NEWS
MyEagleNews.com
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
A9
OSAA cancels
all remaining
spring activities
Blue Mountain Eagle
Eagle file photo
A family fishes for trout at the pond at the Seventh Street Complex in John Day
Oregon closes recreational hunting and fishing to non-
residents to limit travel amid COVID-19 restrictions
Blue Mountain Eagle
The Oregon Department of Fish and
Wildlife is closing recreational hunt-
ing, fishing, crabbing and clamming
to non-residents due to concerns about
travel to Oregon to participate in these
outdoor activities. Such travel could
spread the virus and put more of a bur-
den on Oregon’s rural communities,
according to a press release.
As of April 10, non-residents may
no longer participate in these activities
in Oregon. The restriction extends until
COVID-19 restrictions are lifted and it
is deemed safe to travel into Oregon.
This order does not apply to anyone liv-
ing in Oregon for less than six months
who has not yet established residency.
Some states, including Washing-
ton, have closed hunting and fishing
to limit the spread of the virus. While
seasons remain open in Oregon (except
for Columbia River salmon/steelhead
fishing), resident hunters and anglers
should not be traveling to participate.
ODFW is hearing concerns from rural
communities about people visiting to
hunt and fish and placing additional
burdens on these communities’ limited
resources.
“Rural communities are concerned
about the potential impact of COVID-
19 on medical and emergency services,
search and rescue and their citizens.
Some have asked us to close seasons
to reduce travel,” said ODFW Direc-
tor Curt Melcher. “We would like to
keep seasons open to give locals an out-
let during this difficult time, but that
doesn’t mean it’s OK to travel to these
communities. Stick close to home and
fish at your local lake, pond or river and
do not go crabbing or clamming unless
you live on the coast, and then only to
places where access is still open.”
ODFW monitoring has shown that,
while Oregonians are still participat-
ing in fisheries, clamming, shed hunt-
ing and wildlife viewing, it is in sig-
nificantly lower numbers and that the
majority of participants are doing it
close to home and practicing social dis-
tancing. “We appreciate that many Ore-
gonians are taking the Stay Home, Save
Lives order seriously,” added Melcher.
ODFW field staff monitoring partici-
pation in the field have seen out of state
license plates and out of state angling
and shellfish licenses in use. Staff are
also fielding numerous calls from
non-residents inquiring about plans
come to Oregon to hunt or fish.
“ODFW believes this action restrict-
ing non-residents will help local com-
munities enforce the restrictions on out-
of-state travelers violating the order,
and putting local resources and resi-
dents at risk,” said Melcher. “We appre-
ciate everyone’s understanding at this
difficult time and look forward to see-
ing you outdoors again in the future
when this passes.”
ODFW anticipates there will be
opportunity for non-residents who have
already purchased a 2020 license to par-
ticipate in hunting, fishing or shellfish
opportunities later in the year. ODFW
will refund non-resident spring bear and
spring turkey tags and reinstate prefer-
ence points for spring bear hunters.
Contact odfw.websales@state.or.us or
503-947-6101 to arrange for a refund.
Non-residents interested in applying
for a fall controlled hunt may still apply
online at https://odfw.huntfishoregon.
com/login and the deadline to apply
remains May 15.
Oregon residents who do choose to
hunt, fish, crab or clam are reminded to:
• Stay close to home rather than trav-
eling far. The Governor’s Executive
Order says hunting and fishing are OK,
but to limit travel.
• Practice social distancing and stay
6 feet away from anyone who doesn’t
live in the immediate household, includ-
ing when outdoors.
• Check access as the area may be
closed. State parks are closed, counties
have closed some parks and boat ramps,
beach access is closed in some areas
and national forests and BLM lands
have closed recreation sites.
• Stay home if sick.
• Carry needed supplies to minimize
non-essential stops — including buying
licenses and tags online instead of mak-
ing a trip to a license sale agent if possi-
ble and bringing all needed food, water
and sanitization supplies.
Per Gov. Kate Brown’s
announcement that Ore-
gon schools will be closed
to in-person learning for the
remainder of the school year,
the Oregon School Activities
Association has cancelled all
remaining spring activities and
state championships, accord-
ing to a press release.
“Today’s heart wrench-
ing decision is difficult for all
members of the OSAA fam-
ily,” said Peter Weber, OSAA
executive director. “We empa-
thize with students and school
communities, especially our
graduating seniors, but rec-
ognize that these cancella-
tions will allow our collec-
tive focus to remain where it’s
most needed at this time —
on the health and safety of all
Oregonians.”
“We had maintained hope
for an abbreviated spring sea-
son to help bring a sense of
normalcy to these uncer-
tain times,” continued Weber.
“Now more than ever we need
to apply the lessons learned
through participation in educa-
tion-based activities — team-
work, sacrifice, resilience —
and play our role in adhering
to the public health guidelines.
We all look forward to the day
when we play again.”
Current OSAA policies
prohibiting the use of school
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TOM CHRISTENSEN
CHRISTENSEN
TOM
Hello Grant County,
I hope you are all doing well, and I
really hope this will be over soon!
These are strange times for us all. I
am proud of the way we are helping
each other out. Grant County people
really know how to take care of each
other!
If you haven’t liked our Facebook
page(Grant County Oregon Chamber
of Commerce), please do! We try to
post and share information that might
be interesting and helpful during this
time. We also have a Grant County –
Support Local BINGO game posted
on there. So far, only two people have
played, and both have won $25 Grant
County Greenbacks. Congratulations
to Shiloh Burton-Harper and Heather
Rookstool!
The Grant County Chamber is the
Community Manager for John Day
for the XXXII Cycle Oregon Classic –
Ride the Painted Hills bicycle ride this
September. We are signing up groups
to help with the various volunteer
positions for the event. They are
volunteer opportunities that will raise
money for your organizations and
groups. If your organization or group
is interested in helping and earning
some money, please call me at the
Chamber. Currently, I am there in
the mornings until about noon. If
I’m not there, please leave a message
and I will get back to you.
Take care, everyone. Stay Well!
Tammy Bremner
Manager, Grant County Chamber
of Commerce
facilities and coaches from
organizing or directing work-
outs and practices remain in
effect until further notice. The
OSAA Executive Board will
meet in the coming weeks to
discuss policies for summer
activities, along with academic
eligibility concerns for fall
2020 that have been expressed
by member schools and fam-
ilies. The OSAA and our
member schools are currently
awaiting guidance from ODE
on credit attainment for ninth-
through 11th-grade students
through the state’s Distance
Learning for All initiative.
Visit osaa.org/coronavirus
for OSAA policies, plus health
and safety resources, related to
COVID-19. Included on this
page are all memos and media
releases from OSAA regard-
ing this situation since early
March, along with a series of
frequently asked questions.
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