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-
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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.