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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 29, 2016)
WELCOME TO GRANT COUNTY IN THE HEART OF EASTERN OREGON Grant County is a popular spot for bow and rifle hunters, with eight of the northeastern big game units located either partially or fully within its borders. At certain times, the Phillip Schneider Wildlife Area is also a hunting setting. Controlled hunting seasons are staggered throughout the year. Tag drawings determine when and where hunters may hunt. There are controlled seasons for bighorn sheep, rocky mountain goat, black bear, pronghorn antelope, deer and elk. There are also general seasons for deer or elk bow hunting, and black bear and cougar hunts. Bird hunters take part in pursuit of upland game birds, including grouse, chukar, California quail, mountain quail and migratory game birds, including duck and geese. For more information, see the Oregon Big Game and Game Bird regulations booklets, or view them at www.dfw.state.or.us. In Grant County, you’ll find the pace slow, the people friendly, the scenery spectacular and, hopefully, the hunting successful. Grant County borders the most counties — eight — in the state. It’s a great place to unwind and get back in touch with nature. Grant County was established Oct. 14, 1864, from parts of Wasco and Umatilla counties, and was named for General Ulysses S. Grant. Grant was assigned to help protect the early settlers in Oregon in the 1850s before becoming famous for leading the Union Army to victory in the Civil War. The county is 4,528 square miles of mostly mountain country and rangeland, and is drained primarily by the four forks of the John Day River, which eventually flow into the Columbia River. Gold was discovered in Canyon Creek in June 1862. The towns of Canyon City and John Day were born during this time, with Canyon City named as the county seat when Grant County was formed two years later. To learn more about how the area was developed, visit any of the museums in the county, including the Grant County Ranch & Rodeo Museum in John Day, the DeWitt Museum at Depot Park in Prairie City, the Grant County Historical Museum in Canyon City and the Kam Wah Chung Chinese Heritage Museum and Visitors Center in John Day. There are several campgrounds in the area — the Malheur National Forest has 21 of them — and there are two major national wilderness areas — Strawberry MyEagleNews.com Mountain and Monument Rock — within easy reach of John Day. For more information on the county, visit the Grant County Chamber of Commerce, 301 W. Main St., in John Day; 800-769-5664; www.gcoregonlive.com. They have brochures and good advice for all newcomers to the area. Prairie City is 13 miles east of John Day along the John Day River. It is near Beulah, Northside, Malheur, Desolation and East Murderers Creek units. Dayville is on Highway 26, 32 miles west of John Day. The Northside, Murderers Creek and Ochoco hunting units intersect at Dayville, and the area is popular throughout the state for deer, sheep and elk hunting, as well as upland game birds. Mt. Vernon is 8 miles west of John Day on Highway 26. The area has premier mule deer and Rocky Mountain elk hunting, as well as terrific trout fishing in local rivers, lakes and ponds. Monument is on the North Fork of the John Day River, approximately 120 miles southwest of Pendleton and 60 miles northwest of John Day. The area is known for its fishing, hunting and whitewater rafting. Seneca is 26 miles south of John Day. It is a popular jump-off for the Murderers Creek, Malheur and Silvies units. The area is great for pronghorn, Rocky Mountain elk and mule deer. Long Creek is about 45 miles north of John Day. This area is known for trophy mule and whitetail deer, along with Rocky Mountain elk. Grant County’s HUNTING JOURNAL THE HUNT: LOCAL HUNTER PHOTOS.......................5, 6, 30 BOWHUNTING ELK................................................................8 MEMORIES: A POEM BY A.K. MOSS ....................................9 A PRONGHORN HUNT 17 YEARS IN THE MAKING..........10 WILDLIFE POPULATION AFTER RECENT WILDFIRES .......13 HUNTING TROPHIES AT MILLS HARDWARE .....................16 RECIPES BY TIFFANY HAUGEN...........................................20 THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF MOUNTS ...............................23 A BUTCHER’S WIFE’S PERSPECTIVE...................................24 LITTLE THINGS: A POEM BY A.K. MOSS............................24 HUNTING GRANT COUNTY MAP.......................................26 BEAR CREEK RIFLE RANGE ADDS ARCHERY ....................29 Published by the Blue Mountain Eagle 2016 Advertiser Index 1st Choice Auto Body..................................................................22 Andy’s Plumbing & Sports .......................................................28 Austin House......................................................................................27 Blue Mountain Chiropractic....................................................12 Blue Mountain Hospital .............................................................31 Blue Mtn. Mini Market .................................................................25 Boyd Britton Welding Company .........................................12 Burnt River Market..........................................................................19 Dale Store..............................................................................................11 Dayville Mercantile.........................................................................27 Depot RV Park....................................................................................19 DP Home Entertainment Radio Shack...........................22 Duke Warner Realty.......................................................................18 Eastern Oregon Realty ................................................................12 Echanis Distributing......................................................................25 Ed Staub & Sons...............................................................................19 Ed’s Fast Break .......................................................................................9 El Cocinero Mexican Restaurant..........................................11 Gibco Ag & Industrial ...................................................................25 Grant County Chamber of Commerce..........................28 Grant County Economic Development........................15 Grant County Fairgrounds & RV Park ..................................9 Grant County Snowballers.......................................................27 Grubsteak Mining Co...................................................................12 Historic Hotel Prairie......................................................................22 Hodgen Distributing....................................................................14 Huffman’s Select Market...............................................................4 Java Jungle & Tropical Tan........................................................21 John Day Auto NAPA....................................................................14 John Day Hardware True Value................................................4 John Day Polaris..................................................................................2 John Day River Trading Post ...................................................19 John Day River Veterinary Center.......................................21 John Day Trailer Park, RV Park & Laundromat............12 Len’s Drug.................................................................................................9 Les Schwab Tire Center ..............................................................32 Malheur Lumber Company....................................................14 Mills Building Supply....................................................................11 Mobile Glass...........................................................................................7 Morrow County OHV Park........................................................27 Mossy Oak Properties Cupper Creek Land Company...................................................................................7 Muzzy’s 1 2 3 Dollar Store.........................................................14 Nydam’s ACE Hardware..............................................................21 Oregon State Parks.........................................................................18 Oregon Trail Electric Co-op .....................................................19 Outpost Pizza, Pub & Grill..........................................................22 Prairie Hardware & Gifts..............................................................28 Prairie Trading Post.........................................................................22 Prospector Ice.......................................................................................7 Riley Store..............................................................................................11 Russell’s Custom Meats & Deli..................................................4 Silvies Valley Ranch ........................................................................27 Squeeze In Restaurant ................................................................19 Subway ...................................................................................................18 T&H Automotive..............................................................................27 Thomas Orchards............................................................................12 Wright Chevrolet.............................................................................22 ON THE COVER: Inside: THE HUNT Photographs of locals and their kills Page 5, 6, 30 BOWHUNTING ELK By local hunter Greg Dyson Page 8 PRONGHORN HUNT 17 year wait for Jupiter Unit tag Page 10 Brad Armstrong with the Pronghorn he killed after a 17-year wait to get an antelope tag for the Juniper Unit. VISIT US ONLINE: www.MyEagleNews.com FOLLOW US: facebook.com/MyEagleNews EMAIL US: office@bmeagle.com WRITE TO US: 195 N. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845 WILDLIFE POPULATIONS Remain strong despite recent ires Page 13 Grant County’s Hunting Journal by the Blue Mountain Eagle Copyright © 2016 Blue Mountain Eagle • All rights reserved. • EO Media Group GRANT COUNTY HUNTING JOURNAL 2016 • 3