those hunts currently with a 'horns shorter than the ears' bag limit. In 2004, the bag limit would be 'one doe or fawn pronghorn.' Biologists recommended the change because of the number of bucks inadvertently harvested in hunts established to target does. The Commission also preliminarily approved season dates for 2004 and the addition of a second hunt period in the Warner Unit.

Bighorn Sheep: 

The Commission allocated 70 tags for bighorn sheep hunts for 2003, which is a 10-tag increase compared to 2002. The increase was allowed because of growing populations, particularly in the Deschutes and John Day river basins. Hunters are allowed to draw only bighorn sheep tag in a lifetime through the annual lottery.

For 2004, the Commission preliminarily approved hunt season dates and the addition of three new hunts. The new hunts could allow allocation of five new tags in 2004. In addition, the Commission decided to delete one hunt because the mature ram population in the West Owyhee Unit has declined. 

Rocky Mountain Goat:

The Commission allocated four Rocky Mountain goat tags for 2003, which is the same number approved in recent years. The Commission also preliminarily approved the addition  of one new wild goat hunt for 2004 in Hells Canyon. 

The Rocky Mountain goat population has grown and expanded its range in recent years.

Cougar:

For 2003, the Commission approved last October a 25 percent increase in the statewide harvest quota of cougars. 

In 2002, hunters harvested 230 cougars. Hunters reached the individual zone quota in the Columbia Basin and Blue Mountains zones in 2002. 

The Commission gave preliminary approval for season dates and a 10 percent increase in the cougar quota for 2004, which would bring the statewide quota to 562. ODFW biologists aid that scientific modeling indicates the cougar population will decline if hunters harvest the entire quota and all other mortality factors remain equal. 

Bear:

The Commission gave preliminary approval for the 2004 controlled and general seasons for bear, which would remain unchanged from 2003. The 2003 fall general season received approval last year. 

The Commission also gave preliminary approval for a 500-tag increase for the southwest Oregon controlled spring bear hunt to address ongoing damage and provide hunting opportunity on a healthy population. The total number of spring bear tags proposed for 2004 is 6,203.


Commission chooses members for wolf advisory committee

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission voted unanimously Friday to appoint 14 people from throughout the state to represent diverse viewpoints and provide recommendations for the future management of wolves in Oregon. The Wolf Advisory Committee is expected to begin its work in July.

In April, the Commission adopted a planning process for the creation of a Wolf Management Plan, a planning goal statement and 10 operating principles. The appointed members will use the guidance from the Commission to begin its work. The committee will be assisted by a professional, independent facilitator. In addition, Craig Ely, ODFW's northeast region manager, will sit on the committee. 

The following people were selected from a list of 82 nominees based on their qualifications and ability to fairly represent the interests of the various stakeholder groups:

·	Hunters: Ivan (Sandy) Sanderson, Salem. 
·	Livestock producers: Sharon Beck, Cove. 
·	Public Land Manager: Meg Mitchell, Enterprise. 
·	Trappers: Joe Colver, Portland. 
·	Eastern Oregon County Commissioners: Ben Boswell, Enterprise. 
·	Range/Forest Conservationists: Brett Brownscombe, LaGrande. 
·	Citizens At-Large (East): Bob Lund, LaGrande. 
·	Citizens At-Large (West): Bill Gawlowski, Silverton. 
·	Educators: Dan Edge, Corvallis.
·	Wildlife Biologists/Researchers: Bb Riggs, LaGrande. 
·	Economists: Hans Radtke, Yachats. 
·	Rural Oregon Residents: Clint Krebs, Ione. 
·	Native American Tribes: Ken Hall, Pendleton.
·	Wolf Conservationists: Nancy Weiss, Ashland. 


Commission Approves 19 Funding Proposals for wildlife habitat and hunting access projects.

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission Friday approved $346,512 in grants for 19 projects that improve wildlife habitat and public hunting access throughout the state of Oregon. The funding requests were approved as part of the Oregon Access and Habitat Program.

The Commission approved the following: 

·	Abiqua Basin Hunter Access: $3,635 toward a $13,060 project in Marion County to allow hunting access on 25,600 acres owned by Longview Fibre Company during deer and elk seasons. The A&H funds will be used to pay for volunteers travel costs associated with opening and closing gates, which helps reduce vandalism and wildlife law violations.
·	Oblack Farm Fertilization: $9,240 toward a $13,440 project in Columbia County to improve the quantity and quality of deer and elk forage, reduce big game damage to agricultural lands and allow by-permission hunting access.
·	Ellis Farm Fertilization: $13,500 toward a $18,900 project in Columbia County to improve the quantity and quality of deer and elk forage, reduce big game damage to agricultural lands and allow by-permission hunting access.
·	Schmidlin Farm Fertilization: $7,560 toward a $10,650 project in Columbia County to improve the quantity and quality of deer and elk forage, reduce big game damage to agricultural lands and allow by-permission hunting access.
·	Bear Creek Habitat Project: $1,165 toward a $2,965 project in Clatsop County to improve the quantity and quality of deer and elk forage, repair an elk-damaged fence, reduce big game damage to agricultural lands and allow by-permission hunting access.
·	Willamette Private Lands Law Enforcement and Stott Mountain-N. Alsea Cooperative Travel Management Area: An additional $40,096 to an existing $526,826 poject in northwest Oregon to enforce a travel management area. The increased funding will pay for one additional temporary Oregon State Police trooper. The revenue comes from unspent funds from savings in previous A&H projects.
·	Timbers/Spring Butte/Embody Block Travel Management and Enforcement: $102,088 toward $548,981 project in Klamath County to continue recreational public access on 59,130 acres of Crown Pacific property for another five years. Funds will be used to hire an OSP officer for five months each year. 
·	Heppner Regulated Hunt Area: Amended a $48,720 grant toward a $114,775 project in Morrow County to operate the Heppner Regulated Hunt Area and provide unrestricted public hunting access on 48,720 acres.
·	Lostine Wildlife Area Controlled Burn: $5,000 toward a $10,000 project in Wallowa County to conduct a spring  prescribed fire on ODFW's Lostine Wildlife Area to improve big game winter range.
·	Forsea Ranch Access: $20,000 toward a project in Baker County to secure unrestricted public hunting access to 8,000 acres of private land in the Lookout Mountain Wildlife Management Unit.
·	The Dahle Ranch Upland Bird Project * Phase I: $6,276 toward a $11,646 project in Malheur County to improve wildlife habitat on 385 acres through fencing, seeding and shrub plantings. By-permission public hunting access will be allowed.
·	Cow Valley Elk Hazer: $4,000 toward a $11,950 project in Malheur County to hire two people to haze elk away from 1,700 acres of irrigated crop land and repair elk-damaged fences. By-permission public hunting access will be allowed on 8,500 acres.
·	Denny Jones Ranch Meadow Restoration: $10,642 toward a $41,407 project in Malheur County to restore 100 acres of meadow habitat to benefit wildlife and the public hunting experience. The project area is part of a 7,000 acre ranch owned by the Burns Paiute Tribe managed for wildlife and public hunting, and provides access to adjoining federal lands. 
·	Larsen Cropland Restoration, Weed Lake Area Winter Forage Improvement: $14,400toward a $134,317 project in Harney County to provide by-permission public hunting access to 960 acres of private land.
·	White's Ranch Irrigation Project: $56,348 toward a $134,990 project in Harney County to provide 10 years of by-permission public hunting access to 2,000 acres of private land near Burns.
·	Trout Creek Mountain Access Project: $5,450 toward a $9,785 project in Harney County to purchase two cattle guards and alleviate livestock trespass associated with hunters and other members of the public leaving gates open to access private land. The landowner will allow unrestricted public access for at least five years to 1,100 acres.
·	Balken Basin Water Storage Project: $13,750 toward a $23,400 project in Harney County to provide more water for wildlife in the fall and winter by lining two existing reservoirs with a clay-like barrier. By-permission hunting access will continue to be allowed on 2,700 acres. 
·	Rickman Russian Knapweed Rehabilitation Project: $9,000 toward a $115,874 project in Harney County to rehabilitate meadows currently infested with knapweed. The landowner will provide by-permission public hunting access to 600 acres for three years.
·	Coombs Canyon Regulated Hunt Area: $15,738 toward a $18,517 project in Umatilla County to continue to provide unrestricted public access to 12,500 acres of private land for upland game bird and deer hunting. Wildlife habitat will be improved through weed control, water development and shrub development.

Created by the Oregon Legislature in 1993, the A&H Program is funded by a $2 surcharge on hunting licenses.  Funds raised by the program are distributed through grants to individual and corporate landowners, conservation organizations, and others for cooperative wildlife habitat improvement and hunter access projects throughout the state.
For more information on the Access and Habitat Program, contact program coordinator Susan Barnes at (503) 872-5260, extension 5349.

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