A14
OUTDOORS
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
Wallowa-Whitman National
Forest proposing to increase
fees at some campgrounds
EO Media Group
Contributed photo
Columnist Rod Carpenter, right, poses with his son, Tucker, with an antelope
shot in Wyoming.
SHOOTING THE BREEZE
Wyoming antelope adventure
A
fter five years of building
preference points, we were
finally off to Wyoming on
an antelope hunt. Myself and five
friends were off on our adventure.
Anticipation of the hunt helped us
survive the first
eight hours of our
drive. Looking at
the antelope scat-
tered across the
plains helped pass
the last five hours.
They were liter-
Rod
ally everywhere
Carpenter
we looked.
Finally we
made it to Unit 63 in high antici-
pation. Fearing poor weather we
had rented a cabin. We got quite a
laugh to find it a tiny little place
that the six of us barely fit into.
Luckily, with good friends, it is
all part of the fun. I immediately
called the couch, to get away
from all the snoring in the com-
mon bedroom.
We were not disappointed in
the number of antelope. Over the
course of three days we counted
over 200 bucks. While we weren’t
having any trouble finding ante-
lope, we were having a hard time
getting them to hold still. As soon
as we poked our noses out of hid-
ing, they were off and running.
Their eyesight truly is amazing. It
seems that no matter how sneaky
we tried to be, they always man-
aged to spot us.
Most of the unit is pretty flat,
making stalks a real challenge.
Also, all of the bucks were of a
type, 10 to 13 inches tall. We did
see one or two that might have
stretched to tape to 14 inches or
so, but between chasing does and
running from us, we couldn’t
keep track of them.
With so many antelope we
weren’t too worried until it came
down to the last day and we had
nothing to show for our time.
Fortunately, as often happens in
hunting, things change fast.
Tuck struck first when we
managed to find a buck more
interested in a doe than in us.
A 120-yard shot with his .30-06
brought him down.
Shortly after we quartered his
buck and had it in the cooler, we
crested a rise to find three bucks
together, and I took the largest
at 80 yards with my 6mm Rem-
ington. By the end of the day
we had all tagged out on good
bucks.
After all of our long range
practice, none of our shots were
longer than 150 yards, which is
fine with me.
Before we had even recovered
from the long drive home, my
buddies were already planning a
return trip.
Rod Carpenter is a husband,
father and hunting fool.
The
Wallowa-Whitman
National Forest is proposing to
increase fees at 28 campgrounds
and to charge fees at 24 other rec-
reation sites, most of them also
campgrounds, that are free now.
The changes could start next
summer.
The forest is also proposing to
eliminate fees at two campgrounds
and one trailhead.
Dispersed camping on the for-
est — outside of designated camp-
grounds — will remain free.
Wallowa-Whitman is soliciting
comments from the public about
the proposal through Nov. 15. The
forest hasn’t changed its recre-
ation fee schedule since 2005.
The John Day-Snake River
Resource Advisory Committee, a
group of 15 residents of the region
that makes recommendations
about public land management
to the Bureau of Land Manage-
ment and Forest Service, will then
review the proposed fee changes,
which could take effect in the sum-
mer of 2021.
“Over the past 15 years, most
of the fees have stayed the same
across the national forest, and the
majority of our recreation sites still
do not require a fee,” Tom Mon-
toya, Wallowa-Whitman supervi-
sor, said in a press release. “How-
ever, we need to keep in check
with inflation and maintain what
we have for the benefit of the pub-
lic. Fees are needed to continue the
WALLOWA-WHITMAN IS SOLICITING
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ABOUT
THE PROPOSAL THROUGH NOV. 15.
THE FOREST HASN’T CHANGED ITS
RECREATION FEE SCHEDULE SINCE 2005.
services we deliver at developed
sites. The fees will also be compa-
rable with other similar sites that
are adjacent to the national forest.”
The Federal Lands Recreation
Enhancement Act allows the Wal-
lowa-Whitman to keep 95% of fees
collected at most recreation sites to
operate, maintain and improve sites
on the forest.
Fees pay for work such as pump-
ing and cleaning toilets, the most
expensive task at most sites, accord-
ing to the Wallowa-Whitman.
Of the forest’s 248 recreation
sites, 65 require fees now.
Teresa Fraser, the Wal-
lowa-Whitman’s recreation pro-
gram manager, said that during the
past 15 years the forest’s costs to
maintain many of its campgrounds
and other recreation sites has
exceeded the revenue they gener-
ate from fees.
At Pittsburg Landing camp-
ground, on the Snake River in
Hells Canyon, the Wallowa-Whit-
man has collected less than
$10,000 per year over the past
three years, while the average
maintenance cost for the camp-
ground has been $30,000 per year.
That doesn’t include the cost of a
new drinking water system, pav-
ing and building renovation at the
site.
The Wallowa-Whitman also
noted that since 2005, when fees
were last increased, the federal
cost of living index has increased
by 36%, Oregon’s minimum wage
has risen from $7.15 to $11.50 in
the part of the state that includes
the Wallowa-Whitman.
The cost to hire a contractor to
pump toilets has nearly doubled
during that period, according to
the Wallowa-Whitman.
Comments on the proposal
are due by Nov. 15. Commenting
options:
• Email to sm.fs.wwnf-web-
mail@usda.gov (include “fee pro-
posal” in the subject line)
• Phone: 541-805-2769 (leave
a voicemail with your full name,
ZIP code and email address)
• Mail comments to: Wal-
lowa-Whitman National Forest,
Attention: Recreation Program
Manager, 1550 Dewey Ave, Suite
A, Baker City, OR 97814
Christmas tree permits available online
Blue Mountain Eagle
The Forest Service is modern-
izing its approach to selling Christ-
mas tree permits by making them
available to purchase online.
Christmas tree permits are avail-
able through recreation.gov, accord-
ing to a press release.
Through the online program
trees will be $5 each with a maxi-
mum of five per household. There
is a processing fee of $2.50 for the
overall total.
This new process only per-
tains to Christmas trees. Christ-
mas tree permits can also be pur-
chased at all local Malheur National
Forest offices for $5 each with the
same maximum five-per-household
regulation.
All other products including
wood permits, post andpole per-
mits, maps and passes can also be
purchased by calling and mak-
ing appointments at all Malheur
National Forest offices.
Tentative opening date:
Breakfast Specialties
December 7th, 2020
Serving Breakfast 7 days a week, 7:00 am – 11:00 am.
Will begin scheduling
patients within the
month....Recommend
obtaining copies of
medical records for
those desiring to
reestablish care.
Order online from our website:
www.1188brewing.com
or from the
Toast Takeout
online app
I appreciate my patients
and their patience!
Shawna Clark, DNP, FNP
541-575-1263
Open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
141 E Main St., John Day • 541-575-1188
Mon-Sat 7am – 8pm • Sunday 7am – 7pm
235 S Canyon Blvd. John Day, Oregon 97845
S209563-1
S209809-1
