In case you haven’t heard yet, ODFW is asking successful black-tailed deer hunters to return teeth from their animal to the department. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will use the teeth to determine the age of the animal, data that will used in population modeling efforts and considered when setting seasons.
Some hunters that drew a controlled tag will receive an envelope by mail, and other hunters can pick one up at a license sales agent or ODFW office. Directions for how to extract a tooth are on the envelope.
Last year, the Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted a Black-Tailed Deer Management Plan, a long-term strategy to manage these deer found west of the crest of the Cascades. One of its key goals is to improve data for these species. ODFW
appreciates hunters’ assistance.
Along the same lines, many hunters are still not reporting the results of their big game and turkey tags, though doing so has been mandatory since last year. Compliance rates average less than 17 percent.
Hunters are required to complete a hunter harvest survey online or by calling 1-866-947-ODFW (6339) and using the automated phone system.
Do the report for each and every big game tag purchased (except for bighorn sheep and Rocky Mountain goat tags) and for turkey tags. Reporting is required even if you were not successful or did not go hunting.
Keep in mind you may still get a call from ODFW’s telephone survey for data comparison purposes. ODFW uses the data to accurately assess harvest rates and set hunting seasons.
During its Oct. 2 meeting in Salem, the Fish and Wildlife Commission may adopt incentives for hunters that report (beginning in the 2010 season) and penalties for those that don’t (beginning with the 2011 season). Expect more information from ODFW in the coming months.
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ODFW’s new My Hunter Information Web page makes it easy to track preference points, reporting status, and season closures all in one place. It’s available under Hunting Resources.
Hunters need to enter their Hunter Angler ID number, date of birth and last name to access the secure site. Once signed in, they can see preference points, controlled hunt application status, draw results, season closures, tag sale deadlines, and results reporting status of their tags all in one place.
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ODFW is now offering hunters that have missed the tag sale deadline a process that allows them to still buy their tag and go hunting.
Hunters that pay a $6.50 fee in addition to the tag fee and sign an affidavit stating they have not yet hunted during the season will be allowed to purchase the tag.
“Every year, we hear from hunters that failed to buy their tag due to an unforeseen circumstance, or SportsPac license holders that have already purchased a tag but failed to pick it up on time,” says Deanna Erickson, ODFW licensing services manager. “None of us like turning away hunters who have often already invested considerable time, effort and money preparing for the season. We want to give everyone that wants to go hunting the chance to do so.”
Hunters that wish to purchase a tag after the deadline must contact ODFW’s Licensing Services in Salem (503-947-6100) directly or through an ODFW field office that sells licenses. If purchasing at a field office, ODFW Licensing Services will need to fax an affidavit to that location for the hunter to sign. Hunters should anticipate that it will take one to three working days to complete the process and get the tag.
Beginning in 2010, the fee to purchase a tag after the deadline (the duplicate tag fee) will be $17.00.
It remains illegal to hunt without the appropriate tag in possession. All tag sale deadlines listed in the regulations are still in effect and those deadline dates follow:
Western Oregon Deer Centerfire €“ Oct. 2
Black Bear (General and SW Additional) €“ Oct. 2
Cougar (General and Additional) €“ Oct. 2
Cascade Elk €“ Oct. 16
Rocky Mt Elk Centerfire, 1st season €“ Oct. 27
Rocky Mt Elk Centerfire, 2nd season €“ Nov. 6
Coast Elk Centerfire, 1st season €“ Nov. 13
Coast Elk Centerfire, 2nd season €“ Nov. 20
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Post-season buck ratios were strong again last year indicating good escape and the potential for some nice bucks this year in the this area, according to ODFW.
Generally, ratios were slightly higher in the Cascades (south Santiam, McKenzie, and north Indigo) than in the Coastal units. District Biologist Brian Wolfer observed many deer during his surveys and says the best places to hunt are those with a variety of habitats.
“Areas with a variety of seral stages€”with food and cover€”are doing well,” he said. He continues to observe less deer on the national forests due to lower habitat diversity; with the exception of areas that have been heavily thinned or recently burned.
Expect elk hunting to be similar to past years this year, with good opportunities in the Cascades.
However, elk are likely to be scattered in smaller groups, not responding to calls or hanging out in clear cuts. All this makes pre-season scouting very important. Wolfer advises hunters to look just outside high elevation wilderness areas for elk.
“The wilderness areas tend to be lacking in high quality forage so you will find more elk along the higher elevation fringes where past timber management improved forage,” he said.
Lower elevation private timberland is also a good place to hunt for elk. Timber harvest, the resulting increase in forage plus limited disturbance has allowed elk populations to remain strong on these timberlands.
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The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is accepting written comments on proposed Oregon Administrative Rule changes affecting the state’s All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) program.
A new state law requires that the rules be amended to modify and expand the program’s grant and safety education practices. The new law authorizes financial aid for ATV recreation-related law enforcement services and creates an All-Terrain Vehicle Advisory Committee with expanded safety responsibilities. The rules and proposed changes can be seen in their entirety online at http://www.oregon.gov/OPRD/ATV/docs/OAR_736-004.pdf.
Written comments may be submitted to OPRD until 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, by e-mail ([email protected]), or addressed to OPRD, ATV Program Coordinator, 725 Summer Street NE, Suite C, Salem, OR 97301.
Ted Leeson’s new book, “Inventing Montana: Dispatches from the Madison Valley,” documents how the author and his close group of friends return every summer for two decades to a ranch house overlooking the Madison River in Montana. Fly fishing is the main activity that brings them to the house, but Leeson explores the experience of being in this place and examining the flora and fauna of the valley.
The book ruminates on the nature of friendship, leisure and place, and examines the relationships of humans and the natural landscapes around them.
Released by New York-based Skyhorse Publishing, “Inventing Montana” has already received acclaim as a book not to be missed by fly fishers and naturalists alike. Acclaimed nature writer Franklin Burroughs said of the book: “This is not a wonderful book for the serious angler. It is simply a wonderful book.”
Leeson has taught at OSU for 25 years and is the author or editor of nearly a dozen books and hundreds of magazine articles. In 1998 he wrote the first comprehensive book on fly-tying techniques, “The Fly Tier’s Benchside Reference.”
Editors: To obtain a copy of the book for review, contact Thomas Semosh at 212-643-6816, ext. 224 or email [email protected]