ODFW and partnering sportsman organizations will auction 11 big game tags at various events this year, with proceeds benefiting sponsors, wildlife and hunter access.
ODFW’s Access and Habitat (A&H) Program is providing nine big game tags€”four statewide deer hunts, four statewide elk hunts and one Governor’s statewide deer and elk combination hunt. The auction tags award winning bidders extended hunting seasons from Sept. 1 €“ Nov. 30, 2009 anywhere in Oregon where there is an authorized season for deer and/or elk. Proceeds from these auctions will fund wildlife habitat improvement and public hunting access to private lands.
A pronghorn antelope and bighorn sheep tag will also be auctioned, with proceeds benefiting research and management of these species in Oregon. Winning bidders may hunt anywhere there is an authorized season from Sept. 1-Oct. 31, 2009 for Rocky Mtn goat and Aug. 15-Nov. 22, 2009 for bighorn sheep.
Up to 10 percent of each auction’s proceeds will go to the sponsoring sportsman organization.
See page 21 of the 2009 Oregon Big Game Regulations for complete information on the auction hunts. Hunters may bid on tags in person by attending the events or by telephone after contacting event organizers to make advance arrangements. A list of 2009 auctions follows:
Jan. 31 at 8 p.m. PST €“€“ Statewide Elk €“
La Grande Chapter, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Blue Mountain Conference Center, La Grande
Contact: Jason Pennington (541) 910-1239
Feb. 5 at 8:15 p.m. MT €“ €“€“Statewide Deer
Mule Deer Foundation
Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, UT
Contact: Shawna Huckabey (775) 530-6967
Feb. 5-8 – Bighorn Sheep
Western Hunting & Conservation Expo
Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, UT
Contact: Don Whittaker (503) 947-6325
Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. PST €“€“ Statewide Elk
Santiam River Chapter, Safari Club International
Linn County Fairgrounds, Albany
Contact: Tom Trissel (503) 394-3759
Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. PST €“€“ Statewide Deer
Oregon Bow Hunters Association
Chinook Winds Casino, Lincoln City
Contact: Karen Demaris (541) 536-2252
March 6 at 11:15 a.m. PST €“ Governor’s Statewide Deer/Elk Combo
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Fort Worth Convention Center, Fort Worth, TX
Contact: Kristy Bosworth (406) 523-0242
March 7 at 8 p.m. PST €“ Statewide Deer
Rogue Gobblers, National Wild Turkey Federation
Red Lion Hotel, Medford
Contact: Jeff Heil (541) 779-8926
March 14 at 8 p.m. PST €“ Statewide Elk
Portland Chapter, Oregon Hunters Association
Embassy Suites, Washington Square, Portland
Contact: Leslie Shaw (503) 259-9821
April 11 at 8 p.m. PST €“ Statewide Elk
Foundation for North American Wild Sheep – Oregon
Kah-Nee-Ta High Desert Resort, Warm Springs
Contact: Mike Boethin (541) 480-6203
May 16 at 8:30 p.m. PST €“ Statewide Deer
Oregon Hunters Association
Spirit Mountain Casino, Grand Ronde
Contact: Duane Dungannon (541) 772-7313
May 16 at 8 p.m. PST €“ Pronghorn Antelope
Oregon Hunters Association, Umpqua Chapter
Seven Feathers Casino, Canyonville
Contact: Cindy Rooney, (541) 430-4722
Passage of winter steelhead has increased as water conditions improve at Willamette Falls. Through Jan. 17, 449 winters had moved through the ladder. You may want to start planning your trip to take advantage of catch and release opportunities for wild winter steelhead in the Molalla and Santiam rivers this winter.
Boats can once again access Foster Reservoir at the Sunnyside boat ramp now that emergency spillway gate repairs at Foster Dam are complete and lake levels have been raised. Additional information can be obtained at the Army Corps Web site. Green Peter Reservoir is currently accessible to boats via the Thistle Creek ramp.
Feb. 21-22, 2009 €“ Youth rabbit hunt, E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area, Corvallis. For youth age 17 and under with hunter education certificate. Register beginning Feb. 1, 2009 by calling 541-745-5334. For more information, see page 23 of Oregon Game Bird Regulations.
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The bridge for the William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge Snag Boat Bend Unit, south of Peoria, has been temporarily closed to vehicular traffic due to unsafe bridge conditions.
The bridge is located about one mile south of Peoria off River Road. Foot traffic and bicycles may access the unit through a gate on the east side of the bridge. Visitors are cautioned that parking along the state right-of-way and bridge access road is restricted. Boaters may access the unit from the Willamette River.
According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, which manages the area, a recent engineering inspection found that the support beams on the south side of the bridge were unstable. The estimated replacement cost for the bridge exceeds $350,000, an unexpected expense not included in the current budget. Cost for bridge repairs alone are over $100,000. A reallocation of funds from other USFWS projects in the Northwest may be needed to get the repairs completed and the bridge reopened.
For more information about the closure, contact the refuge at (541) 757-7236 Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., excluding federal holidays.
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