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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 2, 2019)
A10 OUTDOORS Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, October 2, 2019 ODF ends fire season Blue Mountain Eagle Recent cool temperatures and precipitation have brought an end to the 2019 fire sea- son for Oregon Department of Forestry’s Central Oregon District. Fire season was officially terminated Sept. 26, according to a press release. Wildland fuels across the district do not pose a significant risk of rapid fire growth, but weather and fuel conditions during the fall can change quickly. The public is reminded to follow all local burning restrictions to reduce the risk of escaped debris burns. Landowners who plan to burn industrial logging slash, fuel reduction or defensible space materials or other debris from forest activities should contact their local ODF Office to obtain a burn permit. Con- tact local fire departments for information regarding yard debris and burn barrels. Fires should never be left unattended. A shovel and water source on site are rec- ommended when burning, even small piles. Landown- ers may be liable for fires that escape. Firefighters within the Cen- tral Oregon District responded to 126 fires across the 2.3 mil- lion protected acres, burning just over 230 acres year-to- date. The 10-year average for acres burned within the dis- trict is over 8,000 acres annu- ally. The small number of acres burned in 2019 can be attributed to the quick, coor- dinated response of firefight- ing resources, wet thunder- storms and a more moderate fire season across the region allowing more resources to be available for initial attack and extended attack for suppres- sion efforts. Human ignitions accounted for 49 fires, with 77 fires attributed to lightning. For more information, visit odfcentraloregon.com. Culvert removal, bridge construction underway Blue Mountain Eagle Work is underway on a project to replace a failing culvert with a bridge on Forest Service Road 5200, the Blue Mountains Scenic Byway, 10 miles north of Granite. The result will be a safer, more reliable road for forest travelers and improved passage for native fish, accord- ing to a press release. The current culvert carries Trail Creek, a tributary of the North Fork John Day River, underneath the highway, and is at the end of its service life. By con- structing a concrete bridge to replace the culvert, the road will be kept in operat- ing condition and opening up a more nat- ural stream channel will make the pas- sage easier for native fish found within the watershed. A 500-foot bypass road is currently being built to allow the culvert to be removed while keeping one lane of the road open through the winter. Travelers should use caution in the area, be alert for con- struction workers and prepare for possible delays. The project is expected to continue through mid-November. For more information, call 541-523-6391. ODFW seeks comment on fish passage exemptions for several Silvies River tributary streams in Grant County Blue Mountain Eagle The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife seeks public comment on a request to exempt fish passage requirements on four tribu- tary streams to Silvies River in Grant County. Silvies Valley Ranch has requested exemptions to pro- viding fish passage on four streams: Paine Creek, Jack Andy Creek, Flat Creek and Jump Creek, according to a press release. The exemption requests are being filed in connection with a Remedial Action Plan that Silvies Valley Ranch has completed with the Oregon Department of State Lands and ODFW. The enforcement action required the ranch to develop a remedial action plan that would address fish passage in waters contain- ing or historically contain- ing native migratory fish, and address unpermitted wetland impacts through mitigation. Silvies Valley Ranch and the state of Oregon have identified four streams as candidates for fish passage exemptions due to the lack of appreciable benefit if fish passage were restored. Fish passage exemptions are being sought based on a 10-year period where artifi- cial beaver dams were con- structed by Silvies Valley Ranch personnel. A total of 160 dams have been con- structed, which include Paine Creek (26), Jack Andy Creek (33), Flat Creek (91) and Jump Creek (10). All are presently proposed for fish passage exemptions. These four creeks were identified as streams that his- torically contained native migratory fish, but currently do not support redband trout or other native migratory fish populations. Silvies Valley Ranch is pursuing 160 fish passage exemptions at these sites, and ODFW is currently working through the exemp- tion process and plans to have that process reviewed and discussed at the Fish Pas- sage Task Force Meeting on Oct. 18 in Salem. Members of the public have until Oct. 14 to submit written comments on the pro- posed plans. Both fish pas- sage exemption applications and the department’s benefit analyses are available at dfw. state.or.us/fish/passage. Members of the public can send written comments to or request additional infor- mation from Kregg Smith, ODFW fish passage coordi- nator, 4034 Fairview Indus- trial Drive SE, Salem, OR 97302, kregg.m.smith@ state.or.us, 503-947-6217. Woodpecker study closure area now open Blue Mountain Eagle Malheur National For- est officials announced this week that the field portion of the woodpecker research in the Canyon Creek Complex fire salvage area is complete and the area is open to the public. In 2016, the Rocky Mountain Research Station 825 SOUTH CANYON BLVD. IN JOHN DAY (541) 575-5500 initiated a four-year study in the Canyon Creek Com- plex fire salvage area. The results of the study will be utilized to help shape man- agement practices by identi- fying post-fire salvage har- vest prescriptions that allow benefits to the economy while minimizing impacts to wildlife. The field work for the study was completed this last week. The area that had been closed since 2016 is open to the public once more. For more information on the woodpecker study or questions about the Mal- heur National Forest, visit fs.usda.gov/malheur or call 541-575-3000. 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. AND THEY SAY ADVERTISING DOESN’T WORK? DON’T MAKE THIS SAME MISTAKE Advertising is an investment, not an expense. Think about it! Blue Mountain Eagle MyEagleNews.com CREAMY GARLIC GARLIC OR CHICKEN CHICKEN ARTICHOKE CHICKEN, BLACK OLIVES, ONION, GREEN PEPPERS, TOMATOES, AND REAL CHEESE WITH CREAMY GARLIC SAUCE CHICKEN, ARTICHOKES, SPINICH, AND BACON WITH GARLIC SAUCE Limit one at this price. May not be combined with other offers. No cash value. Coupon code 0102. Valid through 12/31/19. EXTRA LARGE PIZZA Limit two at this price. Take-n-bake unlimited topping double-portion pizzas excluded. May not be combined with other offers. No cash value. Coupon code 0103. Valid through 12/31/19. SHOOTING THE BREEZE Handgun hunting H unting with a handgun is a purely American sport at its roots. Largely this is because handgun ownership is not permitted in most other places in the world. While it may seem daunting to limit oneself to such close distances, stalking within handgun range of your game can be a very rewarding exercise. Mastering the art of marksmanship with a hand cannon is no small feat. The late Jack O’Connor, although arguably one of the most skilled of rifle- men, was a self-admittedly poor pistol shot. Inversely, most good pistoleros are also excellent riflemen. So what’s the deal? In short, it’s been my experience that a pistol betrays the mistakes you make as a rifle shooter — in many cases, it even magnifies them. Things you can get away with on a long gun are huge no-no’s with a handgun. Consistent grip, sight pic- ture and trigger squeeze are even more important if you wish to hit your tar- gets. One should start out at close range with a .22 handgun to practice fun- damentals and develop their skills. As you prac- tice, your groups will shrink, and your effective range will increase. Once you’ve mastered a .22, you may desire more power. Although some prefer a .41 or .44, a great next step is the .357 Magnum. Now before you choose a rail with which to run me out of town upon, allow me to make a case. The .357 is a classic, powerful, versatile load useful for both hunting and self-de- fense. Handguns thusly chambered can also use the more even tempered .38 Special cartridge for prac- tice and plinking. The avail- able fac- Dale Valade tory bul- let weights range from 110 to 180 grains. And for use against those pesky buzzing rep- tiles CCI manufactures a lethal shotshell load, turn- ing your .357 into a close range, small-bore shotgun. I’m sure all of my read- ers are wise enough to wear proper hearing pro- tection whenever they shoot, but it is even more prudent to do so with a .357. If there is one fly in the ointment concerning a .357, it is that exceedingly concussive muzzle blast. Tinnitus is no joke, I can truly tell you. Over the years I’ve taken small game like squirrels and rabbits, rac- coons and skunks and a handful of badgers with various handguns. Just recently I took my first coyote with a 25-yard off- hand shot with my Ruger .357 as you can see in the accompanying graphic. These experiences have my wheels turning about possibly trying for bigger game with a pistol. If you’re up for a chal- lenge or wishing to hone your skills as a pistolero, give handgun hunting a try. It’s a useful skill in any case, and it may just help you fill the freezer someday! Have you ever hunted with a handgun? Any tips to share? Write us at shoo- tingthebreezebme@gmail. com! Dale Valade is a local country gent with a deep love for handloading, hunting and shooting. Debbie Ausmus 245 South Canyon Blvd. John Day, OR 97845 OPEN WED. & THUR. 9 am - 5 pm 541-575-1113 24 hrs/7 days wk debbie.ausmus@ countryfinancial.com TOM CHRISTENSEN CHRISTENSEN TOM CONSTRUCTION (541) 410-0557 • (541) 575-0192 Please Join us for the Best of the Old West 1st Annual Grant County Harvest Festival CCB# 106077 REMODELS • NEW CONSTRUCTION • POLE BUILDINGS CONCRETE EXCAVATION • SHEET ROCK • SIDING ROOFING • FENCES • DECKS • TELESCOPING FORKLIFT SERVICES FRIDAY AND SATURDAY ANY TWO SAVE ON EXTRA LARGE $ 5 .00 PIZZAS FOR THE PRICE OF A LARGE Don’t get left behind, call today! Kim Kell 541-575-0710 Contributed photo Handgun hunting is challenging but a useful skill. ORDE ONLI R FIGA NE ROS .COM October 18 & 19 — FRIDAY OCTOBER 18 — starting at 3:00pm Evening Market, Movie and Beer Garden — SATURDAY OCTOBER 19 — 8:30am: Live Music, Pumpkin Painting, Apple Press and Hayride 11am: Community Garden Outdoor Pizza Oven and Pumpkins 12:00-3:00pm: Children’s Carnival 3:30-5:00pm: Pie Feed at Methodist Church Saturdays 8:30am-12:30pm Brent Street between Umpqua Bank and Bank of Eastern Oregon www.JohnDayFarmersMarket.com Author’s Presentation: Karen Spears Zacharias: Thursday, October 10, 5:30 - 7:30 PM. Free public event! Learn about the true crime story Karen is currently working on & more. Beginning Photography Class: October 9, 10, and 11, from 4:30 - 6:30 PM. All skill levels welcome! Chalk Fun: Thursday, October 15, from 6:00 - 8:00 PM. Chalk couture class, using chalk paste and reusable silk transfer onto chalkboard surface. Basic Drawing Class: Ongoing, Wednesdays through November 6, at 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. Arts After School: Ongoing, Mon-Thus 3:30-5:45 PM, and Fri 8:00 AM- 5:45 PM; follows school calendar. Youth Arts Program: Ongoing, Monday 6:00 PM rehearsals through December. Music lessons coming soon! To register visit paintedskycenter.com or email paintedskycenter@gmail.com. Sponsored By:
