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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (July 24, 2015)
FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 7 Outdoor Rec Oregon awards $81.3K in wolf-impact funds The Oregon Department of Agriculture has ap- proved $81,300 in funding distributed to nine counties east of the Cascade Moun- tains as part of the Oregon Wolf Depredation Com- pensation and Financial Assistance County Block Grant Program. Funds for 2015 have been distributed for actual livestock losses or inju- ries caused by wolves, for missing livestock above the normal historical levels in areas of known wolf activity, for proactive ef- forts to prevent wolf and livestock interactions, and for county wolf program implementation. According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon’s wolf population increased in both distribution and abun- dance in 2014. By Decem- ber, Oregon’s minimum wolf population was 77 wolves. Nine packs were documented and known wolf packs occurred in parts of Baker, Jackson, Klamath, Umatilla, Union, and Wallowa counties. In addition, six new pairs of wolves were confi rmed in Oregon; fi ve within the Eastern Wolf Management Zone and one within the Western Wolf Management Zone. Wallowa, Umatilla and Baker– three counties experiencing the bulk of the state’s wolf activity– have received $68,170, or approximately 84 percent of the money awarded for 2015. The state has paid 100 percent of the claims submitted to ODA tied to confi rmed or probable live- stock losses due to wolves. Livestock owners worked with the Oregon Depart- ment of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to document these losses. Payments are made on a reimbursement basis for depredations that occurred during the previ- ous grant cycle. Wallowa, Umatilla, and Baker were the only counties fi ling claims with ODA that experienced confi rmed or probable livestock losses in the 2014 cycle. These three counties were awarded $7,200 in 2015 to compensate affected ranchers for those losses. Wallowa County received $3,930, Umatilla County received $1,800 while Baker County received $1,470 for compensation. Of the total funding provided by the block grants this year, $51,230– or 63 percent– is going towards proactive, non- lethal efforts to reduce confl icts between wolves and livestock. County level advisory committees established by the grant program’s legislation re- quested funds to undertake proactive confl ict deter- rence efforts. Historically, these deterrent techniques include one or more of the following activities: • Reducing attractants– bone pile removal, carcass disposal sites • Barriers– fencing, fl adry, electrifi ed fl adry · Human presence– range riders, herders • Livestock protection dogs and other guarding animals • Alarm or scare de- vices– Radio-Activated- Guard (RAG) device, other light and sound making devices • Hazing or harassment of wolves– loud noises, spotlights, or other con- frontation with wolves • Livestock manage- ment/husbandry changes– changing pastures, night feeding, reduced calving period, birthing earlier, changing herd structure • Experimental prac- tices– bio-fencing, belling cattle • Public outreach/educa- tion for ranchers For 2015, ODA was again able to use funds from a 2013 and 2014 wolf-livestock demonstra- tion grants awarded by US Fish and Wildlife Service. For 2015, $3,600 of these federal funds were used for depredation losses and $25,615 were used for non-lethal preventative awards. A total of $3,645 was awarded to six counties to help with county imple- mentation costs. The following is a list of the total awards made by ODA to counties as part of the Oregon Wolf Depreda- tion Compensation and Fi- nancial Assistance County Block Grant Program for the 2015 Grant Period: • Wallowa, $24,905 • Umatilla, $25,950 • Baker, $17,315 • Union, $3,000 • Morrow, $6,375 • Jefferson, $1,905 • Wheeler, $750 • Crook, $650 • Malheur, $450 The fund process remains available for counties to address depredations that occur in the future. In that event, livestock operators should submit claims to their local county wolf advisory committee. Two win firearms in Jubilee raffle Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press 1st place winner Bob Heitmanek of Pendleton with Ed Hardt (at left), who sold him the winning ticket. —ODFW Recreation Report— Weekend fi shing opportunities: Smallmouth bass fi sh- ing has been fair on the John Day River, and some catfi sh are being caught as well. Jubilee Lake has been stocked and trout fi shing continues to be good. Crappie fi shing should be good in McKay and Willow Creek reservoirs. Look for crappie to be moving offshore and suspending in deeper water. High water temperatures have prompted fi sh manag- ers to suspend summer trout stocking in Wal- lowa County ponds over concerns for fi sh survival. Some of those fi sh have been diverted to Wallowa Lake. Warm temperatures increase stress on fi sh However, anglers reduce the stress from catch-and- release fi shing by following a few precautions: Fish early in the morn- ings when water tempera- tures are lower. Fish in lakes and reser- voirs with deep waters that provide a cooler refuge for fi sh. Use barbless hooks, land fi sh quickly and keep them in the water as much as possible in order to mini- mize stress. Shift fi shing efforts to higher elevation mountain lakes and streams where water temperatures often remain cooler. Warmwater fi sh like bass, crappie and bluegill also feel the effects of the heat, so please follow these precautions in all your sum- mer fi shing. GRANDE RONDE RIV- ER: trout, whitefi sh, bass The Grande Ronde River is closed to spring Chinook angling as of July 5. The river remains open for trout whitefi sh and bass. Current low fl ows and high water temperatures will likely make trout fi shing diffi cult. However, fi shing for small- mouth bass will be good with an abundance of fi sh in the river. Anglers may still encounter Chinook salmon or bull trout and are reminded both species are to be released unharmed. HOLLIDAY PARK POND: rainbow trout. Pond has been stocked with both le- gal and trophy-sized trout. Fishing has been fair. Pond does have an ADA fi shing dock for anglers with dis- abilities. HUNTER POND: hatch- ery rainbow trout. This pond has been stocked with 250 legal-sized rain- Why advertise with us? David Conn • Low rates per column inch & promotional deals Baker City, Haines • Color at no additional charge as space permits david@thebakercountypress.com or call 541.523.5524 Wendee Morrissey wendee@thebakercountypress. com or call 541.805.1688. Sumpter, Bates, Richland, Halfway, Medical Springs, Keating Family owned and operated. Packed with local news! • Friendly, professional sales staff • All display ads are also posted to our Facebook page, which means thousands of individuals see your ad from that source alone. We’re the only local paper that offers this service! bow trout. From I-84 take Hwy 244 towards Ukiah. At the Blue Mtns summit, turn left onto USFS Rd 5160. Proceed for approximately 3 miles to the Jct. of roads 5160 and 5155. Stay on 5160. Just past this Jct. on the right will be spur 710. Take this spur. The pond is just off 5160. IMNAHA RIVER: trout, whitefi sh, bass. JOHN DAY RIVER: smallmouth bass. Small- mouth bass fi shing is good with many being caught. There has also been a fair number of catfi sh reported being caught. Bass anglers may try their luck higher in the North Fork below the town of Dale. Bass are present up to Dale but in lower numbers. Last week Oliver Creek, a tributary to the South Fork John Day River, experienced a torrential rainstorm that caused a fl ash fl ood event carrying mud and silt down river as far as Service Creek. The lower extent of the muddy water is unknown at this point but fi shing for bass below Dayville will likely be only fair. However, the North Fork John Day River is still clear and has some public access that will provide good bass fi shing. JUBILEE LAKE: rainbow trout. Fishing has been best in the early morning and late evenings, bank anglers should also look for the deep water areas near the dam or bring a non-mo- torized boat and fi sh deep in the middle of the lake. The lake has been stocked and should provide good fi shing for rainbow trout. OLIVE LAKE: rainbow trout, brook trout, and kokanee Fishing is good and lake has been stocked with both legal and trophy-sized rain- bow trout. Some kokanee are being caught at 30 to 40 feet depth. WALLOWA LAKE: rain- bow trout, kokanee, lake trout. Trout fi shing has been good at Wallowa Lake with one fi sherman reporting catching his limit in fi ve casts. Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press 3-year-old Vivien McQuisten draws the winning tickets. Submitted Photo. Suzie Dyke’s name was drawn second, making her the winner of the handgun. • SPRINGFIELD XDS HANDGUN AND HENRY 45-70 RIFLE PRIZES IN THIS YEAR’S REPUBLICAN FIREARMS RAFFLE BY KERRY McQUISTEN News@TheBakerCountyPress.com Bob Heitmanek of Pendleton had a very lucky Miners Jubilee. Heitmanek travels every year to assist with the booth for the Eastern Oregon Miners Association. “But I’ve never won anything like this,” he said. Heitmanek was the fi rst name drawn in the second annual fi rearms raffl e held by the Baker County Repub- licans. Only 500 tickets were sold at $10 a piece, and easily sold out before the Sunday drawing at 2 p.m. The fi rst name draw was given the chance to choose between a Henry lever-action 45-70 rifl e valued at $850 and Springfi eld XDS 9mm pistol valued at $650. The rifl e and handgun had been on display at Ace Hardware the past several weeks, where they were purchased by the Republicans. Heitmanek, who purchased his ticket from Republican Precinct Committeeman Ed Hardt, chose the rifl e. Suzie Dyke of Baker City was the next name drawn, and the pistol went to her. Heitmanek was available to complete his background check at Ace immediately after Jubilee, and took posses- sion of the rifl e within the hour. Dyke was scheduled to complete her background paperwork and collect her prize today. A George Keister original oil painting was also raffl ed off, with Linda Hudson of Baker City the winner of that prize. The Republicans use the money earned in fundraisers to elect public offi cials who uphold the conservative values outlined in the Oregon State Republican Party Platform, as well as support local initiatives that do the same, with protection of Second Amendment rights one key focus.
