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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (April 17, 2019)
OUTDOORS BlueMountainEagle.com Wednesday, April 17, 2019 A7 Baker County man justified in wolf shooting Male juvenile from Pine Creek pack was chasing working dog By George Plaven EO Media Group Contributed photo Columnist Rod Carpenter says the secret to success is getting out in the field and trying. SHOOTING THE BREEZE The secret to success I read an article years ago about a well- known outdoors author on his first successful Stone sheep hunt. He and his buddy had commit- ted to getting a sheep. By the time they did, they had been in the mountains for 30 days and were living on ground squirrels. Last year, my son got into fly fishing. I’m an indifferent fisherman at best. We went bass fish- ing down on the John Day River and the whole way down he was talking smack about how he was going to outfish me. When we got there, I let him choose the best looking water, and I went down to some slack water below. On my second cast, I caught a 3-pound bass. We are all looking for that secret to being a more successful fisher- person or hunter. What is it that makes some better than others? After exhaus- tive research, I have dis- covered that the secret to being successful is to be out there doing. Big bulls are killed and giant fish are caught because some- one was out there look- ing for them. It is true that hunting success in Ore- gon is not great. Most elk hunts hover around 12-20 percent success and great deer hunts hit 30 per- cent. That being said, the chances of success are absolutely zero if you are sitting at home lounging on the couch. The rationalizations for not going out today are legion. I’m too tired. We hiked all over and Rod Carpenter didn’t see any- thing yes- terday. The conditions aren’t right, and on and on. If you are like me, you develop a great game plan and hit it hard the first couple of days. If you’re not successful, you start sleeping in a little later each day. Maybe take a day off. Keeping at it day after day, cast after cast is hard to do and requires some mental toughness. Yes, there is an element of luck involved. However, remember the wise man who said, “I am a great believer in luck. I have found that the harder I work, the luckier I am.” For most of us, the days we can get out in the field are limited by our commit- ments to work and fam- ily. When you have the time, make the most of it and get out there. Shake it up and try a new area. If you have walked your legs off to the ankles, find a spot to sit and glass. Nope, you won’t get lucky every time, but your luck will improve. We welcome your thoughts and ideas at shoo- tingthebreezebme@gmail. com. Rod Carpenter is a husband, father and hunting fool. ODFW A rancher near Halfway was justified in shooting a wolf that was attacking his livestock guard dog, the county district attorney has determined. to a request for an interview. Shirtcliff said the wolf was one of four chasing Aguilar’s dog on the ranch, “very close to his home.” “He felt like that wolf was in the attack of his dog,” Shirtcliff said. “The dog really was doing its job, so to speak, in terms of protecting livestock.” The Pine Creek pack has repeatedly preyed on livestock in the past. In 2018, ODFW shot three wolves from the pack after five confirmed attacks, killing four calves and injuring another six at two separate ranches roughly 5-6 miles apart. ODFW removed gray wolves from the state endangered species list in 2015, though the animals remain feder- ally protected in the western two-thirds of the state. Wolves can only be killed legally in cases of self-defense west of highways 395, 78 and 95. As of 2018, Oregon has at least 137 known wolves and 16 packs, though most of the population remains concen- trated in the northeast corner of the state. Gun and knife show, bazaar draw a crowd to fairgrounds By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle The parking lot at the Grant County Fairgrounds was full Saturday for the Strawberry Mountain Gun and Knife Show at the pavilion and the Spring Bazaar at Keerins Hall. Fair Manager Mindy Winegar said 200 people came through the pavilion doors by 11 a.m. Saturday — a good indication that it would be a well-attended event for the weekend. “Everybody’s enjoying it,” she said. The gun and knife show continued through Sunday. Ken Larssen of Seneca showed his gun collection to Tim Oliver of John Day. Both said the show is as much a social event as it is a place to find a gun or knife to look at or buy. Larssen showed his 1902 Colt Single Action Army revolver to Oliver, noting it’s a hard gun to find. There were 42 tables set Eagle photos/Angel Carpenter Ken Larssen of Seneca chats with Tim Oliver of John Day at the Strawberry Mountain Gun and Knife Show at the Grant County Fairgrounds pavilion in John Day. up in the pavilion and 14 tables for the bazaar. The bazaar included vendors for essential oils, candles, lotions, soaps, hand-painted signs and cards, wreaths, cakes and candy, jewelry, crocheted pot holders and more. Winegar noted the JC Oliver Memorial Team Roping event that was to take place Saturday, April 13, had been rescheduled for May 17-18 at the fair- grounds rodeo arena. Ken Larssen of Seneca shows his 1902 Colt Single Action Army to a friend at the Strawberry Mountain Gun and Knife Show on Saturday in John Day. Susie Snyder shows her Young Living products to Kari Wyllie and her daughter Savannah Wyllie at the Spring Bazaar Saturday at Keerins Hall. All are residents of John Day. Hello Grant County, I never get tired of saying I am so proud to live in Grant County! With everything that has been happening around here recently, it is so amazing to see how everyone steps up and pulls together to help each other out. It looks like the worst is over. Let’s hope good weather is right around the corner! A man wakes up in the morning after sleeping on an ADVERTISED BED, in ADVERTISED PAJAMAS. He will bathe in an ADVERTISED TUB, shave with an ADVERTISED RAZOR, have a breakfast of ADVERTISED JUICE, cereal and toast, toasted in an ADVERTISED TOASTER, put on ADVERTISED CLOTHES and glance at his ADVERTISED WATCH. He’ll ride to work in his ADVERTISED CAR, sit at an ADVERTISED DESK and write with an ADVERTISED PEN. Yet this person hesitates to advertise, saying that advertising doesn’t pay. Finally, when his non-advertised business is going under, HE’LL ADVERTISE IT FOR SALE. Then it’s too late. Advertising is an investment, not an expense. Think about it! 115162 AND THEY SAY ADVERTISING DOESN’T WORK? DON’T MAKE THIS SAME MISTAKE Blue Mountain Eagle MyEagleNews.com An Eastern Oregon cattle rancher was justified when he shot a wolf that was chasing his working dog March 12 in Baker County, according to authorities. Lawrence Aguilar shot the wolf — a male juvenile from the Pine Creek pack — on the property in Halfway, east of Baker City. The Oregon Wolf Conser- vation and Management Plan allows for killing wolves caught in the act of bit- ing, wounding, killing or chasing live- stock or working dogs, so long as they are not intentionally lured with bait or other attractants. Baker County District Attorney Matt Shirtcliff said Aguilar immediately called Oregon State Police and the Ore- gon Department of Fish and Wildlife after he shot the wolf, and cooperated with the investigation. “He did what you’re supposed to do,” Shirtcliff said. “This was in defense of property, and he did it right.” Aguilar did not immediately respond Don’t get left behind, call today! Kim Kell 541-575-0710 The Chamber meeting this month is Thursday, April 18. The board meets for their business meeting at 10:30 a.m. at the Chamber office, and the no-host luncheon is at 12 p.m. at the Outpost Pizza, Pub & Grill. Everyone is welcome! I have been fortunate over the past few years to have several Grant Union seniors choose to do their community service work for their senior projects at the Chamber. A couple of them have helped with data entry and other types of computer work. This year, Aidan Broemeling will be displaying her photography of Grant County. If you have a chance to, come and check it out! Blue Mountain Hospital District is asking for your help to identify important health needs in our county by taking this County Survey and forwarding it on to other community members. Just use this link to take the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/56QSZWD It should take less than 10 minutes to complete, and the feedback will help identify potential programs, services and initiatives that may be of benefit to our county. The Wild & Scenic Film festival will be Friday, April 19, at 6:30 p.m. at the Madden Brothers Performing Arts Center in John Day. They will be showing 10 films, and there will be a raffle. For more information, call 541-620-5754. We hope we see you at our April meeting! Tammy Bremner Manager, Grant County Chamber of Commerce 100004 115158