OREGON S T E MISSION GAME. ulletin MARCH-APRIL 1967

Transcription

1 B OREGON EE GAME S T A E MISSION ulletin MARCH-APRIL 1967

2 BOREGON STATE GAME COMMISSION ulletin Number 2, Volume 22 March-April 1967 Published Bimonthly by the OREGON STATE GAME COMMISSION 1634 S.W. Alder Street P.O. Box 3503 Portland, Oregon MEMBERS OF COMMISSION Joseph W. Smith, Chairman Klamath Falls J. Pat Metke, Vice-Chairman Bend Wayne E. Phillips. Baker John P. Amacher Winchester Tallant Greenough Coquille P. W. SCHNEIDER, Director MIRIAM KAUTTU SUHL, Editor H. C. SMITH, Staff Artist Second-class postage paid at Portland, Oregon. Please report promptly any change of address. Send in address label from a recent issue with notice of change. Include zip code number. Bulletin is circulated free of charge. The Cover To many anglers the high point of the year is opening the trout season on their favorite stream or lake. For some April 22 will be the big day as it marks the opening of the general trout season in the state except for streams in Zones 1, 3, and 4 and for Cascade lakes in national forests. General opening date for the latter is May 20. Numerous exceptions prevail, however, and each angler should consult the 1967 angling synopsis. (Photo by Ron Shay) BULLETIN HUNTER SAFETY TRAINING PROGRAM Instructors Approved s of December and January 34 Total to Date 3,927 Students Trained s of December and January 835 Total to Date 104,848 Total Firearms Casualties Reported, 1966 Fatal 12 Nonfatal 67 Firearms Casualties Reported in SALMON-STEELHEAD ANGLERS NOTE REPORT CHANGE Anglers should note two changes made in the format of the 1967 salmon-steelhead angling license before entering report of fish caught. The new license card has two separate columns, one for salmon and the other for steelhead. Each column provides space for recording the catch by month, day, and river or port. The punch requirement has been eliminated. The season bag limit remains the same, 20 salmon and 20 steelhead in a calendar year. STATE OF OREGON GAME COMMISSION SALMON ANGLER LICENSE & CATCH RECORD JAN. 1, DEC. 31, FISHING LICENSE NO. 4 3,26 FOR INSTRUCTIONS SEE OTHEZIDE SALMON STEELHEAD April Day.3 J a. 1 1 Day I River or Port IV; 114ft efie TZ River or Port Al_t Cer. April Day 1,1( Feb, Rey 3 River or Port kosj. GO% R. 4 Li, /9 Do, 2. River or Port De et 041 A River or Port Rivet ar Port River or Pod River or Pal River or!or! River or Pon C or g atz R..y re Po ( "0 Fele Do O. liver.erfo r River or Port River or Pan Mo9tM1 Ri.e, or Port 18 WI VOLE C. Day FIREARMS HUNTING ACCIDENTS RESULT OF CARELESSNESS Careless handling of firearms by Oregon hunters in 1966 caused 79 casualties, including 12 fatalities. In 1965 a total of 74 casualties was reported. Juvenile hunters rated high in the number of accidents. Nineteen hunters were involved in shooting some other hunter, and 15 suffered self-inflicted wounds. Of the 12 deaths, 5 were juveniles. Twenty-two, either the shooter or the victim, failed to obtain certificates in the safe handling of firearms as required of juveniles by law. Of the total firearms accidents, 36 hunters shot themselves. Carrying loaded firearms in vehicles resulted in 15 casualties. Pistols were involved in 16 accidental shootings (none fatal). One bow and arrow hunter shot himself in the leg. Only 7 woundings could be classed purely accidental with ricochet the causing factor. Five victims were mistaken for game. Most accidents occurred at very close range with 52 reported at 3 yards or less and 7 more from 3 to 25 yards distance. Only 8 victims were wounded at a distance of 50 yards or more. A tame drake, banded as a day-old duckling last June in Illinois, was shot near Scappoose last January by Bob Queirolo of Portland. Tennessee Turkeys Travel Two air shipments of wild turkeys from Tennessee, totaling 18 birds, were released last month in the Rogue Canyon country below Galice. The birds were trapped and flown to Oregon in exchange for black-tailed deer provided last fall to the Tennessee Fish and Game Commission. The Tennessee turkey is somewhat smaller than the Merriam's strain previously released in eastern Oregon with good results. If the Tennessee turkey does as well, southwestern Oregon will have a fine trophy game bird. BIG GAME REGULATION HEARING MAY 19 The annual hearing on big game regulations will convene at 10 a.m. May 19 at the Portland headquarters of the Game Commission, 1634 S.W. Alder Street. Under consideration will be the 1967 season dates, bag limits, and methods of hunting big game species. Tentative regulations will be announced and the hearing recessed until June 2 when final action will be taken. Page2

3 '..e4"-`41-61-ca..4vvv0)%6 (Y\24 By Bob Stein, Chief Biologist, Big Game OREGON BIG GAME HUNTERS RE- PORT a very successful 1966 hunting season. A survey of Oregon's 343,360 licensed hunters indicated that they enjoyed an estimated 1,960,000 days of hunting and harvested more than 160,000 big game animals. Deer hunters experienced the best success since 1961 and the third highest kill on record. A large deer population provided opportunity for 270,769 deer hunters to harvest 147,975 deer, averaging 55 percent success. Deer tags issued increased 2.8 percent over Five percent of the 285,961 persons obtaining a deer tag reported they did not hunt and missed out on one of the best seasons in recent years. Elk hunters found animal populations similar to the past several years, but the quality of hunting and their success were affected by a further increase in the number of elk hunters. Elk tags issued inci eased by 3.6 percent totaling 69,880 and the reported harvest of elk was 11,402. Success of elk hunters averaged 17 percent. Antelope, sheep, and goat hunters reported taking 445 antelope bucks, 3 bighorn sheep, and 5 mountain goat. Deer Seasons The buck deer season extended from October 1 to October 23 for mule deer and October 1 through October 30 for black-tailed deer. Antlerless permits authorized 47,500 mule deer hunters to take a deer of either sex in designated units GAME BULLETIN during the last nine days of the season. Black-tailed deer ant 1 e r le s s permits authorized 59,350 hunters to take a deer of either sex during the last 16 days of the season. Unit permits provided a harvest of 30,449 deer. Fifty-six percent of the mule deer hunters and 52 percent of the black-tailed deer hunters were successful. Mule deer provided 60 percent of the total harvest. Antlerless deer provided about onefourth of the yield of both mule and black-tailed deer. Deer hunting provided 1,525,000 days of recreation during the 1966 season. Black-tailed deer hunters spent 670,000 days afield while mule deer hunters spent 855,000 days hunting. Elk Seasons The general season opened October 29 and extended through November 27 for Rocky Mountain elk hunters in eastern Oregon. The western Oregon Roosevelt elk season was delayed until November 12 and extended through November 27. s were again required to choose between hunting Roosevelt or Rocky Mountain elk by issuance of a separate tag. The objective of these regulations is to improve the distribution of hunters and to reduce concentrations that jeopardize both wildlife and recreational values. The proportion of Roosevelt elk hunters to the total elk hunters has been reduced 8 percent from the 1964 ratio, the beginning year of separate tag regulation. The popular north coastal area had 19 percent fewer hunters than in Roosevelt elk tag sales totaled 19,178, a decline of 2.8 percent; Rocky Mountain elk tag sales totaled 50,702, an increase of 6 percent. The survey indicated 68,168 persons hunted elk and 2.5 percent of the tag buyers reported they did not hunt. The estimated harvest of 11,402 elk included 8,030 bulls and 3,372, or 30 percent, antlerless. Elk hunters enjoyed 433,363 man-days of recreation, an average of 6.2 man-days per hunter. A total of 24,646 applications were processed to determine the successful applicants for the 4,900 antlerless elk permits authorized. s reported that 63 percent of all bulls taken were spikes, emphasizing the heavy utilization of bulls. Antelope Season Antelope return cards from 686 hunters reported a harvest of 445 bucks. Six areas were open from August 20 through August 24. Area IV (Juniper, Hart Mountain, and Steens Units) led with 130 antelope taken and 71 percent reported success. This year's harvest was the highest since 1960 and holds fifth ranking for the past 15 years. Mountain Sheep Three sheep tags were issued for a season of September 24 through September 30 in portions of Hart Mountain. All three tag holders were successful in bagging a full 3/4 curl ram. This was the sec- (Continued on Page 8) Page 3

4 ,r7 - os. tvw Airb \\\A'. r.i.gav 1 1, gv ;').' -,:y V;'""i,..., n id.,-53 i i The Western Meadowlark THE WESTERN MEADOWLARK is a permanent resident of the grassland regions throughout Oregon. It is as much at home in the arid sage plateaus and coastal tide flats as it is in the open prairies and grassy valleys. In the extensive grasslands of eastern Oregon, the meadowlark is a common breeding species; but west of the Cascade Range, its summer population is low, having declined sharply in recent years. Much of this loss has been attributed to destruction of habitat through changes in farming operations and 14 PIONEER ANGLERS.. FATHER AND SON. Charles G. Stanton, 96, and his son, Charles V. Stanton, 71, both of Roseburg, receive their recently purchased pioneer angling licenses from Game Commission regional supervisor, J. W. Vaughn (center). They are believed to be the only father and son combination eligible for pioneer licenses. The younger Stanton is former editor of the Roseburg News Review and widely known for his work as a conservationist. His father came to Oregon in 1880 from Illinois. He was an ardent fisherman until the age of 90, but now fishes only occasionally. (News Review photo) through urban expansion. In 1928 an election was held in our public schools to select an official bird for the State of Oregon. The children chose the western meadowlark over all other species. This popular choice was ratified by the state legislature the following year. North Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana have also proclaimed the meadowlark as their state symbol. Throughout the winter the meadowlark is a silent, inconspicuous bird. With the first sign of spring it makes its appearance in brilliant new plumage and with a clear, melodious song announces its presence from a fence post or the top of an isolated tree. The meadowlark is about the size of a robin but is much chunkier, with a broad, stubby tail. Its back is light colored and streaked with brown, which serves to camouflage the bird in its grassland surroundings. The breast is bright yellow, crossed with a distinctive black V. When walking, the bird exhibits a nervous trait of constantly flicking its tail open and shut. A small depression beneath a tuft of meadow grass is the site most often selected in which to construct a nest of grasses. A dome-shaped roof is added to provide concealment from enemies and protection from the elements. Four or five white eggs, speckled with brown, are usually laid. After the young have left the nest, the female starts construction of another nest in which to raise a second brood. During much of the year, the main diet is composed of cutworms, beetles, grasshoppers, and other injurious insects; but when winter sets in and insect life becomes scarce, weed seeds and waste grain are readily consumed. These feeding habits have endeared the meadowlark to the farmer and made it his favorite bird ally in the constant battle to control farm pests. C. E. Kebbe Ed. Note. An excellent 6x9 color reproduction of a painting of the western meadowlark by Harold Cramer Smith may be obtained free of charge from the Oregon State Game Commission, P. 0. Box 3503, Portland, Oregon PUBLIC SHOOTING GROUND USE INCREASES use increased on the Game Commission public shooting grounds during the 1966 waterfowl season. Almost 18,500 hunters patronized the five areas where records were kept: Sauvie Island, Government Island, Summer Lake, Warner Valley, and Camas Swale. Over 35,200 birds of all species were shot, making the average hunter success almost two birds per man. The total included over 25,900 ducks (5,000 more than the previous year) and almost 9,100 geese, also considerably higher than the 1965 take. Coot and snipe make up the balance of the total. In 1965, a total of 22,500 waterfowl was bagged by 14,300 hunters. NEXT MEETING OF THE GAME COMMISSION The Oregon State Game Commission will hold its next regular business meeting on Friday, March 24. The session will be convened at the Portland office of the Commission. MARCH-APRIL, 1967

5 This is Your Land know it... enjoy it... protect it! NATIONAL WILDLIFE WEEK MARCH 19-25, 1967

6 UNITS by REGIONS s Days TABLE 1 - SUMMARY 1966 DEER SEASONS GENERAL DEER SEASONS Bucks Does Total EXTENDED SEASONS CONTROLLED Alsea 11,212 64,768 3,696 1,360 5, , , Clatsop 4,358 30,302 1, , , McKenzie 14,414 87,573 3,994 1,595 5, ,730 8, Nestucca 1,415 7, Polk 3,096 17, , Santiam 15,742 85,863 3,072 1,572 4, ,289 6, Siuslaw 3,782 24,610 1, , , Trask 6,839 35,341 1, , , Willamette 4,342 22, , ,500 3, Wilson 4,409 23, , , NORTHWEST 69, ,853 17,825 7,688 25, , , Applegate 3,210 22,232 1, , , Chetco 2,300 16,812 1, , ,198.8 Dixon 4,836 27,703 1, , , Elkton 1,466 8, , Evans Creek 1,740 13, Melrose 4,703 31,080 2, , , Powers 2,500 16,169 1, , , Rogue 8,927 57,595 3, , , Sixes 4,883 28,248 2, , , Tioga 2,634 13,924 1, , , SOUTHWEST 37, ,936 15,411 2,710 18, ,466 20, Deschutes 9,253 50,072 2, , , Fort Rock 5,753 31,066 2, , , Grizzly 3,265 17,898 1, , , Hood River 533 2, Keno 2,171 13, , Klamath 7,266 37,300 3, , , Maupin 780 3, Maury 2,402 10,883 1, , , Metolius 2,622 12, , , Ochoco 12,701 54,588 4, , , Paulina 6,513 33,382 2, , , Sherman 2,375 9, , , Sprague 4,460 22,016 1, , , Wasco 5,671 28,577 1, , , CENTRAL 65, ,676 24,761 5,395 30, , Baker 4,965 23,792 2, , , Catherine Cr. 2,136 10,989 1, , , Chesnimnus 1,826 9, , , Columbia Basin 666 3, Desolation 1,748 8,551 1, , , Heppner 7,791 31,619 3,159 1,830 4, , lmnaha 3,037 12,094 1, , , Keating 2,794 11,326 1, , ,453 3, Lookout Mtn. 1,595 5, , , Minam 1,407 6, , , Murderer's Cr. 6,188 29,765 2,317 1,485 3, , Northside 5,447 25,470 2,915 1,176 4, , Sled Springs 3,174 14,485 1, , , Snake River 2,187 10,119 1, , , Starkey 1,983 10, , ,186.9 Ukiah 3,331 17,659 1, , , Umatilla 3,308 17,510 1, , , Walla Walla 545 2, Wenaha 1,023 5, Wheeler 6,235 25,450 2,798 1,148 3, , NORTHEAST 61, ,041 29,198 10,851 40, ,814 43, Beulah 3,531 15,187 1, , , Hart Mountain Interstate 7,156 38,897 3,069 1,873 4, , Juniper 341 1, Malheur River 2,485 11,996 1, , ,536.8 Owyhee 494 1, Silver Lake 5,738 30,059 1,968 1,093 3, , Silvies 3,045 17,349 1, , , Steens Mtn. 1,297 6, Wagontire 443 1, Warner 2,951 16,522 1, , , Whitehorse 459 3, SOUTHEAST 28, ,170 12,889 3,805 16, , Gen. Season Totals 262,068 1,388, ,084 30, , Extended Seasons 31, ,316 5,933 5,962 11, Cont. Seasons 8,495 23,956 1,740 3,807 5, GRAND TOTALS 270,769 1,524, ,757 40, , ,895 5, , Page 6 285,961 - Total Deer Tags Issued MARCH-APRIL, /0 Success % Yearling Bucks SEASONS TOTAL DEER DEER per Sq. Mile

7 Year Deer Tags Issued Total Deer Harvested Success TABLE 2 - SUMMARY TOTAL DEER HARVEST *s Number Harvested MULE DEER Success of Total Antlerless Harvest Antlerless *s Number Harvested BLACK-TAILED DEER Success of Total Antlerless Harvest Antlerless ,250 77, ,719 53, , ,531 24, , , , ,356 64, , ,552 40, , , , ,617 76, , ,430 35, , , , ,566 90, , ,919 43, , , , ,568 85, , ,274 40, , , , ,627 81, , ,333 34, , , , ,183 71, , ,702 45, , , , ,856 88, , ,750 56, , ** 259, , ,102 96, , ,725 61, , , , ,597 97, , ,971 65, , , , ,580 76, , ,343 62, , , , ,676 64, , ,603 52, , , , ,215 84, , ,555 58, , , , ,618 71, , ,281 47, , , , ,720 88, , ,049 59, , *General season hunters only. ** estimates of hunting pressure revised. TABLE ELK SEASONS REGIONS Units HUNTER NUMBERS HUNTER DAYS Total Av. Spikes HARVEST Adult Bulls HUNTER SUCCESS Alsea 515 2, Clatsop 7,475 41, , McKenzie 839 4, Santiam Siuslaw Trask 400 2, Willamette Wilson 2,079 10, NORTHWEST 11,636 62, , Chetco Dixon 343 1, Elkton 643 3, Melrose 568 2, Powers 370 1, Rogue 247 1, Sixes Tioga 3,956 22, SOUTHWEST 6,196 34, Deschutes Grizzly Hood River Keno _ Maury Ochoco 1,086 5, Wasco 603 3, CENTRAL 1,969 10, Beulah 1,248 8, Malheur 584 3, Silvies 239 1, SOUTHEAST 2,071 12, Baker 2,850 20, Catherine Cr. 1,000 6, Chesnimnus 3,123 18, Desolation 3,094 22, Heppner 2,659 18, Imnaha 1,373 8, Keating 682 4, Lookout Mtn Minam 1,943 13, Murderer's Cr 798 4, Northside 1,486 9, Sled Springs 3,688 22, Snake River 1,691 10, Starkey 6,600 48, Ukiah 3,876 29, Umatilla 4,651 31, Walla Walla 1,909 11, Wenaha 4,040 26, , Wheeler 673 4, NORTHEAST 46, , ,409 1,966 2,929 8, STATE TOTALS._68, , ,078 2,952 3,372 11, *Square miles of habitat. GAME BULLETIN Page 7 Antlerless Total SPIKE BULLS HUNTERS Per Sq. Mi. ELK Per Sq. Mi.

8 1966 BIG GAME SEASONS (Continued from Page 3) and sheep season held in Oregon in the past 40 years. Mountain Goat The second goat season held in Oregon resulted in 100 percent success for all 5 goat hunters. The season opened September 24 and extended through September 30. The Wallowa Eagle Cap Wilderness area was divided into two sections and hunting was authorized in the portion not hunted in Bow Hunting The survey indicated that 10,693 persons hunted as archers and that they killed 880 deer and 111 elk. Bear The estimated take of black bear was 3,880 with approximately 8,500 persons hunting this species. Summary The 1966 hunting season was one of the better seasons on record. The third highest deer kill and a substantial elk kill were indicated from the hunter survey. Elk tag sales increased 3.6 percent and deer tag sales increased 2.8 percent, illustrating the increasing demand on big game resources. The separate elk tag regulation reduced the number of Roosevelt elk hunters in conduct throughout the big game seasons was generally good. Few instances of vandalism were reported and very few fires were caused by hunters. The present winter has been mild and game biologists report the probability of a good carry-over of big game animals. s can anticipate a comparable season in Elk making a dash to inspect their new surroundings in the Briggs Creek country back of Galice. The elk were transported to Josephine County after being trapped on the Millicoma Tree Farm in Coos County. They were hauled by truck to their new home. (Art Besaw Photo) TABLE 4 - ELK HUNTING TRENDS Year State Total Rocky Mountain Elk Roosevelt Elk s Bulls Cows Total Success s Bulls Cows Total Success s Bulls Cows Success Total , % 2, % No Open Season ,152 1,340 1,179 2,529 41% 4,809 1,152 1,179 2,331 48% 1, % ,625 7,270 2,243 2,465 20% 7,270 2, ,243 30% 1, % ,713 3,157 2,234 5,391 22% 16,726 2,210 1,234 3,444 21% 6, ,000 1,947 32% ,309 4,228 1,855 6,083 21% 21,504 3,361 1,749 5,110 24% 6, % ,349 9,707 2,384 12,091 23% 36,514 7,098 1,863 8,934 24% 14,835 2, ,130 22% ,983 7,998 2,178 10,176 19% 39,432 6,460 1,925 8,385 21% 13,559 1, ,791 13% ,724 10,082 3,606 13,688 25% 41,216 6,959 3,606 10,565 26% 13,508 3,123._ 3,123 23% ,898 11,846 5,311 17,157 27% 41,010 7,576 4,879 12,455 30% 21,888 4, ,702 21% ,387 8,066 4,200 12,266 18% 47,651 5,768 3,594 9,362 20% 19,736 2, ,904 15% ,178 8,030 3,372 11,402 17% 49,504 5,529 3,189 8,718 18% 18,674 2, ,684 14% Oregon State Game Commission Bulletin 1634 S.W. ALDER STREET P.O. BOX 3503 PORTLAND, OREGON GAME COMMISSION