September-October 1991 WILDLIFE
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September-October, 1991 Vo!. 47, No. 5 Fish and Wildlife Health
OREGON FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION James VanLoan Chairman ... Steamboat Large portions of eastern Oregon's forests are dyhig. Disease, insect infesta- Linda Borine fions and prolonged drought are turning once Vice Chairman ...... Bend productive lands into graveyards. Ken Jernstedt ...... Portland The Forest Service and timber-dependent commimities have rightly identified Pete Bamhisel ...... Corvallis Sandra Lazinka ...... Pilot Rock the situation as a major crisis in forest management. Phillip Schneider ...... Portland BobJacobson ...... Newport Attention is now focused on how past forestry practices may have contributed to this growing devastation, and future RANDY FISHER. Director what practices may be required both for short-term timber salvage and long-term resource recovery. As a whole, the issue Oregon Wildlife (ISSN 0094-7113) is published every other month by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife at 2501 SW Ist. is called "Forest Health." Portland, Oregon 97201. Volumes I through 28 were entitled OregonGame Commission Bulletin. OregonWildilfe isdrcuìated Make no mistake, the scope of this problem is huge. While much of the Forest free of charge with second dass postage paid at Portland, Oregon. Health attention has centered on the national forests of the Blue Mountains in Copyrightl99l bytheOregonDepartmenlofFishandWildlife. AU rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced northeastern Oregon, the sight of reddish-brown, damaged or dying trees without written permission of the editor. Readers and POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: extends throughout the Ochoco Mountains and the east slope of the Cascades from Mount Hood to California. OREGON WILDLIFE P O Box 59 This edition of Oregon Wildlife devotes five pages to an aspect of the Forest Portland, OR 97207 Health issue that must not be overlooked - the health of fish and wildlife that When sending addresxchanges, be sure to send in both old and depend on forest for survival. new addresses with zip codes. habitats Actions taken over the next,few years will set the course for wild populations extending well into the 21st Century. Big Jim Gladson, Editor decisions must be made in a small period of time. Managing Editor Wildlife depend on these forests for cover and for living places. Fish need trees Randy Henry, Staff Writer to shade streams, protect banks and provide diverse, Penny KoeKier, Editorial Assistant instream habitat. Simply Sharon Torvik, Graphic Artist going in and removing as many trees as possible to serve a short-term timber Reader comments are welcome. Send to P O Box 59, market is not a recipe for maintenance of fish and wildlife resources. We know Portland, OR 97207. that, and, fortunately, so do the Forest Service and private land managers. The Cover As department deputy director Mike Golden notes in the article that begins on page four, the level of communication and coordination between this agency and Wary but uncertain, a Rocky Mountain the Forest Service on the Forest Health issue sets a high, new standard for bighorn ram watches biologist Vic sharing of concerns and on-the-ground cooperation. Coggins approach his sanctuary in the It would be very difficult to overstate the huge magnitude of the Forest Health Wallowa Mountains. crisis, and the potential impacts on fish and wildlife. The situation has never been Photo by Pat Wray this bad before. For hunters and other people who use and enjoy forest lands, actions taken over next two years wifi be critical to future recreation opportuni- TABLE OF CONTENTS ties. Decisions made in this short run wifi Page have incredibly important long term Letter From the Director ...... 2 impacts on wildlife such as elk and nongame birds as well as the vitality of fish Update ...... 3 populations. Forest Health ...... Jim Gladson 4 The Forest Service and other land managers have made substantial commit- AROUND Timber Sale ...... Pat Wray 7 ments to including fish and wildlife health as part of the overall effort on forest A Day In The Life ...... Randy Henry 9 recovery. Members of the Department of Fish and Wildlife will devote the High Country coming days, months and years helping translate these commitments from Sheep Survey ...... Pat Wray 12 general philosophy to actual practice. LII Young People Get A Chance ...... Randy Henry 14 Shooting Safety Quiz For Kids ...... Bill Hastie 15 ...... Back Cover
Randy Fisher
Printed on recycled paper Director
OREGON WILDLIFE "UPDATE" Commission Adopts Upland Game Bird, Waterfowl Seasons
Oregon Fish and Wildlife Deschutes, Lake and Kiamath cember 28. bag limits and regulations Commissioners adopted up- counties, which make up Zone The daily bag limit of four remain similar to last years. land game bird, goose and 2. ducks may include not more The 1991 Early Game Bird duck seasons during the Au- Commissioners approved than: Seasons synopsis covering gust 21 commission meeting duck seasons as follows: Three mallards, of which not August and September in Pendleton. . Zone I - (Except Morrow and more than one may be a hen. seasons is available at license This year's split duck Umatilla Counties): October 12 One pintail of either sex. agents now. The full hunting seasons reflect the to October 20, and November Two redheads, or two synopsis that covers all adoption of hunting zones, 16 to January 4, 1992. canvasbacks, or one redhead gamebird regulations will be allowed this year in Oregon Zone 1 - Morrow and and one canvasback. available in mid-September. for the first time by the U.S. Umatilla counties: Oct. 12 - Oct. The Commission also Fish and Wildlife Service. 20, Nov. 9 - Jan. 4, 1992. The special Northwest adopted 1991-92 upland Zone i includes all areas Zone 2- October 12 - Decem- Oregon Permit Season was set game bird bag limits and of the state except ber 1, and December 21 - De- for Nov. 16 - Jan. 19, 1992. season dates during the corn- Steel shot is now required mission hearing. statewide for waterfowl The eastern Oregon ex- Public To Review Willamette Plans hunting. Other goose seasons, tended pheasant hunting set for Oc- Fish management plans for All meetings start at 7 p.m. zone season was the Willamette River basin Copies of the plans, or sum- tober 12 to December 8. The of eastern will be discussed at a series maries of each sub-basin plan, remaining areas of three public meetings are available by writing Wil- Tip of the Hat Oregon will be open October 'cheduled for late September. lamelle Plan, PO Box 59, Port- 12 to December 1. Western simi- The Willamette basin plan land, OR 97207. Florence Offender Oregon seasons remain consists of several sub-basin Written comments on the Gets loo Days lar to last year's, October 12 plans including the Clacka- plan will be accepted through to November 10. Actual jail time is a sentence Chukar and Hungarian mas, Tualatin, Molalla/Pud- October 15 at the same ad- rarely carried out in most game partridge season will open ding, Santiam/Calapooia, dress. The Willamette Plan offenses. However, a Florence Long Tom, Coast Range and will be heard by the Oregon October 5 and continue man has been sentenced to through December 31 in each Willamette River fork as Fish and Wildlife Commission serve 100 days for a violation well as the mainstem. in November. Wallowa, Union, Grant, stemming from an earlier Morrow and Umatilla coun- Meeting Date Locations poaching incident. ties. All other areas are open The earlier incident occurred Sep30 Albany Linn/Benton CC, Board rms A & B October 5 to January 31, in 1989 when Florence game Sep 25 Springfield Dept. of Forestry, 3150 E. Main 1992. officers arrested a subject found Sep 25 Portland Mt. Hood CC, Room 1303 Valley quail season in with a deer which had been western Oregon will run recently spotlighted. The per- from October 12 to Novem- son was fined $250, sentenced ber 10. The eastern Oregon Two-day Session Will Set Fishing Rules to 60 days in jail with 57 days season will run from October suspended, had his hunting Oregon sport fishing regu - agenda for hearing proposals. 12 to December 31. privileges suspended for two lations for 1992-93 wifi be set Mountain quail seasons in years and was put on probation during a Fish and Wildlife Klamath and Wallowa coun- for three years. He was also Commission hearing Septem- Monday, Sep. 23 ties were set for October 12 required to pay $400 restitution ber 23-24 at Department of 10 am Statewide to November 24. There is no to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife headquar- Columbia open season in the remaining Fish and Wildlife. ters, 2501 SW First Ave. in I p.m Southwest area of eastern Oregon. Earlier this year, the man Portland. Northeast The spring gobbler season again appeared in Florence Jus- The two-day session will Marine for wild turkey will run tice Court for failing to meet his begin with a staff presenta- Tuesday, Sep. 24 April 15 to May 24, 1992, financial obligations to the _4on on proposed regulations 8 a .m Northwest statewide except for Snake court -a violation of his proba- geographic region, fol- Willarnette River islands. One gobbler y tion. Judge Cindy Nicholson lowed by public testimony. I p.m Central per day, two per season will sentenced the man to 100 days For the convenience of people Southeast be allowed. El in the Lane County Correc- who wish to testify, the corn- 3 p.m. Open testimony tional Facility with no time sus- mission has set the following 4 p.m. Final action pended: El FOREST HEALTH A shared vision for restored forests
Story and Photos by Jim Gladson
Travel through the forested according to a U.S. Forest Service larches with dense stands of fir trees mountains of eastern and cen- special report covering national for- and drought have encouraged insect tra! Oregon can be a sadden- ests of the Blue Mountains titled outbreaks. He has some doubts, ing experience these days. In some "New Perspectives in Forest however, about the contributing role areas, dying trees stick out rusty-red Health." A team of Forest Service of selective pine harvest. within otherwise healthy green experts studying the problem noted "I don't believe the problem is stands. Other forests are a color study the following in the introduction of necessarily related to harvest. We in reds and browns with much of their findings. are seeing insect outbreaks even in the timber either dying or already "Epidemic insect infestations, areas like the North Fork John Day dead. Even the casual observer can several consecutive years of where there has been almost no tell something is not right here. drought, and fires that seem to grow timber removal. To land managers and fish and more catastrophic with each passing "The conversion we are seeing wildlife biologists, the health of Na- summer season have raised con- from pine to firs may also be part r tional Forests from the Wallowa- cerns for the health of the National a natural cycle. There is some evi- Whitman National Forest in the Blue Forests of the Blue Mountains to an dence that such species conversion Mountains to the Winema in Kia- unprecedented level. To neighbors happened 150 years ago, but we math County is a critical concern and visitors alike, the effects are ob- don't have the history to fully un- (see related article on page 7). A val- vious and tragic. Dead and dying derstand what is going on," he said. uable natural resource base is under trees are hard to miss. To land man- assault by insects, disease and fire. agers of the Malheur, Umatilla and Finding Solutions At stake are the economies of Wallowa-Whitman National Forests timber-dependent communities and the causes of this malaise are be- VVhile agreement on the causes of wild habitats that support an array coming more clear: declining forest health may not be of species as diverse as elk, wood- "For the most part, the situation universal, there is consensus that peckers and steelhead. can be ascribed (in terms of human halting such declines is critical, The challenge to foresters and activity) to decades of fire exclusion, and time to deal with the issue is wildlife managers alike is to devise selective harvesting of early and short. ways to restore forest health with- mid-seral trees (ed. note: serai species As noted in the Forest Service re- out totally disrupting both human include ponderosa pine and larch), live- port ". . . there is growing concern and wildlife communities. Opinions stock grazing, and little emphasis on that we are stretching the ecological vary on how to attack the problem, issues which have only recently limits of the forest, and it will require but all parties dealing with the issue come to light; e.g., biodiversity and our best efforts to implement man- agree that the window of opportuni- long-term site productivity." agement that will help restore and ty for effective action is small. Although there is consensus that sustain healthy forests. Scrupulous forests are in bad shape, agreement attention to the wildlife habitat-and- A Pathway to Problems on specific causes are not unani- cover objectives that are defined in mous, even within the Forest Service. our Forest Plans will also be required, Current poor conditions in the John Lowe, the Portland-based and we wifi continue to manage fo ' forests of the Blue Mountains and deputy regional forester for U.S. For- old-growth habitat, visual quality u. elsewhere in eastern Oregon did not est Service Region 6, has no doubts jectives and riparian habitat." arise full-blown overnight. Today's that historic fire suppression prac- The above reference to "Forest circumstances evolved over decades, tices, displacement of pines and Plans" is important. All of Oregon's
OREGON WILDLIFE 1 ..-.. . ., The . main concern is '4 II Tw fish and wildlife 4 populations will han- dle both short and long-term forest man- agement decisions. r ; .4
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Forest Service plans call forfocus on dead and dying tree salvage with no green free cutting in the Blue Mountains. National Forests recently completed where the core areas in need of pro- before they decay to the point of not plans guiding future management of tection are, then base future actions being economical," he said. "Our ef- resources within the forest bounda- on this," he said. forts are going to focus on the value ries. Each plan includes a set of of salvage harvest, not on volume. "Standards and Guidelines" that Cooperation is the Key We also want to make it clear that outline criteria for land management the Forest Service is shifting its ex- decisions. For land managers, moving quick- isting timber sale program into a sal- Most of the forest plans were de- 'y to salvage dead or dying timber, vage mode. We are not increasing veloped before the full extent of for- reverse the set of conditions that green tree harvest or overall volume est health problems became evident. have caused forest decline, and ulti- out of eastern Oregon. This is a shift, As a result, some of the protective mately restore forest health are top not an addition to prior harvest standards and guidelines for preser- priorities. plans." y.ation of wildlife habitat, stream cor- Fish and wildlife managers under- rs and recreation areas are stand the need for some level of sai- How Are threatened. vage logging and support move- In some instances, according to ment toward improved forest health. Fish and Wildlife Lowe, tree loss to fire, insects and The main concern is how fish and Affected? disease have already put pressure wildlife populations will handle on plan standards and guidelines. both short and long-term forest It is agreed that trees will come out. "The bug problem may prevent us management decisions. It is agreed that the work must be from meeting some standards and There are lots of opportunities done quickly (best estimates are that guidelines right now," Lowe said. here for diverse interests to collide. salvage must be accomplished with- Mike Golden, Oregon Depart- Golden notes that some pockets of in two to five years). It is also agreed ment of Fish and Wildlife deputy di- disagreement exist, but he is pleased that the needs of fish and wildlife rector, also recognizes the problem. with the overall sense of shared ob- will be considered in the current sal- "The department does not support jectives. "This has been a concerted vage effort. setting aside forest plan standards effort to make this work for all of The interim guidelines list several and guidelines for fish and wildlife us," he said. concerns that must be addressed in habitat protection as part of the for- Earlier this year, department biol- salvage plans. These include: est health recovery process. On the ogists worked with the Forest Serv- . Existing high road densities with other hand, we recognize that this is ice to prepare a set of "Interim prospects for even more roading an unforeseen, catastrophic event Operating Guidelines" that offer a . Reduction of wildlife thermal coy- that must be dealt with. Realistical- variety of alternatives to protect fish er (needed for protection from 'y, there may be situations where and wildlife and their habitats while temperature extremes) standards and guidelines can't be proceeding with salvage logging. s Maintenance of marginal hiding met in the short term. We must "There will be trees left in the af- cover (needed to avoid human dis- come to grips with that fact and fected forests, no one doubts that," turbance) wQrk to achieve the best long-term says Golden. "The question is how . Loss of cover adjacent to unique alts," he said. many and where." habitat features, such as rock out- The important point, says Lowe concurs. "It would be phys- croppings, meadows and springs Golden, is to take a landscape view ically impossible to remove all the . Loss of forest grouse winter roost of the forests. "We must decide merchantable trees in eastern Oregon cover
September-October 1991 Even without salvage Protection of fish and wildlife habitats along stream corridors is a high priori- logging, ty for the Department of Fish and there will be Wildlife. impacts on fish and wildlife as trees die and fall.
. Loss of hawk nest groves forest is not likely to happen. There- their fish and wildlife inhabitants is . Impacts of tree loss (which provide fore, the question then returns to indeed the challenge - and not a shade necessary for cool water) and what areas should get what kind of small one, according to Lowe. harvest along streams treatment. "We are talking about how best to . Loss of potential or existing trees "We are getting a good under- manage nature to the point that used by cavity nesting birds as well standing of the issues and concerns. there are no cyclic changes in the as other mammals, reptiles and am- The conclusion is that some volume system. If you attempt to do that, phibians of timber will be removed. Now we then how do you maintain vigor in s Conversion of unhealthy mixed must figure out how to remove it the trees? How do you keep the conifer stands to ponderosa pine while minimizing impacts on wild- right mix of habitats for desired Even without salvage logging, life and fish," Lowe said. types and levels of wildlife? When there wifi be impacts on fish and He says the Forest Service is very Mother Nature decides to convert wildlife as trees die and fall. The aware of concerns about cover loss something, that's pretty powerful. guidelines have been designed to re- and animal disturbance caused by an We must figure out how we as pe tain as much cover for big game, extensive road network. He also pie can deal with this natural pro- trees for nesting and riparian (stream- notes that salvage logging need not cess within a workable framework," side) protection as possible through generate more roads in areas where he said. D both the die-off and logging phases. road miles, in some cases, are already The most basic problem may be unacceptable to wildlife managers. the long-term look of the Blue "Our priority is to use existing Mountain forests or - as the Forest roads as much as possible for har- Service calls it - Desired Future vest activity. Logging with the use Condition (DFC). While the conver- of helicopters may also be part of sion from ponderosa pine to thickets the plan. Instead of increasing the Issues 91 of firs has contributed to disease, in- number of roads, we may be able to sect and fire problems, this same have a net decrease," Lowe said. habitat has actually been very good Mike Golden adds that the De- for wildlife, particularly elk. Changes partment of Fish and Wildlife would FOREST HEALTH in this habitat, either through tree also support more gated roads to die-off or salvage, will have an im- limit public use, and even removal The Oregon Department of pact. of roads and restoration of the land Fish and Wildlife, in coo p- Purely from a forestry point of once the need for the roads is past. eration with the U.S. Forest view, attaining future "forest health" 'We have a lot of options available Service, will sponsor a two- may mean management choices that to us. The challenge is to figure out hour discussion on the return the land to more open ex- what works to the best advantage of issue of Forest Health at a panses dominated by well-spaced all interests," he said. ponderosa pine. This would reduce special meeting this fall. insect, disease and fire concerns, but Desired Future Condition The date will be announced would not be good news for elk and soon. The public is invited other wildlife. Considering all the options, and to attend and participate. As Golden and Lowe both ac- deciding how these will shape the knowledge, total remaking of the future of eastern Oregon's forests and
OREGON WILDLIFE Haroest practices on the Around Timber Sale may be setting the stage for a healthy ecosystem on the Chemult District of the Winema National Forest.
Story and photos by Pat Wray
Twenty years ago, their removal was lodgepole pine damaging for wildlife. was a weed tree, Clearcuts, shelterwood left to grow in unman- and seed tree cuts aged thickets while were practiced on loggers felled the mas- small scale areas, usu- sive ponderosa pines, ally less than forty or yellow-bellies that acres. The small size of grew nearby. In many the plots might seem stands, lodgepoles at first to have mini- grew so thickly that mized habitat disturb- few were healthy, vig- ance, but the overall orous trees. Fires, impact on the land which had historically was actually much controlled insects and greater because more diseases, were them- trucks, more people It more selves controlled. Removal of beetle-killed timber leaves little wildlife cover in some areas. and equipment s, in the words of a worked the same
- old cliche', a recipe for disaster for use as paper pulp, first chipped, general area time after time.
. . . and then the cook arrived, in the then chemically reduced to a slurry Because each small cut was con- form of the mountain pine beetle. from which paper emerges. In fact, ceived as a separate operation, and Trees in poor health, particularly since green lodgepole cannot be because the cuts typically removed mature lodgepoles, were very vulner- chipped and lodgepoles are of mar- almost all of the larger timber, cover able to the attacks of the beetles and ginal value as saw logs, the beetle- and concealment for wildlife became soon the insects' path was slashed killed trees soon assumed an eco- widely scattered and difficult to find. in red across the central Oregon nomic worth greater than in the past. As the cuts became more extensive, landscape, the red of dying trees. The result was a voracious new as more and more acres were As the scope of beetle damage ex- industry, and it was fed on thou- logged, wildlife biologists began to panded, several methods of control sands of acres of standing, dead worry and to complain. At the same were attempted, none of which lodgepole. Economically, these trees time, the timber industry, which had worked very well. Thousands of were a windfall, but the pattern of geared up to respond to the pulp trees were killed by beetles, thou- potential of dead lodgepole, was sands more were harvested in an at- eager for and needed more trees. tempt to 'get ahead' of the It was in those difficult conditions infestation. More than 187,000 acres that a group of people met and were affected in the Winema Forest forged an agreement on the Around alone. Timber Sale area that may serve as a Faced with the prospect of wast- model for salvage timber harvest in ing millions of board feet of timber, the future. or worse, allowing it to contribute to Mary Hunt, Chemult District a forest fire of catastrophic propor- Ranger of the Winema National tions, the Forest Service and private Forest, John Toman, former Assist- friber companies embarked on an ant District Biologist for the Kia- irt to develop uses for the dead, math District of the Oregon standing timber. That's why the protection of wildlife save areas, like Department of Fish and Wildlife, this one containing a natural spring/elk wallow, are so As it turned out, the beetle-killed important in the overall harvest plan. Around Timber Bob Heliner, Chief Forester of Ch- lodgepoles were ideally suited Sale administrator Bill Mann checks for fresh tracks. de DE Lumber Company in
September-October 1991 Kiamath Falls, Craig Benz, wildlife amine our rationale and the benefi' biologist with the Klamath Indian they withdrew their appeal and Tribe and John Monfore, Land Use have been very supportive since." Manager of the Weyerhaeuser Cor- There are potential drawbacks to poration were the major players. a salvage operation of this type. "That first meeting was a very "Snags suffer in a dead tree har- tense affair," said department Kla- vest," said Mann. "And snags are math district wildlife biologist Ralph important to a variety of wildlife opp. 'We all knew that something species. But we will contract for the had to be done, but as usual, we creation of new snags and those will were coming at it from different di- be available for use much longer rections. It took a while for us to than the lodgepole that have been find a direction that was mutually dead for years." acceptable." Another potential problem is soil "It was a question of balancing compaction and disruption. Me- long and short term objectives," said chanical harvest machines, shears Mary Hunt. "In the short term, eco- and saws, are heavy, tracked or tired nomics was a driving force. Dead vehicles and must range widely to lodgepole represents money and cut and transport the trees. Ade- jobs. So was the danger of wildfire. quate studies have not yet been But in the long term we were very conducted in the dusty volcanic soil sensitive to the need to protect of the Chemult district to know if wildlife habitat, to maintain hiding the machines might have caused un- and thermal cover and riparian habi- This mechanical shear, also called a bunch feller, acceptable compaction. However, tat." works quickly and efficiently, cutting, carrying and those studies are ongoing and var- stacking several trees at once. Mechanical saws and The result of their negotiations shears make the work go quickly but may cause soil ious methods of recovery are under was a new alternative to those in- compaction in some areas. consideration in the event they ar itially proposed in the environment- necessary. al assessment. It involved the the part of timber companies to re- "I think we accomplished a great following concepts: move every bit of merchantable tim- deal for wildlife by working so well s The removal of the bulk of the ber was lessened. In several instances, together," said Mary Hunt. "And we dead material at one time from a timber operators found previously may also have established a prece- very large area, over 16,000 acres, at urudentffied springs which they vol- dent for future salvage timber opera- the same time leaving large, contigu- untarily avoided, Forest Service sale tions." ous areas of cover for wildlife. administrator Bifi Mann explained. Although the potential benefits to . The development of no new ma- The sheer size of the timber sale wildlife of the process used in the jor roads and the closure of tempo- generated some very close looks Around Timber Sale are well docu- rary roads after logging operations. from a variety o sources. mented, the spirit of cooperation . The opportunity to essentially that still exists between the partici- stay out of the area for a period of 10 "We all knew that some- pants, advocates of historically op- to 20 years after it was logged. posing viewpoints, may very well s Protection of identified riparian thing had to be done, but be its most important and lasting areas. as usual, we were coming legacy. E . Restriction of logging operations at it from different direc- between April 15 and July 1 to re- It duce harassment during fawning tions. took a while for WILDFE AREA season. us to find a direction that protected tor its Food and Shelter Additionally, cost to the timber was mutually acceptable." Woodcutting companies was based on actual No Klamath District biologist Ralph Opp Or Remova' material removed, measured on the BehInd this Sig trucks that departed the area, as op- posed to tree measurement sales, in "One of the environmental action which operators submit bids based groups initially began legal action to -naI Forest on an estimate of the available stop the sale," said Mary Hunt. "But timber. In this way, the tendency on after they had an opportunity to ex- Sign of the times for the Winema National Forest.
OREGON WILDLIFE A Day In The Life: Of Senior Trooper Stan Steele Oregon State Police Game Bureau
Story and Photos by Randy Henry
Oregon State Senior taken out "just up the road." Trooper Stan Steele ar- He tells the hunter: "You just rives at the Corvaffis have to get out and look for Oregon State Police office at 6:30 them." a.m. sharp. It's deer hunting sea- Steele takes a road that leads ?1 in the Alsea unit, a heavily to Alsea. He notices a raven in- bered and clearcut portion of tent on something in the ditch. the Coast Range stretching from "See that?" he said. "That bird's Corvallis to Waldport. Blacktail got something." A pile of deer deer are thick here, but hunting entrails tells a familiar and ob- pressure has been light so far vious story. A deer, frozen in this fall, he says. the headlights of a poacher's vehicle, had been shot just ten After going through the îotes after Inside his "office" - Sr. Trooper Steele takes careful the morning reports and making a talking with a hunter in the Alsea unit. feet up the bank, dragged to few calls, he pops a lemon drop ditch and gutted out. "A nice buck," in his mouth and climbs into his the local citizens as thoroughly as notes Steele. The remains weren't "office," a half-ton, four-wheel drive the back roads. Part of his job is har- warm but they weren't wet from the pickup. There is one radio each for vesting the trust of local people. earlier rain. "This deer was kified be- OSP, Forest Service and the Oregon "These are tightly knit communi- fore light but after the rains," said Department of Fish and Wildlife. He ties," says Steele. "When I first came Steele. Shooting deer from a public uses them when he can, but they here, no one ever called. "Now he roadway and at night is illegal, but aren't reliable in the mountainous gets a number of tips about potential the poacher was long gone. "Well, Coast Range. game violations from local residents. there's nothing we can do here," Steele drives west through the Each hunting camp is an open in- Steele muses. He is not happy about heart of the Alsea unit. Tall maple vitation for Steele. He stops, talks it. and alder trees glow bright orange with people and looks for signs of il- Blacktail deer are thick in these against the Douglas fir in the early legal activity. If hunters see his truck woods, so losing a single deer to a fall sun. "Beautiful fall," says Steele. pulled off along the road, they will poacher probably won't affect the "I've always said life starts Sep- generally stop and talk, show their herd. But Steele recalls all the honest tember 1." tags and ask or answer questions. hunters who don't see a buck while Like most game officers, Steele is hunting - maybe a young boy on 18 Years in the Field an avid outdoorsman. One hunter his first hunt. Maybe the illegal kill He's seen 18 Septembers come stops and says he hasn't seen a deer won't affect the overall health of the and go as a game officer in this unit, yet. Steele replies that he got his deer herd, but it will affect honest so he knows the local history and deer "just last week" and saw one hunters, reasons Steele.
September-October 1991 Snagging Leads to Pinch Steele stops in Alsea for a coffee break. Another state trooper joins him and asks if he heard the radio call on some people snagging salm- on. Steele heads to the Alsea River to "pinch" the alleged offenders. He works each case slowly and carefully, gathering details to help make the case. He talks first with the person who called in the corn- plaint, then drives to the river bank where the men are fishing. Steele creeps along the brushy nv- erbank until he hears men's voices, then follows a path to the edge where he watches them for nearly ten minutes. One man snags a large spawning chinook and drags it to shore. After examining it, he throws it back. Another man casts in front of a spawning chinook and "whiffs" the rod back. Yet another man stands by with a net helping to catch the fish. When Steele has witnessed enough of the violations, he walks down to the riven bank and into the water to confiscate the rods. "I didn't want him cutting the line," says Steele later. Each rod has a large treble hook on the end of the line. The men admit to the violations and each will pay a sizable fine in court. Four citations are issued: One Framed by fishing rods and weighted trebel hooks, classic snagger's equipment, senior Trooper Stan Steele attempt to foul-hook, one foul hook, issues an illegal fishing citation. one aiding, and one fishing without a license. Steele. The fish are so ripe that Steele arrives, the cow is dead. few true anglers seek them, yet Steele rolls the elk over looking "This is the front line. It's pathways along spawning grounds for any type of wound or clue to its where the action is. . are beaten into mud by people try- death. He finds none, but the animal this job is where it's at." ing to snag the big, vulnerable is infested with large ticks, and Senior Trooper Stan Steele fish. Steele notes that its teeth are wi After the citations are issued, and the animal is thin. He concludes Snaggers have a significant im- another call comes out about an elk that the animal is an older cow, pact on Alsea river stock, says cow with a broken leg. By the time somewhat emaciated and weak. The
10 OREGON WILDLIFE Department Steps Up Enforcement Effort Over 270 Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlift personnel attended training seminars in July and August to improve skills in identifying and investigating fish and wildlife violations. "It's one way to increase our law enforcement effectiveness," said Cliff Hamilton, who is coordinating the training. "Ore- gon State Police game officers are conducting the training be- cause they are highly skilled in effective law enforcement tech- niques and because the founda- tion of the program is to build an even more effective on-the- ground working relationship be- tween our field people and game officers." Classes were taught through- out the state by OSP senior A frequent visitor to Western Oregon hunting camps, Steele enjoys the personal contact. 'The vast majority of people f deal with are good folks enjoying themselves. It's hard not to enjoy that." troopers Tim Barbouletos and John M. Copenhaver. Each have years of experience in the field. Emphasis was on careful analy- meat probably isn't salvageable and for a short time, but the interest in sis of situations involving viola- there is no need to remove the elk wildlife he gained at his dad's tions, personal safety, and how from the brush. "She just died of old hatchery remained, and he went age," said Steele. into law enforcement with the goal best to insure that a case will be **** of becoming a game officer. successfully concluded. There are some obvious dangers 'This is a new strategy. In- The broken clouds have now be- in this job, says Steele. Traveling stead of having relatively few de- come a solid grey. Evening is ap- back roads in all kinds of weather partment personnel citing proaching and the rain increases. and enforcing laws among people offenders, we will have a large "Maybe we should call it a day," who often carry firearms or knives says Steele. On the road back to could be considered risky. Despite base of people in the field at all Corvallis, he stops several times to these risks, Steele notes the good times who are capable of observ- talk to anglers and look for violators points - the beauty of the forest, ing and citing violations. Law at some of his favorite fishing holes. the fact that most hunters and enforcement is an important Steele's roots are in deep the anglers are enjoyable to work with, part of wildlife management. It community. His wile, Karen, is a and the importance of effective en- doesn't take many violators to ,g.izhool teacher. He has two children, forcement of Oregon game laws. ,tt and Kurtis. Steele's dad was a "This is the front line. It's where the negatively affect recreational ex- "hatchery man" for years with the action is" he says. "When you sepa- perience or a population of fish Oregon Department of Fish and rate the wheat from the chaff, this or wildlife," said Hamilton. Wildlife. Steele worked as a logger job is where it's at." E
September-October 1991 11 It's a four-hour pack trip into base camp at Francis Lake. Here volunteer wrangler Lee Coggins tops out with his share of the pack string.
HIGH COUNTRY SHEEP SURVEY Story and Photos by Pat Wray
1í 1( 7
After setting up camp, the afternoon of the first day is spent glassing the surrounding slopes for sheep and goats. Saddles and saddle blankets make a sturdy brace for a spotting scope.
Then the work begins. A nearly 2,000 foot vertical climb from base camp to sheep country on the surrounding ridge takes most of the day with frequent stops to glass the area . . . and to let the photographer catch his breath. Here Vic Coggins searches for sheep.
12 OREGON WILDLIFE A large ram is located, then approached slowly. He is wary but drawn by the salt blocks Coggins has carried up to supplement the sheeps' diet.
An elderly ewe is not nearly so concerned and she comes barreling down the mountain for her share of salt.
They prance through the high style, or perhaps because of it, sheep and their high country country where molecules of bighorns are notoriously suscepti- neighbors, Rocky Mountain goats. oxygen rarely get close ble to diseases, especially those They also use the opportunity to enough together to say hello. They common to domestic sheep. Five carry salt blocks up to the animals gambol along knife-edged granite years ago, the Lostine sheep herd of and collect nasal smears of animals ridgelines and across near-vertical the Eagle Cap Wilderness in north- that prove cooperative. These are talus slopes as though they were east Oregon was 110 animals strong. then analyzed for diseases. king down main street. An outbreak of pneumonia during "Aerial surveys are great and we Apart from an occasional loss of the winter of 1986/87 left the herd use them all the time, but they a lamb to a golden eagle or coyote with only 30 animals and caused don't take the place of being on the and the even more uncommon loss two more years of negligible repro- ground, being able to get a first of an adult to cougars, Rocky duction. Now the herd is up to 45 hand idea of the animals' condition Mountain bighorn sheep seem in- animals and seems to be rebound- and the condition of their range," vulnerable. After all, what could ing. Coggins explained. possibly hurt animals whose idea of Each summer, Oregon Depart- Being on the ground in sheep fun is to run into each other head ment of Fish and Wildlife district country takes some doing, but first at full speed? biologist Vic Coggins and his assist- the rewards are spectacular, as the The answer is disease. ant, Pat Matthews, head into the accompanying pictorial essay Despite their high country life- Eagle Cap to count and study the shows. L1
The ram immediately responds by joining the party as well.
Coggins uses the opportunity to get a nasal smear from the ewe to check for disease. The ram declines his offer.
September-October 1991 13 wildlife popu- of being a damage problem, yet a lations is Perren Baker's job. Young People private landowner had closed his TnderstandingThat's why the assistant dis- land to public hunting "because he trict biologist in Ontario was so dis- was tired of dealing with the bad ap- turbed with the statistics regarding A ples," said Baker. He approached the the population of one particular spe- Get Chance landowner, explained that if the pro- cies. By Randy Henry gram was adopted, all youths partic- "We know that if you don't get ipating in the hunt would be super- youngsters into the population, that vised by a non-hunting adult. species won't exist in the future. We Youths would be instructed to get need to improve recruitment, or we land-owner permission, hunt care- can be the best wildlife managers in fully and ethically, and thank the the world and it won't matter. There landowner after the hunt. won't be a population out there," "It takes us back to a time when Baker said. people talked to landowners and Actually, Baker was talking about would offer them part of the deer to young hunters not wildlife. "I thank them," says Baker. The juve- read somewhere that the average nile hunt idea caught on, and there age of a hunter in Oregon was 45 to are now four such controlled anter- 50 years old," he said. "I used that less deer hunts scheduled this fail argument when I wanted people to throughout the state. listen to my idea." "We're taking a small step here," Baker's idea was to designate cer- says Baker. "We will try a few hunts, tain controlled antlerless deer hunts work out the glitches and see what Two successful young hunters show their prizes success there is. Then we'll work on for young people only - to be con- during a recent juvenile hunt at E.E. Wilson. ducted under careful adult supervi- expanding the program. "We're scatching the surface sion. It isn't really a new idea - it's young hunt- are a good way to get here," said Baker. "Hunting oppor- just new to big game. them ers interested while teaching tunities for young people on private For years, special regulations in a con- ethics and good behavior land are growing." A side benefit of have allowed hunters 17 years of age Special hunts trolled environment. this, said Baker, is that the private or younger special opportunites. chance to also offer them a better landowners are not only going out Juvenile pheasant hunts began at choose the best target and be suc- E.E. Wildlife Area in 1951, of their way for young hunters, they Wilson cessful without the pressure of find- a activity are also taking a renewed interest in and have been popular ing the biggest buck. "All this since. volunteers even habitat and wildlife. Some of the ever Adult where I brought me to a point landowners are involved in habitat bring their bird dogs and help shared my thoughts about using hunters have an enjoyable restoration or enhancement to in- young some of our anterless hunts for kids In addition, two crease hunting opportunity. and successful day. only," said Baker. special juvenile waterfowl hunts Other private landowners who were recently established at Sauvie Other private landowners have closed their lands to general Island. The juvenile pheasant hunt who have closed their public hunting have expressed in- terest in the controlled juvenile hunt program is expanding to more areas lands to general public - nine in all - throughout the concept. Baker is confident that state. hunting have expressed more land will be opened in the fu- But until this year, there has nev- interest in the controlled ture, allowing better management of er been a big game hunt specifically juvenile hunt concept. damage problems, and more young designated for young people. Baker hunters will come to understand the realized that many kids don't have Anterless hunts are often con- importance of good hunter ethics the chance to progress from one lèv- ducted to address damage corn- and etiquette. e! of hunting to the other, and often plaints - where deer herds have "In other words," according to don't have role models to teach outgrown wild areas and look for Baker, "a well-trained group of -S. them. More single-parent homes, food in farmers' and ranchers' hay- youngsters will be recruited into less public access, busier lives and a stacks or alfalfa fields. the hunting public . . . and the pop- more urban population contribute to Baker knew of one particular situ- ulation of hunters will remain this, he said. Special juvenile hunts ation with a deer herd on the brink healthy." D
14 OREGON WILDLIFE Shooting Safety
It's that time of year. Hunting sea- Quiz c. the actual size of your target Sons are just ahead, and kids are d. what is behind your target and practicing for bird and deer sea- beyond son, target shooting with .22s, or just For Kids plinking around with BB guns 6. If you are carrying a loaded fire- great summer and fall fun! But also a arm, and you come to a fence, steep By Bill time to think about firearms safety. Hastie hifi, or place where you could slip, Each year, many young shooters you should: are involved in firearms accidents a. make sure the safety is on that occur when they are out plink- d. check to see how close you are b. unload and keep the firearm's ing. or just "shooting around." to the landowner's house action open Often, these accidents involve c. hold the firearm tightly against 4. A "harmless" firearms like BB guns, .22 firearm can not fire, as long as it: your chest rifles, and archery equipment. This a. has the safety on d. point the firearm in a safe di- kind of shooting is potentially more b. is not loaded rection dangerous than hunting. c. has the action open d. is in a gun rack Give your young shooters the test 7. Which of the following is legal to below. If they can't answer all the shoot at any time during the year? questions correctly, it may be time 5. You should never shoot at arty- a. robin for a long talk with them about thing with any firearm until you b. quail know: shooting safety and shooting regula- c. blackbird tions, and time to consider enrolling a. the distance to your target d. starling them in a Hunter Education Course! b. how far your firearm will shoot e. chipmunk
i. Nhich of the following firearms handling rules do you think would prevent almost all firearms acci- Shooting Safety Answers For Parents dents? .suoss uunq .pu1 q; j14M Á1iood a. keep your finger off the trigger SASUItj4 ppnpuo IO )S 4,Upp jd par!1o1.T4n upnp ppaoid b. know how far your gun will -od snaq AllflSfl s,; 'psod s puj ai punoi-iX Ml Aq pa shoot l!Ò uqh 44 punoj S4 pS -ojd unwdii.p pu piqpq 'uqo.i MdGO c. only point your gun at some- n UOiSSftUJd aAI 111M aLt_L jÇ jo wi; jÇu ta1np q thing you want to shoot -pu1 SOIAI s1;ooqs o uo!ssuud u u!lI1s tD AJU0 ,,p,, :z uoLsnÖ d. use only the correct size am- 1q jo N A1 ;snm JUMOPUI 41 munition for your gun 1004S o; JpaL noA ssun -4dui4; aie q; iaqio jo Áu oj ,,pa)pou,, MO11 U A1{ IaAaU pjnoqs -q nq 'op o suq; poo ai s&su noA 'uauidinba £itpi 14!M qssod ,,e,, : uo!;sartö 2. What is the FIRST thing you uy -sp ou aq H!M J144 ifiM UO amsu lIps should do when you pick up a fire- -)g inoX uiudO inoÁ jo ioi; -inoA papo as u noA os arm? -uo:: so 'um u 'pue uqooj JnoÁ j udo SOl A11dwo uaq uop aq; nOq1M a. check to see if anything is PiflO) noA IaqM UO4flS UUU uoAu woij 1dDe lodged in the barrel ioaq POjUfl SÁMW :9 uoqsn waj o; b. put the safety "on" .ppol ! ! fl p)lDp ÁP4!P ;jg 'I4 puoAq -wuI! q tLLIIU iuy )jIOM c. check to see if it is loaded sau 4M eap! Áu UtA4 40U sooqs sAM1 ,usop 1! UO saiq woq waÁ qa mio s;uapp atri in s! AJeS ,, ),, :z uoT1snÒ 3. Before hunting or shooting on pri- JMSU sq rn-j; si ,,p,, ;nq 'quosa1 .sun a 441M UA snoiup vate land, you should first: s3!otp sq; jo y ,,p,, : uosn stqj (auowos Jo) uiq; a. get permission from the land- Alm1X s! )p1 un u! SM 10 'PaPO1 OU puins -uIos ooqs o owner ; mpuaaid 'auq -eid SM 'UO IÇJS aq pq uueaqj 44 UMO tjiS SUItUiOS sp .10045 make sure you are not shoot- SS qi 4Z!L{M U! l!J 1! UT ;upp 01 1UM no1Ç UNTW0S Te Ufl JflOJÇ ing around livestock ununq o .iaqwnu sj Md1O 'udo U!Od st T! SS U0 Jiuo ll 441 c. Ufl 1OJ make sure you are shooting ! uOq UM L!J 04 'pp 41 lnq S4UD lUoS lUaAaId pno only -u! aq : into an area that has a I'UJ!P PIflOM II ,, uo!lsanÖ SJMSU tj1 JO 11V,, :,, :j uonsanö good backstop
September-October 1991 15 The Oregon Coast
OREGON Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife PO Box 59 Portland, Oregon 97207 Fish & Wildlife