2 B SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2015 Shed hunt responsibility is to protect big game SALEM — This time of year isn’t just for Easter egg hunt- ing. Many Oregonians are in the outdoors looking for anoth- er seasonal treat: shed antlers. Oregon’s male deer and elk naturally shed their antlers at this time of year (only to regrow them in spring and sum- mer). Buck deer usually shed theirs from late December through March, and bull elk from late February through early April. Rob Tanner, co-founder of Oregon Shed Hunters, believes more people are enjoying the sport of shed hunting. “We are noticing more peo- ple getting out, but the clientele has changed a bit,” he says. “It’s no longer just hardcore hunters; nowadays it’s more of a family event with mom, dad, kids and even pets out shed hunting.” But the peak of shed hunting season in late winter/early spring also coincides with tougher weather and less forage availability for big game, mak- ing it a vulnerable time for wildlife. Shed hunters using motor vehicles can put wildlife on the move when these ani- mals need to be conserving valuable energy reserves. Pets and people on foot or horse- back can also disturb big game. Wildlife biologists have real concerns about the sport’s impact on big game, especially when it’s not practiced respon- sibly. “Shed hunters and their dogs can pressure, stress and exclude deer from the very ground that was set aside to help them sur- vive the winter,” said Chase Brown, assistant district wildlife biologist in The Dalles. This year’s mild winter has made conditions easier for big game, but also makes it easier for people to disturb the ani- mals. “The mild winter has made access easy this year, so shed hunters can go into more remote places,” says Mark Kirsch, Umatilla District wildlife biologist. Kirsch cites resource damage (from vehi- cles using unimproved roads or going cross country), gates left open, trespassing and move- ment of animals to private agri- cultural land where they cause damage as some common prob- lems seen from unethical shed hunting. Shed hunters can take the following steps to protect big game while still enjoying their sport: • Don’t disturb big game ani- mals: Don’t approach animals or follow the same ones on a daily basis. • Respect road and area clo- sures. These are in place to pro- tect winter range and wintering big game. Some ODFW wildlife areas are entirely closed to public access during late winter; other areas have road and travel restrictions. More information on specific closures below or see the 2015 Oregon Big Game Regulations. • Don’t take vehicles off- roading. The ground is water- logged at this time of year and off-roading in the wrong place can damage critical wildlife and fish habitat. Travel by foot or horseback instead. • Don’t be in the same spot every day. Deer and elk might need to be in that spot for food or cover, and your presence will keep them from it. • Keep dogs under your con- trol. Don’t let dogs approach or follow wildlife. State law pro- hibits dogs (and people) from harassing wildlife). • Don’t trespass on private property. You always need per- mission to be on private land. Antlers that are shed on private land below to the landowner under Oregon statutes. • Monitoring winter range closures and travel restrictions are a priority for Oregon State Police at this time of year. OSP patrols winter range closures and travel management areas by air and by vehicle. Antlers are the fastest-grow- ing bone that isn’t cancerous or prenatal. Antlers on deer can grow at a rate up to seven times that of skeletal growth. Elk antlers can weigh 30-40 pounds. Elk antlers begin re-growing soon after they are shed, with most growth happening in spring and summer months. The antlers are covered by “velvet” throughout this growth period, before harden- ing to bone in late July-early August for elk and late August- early September for deer. This makes antlers ready in time for breeding season (in September for elk and November for deer), when male deer or elk will fight for dominance using their antlers. Oregon Big Game Regulations state that “No per- son shall possess or transport any game mammal or part thereof which has been illegal- ly killed, found or killed for humane reasons, except shed antlers, unless they have noti- fied and received permission from personnel of the Oregon State Police or ODFW prior to transporting.” So people may pick up natu- rally shed antlers in the out- doors, but may not pick up skulls with antlers attached without permission. People who collect shed antlers are allowed to sell or exchange them, but certain rules apply. Only naturally shed antlers, antlers detached from the skull, or a skull split apart can be sold or exchanged. For antlers detached from the skull or skulls split apart, the seller must have legally taken the game part (e.g. on a big game tag or after receiving per- mission from OSP or ODFW to remove skull and antlers from the wild in the first place.) Past poaching problems led to the regulations. Skulls that are split have less value and are not eligible for record books. These regulations reduce the incentive for someone to kill animals on winter range or out of season, hide the skull, and go back months later and “find it.” A Hide/Antler Dealer permit is needed to purchase antlers for use in the manufacture of handcrafted items. Road closures and other reg- Closed to public access until April 10. • Bridge Creek Wildlife Area (near Ukiah): Closed to public access until April 14. • Jewell Meadows Wildlife Area (Clatsop County): Refuge and area closures. • Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area (La Grande): Lands west of Foothill Road closed to entry until March 31. • Prineville Reservoir Wildlife Area (Maury and Ochoco Units): Closed to motorized vehicle access until April 15. Do your part and volunteer today to help support these local non-proft organizations in our community! Volunteer•Get involved•Donate Working in Partnership with the Community building, repairing and refurbishing homes (541-902-9227) Assisting those in need in our Community. Free Hot Meals Mon-Wed-Fri 11 AM - 2 PM HELPING HANDS COALITION PO Box 1296 • 1339 Rhododendron Dr. Florence, OR 97439 Call 541-997-5057 to Volunteer STEP to hear Knowles Creek overview A summary of the 2014 season at the Knowles Creek Smolt trap will be the high- light at the monthly meeting of the Florence Salmon and Trout Enhancement Program (STEP). The club will meet Wednesday, March 3, at the Elks’ Lodge on 12th Street in Florence. The evening begins at 7 p.m. with a short business meeting, followed by the presentation. Paul Burns, a U.S. Forest Service biologist who man- ages the trap, will give an overview of the trap and a look back at the 2014 season. The monitoring of the smolt coming through Knowles Creek gives a his- torical perspective of the sta- tus of the various fish species in the Siuslaw watershed. The primary species that come through are Coho and Chinook salmon, but other species include Rainbow and Cutthroat trout, Lamprey, Dace, Shiners and Northern Pike Minnows. The trap will be installed this week at the Knowles Creek site and daily monitor- ing of the smolt that pass through the trap will begin. Volunteers are always needed and no experience is necessary. Prior to Burns’ talk, the STEP club will hold a short business meeting. Updates on the steelhead broodstock pro- gram and the work at Whittaker Creek will be shared, along with hatchery updates and a report on the fish cleaning station, which is under construction in the parking lot at the Port of Siuslaw. ulations: Several ODFW managed wildlife areas and Travel Management Areas are closed during the winter to protect big game on winter range. Others have travel restrictions. See page 80-85 of the 2015 Oregon Big Game Regulations for more information. Wildlife Area closures: • Phillip W Schneider Wildlife Area (Dayville): Closed to public until April 14, some roads closed seasonally from Dec. 1-April 14. • Elkhorn Wildlife Area (Baker and Union Counties): Join the Peace Harbor Hospital Volunteers. You will find an area of interest in a caring organization. Peace Harbor Volunteers 400 9th Street, Florence, OR 97439 541-997-8412 ext. 209 Meals on Wheels are available to people over the age of 60 who cannot get out much due to illness or advanced age and who are not eating properly, regardless of income. Cafe 60 is available for those who prefer to make new friends in a dining room setting. 1570 Kingwood • PO Box 2313, Florence 541-997-5673 laneseniormeals.org Operating Monday, Wednesday and Friday Voice your opinion! Submit letters to: Editor@TheSiuslawNews.com. ...need a friend? Meet R OGUE Breed Age Sex Size Color Retriever, Golden/Mix 2 years 12 days Male Large Yellow Saving men one PSA test at a time. 541-997-6626 maribob@oregonfast.net Someone to talk to... who understands! If you would like to meet Rogue or any of his friends, please visit us at: FLORENCE HUMANE SOCIETY 2840 Rhododendron Drive • Florence • 541-997-4277 www.fl orencehumane.org This message brought to you by: Siuslaw News Siuslaw School District appreciates all the volunteers! + www.shoppelocal.biz To include your organization in this directory, please call us @ 541-997-3441