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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 30, 2017)
WELCOME TO GRANT COUNTY IN THE HEART OF EASTERN OREGON For more information: See the Oregon Big Game and Game Bird regulations booklets at www.dfw.state.or.us. I n 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 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. ON THE COVER: Bow hunter John Springer hunts near Vinegar Hill. Published by the Blue Mountain Eagle 2017 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 2017 Grant County Hunting Journal by the Blue Mountain Eagle Copyright © 2017 Blue Mountain Eagle • All rights reserved. • EO Media Group MyEagleNews.com Inside: A HUNTING STORY.............................................................................5 SATELLITES AND BROW TINES .........................................................6 LARGE-CALIBER BULLET MAKER......................................................8 LOCAL HUNTERS PHOTO GALLERY ..............................................10 THREE IZEE SIBLINGS ARE ON THE HUNT ...................................12 LAST CALL + A POEM BY A.K. MOSS.............................................17 2017 HUNTING OUTLOOK ..............................................................20 LOCAL RETAILERS GEAR UP FOR HUNTING SEASON ................23 Advertiser Index 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. 1st Choice Auto Body ........................................................................................................9 Andy’s Plumbing & Sports ............................................................................................19 Blue Mountain Chiropractic............................................................................................9 Boyd Britton Welding Company ................................................................................11 Burnt River Market............................................................................................................11 City of Prairie City..............................................................................................................21 Clyde Holliday State Park...............................................................................................22 Dale Store & Service ...........................................................................................................9 Dayville Café........................................................................................................................11 DP Home Entertainment Radio Shack....................................................................19 Duke Warner Real Estate ..................................................................................................7 Eastern Oregon Realty....................................................................................................14 Ed Staub & Sons Petroleum..........................................................................................11 Ed’s Fast Break/Sinclair....................................................................................................15 Ferguson Surveying.........................................................................................................22 Gardner Enterprises .........................................................................................................15 Grant County Chamber of Commerce....................................................................16 Grant County Economic Development.....................................................................2 Grant County Fairgrounds & RV Park .......................................................................19 Grant County Snowballers............................................................................................19 Grubsteak Mining Co.......................................................................................................19 Hotel Prairie .........................................................................................................................22 Hodgen Distributing .......................................................................................................16 Huffman’s Select Market................................................................................................14 John Day Auto NAPA.......................................................................................................18 John Day Hardware True Value......................................................................................4 John Day Polaris.................................................................................................................24 John Day River Trading Post.........................................................................................22 John Day River Veterinary Center..............................................................................21 Lake Creek Camp.................................................................................................................4 Len’s Drug.............................................................................................................................15 Malheur Lumber Company..........................................................................................18 Mills Building Supply.......................................................................................................15 Morrow County OHV Park.............................................................................................19 Mossy Oak Properties Cupper Creek Land Company......................................21 Muzzy’s 1 2 3 Dollar Store..............................................................................................15 Nydam’s ACE Hardware..................................................................................................18 Oregon Trail Electric Co-op...........................................................................................11 Pioneer Feed ..........................................................................................................................4 Prospector Ice.....................................................................................................................14 Russell’s Custom Meats & Deli.....................................................................................16 Silvies Valley Ranch .............................................................................................................9 Subway ..................................................................................................................................14 Thomas Orchards..............................................................................................................22 Wright Chevrolet...............................................................................................................11 GRANT COUNTY HUNTING JOURNAL 2017 • 3
