lte - October 3, 2012 Page 13
The Oregon Fish and Wildlife
Commission will meet at 8 a.m. Fri-
day, Oct. 5, at ODFW Headquarters
in Salem (3406 Cherry Ave. NE) to
set 2013 big game hunting regula-
tions.
Several new big game regula-
tions could be adopted during the
meeting.
• Elk hunting on National Forest
land on the west slope of the Cas-
cades may change in 2013. ODFW is
proposing that the bag limit become
bull-only on National Forest land for
all hunters, including archery, muz-
zleloader and disabled hunters who
formerly were able to take any elk.
The change is due to a decline
in elk numbers and calf ratios (num-
ber of calves per cows) in many ar-
eas of the west Cascades. Protecting
females should help boost the popu-
lation.
Due to similar concerns on the
Ochoco, the commission will be
asked to split the unit into two types
of archery tags, one with an antler-
less and one with a bull-only bag
limit. The total number of archery
tags will remain the same but antler-
less harvest on National Forest land
will be reduced, again to help boost
populations.
Wenaha, Mt Emily and Walla
Walla units are known for their tro-
phy elk hunting and archery tags
with a bag limit of one bull elk are
difficult to draw.
But ODFW and Oregon State
Police are seeing spike-only tag
holders take branch-antlered bulls
in these units, pretending they shot
the elk in another unit. To close this
loophole, ODFW is proposing to
change spike-only archery tags from
general season to controlled in these
units.
Bowhunters who draw the con-
trolled tag will only be able to hunt
in that particular unit too, which will
restrict tags to hunters truly dedi-
cated to these units. New proposed
rules would also require a controlled
elk tag to archery hunt deer in the
three units, again to reduce poach-
WWW. PRIM,O, SINGMOTO RS.COM
A
Photo courtesy of Mike Gauvin/ODFW
sockeye salmon spawns in the Metolius River.
ing. and Wildlife fish biologist on Sat-
Another change that may af- urday, Sept. 27, confirmed the first
fect hunters is that beginning with observed spawning sockeye in the
2012 deer and elk tags, failing to Metolius River in over 45 years.
report the results of their hunt by Mike Gauvin spotted the fish
the deadline (Jan. 31, 2013 for most while conducting annual kokanee
tags) couldcost them $10. The fee spawning surveys in the Metolius
would be assessed when the hunter River near Camp Sherman.
purchased his or her 2014 hunting The fish is one of 85 sockeye re-
license. Only one $10 fee would be leased above the dam this year. They
assessed per individual, had spent one or two years in the
Reporting hunt results for all ocean prior to making their return to
deer, elk, pronghorn antelope, cou- the Deschutes River basin.
gar, bear and turkey tags has been The sockeye and kokanee
mandatory for several years. ODFW spawning migration is just begin-
needs the information to determine ning, Gauvin said, and fish biolo-
harvest levels, estimate populations gists from ODFW, the Confederated
and set tag numbers But last year, Tribes of W aon Springs and Port-
results were reported on only 41 per- land General Electric will be in the
cent of tags. field until the end of October count-
The Oregon State Legislature ing spawning fish. ,
gave ODFW the ability to charge a The reintroduction program
penalty fee of up to $25 last year. began in 2007 by outplanting over
Deer and elk tags are some of the a half million each of juvenile steel-
most under-reported and informa- head and chinook in the Crooked,
tion from these hunts is critical for Deschutes, and Metolius rivers.
setting tag numbers. , To try and reestablish a sockeye
Other proposed changes include run in the Metolius River, kokanee
language changes to clarify the deft- from Lake Billy Chinook were col-
nition of "spike only" and proof of lected and released below the dam to
sex requirements, migrate to the ocean.
A meeting agenda is at: http:// "The reintroduction program
dfw.state.or.us/agency/commission/ has been a large, complex and co-
minutes/12/10_oct/index.aspordinated effort by many stakehold-
* * * * * ers." Gauvin said. "We're still in the
An Oregon Department of Fish beginning stages of this program, so
it feels really good to see
suits of our work."
tangible re-
MidValley Steelheaders Chap-
ter will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday,
Oct. 3, at Albany Senior Center, 489
Water Ave.
Justin Ainsworth, shellfish biol-
ogist with the Oregon Department of
Fish and Wildlife's Marine Resourc-
es Program, will discuss Dungeness •
crab biology and management. His
presentation will describe how crabs
grow, reproduce, and live in estuar-
ies and the open ocean.
For more information, contact
Don Heintzman at (541) 928-5729.
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