Mule Deer and Elk Management Objectives Review 2016 August 5, 2016 Salem, Oregon Doug Cottam South Willamette Watershed Manager
MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES REVIEW 2016 Review Winter Population and Post Season Buck or Bull Ratio Management Objectives (MOs) for: Mule Deer Roosevelt Elk Rocky Mountain Elk
DEER AND ELK MOs DEFINED Winter Population MOs: Number of deer and/or elk ODFW strives to maintain in WMU Reflects wintering population or herd size Buck and Bull Ratio MOs: Desired post-hunting season ratio = bucks:100 does or bulls:100 cows Ratio of observed adult males/ females
MOs REQUIRE COMPROMISE For Winter Populations: Prevent serious depletion of indigenous wildlife Provide optimum recreational & aesthetic benefits Habitat availability Maintain populations compatible with land uses Damage to private property: Damage addressed above/below MO
MOs REQUIRE COMPROMISE For Buck and Bull Ratios: Lower/minimum ratios for general season = highest opportunity Higher ratios controlled hunting = less opportunity
MO PUBLIC REVIEW COMMITTEES District Biologists & Wildlife Division reviewed & proposed changes Local Review Committee (LRC) reviewed, commented: Local hunter group representatives Landowners Tribes Land management agencies Oregon State Police Other individuals Approximately 197 participants: 20 LRC meetings
GUIDELINES TO EVALUATE MOs MOs not achieved - not adjusted unless improved / accurate information Broad support - maintain/increase hunting Avoid creating more than 1 MO in WMU Winter population MO Fall hunting opportunity
MO PUBLIC REVIEW PROCESS 20 Big Game Regulation public meetings held in 19 cities with 249 participants Proposals by LRC and the Department posted on website with news release Staff proposals posted on website Correspondence received
E. Biggs Mule Deer Management Objectives Staff Proposals No changes proposed Staff propose to raise buck ratio MOs Staff propose to lower population MOs LRC propose changes & ODFW does not Saddle Mt. Stott Mt. 17 Tioga 24 Chetco 27 10 Wilson 12 Powers 25 26 Trask 14 Alsea 18 Siuslaw 20 23 15 29 Evans Creek Scappoose 11 Hood Indigo 21 Dixon 22 Rogue 28 30 Applegate Santiam 16 McKenzie 19 42 34 41 Metolius 39 35 Paulina Fort Rock 77 Silver W. Biggs 43 40 Grizzly 38 Columbia Basin 44 Fossil 45 Ochoco 37 Maury 36 Sprague Lake 76 33 31 Interstate Klamath 75 Falls 32 Wagontire 73 74 48 Juniper 71 Beatys Butte 70 Walla Walla 50 Northside 47 Malheur River 66 69 Wenaha Beulah 65 Owyhee 67 Whitehorse 68 Chesnimnus 55 56 Sled Springs 58 Mt Emily 54 57 59 Snake River 49 Minam 61 Imnaha Starkey 60 52 63 62 Pine Creek Desolation Sumpter 64 51 Keating Lookout Mt. Murderers 46 Creek Silvies 72 WMUs with Black-tailed Deer
PROPOSED CHANGES TO MULE DEER POPULATION MOs UNIT NAME 2005 MO ODFW PROPOSED MO LRC PROPOSED MO 2016 POPULATION ESTIMATE 3-YR AVG. POPULATION DESOLATION 2,500 1,500 1,500 1,082 1,163 UPPER DESCHUTES 2,200 2,000 2,000 968 1,136 METOLIUS 6,200 6,200 8,000-9,000 5,748 7,726 WAGONTIRE 2,500 2,500 6,000 2,946 3,446 STAFF RECOMMENDED CHANGES ARE BOLDENED AND HIGHLIGHTED IN GRAY
PROPOSED CHANGES TO MULE DEER BUCK RATIO MOs UNIT NAME 2005 MO ODFW PROPOSED MO LRC PROPOSED MO 3-YR AVG. BUCK RATIO MT. EMILY 15 20 20 18.8 BEULAH 12 15 15 14.3 MALHEUR RVR 12 15 15 14.3 SILVIES 12 15 15 14.7 OCHOCO 15 15 20 19.0 GRIZZLY 15 20 20 21.8 MAURY 15 20 20 22.7 WEST BIGGS 12 15 15 24.2 MAUPIN 12 15 15 25.6 SILVER LAKE 12 15 15 21.4 SPRAGUE 12 12 15 N/A KLAMATH FALLS 12 15 15 21.3 STAFF RECOMMENDED CHANGES ARE BOLDENED AND HIGHLIGHTED IN GRAY
W. Fort Rock Elk Management Objectives Staff Proposals No staff changes proposed Staff propose changes to bull ratio MOs Staff propose changes to population MOs LRC propose changes & ODFW does not LRC recommended changes different from ODFW Saddle Mt. Stott Mt. 17 Tioga 24 Chetco 27 10 Wilson 12 Powers 25 26 Trask 14 Alsea 18 Siuslaw 20 23 15 29 Evans Creek 11 Rogue 28 30 Applegate Scappoose Hood Indigo 21 Dixon 22 Santiam 16 McKenzie 19 Rock 77 Silver Lake Sprague 76 33 31 42 34 41 Metolius 39 E. Fort Klamath Falls 32 Biggs 40 Paulina 35 Grizzly 38 43 Columbia Basin 44 Fossil 45 Ochoco 3 7 Maury 36 Interstate 75 Wagontire 73 74 48 52 Desolation Northside 50 Sumpter 47 51 Silvies 72 Juniper 71 Beatys Butte 70 Walla Walla Murderers Cr. 46 69 Wenaha 55 56 Sled 58 Springs Mt. Emily 54 57 49 Minam 60 61 Starkey 66 64 E Beulah 65 S. Malheur River 66 Owyhee 67 Whitehorse 68 Chesnimnus 59 Snake River 63 62 Pine Creek Keating Lookout Mt Imnaha High Desert Units are: South ½ of 66, 67-71 & 73
PROPOSED CHANGES TO ROCKY MTN ELK POPULATION MOs UNIT NAME 2005 MO ODFW PROPOSED MO LRC PROPOSED MO 2016 POPULATION ESTIMATE 3-YR AVG. POPULATION IMNAHA 800 2,000 1,200-2,200 2,000 2,050 CATHERINE CR. 700 1,000 1,000 900 1,100 PINE CREEK 650 800 650 1,418 1,157 LOOKOUT MTN. 300 600 600 1,135 1,078 SNAKE RIVER 3,800 4,500 4,500 4,300 4,300 WEST BEULAH 1,300 500 500; 1,000 400 400 HIGH DESERT* 1,000 1,600 1,600 1,700 1,400 * High Desert Includes: Steens Mt., Whitehorse, Beatys Butte, Wagontire, Juniper, & S. Malheur River wildlife management units. STAFF RECOMMENDED CHANGES ARE BOLDENED AND HIGHLIGHTED IN GRAY
PROPOSED CHANGES TO ROCKY MTN ELK BULL RATIO MOs UNIT NAME 2005 MO ODFW PROPOSED MO LRC PROPOSED MO 3-YR AVG. BULL RATIO SNAKE RIVER 15 15 20 10.6 CHESNIMNUS 10 15 12, 15, 20 17.4 SLED SPRINGS 10 10 15 12.7 WENAHA 15 15 20 14.9 MT. EMILY 10 10 15 7.9 PAULINA/E. FORT ROCK 20 15 15 7.5 HOOD 10 10 RAISE N/A WHITE RIVER 10 10 RAISE 10 STAFF RECOMMENDED CHANGES ARE BOLDENED AND HIGHLIGHTED IN GRAY
PROPOSED CHANGES TO ROOSEVELT ELK POPULATION MOs UNIT NAME 2005 MO ODFW PROPOSED MO LRC PROPOSED MO POPULATION ESTIMATE 3-YR AVG. POPULATION INDIGO 4,700 4,500 4,500 2,740 N/A W. FORT ROCK --- 200 (NEW) 200 N/A N/A STAFF RECOMMENDED CHANGES ARE BOLDENED AND HIGHLIGHTED IN GRAY
PROPOSED CHANGES TO ROOSEVELT ELK BULL RATIO MOs UNIT NAME 2005 MO ODFW PROPOSED MO LRC PROPOSED MO 3-YR AVG. BULL RATIO WEST FORT ROCK --- 10 (NEW) --- ---
QUESTIONS?