OHA Comments on Blacktail Plan

The Oregon Hunters Association submitted the following comments to the ODFW on Oregon’s new Black-tailed Deer Management Plan:

1. Hunter Recruitment: That words be added to the plan to continue and implement opportunities for youth hunts.
2. Landowner Preference Tags: The plan states LOP tags provide an opportunity for landowners to address property damage caused by deer. The problem is ODFW doesn’t consistently confirm damage prior to issuing an LOP tag. The plan doesn’t suggest ODFW will evaluate all options to address the complaint prior to issuing a tag. OHA recommends that ODFW ensure that LOP tags are issued for the
   intended purpose only.
3. Predator Control: Current language states, “Coordinate predator management activities to be consistent with the Oregon Cougar Management Plan and the Oregon Black Bear Management Plan.” The words “and implement” should be added.
4. General Population Concerns: While we have already addressed the issue of predator control in our comments, we would like to add that somewhere in the plan we might want to address “an approach to limiting poachers.” OHA believes that poachers are a big threat to our populations of deer and elk. We would like to see this concern addressed somewhere in the plan.
5. Data Collection Methods: Issues and Strategies
   Section. OHA agrees with the language in the plan that a consistent and reliable data collection method be developed to help determine reliable herd composition data. OHA asks that such a system be implemented.

Please submit your comments on the the blacktail plan at: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/news/2008/june/060208.asp

OHA Opposes Land Grab; You Can Help!

The Oregon Hunters Association is trying to stop a land exchange that would result in a net loss of more than 9,000 acres of prime public hunting ground in eastern Oregon.

An individual who has recently acquired 1,000 acres on Steens Mountain is seeking Congressional approval of a land swap in which he would trade his holdings for nearly 11,000 public acres in and around the Silvies Valley. The owner of the Steens property, Dr. Scott Campbell, recently gave notice that he is petitioning our Oregon Congressmen for the exchange. The public ground he seeks to acquire is BLM land between Burns and John Day, close to Yellowjacket Reservoir, and consists of sagebrush and forest transition land, mostly within the Silvies River drainage. The area is excellent deer and elk habitat, supports valuable timber, is accessible year round, and would be closed to public access if acquired.

The 1,000 acres of Steens property holds two small streams (portions of Fish and Lake Creeks), supports sagebrush, some juniper and aspen, some deer, and would be accessible to walk-in public access for about six months each year after the BLM took it over.

The Oregon Hunters Association is opposed to this land exchange, and in June of this year sent a letter to Oregon’s Congressional delegation opposing this exchange. In part the letter reads:

"While acquisition of 1,000 acres in the Fish Creek drainage of Steens is a worthy addition to the public lands of Steens Mountain and would be of benefit to the general public, we cannot support the loss of nearly 11,000 acres of public land in the Silvies River watershed to achieve this goal. If the Fish Creek property is high priority for BLM to acquire, we would rather have BLM purchase the property."

"The portion of the Silvies River, plus certain tributaries and access roads that would be affected by this proposed land exchange constitutes an important part of the Silvies Wildlife Management Unit. The Silvies Unit is well known for its premium big game hunting, offering about 1,000 deer tags and 2,100 elk rifle tags per year. The Steens Mountain Unit also is well known for its fine hunting, but opportunity there is limited to about 250 deer rifle tags and 600 elk rifle tags per year."

"OHA is opposed to this proposed land exchange."

What can you do? Send a letter or email to Oregon’s Congressional Delegation. The best way to accomplish this is through OHA’s email alert system. You can find that by going to the OHA website (www.oregonhunters.org) and follow the easy directions and get your emails and letters in today.

Did you get the eamil alert about the proposed land grab? Sign up for email alerts and vote in this month’s hunting poll question at OHA’s Hunting Stand page: http://www.oregonhunters.org/oregonhuntingstand.asp

OHA protests LOP rules adopted by Commission

At the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting in La
Grande, the Commission approved some legislative concepts for the Land
Owner Preference (LOP) program, not all of which meet with approval of
the Oregon Hunters Association. The LOP program provides deer, elk and
antelope tags to private landowners so they can hunt on their property.
Here is what the Commission approved:
• Extend the sunset an additional 15 years to Jan. 2, 2025, but with
an internal review of the program at least every five years.
• Allow some LOP tag holders to harvest a buck antelope. The program
previously limited LOP tags to does.
• Amend the definition of immediate family to include spouse and
domestic partner and allow transfer of up to one half of tags
(previously one third) to non-family members.
• Develop a five-year pilot program with the goal of increasing LOP
tags for landowners that provide significant hunter access for youth
hunters and terminally ill youth, or to landlocked public land.
The final decision on changes to the program will be made by the
Legislature in 2009. Additional changes to the LOP program will be
discussed at the October Commission meeting.
At its board meeting at the OHA State Convention, the Board of
Directors voted to send a letter to the Commission expressing their
concern about the program changes. Specifically, the letter will state
that OHA is concerned that the Commission has given away 10 percent of
buck antelope tags to landowners and that the Commission has supported
the increased transferability of buck and bull tags for LOP tags.

Commission tightens cervid holding rules

For nearly a year, a cervid rule committee met and re-
wrote the cervid ranching rules administered by the Oregon Department
of Fish and Wildlife. The rule rewrite is an extensive one covering
all aspects of cervid ranching. One of the biggest components of the
proposed rules was the requirement for double fencing for all cervid
ranches.
In May the ODFW Commission formally adopted the cervid
rules. As part of their action the Commission declined to increase
double fencing standards for current licensed elk ranches. Instead,
citing concerns about the financial burden on existing ranchers, the
Commission directed ODFW staff to work with its partners and the
Oregon State Legislature to develop a cost-share approach to double
fencing.
There were some new double fencing requirements adopted,
however, for new cervid ranching facilities, or facilities obtaining a
transferred license. Should a disease be detected in an animal at an
existing facility, that facility will also be required to double fence
within 30 days.
Most rules formally adopted, such as the one allowing the
sale of domestic elk meat, are effective immediately. The prohibition
on the knowing sale of shooter bulls to facilities in states that
allow the hunting of privately held cervids is effective Jan. 1, 2009.
New cervid marking requirements will not be effective until May 1,
2009, to allow time for captive bulls to shed their antlers and the
safe handling of those bulls.

Committee sends its proposed ODFW budget before Commission

At the final External Budget Committee meeting in May,
the group wrapped up the final budget package for presentation to the
Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission for final approval in June. OHA’s
Board of Directors met with ODFW Director Roy Elicker at a May 17
board meeting at the OHA State Convention and asked for more detailed
information about the Wildlife Division budget to help define the
association’s support of the proposed increase.