[ODFW-News] Commission decides to appoint task force to study predator trapping

[ODFW News]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 	
Contact: 	Anne Pressentin Young (503) 947-6020	
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us  Fax: (503) 947-6009
	

For Immediate Release	Monday, October 13, 2003

Commission decides to appoint task force to study predator trapping requirements


ROSEBURG - After hearing from two dozen people with differing opinions on trapping practices for predatory animals, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission decided Friday to delay a vote on trap check requirements and appoint a committee to further study the issue and make recommendations in early 2004. 
The seven-member Commission is the rule-making body for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The panel meets monthly to adopt policies and administrative rules covering fish and wildlife issues in the state.

The Commission said additional information was needed on trapping, trapping regulations in other states and information from a legislatively-appointed task force. The five-member "Best Management Practice" trapping task force met several times in 2002 after state law was amended to require furbearer traps to be checked every 48 hours and predator traps to be checked "on a regular basis." The Oregon Legislature left it up to the Commission to define, in administrative rules, what constitutes a "regular basis" based on the work of the task force. Friday the Commission decided that more study was needed from an expanded committee that represents all viewpoints.

In Oregon, predatory animals are defined in statute and include coyotes, rabbits, rodents, feral swine and birds that are, or may be, destructive to agricultural crops. Furbearers also are trapped and are defined as beaver, bobcat, fisher, marten, mink, muskrat, otter, raccoon, red fox and gray fox. 

The Commission chose not to hear a proposal that would have required trappers to check their restraining traps or snares holding predatory animals every 76 hours. The proposal also called for trappers to check traps designed to kill predators every seven days. 

ODFW staff will appoint members to the expanded committee and present the names of the members at the November Commission meeting. In addition, ODFW will publicize the meetings of the committee so that other members of the public may attend. 


Seasons for black-tailed deer hunting to change in 2004
2004 big game regulations adopted

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission voted Friday to change the 2004 general rifle season structure for black-tailed deer to end Friday, Nov. 5 instead of Wednesday, Nov. 10, as originally proposed. Commission members cited concerns with the western Oregon deer population when voting for the proposal.

The season change eliminates one weekend of hunting. As much as 30 percent of the deer harvest occurs during the last week of the season. However, compared to the 2003 season, the 2004 season will be two days longer. The adopted season dates will be Oct. 2 - Nov. 5, 2004, with closures in some areas during elk hunts.

The Commission also decided to set the standard controlled coast area antlerless/spike deer hunts concurrent with controlled Cascade-area antlerless hunts. Many 2004 antlerless/spike black-tailed deer rifle hunts will occur from the day after the Cascade Elk season ends to the end of the general buck deer season.  In 2004 the date for these antlerless spike hunts will be Oct. 23 - Nov. 5. The change does not affect muzzleloader or youth hunts or hunts designed to primarily address agricultural damage. 

In addition, the bag limit for western Oregon archery deer tags will change to one buck having not less than a forked antler unless the hunt area has a unit-wide antlerless hunt. Previously, the bag limit was one deer. The bag limit change affects both the early and late archery seasons. No changes were made to the general archery season dates, which will be open Aug. 28 - Sept. 26, 2004, statewide. In addition, the late archery deer season is open for hunters with a general season archery tag in some western Oregon units in November and December. 

Hunter success and black-tailed deer populations appear to be declining according to ODFW biologists.  Changes in deer habitat and disease are two factors thought to be driving forces in the decline.

The Commission Friday also adopted hunting regulations for all other big game for 2004 and authorized season dates with standard calendar adjustments. The printed pamphlet that lists all the 2004 seasons and regulations is expected to be available at license agents in December 2003. 

*Mule Deer:
For controlled centerfire buck deer seasons in eastern Oregon, the Commission made no changes to the existing season framework, which provides a 12-day season Oct. 2-13, 2004. The Commission deleted an antlerless deer hunt and added two antlerless hunts.


*Elk: 
No major changes were made to any controlled or general bull or either sex elk seasons for 2004. For the controlled antlerless elk seasons, 12 hunts were deleted and 15 new hunts were added due to changes in existing elk damage situations on agricultural lands. Three of the deleted hunts and three of the added hunts will allow the annual weapons rotation in three areas of southwest Oregon. The other hunt changes were primarily because population and damage-reduction goals have been achieved or to address new agricultural damage situations.

The adopted general season elk hunts include:
-Wilson-Trask: Oct. 16-20, 2004,
-Mid-coast Valley: Nov. 13-16, 2004,
-Coast-Valley: Nov. 20-26, 2004,
-Cascade: Oct. 16-22, 2004,
-Rocky Mountain first period: Oct. 27-31, 2004,
-Rocky Mountain second period: Nov. 6-14, 2004,
-Columbia Basin: Oct. 27-Nov. 21, 2004,
-Archery elk: Oct. 28-Sept. 26, 2004, statewide with a late season in a few western Oregon units. 

*Cougar:
The Commission increased the allowable harvest in all six zones. No changes were made to the existing cougar harvest quota zone boundaries. The 2004 quota will be 562 compared to 510 for 2003, which is a 10 percent increase. Increasing cougar populations allowed the Commission to increase the quota. ODFW biologists said that scientific modeling indicates the cougar population will decline if hunters harvest the entire quota in all six zones and all other mortality factors remain equal.

The cougar season dates in 2004 will be Jan. 1 - May 31, 2004, and Aug. 1 - Dec. 31, 2004 statewide. In certain areas of western Oregon, the season is open year-round. 

*Bear:
The Commission increased by 10 percent to 6,203 the number of tags available to be sold in the 2004 spring bear controlled hunts. A 500 tag increase for the Southwest Oregon spring bear hunt accounts for much of the increase. The increase was approved to address ongoing agricultural damage by a healthy population of bears. Most spring bear hunts will occur in the April 1 - June 15, 2004, time period. 

No changes were made to the general fall bear season. The season will be open Aug. 1 - Dec. 31, 2004 in western Oregon and Aug. 1 - Nov. 30, 2004, in eastern Oregon. 

*Pronghorn: 
The Commission changed the bag limit for most pronghorn hunts for 2004 to reduce the number of bucks being killed in hunts designed to target does. In the past five years, buck harvest in hunts targeting does averaged 15 to 26 percent of the total harvest. The new bag limit will be "one doe or fawn pronghorn" in place of the 2003 bag limit of one pronghorn with "horns shorter than the ears." In conjunction with this change, the bag limit for buck hunts was changed to "one buck pronghorn." 

One controlled hunt, North Grizzly, was deleted because a damage situation has been addressed. Another hunt was added in the Warner Unit as a result of improved buck and fawn ratios. 

In addition, the Commission authorized for the first time a special pronghorn auction tag and a special pronghorn raffle tag. Proceeds from the auction of a pronghorn tag and the sale of raffle tickets will be used for pronghorn management and research. Holders of the special tags may hunt Aug. 1 - Sept. 30, 2004, in all pronghorn hunt areas except the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge. A minimum bid of $2,000 was established for the auction tag. The special tags were made possible as a result of legislation passed earlier this year. 

Most pronghorn hunts occur in late August or early September.

*Bighorn Sheep:
Due to continued growth in California bighorn sheep populations, the Commission was able to add two controlled hunts along the John Day River and another hunt in the Beatys Butte Unit. The new hunts could allow allocation of five new tags in 2004. Two bighorn sheep hunts were deleted due to changes in the wild sheep herds. 

The Commission again authorized a special bighorn sheep auction tag and a special bighorn sheep raffle tag. The proceeds from the auction tag and raffle tag sales are used to fund bighorn sheep management and research. A minimum bid of $25,000 was established for the auction tag.

*Rocky Mountain Goat:
The Commission authorized one new Rocky Mountain goat hunt in the Wallowa Mountains as a result of expanded herds from a successful transplant program. With the new hunt, the number of expected tags for 2004 is five. 

The Commission authorized for the first time a special Rocky Mountain goat raffle tag. Proceeds from the sale of raffle tickets will be used for Rocky Mountain goat management and research. Holders of the special tags may hunt Sept. 1 - Oct. 31, 2004, in all Rocky Mountain goat hunt areas. The Legislature passed a bill this year to allow the authorization of both a special raffle tag and special auction tag. However, only the raffle tag will be offered in 2004.

*Western Gray Squirrel:
No changes were made to the western gray squirrel seasons. The 2004 season will be Aug. 28 - Nov. 10 in western and south central Oregon. The 2004 season will be Sept. 11 - Oct. 19 in the Hood and White River units.

*Travel management areas:
The Commission approved four new travel management units to reduce harassment to big game herds by motorized vehicles. The new travel management areas will be located in the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area within the Chesnimnus and Snake River Units.


In other action, the Commission:
·	Approved an amendment to rules governing the Access and Habitat Program auction and raffle tags that would reauthorize the program and prevent one person from winning two raffle tags.
·	Directed ODFW staff to support the "tri-state agreement" for Dungeness crab as ODFW enters into negotiations with Washington, California and the crab industry for the 2004-05 season. However, the Commission also recognized the need for flexibility and directed staff to look for other opportunities to ensure the safety of the fleet and a fair season for Oregon boats. 

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Information and Education Division
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
(503) 947-6002