FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 7
Outdoor Rec / Local
County
CONTINUED FROM
PAGE 1
Harvey opened the ses-
sion, and Ratliff began
an ODFW update, with
Primus seated next to him.
In referencing a letter sent
from ODFW to the Board,
Ratliff said that there was
great fall green-up, but
observations of signifi-
cant deer mortality began
around two to three weeks
ago, whether it was deer
wintering on natural for-
age, on hay stacks, or from
being fed by landowners,
for example.
In explaining this,
Ratliff said, “What it boils
down to is, you and I, we
can go to bed with a full
belly, but, if you make
me stand out in the cold
for two months solid with
sub-zero temperatures,
somebody’s going to get
sick...In this winter, we had
a lot of deer down low...I
guarantee you, we’re going
to have higher mortality
rates this year...My biggest
concern is, if this snow
doesn’t stay warm, and
we hit a cold snap, it’s just
going to turn to concrete,
and it’s impossible for deer
to get through it all...” He
said that ODFW hasn’t
seen much elk mortality,
throughout the County,
because, “...you talk about
tough; elk are really good
at surviving winters.”
Harvey asked about wolf
kills associated with the
mortality, and Ratliff said
that the wolves have been
staying up high, picking
out little pockets in which
to winter across North-
east Oregon, where many
deer and elk have chosen
to winter, though there is
unrelated mortality hap-
pening down below.
Ratliff said that, with
a winter like the one this
year, agricultural and other
damage from deer and elk
increases significantly, and
Nichols commented about
the rarity of seeing deer
mortality such as during
this season.
Nichols said he agreed
with what ODFW said in
its letter, as far as elk being
able to survive from being
fed, but that it’s more dif-
ficult for deer to survive,
when they venture down
from the mountains, to do
the same thing.
“The amount of deer
you’re going to affect by
feeding is negligible...
You’d be far better off to
spend your money creating
forage that exists above the
snow level..” Ratliff said.
He said that that is a
driving factor with a winter
like this—what feed can
the animals get to.
Harvey said that private
landowners don’t have the
capacity to create those
areas, and Ratliff said that
ODFW programs, includ-
ing the Mule Deer Initia-
tive (MDI), can help fund
and implement those proj-
ects, and that Ratliff and
others have been working
on projects through differ-
ent programs.
Harvey said that, while
ODFW has feed sites, the
feeding some citizens have
been practicing this winter
includes small amounts,
spread over the region,
and doesn’t tend to draw
a large number of deer
together in one place on a
permanent basis.
“It’s just someone’s
personal attempt to help,
and, you agreed...at least,
it helps some, and it’s
made awareness of more
need of different types of
forage for the future...” he
said, and he pointed out
that there would probably
be more public support for
feeding projects in the near
future. “That is totally cor-
rect; that awareness is what
really drives the forces of
creating better habitat...”
Ratliff said.
Ratliff said that, with
easier winters, “We for-
get...” to prepare for the
harsher ones by pursuing
projects and solutions,
and Harvey said, “That’s
where we count on you
to design programs that
we can be a part of now,
for the upcoming future-
-education (Harvey noted
that ODFW experiences
budget issues, and tough
decisions, too).” Ratliff
agreed and he said that his
door is always open, and
working with landowners
to mitigate for habitat loss
is very important.
Harvey asked about
upland game birds, and
Ratliff said that spring
hatch is what really drives
the population, which
may be difficult to accept,
since increased mortality is
noted during harsh winters.
He noted the resiliency
of birds, and he said that,
looking at chukar mortal-
ity graphs for the County,
one can see that, follow-
ing harsh winters, there
is a “boom” sometimes,
with the population, but
in general, the population
does recover (this was cov-
ered in more detail, in the
Friday, January 13, 2017
issue of The Baker County
Press).
Nichols asked about the
deer feeding issue, and the
related damage (this topic
was covered in more detail,
in the Friday, January 27,
2017 issue of The Baker
County Press), and Ratliff
said that he’d spoken with
landowners, and that sites
were moved, eliminat-
ing most of the resulting
damage.
He said, though, that
the elk, for example, will
return next winter to the
same spots, because they’d
been fed there this season,
and they’re aware of the
“easy meal.”
Ballard said that she
remembered a fish tag-
ging program last year in
Phillips Reservoir, and she
asked Ratliff whether this
program will continue this
year.
He said that it will, and
he explained the process,
including the possible
future use of cameras to
gauge angler numbers,
to reduce budget costs.
Nichols expressed disap-
pointment at the amount of
trash that’s left by citizens,
in fishing spots and in
other places, and he asked
Ratliff about the possibility
of using cameras to assist
with enforcing laws.
Ratliff, who said that
people leaving trash behind
is one of his pet peeves,
said that, though it’s dif-
ficult to identify offenders
with cameras sometimes,
he’ll look into that idea.
On the agenda also
was the topic of Commis-
sioner response, during
an emergency, such as
summer wildfires. Harvey
noted that, there isn’t really
a written policy to address
who would represent the
County, in the case of the
Chair’s absence.
Harvey and Nichols
understood that, in the case
of Harvey’s absence, Ben-
nett would take his place,
and, in the case of both
Harvey’s and Bennett’s
absences, Nichols would
take over. Harvey said that
he would speak to County
Emergency Manager Jason
Yencopal, and Yencopal
could assist with forming a
draft of the policy.
Another item was a
review of the Wednesday,
February 1, 2017 meeting
regarding the City/County
Intergovernmental Coop-
erative Agreement For Dis-
patch And Record Keeping
Services, which has been a
continuing discussion, be-
tween Baker City Council,
and the County Commis-
sion Board, as the two
entities have yet to resolve
all issues, and to finalize
the agreement.
The Board also dis-
cussed County budget con-
cerns, including potential
cuts and major reductions
in spending.
Nichols said that, if this
topic is discussed with
Department heads, and in-
formation is exchanged on
a regular basis, the heads
will be more informed and
prepared for possible cuts,
and in turn, the Board will
be the same.
Bennett noted that he
hopes community groups
that rely on the County
will continue to read about
issues in local media, and
begin to look for ways of
raising funds, or reducing
programs.
The last item, brought
up by Bennett, is the con-
tinuing issue of the Board
receiving documents for
County Commission ses-
sions too late to properly
prepare for decisions as-
sociated with those docu-
ments.
In some cases, he said,
the Board has received
documents on the day of
the session, even dur-
ing the session, without
a chance to speak with
associated persons, and
to make a more informed
decision.
Bennett said that this
isn’t Martin’s fault,
but rather, whoever is
originally submitting the
document, and an improve-
ment in the process would
make Martin’s work more
streamlined.
He said there should
be an executive sum-
mary, similar to a staff
report, and that documents
should be in no later than
the Monday of the week
before the session. He
said that there should be a
written policy in the future
addressing this issue, and
Martin said that she could
form a draft of that.
Reward increased
for Wallowa
moose poacher
The OSP Fish & Wildlife Division is asking for the
public’s help to identify the person(s) responsible for the
unlawful killing of a cow moose in Wallowa County.
The Oregon Hunter’s Association has increased the
reward to $6,250 for information leading to an arrest or
citation in this case. The reward is offered by the Oregon
Hunters Association Turn-In-Poacher (TIP) program.
On December 2, 2016, OSP was notified of one dead
cow moose approximately 20 yards off of Coal Docks
Road, which is located northwest of Wallowa in Wallowa
County. OSP Fish and Wildlife Troopers responded and
found a cow moose had been shot and some of the meat
left to waste. The subsequent Investigation revealed the
moose was most likely shot in the late evening hours of
December 1, 2016 or early morning hours of December 2,
2016. Evidence was collected at the scene.
There are no lawful hunts that allow the harvesting of
moose in Oregon.
Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to
contact OSP Senior Trooper Brian Miller through the TIP
hotline at 1-800-452-7888 or email at Brian.Miller@state.
or.us.
The T.I.P. reward is paid for by the Oregon Hunter’s
Association, for information leading to the issuance of a
citation to a person(s), or an arrest made of a person(s)
for illegal possession, killing, or taking of bighorn sheep,
mountain goat, moose, elk, deer, antelope, bear, cougar,
wolf, furbearers and/or upland game birds and water
fowl. T.I.P. rewards can also be paid for the illegal taking,
netting, snagging, and/or dynamiting of game fish, and/or
shell fish, and for the destruction of habitat.
In addition rewards may be paid for information leading
to the issuance of a citation to a person(s), or an arrest
made of a person(s) who have illegally obtained Oregon
hunting/angling license or tags. People who “work” the
system and falsely apply for resident license or tags are
not legally hunting or angling and are considered poach-
ers.
Rewards:
Bighorn sheep, moutain goat, moose $1,000
Elk, deer, antelope $500
Bear, cougar, wolf $300
Habitat destruction $300
Illegally obtaining Oregon hunting or angling license or
tags $200
Game fish, shell fish $100
Upland birds,waterfowl $100
Furbearers $100
House’s attic fire
contained quickly
Photo Courtesy of Baker Fire & Rescue.
Forestry cost-share meeting scheduled
Firefighters worked Wednesday morning on a
house fire near South Baker School.
A Cost Share Programs
for Family Forestland
Owners meeting is sched-
uled for Thursday, Febru-
ary 16 from 6:30 to 8:30
p.m. at the OSU Extension
Service 2600 East Street,
Baker City.
Jana Peterson, Field
Forester for the Oregon
Department of Forestry,
will provide an overview
of the cost share programs
that are available for fam-
Wednesday at 7:16 a.m., Baker City Fire Department
and Baker Rural Fire Department firefighters responded
to a house fire at 1304 3rd St. in Baker City, near South
Baker School. They found a fire burning in the attic of the
two-story home.
It took firefighters about 30 minutes to extinguish the
fire. The fire needed extensive overhaul requiring crews
to climb ladders and remove sections of the roof to ensure
the fire was out. Firefighters saved two cats and several
birds.
Bus delivery and student entrance to the school were
delayed.
Disaster responders with the local American Red Cross
responded as well. The fire affected five people, includ-
ing three adults, two children and pets. The Red Cross
provided resources to help address the immediate basic
needs of those affected such as temporary housing, food,
clothing, comfort kits with toiletry items, information
about recovery services, and health and mental health
services.
ily forestland owners in
2017, what they can be
used for and how landown-
ers can apply.
Jana will highlight
the “new” cost share
model. In the past, many
cost share programs had
relatively small amounts
of money available and fo-
cused on smaller parcels of
land (150-300 acres), limit-
ing their overall impact.
Over the last 5 years
however, agencies have
shifted towards “landscape
scale” projects that seek to
treat significant portions
of both private and public
lands within a watershed,
such as the East Face of
the Elkhorns project.
The advantage of this
approach is that by lever-
aging the technical and
financial resources and
coordinating activities on
adjacent public and private
lands, conservation work
by Natural Resources Con-
servation Service and For-
est Service will be more
efficient and effective.
Watersheds can now be
better protected from and
resilient to the negative
impacts of the uncharac-
teristic, catastrophic type
wildfires such as seen the
last few years.
BLM, USFS announce 2017 grazing fee
The Federal grazing fee
for 2017 will be $1.87 per
animal unit month (AUM)
for public lands admin-
istered by the Bureau of
Land Management and
$1.87 per head month
(HM) for lands managed
by the U.S. Forest Service.
The 2016 public land graz-
ing fee was $2.11.
An AUM or HM— treat-
ed as equivalent measures
for fee purposes—is the
use of public lands by
one cow and her calf, one
horse, or five sheep or
goats for a month. The
newly calculated graz-
ing fee, determined by
a congressional formula
and effective on March 1,
applies to nearly 18,000
grazing permits and leases
administered by the BLM
and nearly 6,500 permits
administered by the Forest
Service.
The formula used for
calculating the grazing fee,
which was established by
Congress in the 1978 Pub-
lic Rangelands Improve-
ment Act, has continued
under a presidential Execu-
tive Order issued in 1986.
Under that order, the graz-
ing fee cannot fall below
$1.35 per AUM, and any
increase or decrease cannot
exceed 25 percent of the
previous year's level.
The annually determined
grazing fee is computed by
using a 1966 base value of
$1.23 per AUM/HM for
livestock grazing on public
lands in Western states.
The figure is then calculat-
ed according to three fac-
tors: current private graz-
ing land lease rates, beef
cattle prices, and the cost
of livestock production. In
effect, the fee rises, falls,
or stays the same based on
market conditions, with
livestock operators paying
more when conditions are
better and less when condi-
tions have declined.
The 2017 grazing fee of
$1.87 per AUM/HM ap-
plies to 16 Western states
on public lands adminis-
tered by the BLM and the
Forest Service. The states
are Arizona, California,
Colorado, Idaho, Kan-
sas, Montana, Nebraska,
Nevada, New Mexico,
North Dakota, Oklahoma,
Oregon, South Dakota,
Utah, Washington, and
Wyoming.
BLM to hold sage-
grouse open houses
The Bureau of Land Management today announced it
will be holding eight public open houses throughout the
West in February to gather input on the agency’s proposal
to withdraw a subset of lands that are sage-grouse strong-
holds from future mining claims. This is the next step in a
process that started in September 2015 with the efforts of
the BLM and its state and federal partners to prevent the
Greater Sage-Grouse from being listed under the Endan-
gered Species Act. The nearest meeting is February 24 at
the Best Western Vista Inn, 2645 W Airport Way, Boise.