DRAFT 1 Preliminary Information for May 2016, District Meetings A Note for Western Oregon Black Bear Hunters Black bear damage to conifers, caused by peeling the bark in the spring (April-early July), in the Pacific Northwest is well documented and the magnitude of economic damage is estimated in the millions annually. To gain a better understanding of where and when bears cause damage, researchers from Oregon State University have started a research project with one of the objective to develop models to predict when, where, and how much bear damage will occur based on a variables such as the sex and age class of a bear, forest stand age class, slope and aspect of the stand, and the time period. The plan is to collar 32 bear, 16 in western Washington, and 16 in western Oregon. In western Oregon, eight will be in the Cascades, eight in the Coast Range. In Oregon, two adult males and 14 adult or sub- adult female bears will be fitted with GPS. Because bears will receive anesthesia for handling, they will receive a plastic ear tag stamped with a “CALL BEFORE CONSUMING THIS BEAR” message that includes contact information. Yearlings and cubs will not be fitted iridium collars, nor sub-adult males due to concerns their neck girth will grow and cause injury during the two-year study. Each of the collared bears represents a considerable research investment, and will be providing valuable information. There are no hunting restriction related to these collared bears. If you take a collared bear, please call the number on the ear tag and return the collar so it can be re-used. While it is legal to take one of these collared bears, if you notice the collar before shooting, passing that one up will help maximize the value of the research project. Thank you for your cooperation. Upland Game Bird and Waterfowl Updates 2016-2017 Upland Game Bird and Waterfowl seasons were adopted at the April 22nd, 2016, Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission Meeting. A change in the federal regulation framework allows the Department to set game bird seasons earlier in the year. The 2016-17 seasons are very similar to last year’s seasons (changes listed below). Most season opening dates are two days earlier than last year because of the calendar shift caused by 2016 being a leap year. For example, last year the chukar season opened October 10, 2015, this year chukar season will open October 8, 2016. Setting game bird seasons in April will allow the Department to publish the 2016-2017 Game Bird Regulations earlier; by August 1 this year, and possibly even earlier in following years. The following is a list of changes for the 2016-17 game bird seasons the Commission adopted April 22nd, 2016. Changes adopted for this falls game bird seasons: • Allow youth hunters 17 or younger to participate during the September youth waterfowl hunting weekend. Prior federal regulations restricted this hunt to youths 15 or younger but were recently changed to allow 17 or younger. • Combine three controlled fall turkey hunts (Baker, Grande Ronde, Wallowa) into one general season “Northeast Fall Turkey Hunt” with 450 tags available over-the-counter on a first-come first- served basis starting Sept. 20. The Blue Mountain controlled fall turkey hunt will also become a general season hunt with 500 tags available over-the-counter starting Sept. 20. The popular White River fall hunt will remain controlled due to the high number of applicants (approx. 3 per available tag). Hunters can apply for the White River Fall turkey hunt beginning July 1. 1 DRAFT 1 • Hunters can apply for controlled sage-grouse hunts beginning July 1. Tag numbers are expected to be similar to last year; however, tag numbers will not be finalized until August, after brood routes are completed. • Changes to Klamath Wildlife Area hunting regulations will allow game bird hunting on Monday, Wednesdays and Saturdays from October-November, except hunting will be allowed both Saturday and Sunday of opening weekend of duck and pheasant season, and hunting will be allowed every day in January. This will reduce confusion from current regulations which allow hunting every other day. • Daily upland game bird hunting hours at Klamath WA will change to 10 a.m. throughout the waterfowl season to better distribute hunting pressure. Upland bird hunting currently begins at 8 a.m., which conflicts with early morning waterfowl hunters. • Closed most of Klamath WA (except birding trail, parking areas, public roads, and dog training area) to access from Feb. 1-April 30 and prohibit the running or training of dogs at Klamath WA through Aug. 31 (currently July 31) to protect birds. This is not expected to be a major impact to visitors, most visitors use the sections that will remain open. • Formally require completion and return of daily wildlife area hunting permits at wildlife areas where they are used (permits indicate hunter effort and harvest). • Remove the requirement for upland game bird (pheasants, grouse, partridges, and quail) and crow hunters to obtain HIP validations to hunt for these species. Migratory game bird hunters (mourning doves, band-tailed pigeons, snipe, ducks, geese, and coots) will still need to obtain a migratory game bird HIP validation prior to hunting. The Department welcomes any comments, or proposed changes for the 2017-18 game birds seasons. Furbearer Trapping and Hunting Updates Furbearer Trapping and Hunting Regulations are set for two year periods. At the June 9, 2016 Commission Meeting Furbearer Trapping and Hunting Regulations for July 1, 2016-June 30, 2018 will be adopted. Topics for consideration include: • Restricting trapping within close proximity to designated ODOT wildlife crossing structures to reduce disturbance that may prevent wildlife from utilizing those significant investments. Currently only a few of these structures exist in Oregon, rule language could be similar to restrictions within distance to trailhead. • No changes to bag limits for bobcat or other species are currently being proposed. • Furtakers will have an option to submit their annual furtaker report online. Ideally, this online- option will be functional by fall 2016. • Furtakers will also likely have an online option to inquire about if and when their furtaker report was received by the April deadline. • Regulation packet will include information reminding trappers that, as per ODOT OARS, no trapping is allowed on ODOT properties without ODOT permission. 2 DRAFT 1 Big Game Regulation Overview and species by Species Highlights Updates New Big Game Regulations Development Process For 20+ years, setting Big Game Regulations has been a two Commission Meeting process. Controlled hunt tag numbers have been set in June. Hunting regulations for the following year, season dates, bag limits, controlled hunts, etc., have been set in October. This causes an extreme time-crunch in the spring. To meet the legal requirements for the June Commission Meeting, some biologists are making recommendations before they have completed spring herd surveys and before harvest information is available from late hunts. For 2016 only, controlled hunt tag numbers for 2016 and 2017, and 2017 hunting seasons will be adopted June, 2016. Beginning in 2017, the Department will be changing to the following tentative timeline. Dates cannot be finalized until after Commission Meeting dates for 2017 have been set. Tentative, 2017 Big Game Regulation Development Timeline for 2018 Seasons NOTE: Dates may shift a week or two depending on the final dates of 2017 Commission Meetings. • November, 2016 – March, 2017: Districts conduct field surveys • April 1, 2017: Deadline for canceling 2017 hunts or making emergency tag reductions • May 15, 2017: District proposal deadline • June 12-16, 2017: Division meets with Biologists — Discuss 2018 seasons, tag numbers, and regulations • June 30, 2017: Information for public outreach/meetings distributed to Districts • July 1-15, 2017: Districts conduct public outreach/meetings • July 28, 2017: Commission packet due to Division Administrators • September 1, 2017: Commission Adoption of 2018 seasons and tag numbers • November, 2017: 2018 Big Game Regulations printed and delivered to vendors General Winter Conditions Western Oregon: Winter 2015–2016 was generally warmer and wetter than normal. November was drier than normal with average temperatures. December brought warmer than average temperatures and increasing precipitation to the region, with many areas in excess of 200% of normal. January continued the warmer and wetter trend for the region. Most areas receiving between 100% and 150% of normal precipitation. February was warmer and slightly drier than normal. Eastern Oregon: The winter of 2015-16 was characterized with warmer and wetter conditions across the region. Snow pack was variable across the regions with little snow accumulation below 3000 feet elevation. The end of November brought temperatures 10 to 20 degrees colder than normal and heavy snowfall, with central Oregon seeing the heaviest snows. Animals transitioned down to winter distributions as winter arrived full force. December brought warmer than normal temperatures and above average 3 DRAFT 1 precipitation, 125 to 200+ percent of normal. January started with colder temperatures and dry weather, then returned to a fairly normal January. February was warmer than normal with average precipitation for much of the region, northeast Oregon received above average precipitation. Statewide: The winter of 2015 2016 will be remembered for the unusually wet conditions across Oregon. Temperatures were also generally warmer than average, which acted to limit any lower and even mid elevation snowfall (below 2500-3000 feet). However, temperatures overall averaged slightly cooler than last winter, and therefore the high elevation snowpack became well established. In general, at the end of winter snow water equivalent values were running between 85 to 140 percent of normal. It appears the state will be in much better shape, as far as water supply, heading into the summer months.