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Vol. V PORTLAND, , SEPTEMBER, 1950 No. 9 Western Game Conference qcotteir a/riateitRetatida Well Attended The thirtieth annual conference of the By FREDERICK A. WILLIAMS, Graduate Student, Oregon State College Western Association of State Game and Fish Hunter-farmer relationship problems are demanding attention from sportsmen's Commissioners held in Portland August 14, clubs and State Game Commissions throughout the nation. Modern methods of 15 and 16, had a high attendance of represent- farming, the increasing interest in , and demands from a recreation minded atives from state fish and game departments public are creating problems heretofore receiving little attention from farmers, as well as other interested groups. The official sportsmen, and administrators. registration list totalled approximately 300. One need only drive through a few miles of impatient with the abuses heaped upon him- C. A. Lockwood, Oregon state game director farming country to observe the presence of a self and his property by a small percentage of and 1950 president of the Association, will be great number of "No Hunting or Trespassing" the vast number of present day hunters. succeeded as president by Thomas L. Kimball, signs. The posting of farm land against tres- For the past several years, a combination of Arizona game director who will be host for passing was unusual a decade or so ago but factors has focused attention to this problem the 1951 convention in Phoenix. R. H. Lam- has now become the standard practice of in Oregon. Trends toward clean farming have beth of Montana was elected vice president farmers who have tried but failed to find removed thousands of acres of game ; and Ben Glading of re-elected other satisfactory methods of protecting their sub-marginal land has been brought under secretary. property against the careless acts of a hunt- cultivation; game has been squeezed into The general sessions included panel discus- ing public. One of the most urgent problems smaller and smaller areas; an estimated in- sions on the following subjects: "Fishery of game managers today is that of improving crease of 40 per cent in Oregon's population Propagation and Stocking Policy in Western the relationship between the hunter, who is since 1940 has placed additional burdens on States"; "The Pollution Problem"; "Water- fast eliminating the areas at one time open to wildlife in of an ever-increasing fowl Resources"; "Big Game Damage Con- him for hunting, and the farmer, who is number of hunters. In some instances, enthu- trol"; "Water as a Public Re- siastic hunters in quest of source" and "Multiple Use game have ignored the rights Policies of Public Lands." of landowners. Acts of van- Technicalsessionswere dalism by thoughtless indi- held on wildlife management viduals have created ill-will developments, big game and between these two groups upland game. Fisheries prob- resulting in the posting of lems were covered in ses- lands against trespass.Let sions held concurrently by us look at both sides, weigh the Western Division of the the evidence, and determine American Fisheries Society. which party is to blame for Byresolutionsadopted this dilemma. during the executive session The role of the farmer in the Association took the fol- game management should be lowing actions: self-evident to anyone hav- Opposedvigorouslythe ing the most vague under- adoption of a national for- standing of the subject. To est stamp or fee for the pur- pose of hunting or fishing him must be given credit on national forests. for providing year - around Opposed passage of H. R. food and shelter for most of 894 or any similar measure our upland game species. to create a series of "Basin His attitude toward this re- Authorities" in the United source will determine the States. amount and availability of Recommended to the Pres- food and cover, and in turn, ident's Water Policy Com- the amount and availability mission certain suggestions of game for harvest.The for establishment of a na- farmer does not own the tional water policy, includ- game.This has been law .. ingtherequest that the since time immemorial. Since _Leeds of wildlife and rec- the movements of game can- reation be established as one not be controlled, ownership of the beneficial uses. must fall to the state, and (Continued on Page 2) Large signs of this type are used to identify the project areas. (Continued on Page 6) Page 2 SEPTEMBER, 1950

THIS AND THAT 'JOE BEAVER" By Ed Nofzige Western Game Conference * * (Continued from Page 1) Trash fish control operations continue at Lake of the Woods, Diamond, East, Paulina, Recommended supporting the U. S. Fish and Crescent, Davis, Fish and Olive lakes. Over Wildlife Service in obtaining legislation to two and one-half tons of roach have been increase the present allotment for administra- removed from East Lake through the use of tion and law enforcement from 10 to 25 per new trap nets. Some poisoning of smaller cent but that additional enforcement be con- concentrations of roach has been made. Con- fined to those states where it is most needed siderable numbers of roach have been re- and consideration be given to the wishes of moved from Paulina Lake through the use of the western states for additional expenditures poison and by seines.At Diamond Lake for increased production. operations have been very extensive since Recommended passage of H. R. 8663 propos- the water temperature along the shore areas ing reorganization of federal water develop- has risen and the roach have appeared in ment agencies, whereby the functions of the large schools. Up to July 20, the fisheries crew Secretary of the Army and the Corps of had used 4,500 pounds of rotenone and killed Engineers relating to flood control, river and an estimated 18 to 20 tons of roach. harbor improvement, and electric power pro- duction are transferred to the Secretary of the *** Interior and a Board of Analysis for Public Fisheries agents gathering catch data in the Works Projects is created. Coos Bay area on striped bass, report that the Opposed passage of H. R. 8692 and identical largest stripedbass checked this season bills pending in Congress relative to providing weighed 50.2 pounds. a price support to all species of fish taken com- Forest Service, U. 8. Department of Agriculture ** mercially and establishing a parity price. He tossed awaya lighted cigarette, so I attempted to cuthim Recommended adoption of uniform hunting Approximately 30,000 bass fry have been down to the ground." accident report form developed by the Na- planted in several impoundments in the Wil- The pheasant season in the Summer Lake tional Rifle Association and furnishing the lamette Valley, the fish being obtained from Valley study area this year will not open with Association with copies of accident reports. sloughs and lakes in the Salem area.It is the waterfowl season but will be delayed for Urged that no furs be permitted to enter hoped that these fish will be available for one week. the United States from Russia or any of its planting at a future date. The warm water satellite nations. game fish agent located in the Valley is con- Oregon StateGame Requested U. S. Bureau of Land Manage- tinuing the search for bass fry and making a Commission Bulletin ment to include in its regulations governing general survey of the sloughs and lakes in leasing and use of public grazing land pro- that area. Published Monthly by the visions prohibiting construction of fences * OREGON STATE GAME COMMISSION 1634 S.W. Alder StreetP.O. Box 4136 which will interfere with big game migra- Hunters, particularly big game hunters, go- Portland 8, Oregon tions. ing into the field are asked to leave at home MIRIAM KAUTTU Opposed construction of Ice Harbor dam information as to how they can be located in Editor and three other lower Snake river dams. the case of an emergency as each year the Requested U. S. Production and Marketing State Police receive numerous calls for help Members of Commission be legally bound to accept advice of U. S. Fish Carl C. Hill, Chairman. Days Creek and Wildlife Service in planning subsidy pay- in locating hunters. Often they are unable to Donald Mitchell Taft find out where the hunter planned to go, the ments that might affect long range conserva- Delbert Gildersleeve _ Baker tion interests. car license number, particularly if he did J. H. Van Winkle Oregon City not go in his own car, and other pertinent data Elmer H. Balsiger, Klamath Falls Recommended that 1951 Interior Department that would enable officials to render the appropriation bill provide for stabilization of assistance requested. Administrative Staff the annual Pittman-Robertson appropriation C. A. Lockwood State Game Director at $10,000,000 to give the states a uniform and ** P. W. Schneider Asst. State Game Dir. continuing basis for the purpose of planning The habitat improvement department re- F. B. Wire Secretary F. C. Baker______Controller and budgeting the wildlife research and ports seven new projects in the Willamette H. R. Mangold _ Chief, Supply & Property development programs. District consisting of barrel-type water devel- Arthur Higgs Attorney Requested that the Fish and Wildlife Serv- opments. Planting sites for 30,000 rose shrubs C. B. Walsh Chief, Information and ice establish sufficient liaison with the Pacific have been located and preliminary arrange- Education Flyway Committee so that state and federal ments completed for planting this fall. The Stuart J. Couper Assistant Chief cooperating meetings may be held in advance C. J. Campbell Chief, Basin North Coastal district agent reports good Investigations of notice of suggested regulations for migra- growth for the lotus major and multiflora John McKean _ Chief of Operations, tory game . rose planted in the Tillamook Burn. The Game Division douglas fir, burnet, grasses and clovers have A. V. Meyers Federal Aid The bear moves with an awkward or made fair growth. Some use by deer was R. U. Mace Big Game shuffling gait because he has no clavicle to noted on the rose and lotus. C. E. Kebbe Furbearers keep the shoulder bones steadily apart. Thus, * * * Frank Stanton Habitat Improvement as the forelegs are moved, the blade-bones W. B. Morse Migratory Birds 'work" much more on the side than is usual During the period from January through H. J. Rayner Chief of Operations, in animals. June, 1950, the fisheries department distrib- Fisheries Division uted in the 18 watersheds of the state 8,759,546 R. C. Holloway __ Stream & Lake Mgt. E. W. Goff Hatcheries fish, weighing a total of 293,650 pounds. George Kernan_ Engineer Do you want to receive this * ** G. E. Howell Fishways and Screens BULLETIN each month? If so, Entered as second -class matter September 30, South Twin Lake in Deschutes County, by 1947, at the post office at Portland, Oregon, under send in your name and address special order of the Game Commission, re- the act of August 24, 1912. At the present time the Bulletin is circulated and you will be placed on the mains open to angling until the fifteenth of free of charge to anyone forwarding a written this month instead of closing on August 15 reauest. mailing list free of charge. Permission toreprintisgranted provided as originally scheduled. proper credit is given. SEPTEMBER, 1950 Page 3

WATCH THAT CIGARETTE 11,111111 Camp Adair Tract Named \et- Deer Hunters Reminded To Report After E. E. Wilson Hunters for the third season are using The tract of 1,870 acres at Camp Adair in separate deer tags to which are attached Benton county recently turned over to the report cards, which must be completed and state hereafter will be known as the E. E. returned to the Game Commission within 30 Wilson Game Management Area as a result days after the close of the season. The infor- of action taken by the Game Commission at r )14, mation furnished on the cards makes it pcssi- its last meeting. KEEP OREGON GREEN ble for the Commission to analyze the annual Mr. Wilson, former chairman of the Game kill. In 1949, out of 163,628 tag holders, 57,260 Commission and a member of the Commission Deer Transplanting reported killing a deer, a success ratio of 35 from 1935 to 1949, was active in the negotia- per cent. tions to have the surplus lands at Camp Adair An Expensive Proposition deeded over by the federal government to the "Why doesn't the state relieve local over- Hunting Accidents state for use by the Game Commission. populations of deer by transplanting the ani- Can Be Avoided The area is to be used for the rearing of mals to new locations?" This question is asked upland game and as a nursery for shrubs and repeatedly by sportsmen when state game Most hunting accidents that occur during the deer and other seasons can be avoided, plants required for the improvement of the officials report deer irruptions.Texas has wild life habitat. just released some figures which give a fairly and hunters are urged to use every precau- clear answer, the Wildlife Management In- tion, particularly during the first of the sea- stitute believes. son congestion. Sauvies Island Game The Texas Game, Fish and Oyster Commis- Seven deer hunting accidents occurred in Management Areas Used sion recently moved 885 white-tailed deer 1949 with five fatalities. Two resulted from accidental discharge of the hunter's own gun, For Field Trials from an overpopulated refuge area. The cost: The Sauvies Island Game Management a cool $21,848.87, averaging $25.56 for each deer while the other hunters were either mistaken for a deer or accidently were in the line of fire. Area has again been opened for field trials trapped and transplanted. To move 271 deer and the first group this fall to take advantage from another refuge under less favorable con- is the Oregon Retriever Trial Club, whose ditions the cost averaged $43.17 per head and September-October Calendar licensed trial is scheduled for September 1, 2 totaled $11,699.01. Even with such heavy ex- TroutGeneral season closes October 15; Zone and 3. The law prohibits the holding of field penditures, it is probable that only a rela- 4 closes September 30. trials from April 15 to September 1. tively small proportion of the deer in a county Salmon, SteelheadOpen both months. Approximately 100 dogs have been entered, could be removed, and the residue breeding Spiny-ray FishOpen both months. including dogs fromCalifornia,Oregon, stock soon could bring the herd back to its DeerSeptember 30 to October 17. Washington, , Montana, British Colum- former numbers within a year. The point of DovesSeptember 1 to 15. bia and possibly the Middle West. Judges are diminishing returns is reached in even the Band-tailed PigeonsSeptember 1 to 30. Herbert Fleishhacker, Jr. of San Francisco, most effective livetrapping program long be- Blue and Ruffed GrouseSeptember 1 to 7. and Dr. Harry E. Shoot, Portland. W. B. fore a heavy impression can be made on the Sage GrouseSeptember 1 to 7. Loomis, Portland, is judge for the derby stake. local herds. ElkOpens October 25. Field trial marshall is Ed Minoggie and chair- In restocking depleted areas, livetrapping Silver Gray SquirrelsOctober 1 to 20 in 7 man is M. D. Knott. and transplanting have a definite place; but counties; entire year in 7 counties. for correcting overpopulations, the judici- PredatorsOpen both months. Otters, when hunting for fish, always swim ously regulated hunting season based upon RaccoonCloses October 15. up stream. This is because fish, when waiting the needs of the animals and upon local range Nom: Consult official hunting and fishing for food or reposing, have their heads up the conditions has not been matched for economy regulations for exceptions and complete in- water. The otter can more easily aproach effectiveness. formation. them from behind.

The youth camp program of the Game Commission, although in its first year, has attracted a lot of interest from camp sponsors. On the left,Austin Hamer, educational leader, talks to Campfire Girls on identification of game species. On the right, a group of boys are taken on a field trip. Page 4 SEPTEMBER, 1950

Warner Valley Public Dingell Bill Now Law Shooting Ground The long fought battle for passage of the A fifth public shooting ground for Oregon Dingell Bill came to an end with the signing sportsmen, to be located in Warner Valley in of the bill by the President the early part of the eastern part of Lake county, has been August. made possible as a result of arrangements The Dingell Bill allocates to the states under completed with William Kittredge, president a certain formula the revenue derived from HUNTERS I of the Warner Valley Stock Company. the current ten per cent excise tax on certain L ETS 0911 The Warner Valley Stock Company controls items of sport fishing tackle. The money may KEEP OREGON approximately 22,000 acres in south Warner be used for the improvement of the sport GREEN 1111111 Valley. The area has long been known for its fishery, either through research or develop- excellent goose shooting but has been closed ment projects such as screening irrigation to public hunting for years because of the ditches and power intakes, construction of Introduction of Exotic livestock protection problem and, of greater fishways, lake and stream improvement and trash fish control. All of these are important Species Needs Study concern, the extreme fire hazards in the fields State conservation departments are under of bunched and on the peat beds. In 1929 activities in the current fisheries program of the Oregon Game Commission. constantpressurefromwell-intentioned the marsh was set afire and sportsmen to introduce foreign game birds burned for three years before being finally and mammals into this country.With the extinguished. The fields and marshes in the Ducks Go Hungry Where gradual returnof normal conditionsin area where the public shooting ground will Europe, this pressure will grow more intense be operated are of the same texture as the Carp Are Present In as importers find new stocks of game and Crump Lake marsh and should a fire be Large Numbers start advertising campaigns aimed at sports- started, it would be extremely difficult to Strange as it seems, carp and ducks are men. Enough money already has been wasted control and would be very destructive. To competitors. Carpa vegetable-eating fish on misdirected introductions of exotic spe- protect its property, the Warner Valley Stock and ducks both eat the same aquatic plants, cies to finance a first-class restoration pro- Company maintains at its headquarters states the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. gram for native game over most of the United a modern equipped fire-fighting truck.In Where carp exists in large numbers, plant States, the Wildlife Management Institute consideration for having part of these hold- food suitable for ducks and geese may be believes. ings open to public shooting. the Game Com- entirely destroyed. Most haphazard introductions of exotic spe- mission has agreed to patrol and protect the In certain areas of the West and Middle cies which may capture the fancy of sports- area. Hunters are urged to be exceedingly West, especially on Wildlife Refuges, large- men are foredoomed to failure. All animals careful about fire and observe regulations set scale carp removal programs have been neces- havedefinitehabitat requirements.The up in connection with the shooting ground. sary if quantities of duck and geese food has been introduced into It is too early to outline the boundaries of were to be retained. In one marsh in Ohio, nearly every state in the Union, yet it has the public shooting grounds at this time be- all carp and other fish were killed by the survived in only a few localities in the West. cause water levels will play such an important fish poison "rotenone." After thousands of Pheasants have been released repeatedly in part in selecting the areas of good hunting. pounds of dead fish were cleaned out and the South, and as consistently have disap- Boundaries will be determined about a month removed, the waters were restocked with peared. Unless climate and habitat are as before the season opens and it is expected game fish. Within a short time, wild celery favorable as that in its native range, a or that from three to ten thousand acres of land and submergent vegetation suitable for water- mammal cannot survive as a transplant. In will be opened to public hunting, depending fowl began to grow again. addition to the complete disappearance of the upon existing conditions. On one Wildlife Refuge a recently planted import, failure may stem from two other Shooting ground headquarters will be near 10-acre patch of Chufa (Cyperus esculeutus), causes; the new species may compete with and the Beatty Bridge about four miles southeast an important waterfowl food plant, was com- drive out native wildlife; or it may become an of Adel and thirty-five miles by road east of pletely destroyed by carp. The carp not only agricultural pest.Our own valuable and Lakeview. A campground will be set up devour entire plants, but, by their bottom- relatively innocuous muskrat is Pest Number there for hunters who care to camp out. How- feeding habits, keep the water too turbid to One in much of central Europe. ever, there is no drinking water and camp- permit seed germination to re-establish new Not all introductions are bad. The phea- water will have to be hauled either from plant growths. Other plants, besides chufa, ant is a case in point. In some places, native Adel or other sources. The Adel store has which are important duck and geese foods game has been driven out by changes in several small cabins that are made available and which suffer from carp depredations are habitat brought about by man's agricultural to hunters.Other than this there are no the sago pondweedsbearing starchy tubers activities and forestry practices. There are accommodations closer than Lakeview. and wild celery, wild rice, bulrush, spike, many places today where native species can- A daily hunting fee of $1.00 will be charged rush, etc. not survive because of such changes and for those hunting upon the Warner Valley This constant movement of the carp, while where an exotic might fill the gap. Stock Company lands to defray the expenses grubbing out plants on the bottom, places silt At the present time, studies are being con- incurred in setting up this public shooting over the eggs of desirable fishpreventing ducted by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service ground. All hunters will be required to check their hatching. When carp adversely affect to find birds and mammals which will sur- in and out each day at the headquarters. the growth of plants, they also prevent the vive in such areas. When they are found, growth of numerous forms of small inverte- they will be brought to this country only if Never take a chance with a gun. brate lifesuch as freshwater shrimpwhich complete studies show that they will not are dependent upon the plants for their exist- compete with native wildlife or become pests, ence. These little animals are an important and that their chances for survival are excel- link in the food chain for game fish. Their lent. State conservation departments are as loss is usually simultaneous with the loss of anxious as the sportsmen to fill the blanks on aquatic plants. game ranges.Sportsmen, however, should not bring pressure on administrators to intro- Especially wary when awake, the weasel is duce new game species until complete studies a very sound sleeper. It can often be taken have been conducted. (Outdoor News Bul- up by the head, feet or tail and swung around letin, Wildlife Management Institute). for a considerable time before it begins to awake. Look before you shoot! SEPTEMBER, 1950 Page 5

Fish Planting Takes to the Air The back country lakes in the Cascade mountains from the Oregon-California border to the Columbia river were planted with close to 4,000,000 trout in approximately 20 days this summer, an operation that heretofore has taken anywhere from three to four months. This was made possible by the use of an air- plane equipped with a double compartmented tank capable of carrying a maximum load of 50 pounds of fish and enabling the pilot to plant two lakes on a single trip. The advantages of this means of planting isolated mountain lakes over the packstring method are numerous. Far less equipment and personnel are tied up on the project. A small fraction of the time involved in packing is utilized and the fish go from the hatchery to the lake in a matter of minutes rather than hours as before. The primary disadvantage lies in the fact that general observation of the plantings can be made relatively infrequently. However, numerous observations have been The airplane equipped with a double compartmented tank used in flying fish to the back country lakes. made in the past three years and in by far the majority of instances complete planting suc- cess was obtained. There have been losses but it is felt that these can be practically eliminated as additional experience in this tyre of operation is gained. Lakes as small as two acres have been planted in this manner, but this is possible only when the topography will allow a safe approach and get-away from the lake. The fish are dropped from an altitude varying from 100 to 300 feet and strike the water easily and in a surprisingly short pattern. Several observations have been made when the fish were dropped immediately around the ob- server on the lake. The fish appear momen- tarily stunned but quickly right themselves and swim off in a normal manner. In small lakes it is easy to observe them in close to the shoreline within a few minutes after the drop. This year air strips at Klamath Agency, Fall River (near Lapine) , Sisters, and Hood River were used. The strip at Fall River was constructed in 1949 in cooperation with the Fish are loaded into cans prior to being hauled by truck to the nearest air strip. U. S. Forest Service and lies but a few hun- dred feet from the Fall River hatchery of the Game Commission. It is ideally located for airplane fish planting because of its close proximity to a large number of the mountain lakes. Approximately 300 lakes in the Cascades have been air planted this summer. A few others were horse packed and some will be back packed at a later date. Eastern brook and rainbow trout are the fish that have been planted. The Game Commission will welcome re- ports, favorable or unfavorable, from individ- uals who have had an opportunity to observe any airplane plantings. These reports will aid in evaluating the overall success of the pro- gram. U. S. Public Health Service reports that in New Mexico cottontail rabbits have been found infected with bubonic plague and warning has been issued, especially to neigh- boring states, against importing rabbits from that state. A party of anglers in the Cascade area stop to query field agent as to fishing possibilities. Page 6 SEPTEMBER, 1950

10. Thank the farmer after your hunt. Share tensive management of game and improve- your game with him. After all, he is ment of the hunting access problem, the Ore- responsible for it being there. gon Game Commission in 1949 authorized trial To the hunter who follows a set of standards of a cooperative hunting project similar to a similar to this, a "No Hunting or Trespassing" system successfully used in Pennsylvania and sign is not necessarily taken literally. Cour- other erstern states. teously asking permission usually results in This experimental project was located near it being granted.Posting has become the Hillsboro in Washington County and was farmer's only defense against an ever increas- called the "Orenco Game Management Area". ing horde of hunters, the actions of a few of The purpose of this project was to increase which have molded resentment against all. the productionof upland game species No problem would exist if only all hunters through anintensivestockingprogram, would strive to treat the farmer with due improvementofhabitat,and controlof respect for the role which he plays in game predators; and to provide for an orderly har- management. vest of the surpluses of game produced by Why has the problem become so acute in a entering into cooperative agreements with period of only a few years? A look at the landowners to assure public access, protect population trend and hunting license sales in private property, and preserve a nucleus of Oregon gives the answer. Oregon's population breeding stock of game birds on the area. has more than doubled since 1920 and there A pheasant field-rearing site was chosen are now approximately four times as many near Orenco and the landowners within an licensed hunters as in 1920. area of some 3,000 acres were invited to parti- With modern transportation facilities, dis- cipate in the program. The following brief tance from areas of high population is no summary lists important provisions of the A valley quail. longer a guarantee of freedom from heavy plan and resultant benefits to farmers. hunting pressure during seasons. With present Important Provisions of the Plan: Hunter-Farmer Relationship day methods of clean farming, game has been 1. Project area. A contiguous group of (Continued from Page 1) squeezed into smaller and smaller areas of farms suitable for the protection and pro- not the individual landowner. However, the suitable habitat or has perished from lack of pagation of upland game make up a proj- role of custodian of the game belongs to the the same, or has been hunted so heavily where ect area. farmer whenever it remains upon his land. it does find conditions suitable for survival 2. Agreement. To become a Cooperator, the He has the power to harvest such game within that in some places breeding stock has become owner or person in legal control of a suit- the limits of the law, and likewise, the power perilously low. able farm executes an agreement by to protect and prevent the killing of the same Two points in the hunter-farmer relation- which the hunting rights are made avail- at his own discretion. The importance of his ship problem, then, are clearly defined. able to the Game Commission for a period relation to game management, then, is clearly seen. An abundance or a scarcity of game, 1. The farmer is the key to successful up- of five years. and whether or not that supply of game may land game management; he indirectly 3. Cancellation of agreement. The Commis- be harvested, depends entirely upon the farm- controls the relative abundance of game sion may cancel any agreement under the er's attitude toward wildlife in general, and through his farming practices. following conditions: more specifically, his relationship with the 2. An ever increasing demand exists for a. Upon 60 days written notice to the par- hunter. more game by a greater number of hunt- ticipant, when in the judgment of the The hunter may sympathize with the farm- ers who have an inherent right to share in Commission the use of his lands is no er's position as "game custodian" and thus its harvest. longer needed or desired. cooperate to foster more friendly relation- Recognizing the growing need for more in- (Continued on Page 7) ships, or he may take the attitude that since the farmer does not own the game, that he, the hunter, has just as much right to its harvest as anyone. Those hunters who thus reason usu- ally make no effort to respect or protect the property and rights of those on whose land they hunt, with the inevitable consequence of poor hunter-farmer relationships resulting. A large majority of hunters, on the other hand, have an understanding of the farmer's position and usually make an effort to main- tain friendly relationships.The particular code of ethics of these sportsmen usually include the following rules: 1. Always ask the landowner's permission before hunting. (This is the law in Ore- gon). 2. Use gates whenever possible but always close them if originally found closed. 3. Never help yourself to produce. 4. Stay out of standing or unharvested grain. 5. Avoid fields containing livestock. 6. Do not hunt near buildings or shoot to- ward them. 7. Put out cigarettesdon't start a fire. 8. Cross fences only at fence postsnever ride down a fence. 9. Take the same care of the farmer's prop- erty as you would your own. Two-weekoldpheasantchicksfeeding at a brood coop. SEPTEMBER, 1950 Page 7

Hunter-Farmer Relationship (Continued from Page 6) b. In case the owner desires to sell the property and the sale cannot be con- summated subject to said agreement. c. In case the participant becomes dis- satisfied with the project and files a written request with the Commission for such cancellation. 4. Safety zones. Those areas occupied by dwellings or other farm buildings or any lands under farm administration where, by the judgment of the participant, dam- age to property might result from hunt- ers, are posted as safety zones and are open to hunting only at the discretion of the participant. 5. Refuges. Small inviolate sanctuaries are established at intervals throughout the project for protection of game. No hunt- ing by anyone at anytime is permitted therein. 6. Public hunting. Not more than one-third of each project may be set aside as safety zones and refuges, and the remaining two-thirds must remain open to lawful public hunting. Benefits to Farmers: 1. Signs are posted around safety zones and refuges. 2. Protection to life and property through Good cover makes this a likely place to find birds. intensified patrolling and enforcement of laws. 1949 Pheasant Harvest 3. Better relationship between hunter and Orenco Project farmer is fostered by providing protection No. of Hours *PHEASANTS BAGGED Birds per Birds per for the landowner, increasing the supply Date HuntersHunted LocalReleased Wild Total Hunter Hour of upland game, and providing access to 10/21 284 703 62 72 38 172 .60 .24 public shooting grounds for the benefit of 10/22 323 24 22 10 56 .44 .17 those desiring to hunt. 10/23 94 282 4 68 0 72 .77 .25 Stocking and Hunting 10/24 28 56 2 6 0 8 .29 .14 10/25 62 154 10 12 0 22 .35 .14 During the summer of 1949 approximately 10/26 1,500 pheasants were raised on the Orenco 28 70 0 0 0 0 .00 .00 project area and encouraged to disperse by TOTALS 622 1,588 102 180 48 330 .53 .21 allowing dog training on the area during the Per cent of total . _ 31% 55% 14% month of September. Per cent of cocks released 14% 65% In addition to these locally reared birds, *Definitions: 278 banded, mature cocks were released on Local refers to the marked pheasants raised on the area. the area just before and during the open sea- Releasedrefers to banded mature cocks released during hunting season. son. Of the banded cocks released on the area, of the second day of the season. These cocks either released or wild stock and itappears 150 were released the day before the season provided 55 per cent of the shooting but soon that a high percentage of the 1,500 birds raised opened and 128 were released in the evening scattered to refuges and thick cover where were lost by predation and other factors be- they were not vulnerable. fore the hunting season opened in October. An intensive patrol was maintained on the This program is an experiment designed to ABOUT THE AUTHOR area during the pheasant season and returns increase wildlife, improve its environment Frederick A. Wil- were as indicated in the accompanying table. and engender friendly relationships between liams,a nativeof The Commission's actual investment in feed the farmer, who is custodian of small game, Alton,Illinois,re- and labor to raise the 1,500 birds at Orenco and the hunter, who harvests the surplus. The ceived his master's was approximately $1,200.00 or 80 cents per first test has been successful in that it has not degree in fish and bird. The immediate cost of the mature cocks been rejected by landowners and hunters, for game management from the game farm was approximately $1.25 whose interests it was designed, but has been this year at Oregon or $350.00. received with enthusiasm by both parties. StateCollege.His Therefore, the cost per bird bagged by Such a program as this is a long-range thesis was based on hunters was approximately $12.00 for the undertaking. The desired results cannot be the Orenco pheasant cocks reared on the area and $1.95 for the accomplished in one or even two years. A project, also the sub- cocks released immediately before and during sustained effort will be required on the part ject of his article in the season. of conservationists before the two major par- this issue. Of course it follows that 750 of the 1,500 ties concerned learn their parts and perform Williamsdidhis pheasants raised on the area were hens them satisfactorily. undergraduate work at Colorado A. and M. which are a potential source of wild birds for This type of plan has been demonstrated to College, finishing his course there in 1948. the 1950 season. However, unfortunately, sur- function with a high degree of success in During World War II he served as a captain vival studies conducted in Oregon and other other states and can work to great advantage in the field artillery. states have not indicated a high survival of for both wildlife and the public in Oregon. Oregon State Game Commission Bulletin 1634 S.W. ALDER STREET P.O. BOX 4136 PORTLAND 8, OREGON

Courtesy of "MICHIGAN CONSERVATION"

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