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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 8, 2017)
News Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, November 8, 2017 Wolf biologist questions self-defense wolf killing By Eric Mortenson EO Media Group Known wolf activity, OR30 A retired U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist with 30 years experience said it is unlikely a wolf shot by an Oregon elk hunter was attack- ing the man. Carter Niemeyer, who lives in Boise and oversaw or consulted on wolf recovery work throughout the West, also said descriptions of the bullet trajectory — in one shoulder and out the other – raise doubt about the hunter’s account that the wolf was run- ning at him when he fi red. “That’s a broadside shot, not a running-at-you shot,” Niemeyer said. “If the bullet path is through one side and out the other, it indicates to me an animal could have been standing, not moving, and the shot was well placed.” A bullet that hit the wolf as it was running forward most likely would have ex- ited out the hips or rear end, Niemeyer said. He acknowl- edge the bullet or fragments could have defl ected off bone, but said a forensic exam would have to explain that. Michelle Dennehy, Ore- gon Department of Fish and Wildlife spokesman, said the agency did not request a necropsy because the cause of death — gunshot — was known. Niemeyer said the hunter’s account of taking a “snap shot into a ball of fur” is unlikely. “I have to tell you I doubt the story,” he said. Niemeyer, 70, said he’s hunted predators for 52 years as a government hunter and a taxidermist, and has dealt with fellow sportsmen and 395 84 204 ORE. Elgin UMATILLA NATIONAL FOREST Pilot Rock 74 Area in detail 82 UMATILLA Gr Female wolf shot within this area UMATILLA NATIONAL FOREST La Grande r Riv e n de Cove 203 UNION 244 Ukiah N. Fk. Jo h n D ay Ri ve ande Ro Union WALLOWA ALLOWA A WHITMAN NATIONAL TIONAL FOREST 237 North Powder r 395 GRANT NORTH FORK JOHN DAY WILDERNESS 84 10 miles Source: Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife shooters for decades. “I’ve heard every story,” he said. “This story is very suspect to me.” The elk hunter, Brian Scott, 38, of Clackamas told Oregon State Police that the wolf ran straight at him. Scott told police he screamed, took quick aim and fi red his 30.06 rifl e once. Scott said he saw nothing but fur in the rifl e’s scope as the wolf ran at him, according to published re- ports. In an interview with out- door writer Bill Monroe of The Oregonian/OregonLive, Scott said he was terrifi ed. “People envision this jerk hunter out to kill anything, but that’s not me,” he told Monroe. “It frustrates me they don’t understand. I’m a meat hunter. I was looking for a spike elk. This wasn’t exciting. It ruined my hunt.” Scott told Monroe he didn’t think he had time to fi re a warning shot. He could not explain the bullet’s path, 30 Alan Kenaga/Capital Press which entered the wolf’s right shoulder and exited the left, other than perhaps the wolf turned at the last instant or the bullet defl ected. Niemeyer, the retired wildlife biologist, said wolves will “turn around and take off” when they re- alize they’re near a human. Niemeyer said he had “many, many close encounters with wolves” while doing trap- ping, collaring and other fi eld work for USFWS in Idaho, Oregon and elsewhere. He said wolves sometimes ran at him and approached within 6 to 8 feet before veering away. Wolves are potential- ly dangerous, he said, “but all my experience tells me it would be fearful of a hu- man.” People in such situations should stand up if they are concealed, show themselves, and yell or throw things, Niemeyer said. Hunters could fi re a shot into the ground or into a tree and “scare the hell out of them,” he said. “That would have been the fi rst logical thing to do,” he said. “The gunshot and a yell from a human would turn every wolf I’ve ever known inside out trying to get away.” He also suggested peo- ple venturing into the woods should carry bear repellent spray, which certainly would also deter wolves, cougars or coyotes. “If everyone shoots every- thing they’re afraid of, wow, that’s not a good thing,” he said. Niemeyer acknowledged his reaction is based on years of experience with wolves. “People say, ‘That’s easy for you to say, Carter, you worked with wolves for 30 years and you’re familiar with their behavior,’” he said. The shooting happened Oct. 27 in ODFW’s Starkey Wildlife Management Unit west of La Grande, in North- east Oregon. Scott, the hunter, told po- lice he was hunting and had intermittently seen what he thought might be coyotes. At one point, two of them circled off to the side while a third ran at him. Scott said he shot that one and the others ran away. Scott went back to his hunting camp and told com- panions what had happened. They returned to the shooting scene and concluded the dead animal was a wolf. The hunter then notifi ed state police and ODFW, which investigated. Police later found a shell cas- ing 27 yards from the wolf carcass. The Union County district attorney’s offi ce re- viewed the case and chose not to fi le charges. The Portland-based con- servation group Oregon Wild raised questions about the in- cident. Rob Klavins, Oregon Wild’s fi eld representative in Northeast Oregon, said he’s seen wolves in the wild sev- eral times and backed away without trouble or harm. Even the late OR-4, the fearsome breeding male of the infa- mous Imnaha Pack in Wal- lowa County, retreated and barked when it encountered Klavins and a hiking party. “This (hunter) may have felt fear, but since wolves re- turned to Oregon, no one has so much as been licked by a wolf, and that’s still true to- day,” Klavins said. “What has changed is we now have wolves on the landscape, 10 years ago we didn’t,” Klavins said. “Es- pecially in the fall (hunting season), armed people are going to be out encountering wolves.” Oregon Wild believes poachers have killed several Oregon wolves, and USFWS on Nov. 6 offered a $5,000 re- ward for information about a collared wolf designated OR- 25 that was found dead Oct. 29 in South Central Oregon. Klavins said wolf shoot- ers might now use a “self-de- fense” claim as a “free pass to poaching.” A3 Missing elk hunter located Blue Mountain Eagle Grant County Sher- iff’s Office Search and Rescue personnel located a missing elk hunter ear- ly Sunday morning after an all-night search in the mountains southeast of Dale. John Day dispatch re- ceived a cellphone call at about 8:38 p.m. on Sat- urday reporting a hunter who had not come out on a road as planned. Deputy Brandon Hutchison and search and rescue volunteers responded to the How- ard Creek area, off For- est Service Road 10 about 11 miles from Dale, and searched the area through a snowy night. Leroy Needham, 83, was located next to a warming fire at about 4 a.m. Search and rescue per- sonnel sheltered in place while waiting for day- light. Needham walked out and was reunited with his family and his hunt- ing party several hours later. Thank you, Veterans! Thank you, for serving our country and protecting our freedoms. We hon the men and women who serve and protect the values of our nation. Grant County Chamber of Commerce 301 W. Main St., John Day, OR 97845 541-575-0547 | gcoregonlive.com John Day Elks Lodge #1824 140 NE Dayton St., John Day 541-575-1824 The Blue Mountain Healthcare Foundation would like to thank the following individuals and businesses who donated items to this year’s Annual Meeting, Dinner and Auction held October 21st at the John Day Elks Lodge. The generosity of our community is amazing and we are truly grateful for each and every one of you who supported such a great cause! Funds raised are being used for upgrades at the Blue Mountain Care Center. 1188 Brewing Company Aaron & Emily Lieuallen Adoni’s Pine Massage Ansel & Judy Krutsinger Anthony Lakes Resort Better Blooms Blue Mountain Care Center Blue Mountain Eagle BMHD Ambulance Department BMHD Business Office BMHD Dietary Department BMHD Medical Records BMHD Radiology Department BMHD Respiratory Therapy BMHD Surgery Department Bob & Denise Houser Brandon & Janessa Sickler Brenda Mosier Brent & Shawna Clark Bruce & Kim Ward Castoro Cellars Cecil Gagnon Chester’s Thriftway Chris & Kris Labhart Dan & Chris Cronin David & Alicia Hall Derek Daly Dixie Creek Ceramics Dorothy Piazza Dr. Keith Thomas & Cyndy Fox Frontier Equipment Gardner Enterprises Gary & Virginia Miller Geoff Hamilton Grant County Building Supply House to Home Hutch’s Printing Icebreaker Corp. JD Rents 22791 John Day Eye Care John Day River Vet John Day True Value John Day Video Kimberly Orchards KJDY L&L Excavating Lee & Kerri Fulton Les Schwab Tires John Day Little Canyon Food Cart Malheur Lumber Mike & Mindy Alley Mills Building Supply Mobile Glass Nathan McFarland & Rafaella Betza Nydam’s Ace Hardware Prairie City Antiques Prairie Trading Post Rose Howe Russ & Pam Powell Sally Knowles Scott Drinnon & Nora Healey Shae Voigt Snaffle Bit Dinner House Southworth Brothers Squeeze-In Strawberry Wilderness Community Clinic Stylish 10 Subway The Dowdy Family Tidewater Contractors Tim & Tracie Unterwegner Tom & Sandy Bupp Tom Winters Trevor & Jena Knowles Ugly Truth Bar & Grill Wanda Winegar Zach & Heather Bailey 22344