OREGON WILDLIFE GUEST EDITORIAL COMMISSION MEETINGS STUDENTS TRAINED

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2 OREGON WILDLIFE MAY i 98 Volume 35, No 5 OREGON FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION Herbert Lundy, Chairman Lake Oswego Jack Steiwer, Vice Chairman Fossil Donald Barth Newport John Boyer Beilfountain Allan Kelly Portland Kenneth Klarquist Portland Fred Phillips Baker JOHN R DONALDSON, Director Oregon Wildlife (ISSN ) is published monthly by the Oregon State Department of Fish and Wildlife, Portland, Oregon Volumes i through 28 were entitled Oregon Game Commission Bulletin Oregon Wildlife is circulated free of charge with second class postage paid at Portland, Oregon Material may be reprinted, credit would be appreciated Address changes and correspondence should be sent to: PO Box 353 Portland, OR 9728 When sending address changes, be sure to send in both old and new address complete with zip codes Ron E Shay, Editor Ken Durbin, Managing Editor GUEST EDITORIAL Editor's Note: In recent months, especially since the setting of the 198 ocear salmon seasons, there have been a number of accusations and implications concerning the Director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Jack Donaldson Not a few of the comments have been based on misinformation and a lack of understanding of certain procedures and responsibilities At the April 4 Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting an editorial suggesting the Director should resign was discussed by the Commissioners As a result of that editorial and the ensuing discussion the following letter was written by Commission Chairman Herb Lundy Since we feel it succinctly addresses a number of the most heard allegations of recent months, we pass it along for your information RES To the Editor Bay Reporter Coos Bay, OR This is to inform you and your readers, in response to your recent editorial suggesting that John R Donaldson should resign as Director of the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Department, that the Fish and Wildlife Commission, in an unanimous vote on April 3, 198, expressed complete confidence in Director Donaldson's integrity and performance in office The Bay Reporter editorial stated that commercial fishermen on the coast were blaming Director Donaldson for "salmon season closures, the intrusion Oregon Wildlife of aquaculture, licensing moratoriums, Indian fishing rights and more " Commercial fishermen, as well as members of the Legislature, should be aware that: 1 Salmon seasons have been shortened by the US Secretary of Commerce Ofl recommendation of the Pacific Fishery Management Council, and the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission - since 1977 because of data-based predictions of reduced numbers of coho and Columbia River chinook - and for no other reasons Lower catch and escapement records proved the predictions accurate The emergency closure of the coho harvest on September 3, 1979, was necessary to- protect coho spawning stocks in a run which proved to be the lowest since 1963 The coho stocks in 198, it is estimated on the basis of reliable indicators, may be the lowest since 1962 After the shortened coho season in 1979, the numbers of natural spawning cobo were still only Cover photo - Rocky Mountain bull elk poses cooperatively for the photographer on the Department's Bridge Creek elk winter range Photo by Ken Durbin half those needed to preserve and improve wild runs Only the North Fork Nehalem hatchery had surplus fish, and there oniy because of a disease problem which prevented the transplanting of adults out of the Nehalem system Seasons are set for fish, not fishermen 2 Aquaculture: Director Donaldson has no stock in Oregon Aqua-Foods, owned by Weyerhaeuser The Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted the cobo closure last year primarily to protect wild stocks and assure adequate returns to public hatcheries The season was not adjusted to serve private, commercial salmon enterprises, nor will other seasons be altered for that reason Private salmon ranching operates under laws adopted by the Legislature, but under regulation by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Department Offshore fishermen, both commercial and sports, are the expected beneficiaries of greater salmon HUNTER EDUCATION production by both public and private hatcheries Continued on page 13 PROGRAM INSTRUCTORS APPROVED Month of March 23 Total Active 1,757 COMMISSION MEETINGS STUDENTS TRAINED The Fish and Wildlife Commission will conduct a general business meeting Month of March 454 Ofl Thursday, May 29 On Friday, May 3 the Commission will conduct a Total to Date 271,332 public hearing on seasons for hunting deer and elk and regulations for all HUNTING CASUALTIES game mammal hunting in 198 On Saturday, May 31, the public hearing REPORTED IN 198 will be continued and at its conclusion the Commission will set the regulations Fatal O Meetings all three days will begin at 9 am at Fish and Wildlife Department Nonfatal O headquarters, 56 SW Mill Street in Portland o Page 2 MAY i 98

3 Pronghorn antelope buck 1979 Big Game Seasons by Paul Ebert Staff Big Game Biologist Interest in deer and elk hunting continued to increase as indicated by record tag sales for both of these species in 1979 This occurred in spite of declining mule deer hunting opportunities and a major change in elk hunter management which required the hunter to choose between a short or longer hunt in both western and eastern Oregon Interest in elk bowhunting more than doubled, influenced by the 1ieral statewide either sex season Bear hunters returned to their normal level after a one-year drop and interest in antelope, cougar and bighorn sheep hunting remained constant Weather was again a big factor nfiuencing hunter success during all of the mule deer buck season and during the first half of the blacktailed deer season By the time the OREGON WILDLIFE elk season commenced, conditions had changed and elk hunters experienced more typical weather During the 1979 hunting seasons, Oregon's big game hunters harvested an estimated 99,72 deer, 16,128 elk, 776 antelope, 812 bear, 24 bighorn sheep and 23 cougar Deer An estimated 3,982 deer hunters harvested 99,72 deer in 1979 The decline in deer harvest from the 124,1 taken in 1978 occurred mainly in the antlerless take caused by a reduction in antlerless permit quotas General season deer hunters shifted from eastern to western Oregon because of only fair mule deer hunting prospects Last season 54 percent of the buck hunters chose to hunt in western Oregon while in 1978 only 46 percent did A total of 15,952 hunters participated in the 37-day black-tailed season and took a total of 47,837 deer and averaged 32 percent success Seventy-five percent of the deer taken during the general buck season, the either sex hunter choice season in northwestern Oregon and the controlled either sex hunts in southwestern Oregon were buck deer with antlers Buck hunters took 39 percent of their harvest, which consisted of bucks with two or more antler points, during the last nine days of the 37-day season The five-day hunter choice season, the extended seasons and the 9,996 controlled either sex permits which also required an unused black-tailed deer tag generated a take of 11,852 antlerless deer and 4,238 spike bucks Page 3

4 5,52 8, DEER SEASON General Deer Season Additional Harvest Total All Seasons Number Percenr of Book, Spikes G Tord Hunter Rifle Seasons How Total Hontar rotors po + Annletleso' Harvest Seso Esrly Lote' Seasons Harvest Days Units by Zone orarefl H 2 Scappoose , Saddle Mountain ,66 1,364 2, ,295 Wilson 8,7 1, , ,411 Trask 16,311 1,698 1,91 3, , Stott Mountain , , Alsea 2, ,19 141,335 Sitslaw Willamette 1, , ,165 5, ,31 1,394 3, NORTH COAST AREA TOTALS 78,463 12,6 9, M 21 3, ,755 Tioga 8,249 2, , ,419 62,228 Sixes 3,13 1, , ,325 21,57 Powers 4, , ,139 26,115 Chetco 4, , Applegate , ,982 53,54 Evans Creek 6, , ,319 35,439 Mnlrose 7,491 1, , ,999 51,5 SOUTHWEST AREA TOTALS 34,212 8, ,242 Santiam 19,926 2,273 1,636 3, , ,439 Mckenzie 16,256 1,879 1,516 3, ,893 Indigo 7, , Dixon 8,74 2, , ,978 53,883 Rogue 14,17 3, , , CASCADES AREA TOTALS 6,326 1,88 4,722 15, ,57 168,385 BLACKTAlLEO DEER TOTALS , , Mivam 1, ,82 Imnaha 1, ,388 Catherine Creek 3, ,141 (eating 2, , ,31 12,495 Pine Creek 1, U ,399 Lookout Mountain , WALIDWA'S ZONE TOTALS 11, , ,421 48,279 Snake River Chesnimnes 1, ,13 Sled Springs 3, , Wenaha 1, ,795 Walla Walla 1, ,251 Mt Emily 3, , ,488 WENAHA-SNAKE ZONE TOTALS ollo 238 3, Starkey 2, ,951 Ukiah 3, ,162 Sumpter 4, , Desolation 2, O O Heppner 8,491 1, ,667 Fossil 5, ,136 21,316 Columbia Basin 1, ,436 UMATILLA-WHITMAN ZONE TOTAlS ,744 7, Northside 5,82 1, , , Murderers Creek 5, ,19 Beulah 4,77 1,645 1, ,77 15,59 Malheur River 5,319 2,122 2, ,153 2,283 Silvies 6,11 1, ,458 25,449 Ochoco 1, , ,39 41,349 Grizzly 4,365 1, Masiry 1, ,848 OCHOCO-MALHEUR ZONE TOTALS , , ,99 168,158 BLUE MOUNTAIN AREA TOTALS ,318 3,16 26, Biggs 1, Maupin Hood 1, U ,946 White River 2, ,359 Metolius 3, ,82 Paulino 1,495 2, , ,729 46,841 Upper Deschutes 5, ,258 32,248 Fort Rock 5,82 1, , ,699 27,875 Silver Lake 4,985 1, , ,552 22,945 Sprague 1, ,636 Klamath Falls 5,367 1,192 1, ,318 21,127 Kenu 1, ,654 Interstate 6,82 1, U O 62 1,598 23,94 Warner 2, D ,741 CENTRAL AREA TOTALS 46, ,354 12, ,422 13, Wagontire 1, Beaty's Butte Juniper Steens Mountain 1, ,47 Whitehorse 1, ,731 Owyhee 1, HI-DESERT AREA TOTALS 6, , , MULE DEER TOTALS 13,191 36,221 4, ,85 44, GENERAL SEASON TOTALS 281,143 67,968 2, EARLY SEASON TOTALS 1, LATE SEASON TOTALS 2,349 5,537 BOW SEASON TOTALS 16,55 5,287 STATE GRAND TOTALS 3,982 99, Totals emit duplication at hunters participating in more than one unit, aove er area r Harvest allowed by a permit and unused general doer tag Page 4 MAY i 98

5 8,597 66, 79,1 DEER HUNTING TRENDS STATE TOTALS Percent General Deer Hanter Season Number Year Hunters Harvested Success Hunters Harvested ,719 53, ,88 15, , i , ,617 16, , , , , ,568 85, ,96 116, ,621 81, , , , ,71 146, , , , , , , , ,58 76, , , ,676 64, ,8 143, ,215 84, , , , ,975 88, ,15 142, ,95 87,18 i , ,26 89, ,9 11, , , ,15 72, ,22 81, , , , ,29 13, ,4 41, ,56 76, , , ,43 23, ,85 8, ,47 129, ,74 79, , , ,29 6, ,982 99, MULE DEER BLACK TAILED DEER Percent Percent Antler Percent General Pircad Percent Antler- Perceet Hunter si less Antler Sestee Number Hunter al less Antler Success Total Harvest less Htsrters Harvested Success Total Harvest less , , , , , , ,43 35, , , ,919 43, , , ,214 4, , , ,333 34, , , , , , ,75 56, , , ,725 61, ,971 65, , , ,343 62, , , ,63 52, , , ,555 58, , , ,281 47, , , ,384 59, , , ,25 54, , , , , ,85 32, , ,5 29, , ] 19,12 4, , , , , , , ,43 31, , , 36, , ,46 49, , , ,935 63, , ,884 55, ,88 21 White River country deer ELK HUNTING TRENDS STATE TOTAL ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK ROOSEVELT ELK Percent Percent Pernees Total Hadar Number Hmrter Number Mactsr vele Hunters Buts Antlerless Harvest Success Hunters Bulls ArstIerleas Hsrvested Success Hunters Balls Aetlerless Harvested Success i 933 2, , No Open Season 194 6,152 1,35 1,179 2, ,152 1,179 2, , , , ,27 2, , , ,151 2,234 5, ,726 2,21 1,234 3, , , ,79 4,228 1,855 6, ,54 3,361 1,749 5, ,349 9,77 2,384 12, ,514 1,98 1,863 8, ,835 2, , ,991 7,998 2, ,432 6,46 1,925 8, ,559 1, , ,724 1,82 3,66 13, ,21 6 6,959 3,66 1, ,58 3,125 3, , ,846 5, , ,1 7,576 4, , ,888 4, , ,387 8,66 4,2 12, ,651 5,768 3,594 9, ,736 2, ,178 8, , ,529 3,189 8, ,674 2, , ,2 7,66 2,87 1, ,1 5,22 2,69 7, ,1 2, , ,9 7,16 2,25 9, ,6 4,11 1,98 6, ,3 2, , , , ,3 5,8 2,8 7, ,7 2, 38 2, ,56 1,15 2,53 12, ,19 6,92 2,42 9, , , ,55 7, , ,64 5,33 2,26 7, ,91 2,5 18 2, , ,7 5,742 2,188 7, ,4 2, , , , ,1 7,626 2,735 1, ,2 3, ,2 9,527 4,543 14, , , , , , , ,28 7,393 3, , ,51 9,767 3,423 13, , , , , ,53 17, , , , , ,298 15, ,281 5,63 12, ,56 2,412 1, ,642 9, , , ,535 1' ,23 1, OREGON WILDLIFE Page 5

6 Mule deer hunters were again allowed a 12-day season in eastern Oregon except in 11 units where only seven days were allowed to provide more buck escapement Two fourpoint buck areas were open to a limited number of permit holders but these individuals were restricted to deer hunting in those areas only Warm, dry weather prior to and during the mule deer season allowed the deer herds to remain widely scattered and made stalking conditions difficult The 13,191 general mule deer hunters took 36,221 bucks with two or more antler points and averaged 28 percent success Mule deer hunters averaged better success this year than last year and took almost as many bucks even though there were some 2, less hunters The 1,6 individuals successful in drawing four-point buck hunting permits for the Steens Mountain unit and a portion of the Whitehorse unit were successful in taking 52 bucks and averaged 33 percent success Antlerless hunters were required to have an unused mule deer tag which did not allow the taking of an additional deer as did regulations in 1978 The 8,495 controlled antlerless permits generated a take of 5,232 deer Elk A major effort was made to reduce hunter numbers in the popular elk hunting areas of the state by requiring hunters to select between a shorter first period hunt and a longer second period hunt when purchasing their elk tag The hunter had to first select between Roosevelt and Rocky Mt elk hunting before the hunt period was selected Four units in western Oregon remained under the three-point regulation with permits required in the Saddle Mt and Tioga units These permits restricted hunters to the area for which they obtained a permit The Chesnimnus and Snake River units in eastern Oregon were managed as limited entry areas and a three-point minimum bag remained in the Snake River unit Roosevelt elk hunters had to choose between a four-day first period hunt or a seven-day second period hunt Forty-seven percent reported hunting the first period and 53 percent the second period A total of 32,54 individuals hunted during the Page 6 two periods and took 2,821 bulls and averaged nine percent success Hunters averaged nine percent success during the first period and eight percent during the second period In the Saddle Mt and Tioga permit entry three-point areas 7,767 hunters harvested 1,144 bulls and averaged 15 percent success In addition to the general season harvest the 885 controlled damage permits generated a harvest of 44 Roosevelt elk and another 1,368 elk were taken by bowhunters in western Oregon Thirtyfour percent of the state's rifle elk hunters chose to hunt elk in the Roosevelt elk area Rocky Mt elk hunters had to choose between a five-day first period and a nine-day second period Fiftyfive percent reported they hunted during the first period and 45 percent during the second period A total of 55,74 individuals hunted during both periods and reported taking 6,244 bulls, averaging 11 percent success First period hunters averaged 14 percent success and second period hunters eight percent success Limited entry hunters in the Chesnimnus averaged 23 percent success and in the Snake River 22 percent success In addition to the general season harvest, 9,35 controlled antlerless permits generated a harvest of 4,674 elk and another 617 elk were taken by bowhunters in the Rocky Mt area Sixty-six percent of the state's rifle elk hunters chose to hunt in the Rocky Mt area '- Black bear I Antelope Antelope hunters had a five-day season in 22 areas of eastern Orego where 1,235 tags were available for the taking of a buck antelope with horns longer than its ears Report card returns indicated a minimum harvest of 62 bucks and an average success of 73 percent Both the total take and success is two and eight percent respectively above that reported in 1978 Thirty doe antelope permits were allowed in one damage area where hunters reported 83 percent success The 475 bow antelope tags allowed produced a take of only three antelope Bear The bear take season was reduced from five months in 1978 to three months in 1979 All of the state, except the southeastern portion, was open to hunting In 1978, the tag sales deadline appeared to have caused a substantial reduction in bear tag sales but by 1979 most hunters were aware of the deadline and sales returned to normal Bear hunters were surveyed for the first time after the 1979 season by an independent questionnaire mailed to a random sample of bear tag holders Expanded questionnaire data indicated that 11,324 individuals hunted for bear during the 1979 season and harvested 812 bear, averaging seven percent success Although 13 percent of the hunters reported using dogs, they reported taking 44 percent of the MAY 198

7 ELK SEASON General Bull Season Other Harvest Total AN Seasons Number Percent of Bolt Munter Caeoofled Bowhurny Totat Hanter Units by Zone ti Neu Honren Harvest Success Antlerlano Season Harvest Days Scappoose Saddle Mountain 3, Wilson Trask 4, Stott Mountain ,658 Alsea 2, Sioslaw Wiilamette NORTH COAST AREA TOTALS 18,948 1, Â Tioga Sixes Powers 1, Chetco ,286 Applegate Evans Creek Meirose ,951 SOUTHWEST AREA TOTALS ,451 44,919 - Santiani ,391 Metolius McKenzie Upper Deschutes Indigo Fort Rock 1 1 Dixon Rogue Keno Sprague , , CASCADES AREA TOTALS 1, ROOSEVELT ELK TOTALS 325OuV ,368 4, ,713 O O O O , ,34 8, , Minam 2, Imnaha 1, ,848 Catherine Creek 1, ,318 Keating ,24 Pine Creek 1, ,318 Lookout Mountain ,75 WALLOWAS ZONE TOTALS ,894 Snake River Chesnimnus 2, ,451 Sled Springs 4, ,723 Wenaha ,548 Walla Walls 1, ,831 Mt Emily ,879 WENAHA-SNAKE ZONE TOTALS , ,918 11,783 Starkey 7, , Ukiah 6, ,126 32,732 Sunspter 3, Desolation ,198 Heppner 5, Fossil Columbia Basin UMATILLA-WHITMAN ZONE TOTALS 25, ,142 Northside 1, ,178 Murderer's Creek 1, ,719 Beulah ,681 Malheur River ,227 Silvies ,854 Ochoco Grizzly Maury OCHOCO-MALHEUR ZONE TOTALS BLUE MOUNTAIN AREA TOTALS ,124 Hood ,923 White River ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK TOTALS GENERAL BULL SEASON TOTALS 8828' 9,65 1 ( CONTROLLED ANTLERLESS TOTALS ,78 BOW HUNTING TOTALS 12, STATE GRAND TOTALS 11,95 16, ,567 s Total smits duplication of hunters participating in morn than sos uoit, zone or area OREGON WILDLIFE Page 7

8 , , Elk Season by Hunt Period First Hunt Period Results Number Percent Number PerceS of of of Bollo Hunter nits by ZoneorArea Hunters Hunters Ffaroeotrd Succesu Scappoose Saddle Mountain Wilson Trask 1, Stofl Mountain Alsea 1, Siuslaw Willaniette NORTH COAST AREA TOTALS haga Sixes Powers Chetco Applegate 3 Evans Creek 16 2 Meirose SOUTHWEST AREA TOTALS 3, Santiam Metolius 16 5 Mckenzie Upper Deschutes Indigo ] 1] FortRock 32 5 Dixon Rogue Keno 32 5 Sprague 16 5 CASCADES AREA TOTALS 2, ROOSEVELT ELK TOTALS 15, ,431 9 Second Hunt Period Results Number Percent Number Pnrcnnt of nf of toii Hortrr fruten Hunters Horoected Socrso 1, , , , ! O O 9, ] O O ] , , , O , ,39 8 Minarn 1, , Imnaha , Catherine Creek , Keating Pine Creek O Lookout Mountain ioo 47 o P WALLOWAS ZONE TOTALS 3, , Snake River Chesnimnus 1, Sled Springs 3, ,51] Wenaha 3, Walla Walla Mt Emily 3, , WENAHA - SNAKE ZONE TOTALS 13, , Starkey 3, , Ukiah 2, , Sumpter 1, ] 9 2, Desolation 1, , Heppner 2, , Fossil Columbia Basin UMATILLA-WHITMAN ZONE TOTALS 12, Northside Murderer's Creek Beulah Malheur River O Siloies Ochoco Grizzly O O O O Maury OCHOCO-MALHEUR ZONE TOTALS 1, , BLUE MOUNTAIN AREA TOTALS , Hood White River ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK TOTALS 3, , ,14 8 GENERAL BULL SEASON TOTALS 45, , , Page 8 MAY 198

9 1979 ANTELOPE SEASON (69% Report Card Return for Rifle Buck Antelope Hunters) Hunt Number Name of Area 435A Paulina-North Waguntire Units 436 Maury Unit 431 Ochoco Unit 438 Grizzly Unit 446 Murderers Creek Unit 451A N Sumpter Unit 451B S Sumpter Unit 464 Lookout Mountain Unit 465 Beulah Unit 466 Malheur River Unit 467 Owyhee Unit 468 Whitehorse Unit 469 Steens Mountain Unit 47A East Beatys Butte Unit 47B West Beatys Butte Unit 41C National Antelope Refuge 41 1 Juniper Unit 412 Silvies Unit 413A South Wagontire Unit 414 Warner Unit 415A East Interstate Unit 416A Fort Rock-Silver Lake Units TOTALS 431A Portion Ochoco Unit (Does) 415B Gerber Reservoir (Bow) 415C Gerber Reservoir (Bow) - Tags s sa ed iso Repon Cardo Number Did Nat Hunt Number Reported Percent Hunter Hanged Harvest Sucrent Days ] !! ESTIMATED TOTAL HARVEST: 716 bear harvested and averaged 26 percent success Hunters that did not use dogs averaged five percent success Cougar Although hunting and tracking conditions were not as good as last year, the take by cougar hunters during the December season was still above average A total of 115 tags was authorized for five areas in northeastem Oregon but only 54 individuals reported hunting and taking 19 cougar In western Oregon, 25 tags were authorized for two areas along the west slope of the Cascade Range from Eugene south to Roseburg Seventeen of these tag holders reported hunting and taking four cougar Blghorn Sheep Thirty-one sheep tags were authorized for four areas where California bighorn sheep have been established and these hunters were successful in,,-, taking 18 sheep This included nine sheep taken by 12 hunters on the Steens Mountain, six sheep taken by 12 hunters on Hart Mountain, two sheep taken by four hunters in the OREGON WILDLIFE Owyhee drainage and one sheep taken by three hunters on the Strawberry Mountain Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep hunters were again very successful with all six hunters taking big rams, one of which was the largest taken so far in Oregon B owh u nti ng Bowhunters were granted a 47-day early general bow season statewide for the taking of a deer or elk of either sex along with late season opportunities in both eastern and western Oregon for both species Hunters were required to choose between bow or rifle hunting when they purchased either a deer or elk tag This was the first year that a bow deer tag was required Bowhunters were restricted to the bowhunting seasons and could not participate in any of the seasons provided for the rifle hunters nor could they exchange their tag after it was once purchased An independent questionnaire was mailed to 21 percent of the bowhunters who purchased a bowhunting license in 1979 Results of the survey indicated that 19,234 individ- uals hunted for either deer or elk in 1979 Of these, 86 percent hunted for deer, 63 percent hunted elk and eight percent hunted bear with a bow The 16,55 deer hunters harvested 5,287 deer and averaged 32 percent success while the 12,24 elk hunters harvested 1,985 elk and averaged 16 percent success Also, 1,59 hunters reported they pursued bear with a bow and took 111 bear and averaged six percent success Sixty-eight percent of all of the elk killed by a bow were taken in western Oregon and 42 percent of the deer were taken in western Oregon Forty-eight percent of the deer taken and 28 percent of the elk taken were antlered animals The accompanying tables show the results of the 1979 seasons Estimates were based on projected information obtained from questionnaires mailed to a random sample of hunters purchasing bear, deer and elk tags and individuals who purchased bowhunting licenses Controlled hunt report cards from deer, elk, antelope and cougar hunters and bighorn sheep hunter checkout reports were used in the computationsd Page 9

10 St Louis Ponds were designed to provide maximum shoreline FISHING FOR THE FAMILY The St Louis Warm-Water Public Fishing Area in the mid-willamette Valley has now been open for fishing since the first of the year Even though all the planned ponds and facilities are not yet completed, public use and enjoyment of the area has been intense The Department has had a good many inquiries about the complex and is now in the process of preparing an informational brochure on the area In the meantime, here is a look at the St Louis Ponds area, how it came to be, what is there, how to get there, and some comments on its future Beginnings of the St Louis project go back to 1968 when the Department purchased a 26-acre tract of land in Marion County near the little town of St Louis, and to Clark Walsh, then assistant game director of the Oregon Game Commission, and chief advocate of the project Walsh met Page 1 Location map for: ST LOUIS WARM-WATER FISH PONDS MAY 198 Th

11 an untimely death in 1969 and ale-" though plans were drawn for pond funding problems prevailed for a number of years The big break came in 1972 when the Oregon State Highway Department needed a source of fill material to widen the Interstate-5 freeway near the pond site The Highway Department needed dirt; the Fish and Wildlife Department needed holes All in all it was an ideal situation, and the Highway engineers agreed to excavate the dirt according to Department specifications in return for the fill By 1975, when the highway project was nearly completed, more than 6, cubic yards of fill had been removed and seven ponds had been completed As fishing ponds go these are unique From the air they look like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle all laid out but not put together The reason for this is that they were designed to provide the maximum amount of shoreline This permits anglers to fish practically the entire surface area of each pond from the bank Plans call,_- for eventual development of 13 ponds ranging from five to seven surface acres each and up to nine feet deep The seven completed ponds have a combined surface area of about 55 acres and an estimated shoreline expanse of about seven miles Water is supplied to the ponds mainly from natural winter runoff, but a well and pump have been developed and installed for a supplementary water supply when needed The ponds were first stocked in 1976 Various combinations of largemouth bass, black and white crappie, channel catfish, green sunfish and bluegill have been used Unfortunately, initial stocking efforts were followed by the drought of 1977 Well water was not yet available then, and some of the ponds became so shallow fish had to be seined from them and transported temporarily to other waters The fish in the remaining ponds suffered food shortages due to the low water and their growth was severely affected Water conditions at St Louis improved in the fall of 1978 and the fish Area i were returned to ponds from which they had been evacuated Natural production is taking place in the ponds but may not be adequate to maintain good fishing The Department may have to periodically stock fish to maintain good populations Artificial fertilization of the ponds may also be undertaken to increase productivity, but care will need to be taken in order to avoid stimulation of unwanted plant growth Biologists say the quality of fishing may vary for a while until the best management techniques are found Late last year fish populations were thought adequate to allow fishing, and the ponds opened on January i of this year Because of concerns for maintaining good fish populations regulations were put into effect that are substantially more restrictive than those for warm-water fishing elsewhere in the state The daily bag limit is a combination of ST Louis Warm-water Game Fish Public Fishing Development!!!:!! j_ - -- i i : _L_ff County : :2 ii: I ; ; 4 x Parking ' X x x \ Development ±::i - FUIURE DEVELOpMENT \ / ( 4;' \ Area 2 \ "I OREGON WILDLIFE Page 11

12 five warm-water game fish of which only two may be bass or catfish Bass and catfish must have a minimum length of 12 inches Parking and sanitary facilities will be developed by the Marion County Parks and Recreation Commission The Department will gradually landscape the area around the ponds to enhance appearance and to provide shade trees Plans call for the use of plants attractive to birds and other wildlife Even though the ponds are open and being used now, development will be a gradual and continuing thing Since its initial development, the St Louis Pond area has attracted a variety of interests other than angling including hunting and dog training The primary function of the area, however, is to provide fishing Activities that conffict with this objective will, from now on, be prohibited or restricted In the southwestern part of the area which has not yet been developed (see area 2 on the map), dog training and bird hunting will continue to be permitted under regulations to be established by the Department Open fires will be prohibited in this area and no discharge of rifles and pistols allowed In area i (again see map), which consists of all the main pond development north and east of the main entrance road and parking area, the following activities are prohibited: i All overnight camping 2 All hunting 3 Discharge of all firearms 4 Open fires 5 Boat use on the ponds 6 Dog training 7 Swimming 8 Driving except in designated areas The St Louis Ponds area has been a long time coming, and the job is not done yet But it has reached the point where it can provide enjoyment (and is already doing so) for many people As a place for the family, a place to take kids fishing, a spot for elderly fisherfoiks, or for anyone in the lower half of the Willamette Valley looking for a public place to fish St Louis Ponds is your kind of place o Ken Durbin Page 12 Salmon Advisory Committee Meets Regularly A Salmon Advisory Committee to the Department was established by the i979 Legislature It consists of five members appointed by the Goyernor, one each representing cornmercial fishing licensees, the general public, a generally recognized sports fishing organization, private aquacultural interests and a generally recognized environmental organization Named by the Governor were: - Fred Cleaver, Lake Oswego, representing the general public - Walter McGovern, Portland, representing sports fishermen - Al Hampson, Portland, representing private aquaculture - Chris Kittell, Portland, representing environmental concerns - Jim Earley, Siletz, representing commercial fishermen The Committee was given the task of reviewing the policies of the Department and making recornmendations to the Fish and Wildlife Cornmission and to the Department concerning the salmon resources of the state Since November the Committee has been meeting on the third Tues- Salmon Advisory Committee members are: standing I-r, Fred Cleaver, Jim Earley, and sitting l-r, Chris Kittell, Walter McGovern and Al Hampson day of each month at the Fish and Wildlife Department's Portland headquarters To date the committee has concentrated on reviewing opportunities and programs for enhancing salmon runs Recommendations will soon be presented to the Commission Future discussions will be directed at Department policies governing pri- " vate hatcheries NONGAME CHECKOFF REPORT As we go to press, we do not have the final figures from the nongame checkoff for i98 The smoke has not cleared following the April 15 taxpayer charge at the Department of Bevenue However, we did receive information as of the end of March Through March 3i, Oregon income taxpayers had donated $i9,39 of their tax refunds to the nongame wildlife fund according to the Revenue Department The Revenue people point out that while the greatest flurry of taxpayer filing of returns is during the first couple of weeks of April, most folks filing at this time do not have refunds coming However, it does look encouraging that we will reach our prognostication of $2, We thank all of you who "DID SOME- THING WILD" with a tax refund checkoff In conjunction with the nongame program, Frank Newton, previously manager of the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area has joined the Portland staff of the Department as nongame biologist Frank will be planning and coordinating the statewide program and in future issues we will be reporting to you some of the uses made of the checkoff money D MAY 198

13 Editorial-continued from p 2 3 License moratorium: The bills limiting the numbers of trollers, gillnetters and shrimpers were sponsored and supported in the 1979 Legislature not by Director Donaldson nor by the Commission, but by the fishermen and their legislative spokesmen This is a socio-economic issue The Commission has authority to regulate the harvest no matter how many boats and individuals are fishing The moratorium will end in 1981 unless extended by the Legislature If fishermen don't want it, they should so advise the Legislature 4 Indian fishing rights: Both federal and state agencies and officials are mandated by federal court orders to allocate certain portions of salmon runs, beyond escapement needs, to some Indian treaty tribes Director Donaldson and the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission have taken the initiative in resolving Indian claims and potential claims by negotiated agreements, such as that with four Columbia River treaty tribes, and a,_proposed agreement - not yet approved by the Commission or the tribal council - with the Siletz tribe Only Congress has authority to change Indian treaties or their interpretation by federal courts The editorial in the Bay Reporter appears to accept slanderous accusations, innuendo and distortion of facts as reasons why Director Donaidson should resign Would fishermen rather have a political appointee as director, instead of a man with an outstanding record in fisheries management, unanimously supported by a citizens' Commission? I hope notd Sincerely Herbert Lundy, Chairman Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission Flying squirrel The thrill and the art of hang gliding is a recent discovery for man, but a way of life for another Oregon mammal, the flying squirrel Properly called the northern flying squirrel, Glaucomys sabrinus, this creature uses gliding as its principal means of travel A folded layer of loose skin runs along the squirrel's body and is attached to the front and hind legs When fully spread, this skin has a gliding surface of over 7 square inches that allows the squirrel to stay airborne for more than 1 feet Like a hang glider, the squirrel changes direction by tilting its body The flying squirrel is common in the timber country of western Oregon, the Cascades and the Blue Mountains of Oregon's northeast corner While they are numerous, northern flying squirrels are seldom seen because they are nocturnal A lucky observer may spot a squirrel briefly as it glides from tree to tree, sithouetted against the evening sky These squirrels are among the most arboreal or tree dwelling of Oregon's mammals They do venture to the ground when necessary, but prefer the safer heights of pines, firs and some hardwoods The northern flying squirrel is about eleven inches long from head to tip of tail and weighs about 4 ounces The upper body may be one of several shades of brown, but the underbelly fur is usually a slate color with white tips Its eyes are abnormally large and specially adapted for night vision Home is usually an abandoned hole made by a woodpecker or other cavity nesting species However, the flying squirrel has been known to build leaf (Editor's Note: Since Mr Lundy's nests or even take over a mail box from time to time letter was written the Siletz agree- An average of three to four young are born in early spring Naked and ment has been adopted and signed) helpless at birth, the little ones are on their own by late fall Food is the normal squirrel fare of nuts, berries, other vegetation, insects and even baby birds The range of the northern flying squirrel includes the upper western US, most of Canada, the north and northeastern US and the forested mountains extending into the southeastern US A similar squirrel, the southern flying squirrel, is found in the midwest and eastern USD Jim Gladson OREGON WILDLIFE Page 13

14 THIS AND THAT Compiled by Ken Durbin Algae Uses Algae, among the humblest and most abundant of earth's organisms, may hold a solution to two of the world's most pressing scarcity problems: food and fuel According to Environment magazine, Israeli seientists who have been cultivating the plant in salty desert ponds say it could be the "soybean of the future", thanks to its high protein content and ability to thrive in environments that are hostile to other forms of life And an Australian report predicts that algae refined to produce methane gas or ketones could shortly supply 6 percent of that nation's motor fuel needs Wildlife Review * Tickling, Noodling and Grabbing What fishing tackle could be simpler than a bent pin? How about your bare fingers? A recent article in Kentucky Happy Hunting Ground describes the local practice of fishing for coarse fish (particularly catfish) by hand "Grabbers" are so successful that there's a legal season for it in state waters - June 1 through August 31 The main hazard? Snapping turtles that often lurk in the same holes in riverbanks where the fish are found Wildlife Review Deposit Helps To Recycle Cars After one year of operation, Norway's "deposit legislation" on privately owned cars seems to be a success The program requires a $1 deposit on new cars at time of purchase The money is returned when the auto is scrapped to insure that the junk cars are properly disposed of Based on the "polluters pay" principle, the system has resulted in the recycling of 41, autos and vans A 2 to 25 percent reduction in steel imports by Norway has been one of several benefits Colorado Outdoors Page 14 Trees Are Cool It may be more energy-wise to plant trees than to add a few inches of insulation, says a director of the American Society of Home Inspectors Research in New England determined shade trees on the southsouthwestern side of a home could save as much as $5 in cooling costs A large-leaved deciduous tree's shade equals a half ton of air conditioning capacity Here in the sun-belt the saving would be more Besides shade, trees also produce oxygen European research found a single beech tree produced enough pure oxygen in 1 years that if produced in a modern factory would cost $72 million Every day, 2, acres of land are taken from rural uses and converted into urban areas With populations increasing, a good question to ask is: how much landscape and trees do we need per person? Recommendations are 2 square feet of live plant area per person including one tree for every two people, plus one tree for every car in use Every fifth tree should be an evergreen These figures are for "people areas" according to the University of Utah's Environmental Impact Office Outdoor Oklahoma * Reward Is Twice The Fine The North Carolina Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation has paid a $1 reward for information that led to the arrest and conviction of a hunter who killed a wild turkey illegally But the violator paid only $52 in fines; maximum fines for the offense in North Carolina is reported to be $2 According to a report, the offender commented to the North Carolina agents that he would pay another $52 if they would let him keep the turkey Many Uses The wise angler carries a roll of plastic tape in his tackle box It is a good emergency repair kit for all sorts of things, such as fixing loose fishing rod guides, patching tent holes, holding a mirror to a tree, etc Outdoor Oklahoma Snakebite Study Focus MOSCOW, Idaho - Researchers at the University of Idaho say their - studies of cobra venom may lead to vaccines capable of protecting humans and animals against all forms of snakebite Dr Ken Laurence, professor of zoology and chairman of the Biological Sciences Department, and Darwin Vest, an associate, said they have succeeded in protecting animals against the lethal effects of cobra venom with a single vaccination prior to injecting the venom A by-product of their research, they said, is a faster method of producing anti-venom to counteract effects of snakebites on victims The new anti-venom appears to be more effective and less dangerous than the variety now on the market, they said The Powder River Sportsmen Buck Goes A Long Way In New Zealand, deer farming is an established industry which enjoys an international market - particularly among the venison-hungry Germans, whose appetite for the meat is greater than the capacity of their game reserves to supply it The antlers, however, are exported mainly to Korea where, sold in powdered form as an aphrodisiac, they fetch a price rivaling that of the more familiar rhino horn Wildlife Review Litter Longevity An expert estimates that it takes much longer than we might expect for our litter to decompose under trailside conditions So the next time you or your fellow campers don't feel like hauling out your trash from some wilderness campgrounds, ponder these statistics Orange peel - From two weeks to five months Plastic coated paper - From one to five years Plastic bags - From 1-2 years Plastic film - From 2-3 years Nylon fabrics - From 3-4 years Hiking boot soles - From 5-8 years Aluminum cans, tabs - From 8-1 years New Hampshire Campground Owners Newsletter MAY 198

15 Oregon 's WILDLIFE WINDOW Humans have the same basic requirements to live as all other forms of animal life Food, water, and shelter are needed by everything from the smallest one-celled animals to whales For an area to be a good home for wildlife, it not only must provide these three basics but must also be present all the time the animal is there The requirements for an animal's,'' home or habitat are much more cornplex than just having food around all c J the time however We do not eat grass, mice or earthworms These are not considered food for humans They are food for ground squirrels, coyotes and robins in that order All green things you see in the forest are not deer food All wildlife require food but it must be the right food and it must be present whenever the animal needs it Just a week or so each year when mais must have shelter for various purposes Some require only enough to raise young temporarily Others need protection from sun, storms, rain or cold much of their life Again, different species choose different types of shelter Some will require ground that is just right for digging Others will choose a particular kind of tree for nesting or roosting and no other will do Some prefer the valley bottoms and for some reason refuse to use apparently suitable living areas on nearby hills Wildlife are particular in their choice of homes or habitats They are adapted through instinct or physical characteristics to a set combination of food, water and shelter Some will tolerate a wider range of these combinations These species are considered "adaptable" Others will use only a very narrow set of conditions and any changes here will make the habitat unsuitable Unfortunately, animals are mostly unable to learn to eat different things, live in different places or drink different water People have the same basic requirements but we are the most adaptable of all animals in the set of conditions we can learn to live withd THIS MONTH'S WINDOW '\ is not available may be enough food to make otherwise suitable habitat void of that form of life the entire year This is especially true if the animal is not able to travel readily to other areas Different species also require different water conditions Some live in it, find shelter there, "breathe" it and virtually all drink it in some manner Some require salt water, some fresh water and others mineral water with various chemicals Temperatures - both warm and cold - also determine much of what will live in the water So do oxygen levels, the degree of acidity and certain poilutants To complete the ideal home, ani- OREGON WILDLIFE Habitat Draw, model, cut and paste pictures, or otherwise design the best possible home for an animal of your choosing Hint - first you will have to study the animal to learn about its needs and preferences Write a description, poem or story about the best home for your chosen form of wildlife After learning about the needs of your chosen species if it lives in your area, take a trip to its habitat and look for the conditions that make that habitat suitable Page 15