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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 24, 2024)
+HSSQHU*D]HWWH7LPHV+HSSQHU2UHJRQ Wednesday, January 24, 2024 7+5(( Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife mule deer assessment -Continued from PAGE ONE other wildlife populations. The consequences of all these interconnected fac- tors are gradually causing a decline in overall habitat quality for mule deer. The suggestion of halt- ing harvest altogether to allow the mule deer pop- ulation to recover was dis- cussed. However, it was stated that the current mule deer population is already close to or at its likely new capacity. If active manage- ment is stopped, mortality rates may increase, and survival rates may decrease GXHWRLQVX൶FLHQWUHVRXUFHV and space for the deer. It was suggested to focus on improving the landscape’s capacity to support mule deer while continuing man- DJHPHQWH൵RUWVIRUVXVWDLQ- able harvest levels. Antler point restriction Another question was, why doesn’t the ODFW implement antler point re- strictions in some units, re- quiring bucks to have three points or better? Could this potentially increase the number of trophy oppor- tunities and lead to high- er-quality bucks in some of Oregon’s most sought-after units? Don Whittaker from the ODFW said, the idea behind antler point restric- tions is that only allowing the harvest of bucks with a certain number of points on at least one side, would result in more bucks and provide a chance for larger and more mature bucks to thrive. This approach is commonly used in white- tail deer management and has shown success in that context. Mule deer are dif- ferent. Many western states have experimented with antler point restrictions in the past, and almost all have found that it does not yield the desired results. Instead of increasing buck ratios or producing a higher pro- portion of larger antlered bucks, it mainly shifts the heavy harvest from younger bucks to two and three- year-old bucks. In the long run, these restrictions have not led to consistent im- provements in buck popula- tions or antler quality. In the rare instances where some positive impact has been observed, it has typically been short-lived and not YHU\ H൵HFWLYH 7KHUHIRUH based on the experiences of other states, implementing antler point restrictions in Oregon is unlikely to pro- duce the desired outcomes in terms of trophy oppor- tunities and higher-quality bucks. Cougar Population Concerns were raised about predator populations, particularly cougars, and their impact on mule deer. It was mentioned that there are around 7,000 cougars across all classes in Oregon. While it is true that a cou- gar kills a deer every 7-10 days, the number of kills is spread across the land- scape and includes cubs and dependent young. In reality, around 3,500-4,000 cougars are responsible for the kills, and they primarily target smaller ungulates like whitetail and mule deer fawns, as well as elk. The highest kill rate occurs just after ungulate birth, which contributes to the overall kill rate on the landscape. Limiting doe harvest In 1960s, 40% of the harvested deer were does, but currently, this number has dropped to less than 10%. The decision to consid- er limited and controlled female harvest depends on factors such as the rela- tionship between mortality rates and landscape capac- ity, and whether the mor- tality is compensatory or additive to the population. Reproduction of mule deer is currently at a rate of 7 per 100 does. The consideration of doe harvest by the ODFW has sparked controversy among some individuals ZKRTXHVWLRQLWVH൵HFWLYH- ness in light of already low deer populations. At first glance, it may seem coun- terintuitive to target female deer for harvest when their numbers are already dwin- dling. However, there are certain situations where doe harvest can actually yield positive outcomes. Mule deer populations are incredibly sensitive to mortality rates. If a signif- icant number of deer - say 20 out of 100 - perish each year, the population will either stabilize or decline. However, if only 10 out of 100 does die annually, the population is likely to ex- perience an upward trend. Over the years, Oregon and other western states have observed that when there is no female harvest, the age structure of mule deer populations can skew towards older individuals, negatively impacting repro- duction rates. Therefore, it becomes crucial to analyze the mortality factors with- in a population, assessing whether they are additive or compensatory, and de- termining the population’s proximity to its carrying capacity. In cases where a popu- lation is nearing landscape capacity and data indicates that the mortality rates are predominantly compensa- tory rather than additive, a carefully regulated doe harvest could potentially improve the age and sex structure of the population. By selectively targeting older females, ODFW aims to revitalize the population and promote healthier re- productive cycles. Hunter numbers The number of hunters has declined over the past few decades, but the decline KDVQRWEHHQVLJQL¿FDQWLQ the last 10 to 12 years in Or- egon. The decrease in mule deer hunters is primarily due to the decline in mule deer population. ODFW has responded by adjusting its conservation framework and reducing harvest levels accordingly. In 2020, there were 326,663 registered hunters in Oregon, accounting for 7.8% of the state’s popu- lation. In the same year, ODFW sold 77,000 bear tags with a 37% participa- tion rate and 75,000 cougar tags with a 22% participa- tion rate. The Oregon Depart- ment of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) has stated that ULÀHKXQWVIRUPXOHGHHUEH- gan in the 1930s. However, they have noticed a decline in the number of hunters due to various actions and responses, as well as lim- ited hunting opportunities. ATVs and OHVs 'XULQJWKH¿QDOZHEL- nar on January 9th, con- cerns were raised by hunt- ers about the widespread XVH RI$79V ERWK GXULQJ hunting season and year- round, which can disrupt wildlife and their habitats. ODFW has responded by closing certain roads to $79 XVH GXULQJ VSHFLILF times of the year to protect winter ranges and create secure habitats for hunting. Public education and out- reach are also being used to DGGUHVVWKHLPSDFWVRI$79 use on wildlife. Dereck Broman from ODFW mentioned that he received a question from hunters regarding the fre- quent sightings and noise RI$79V :KLOH DFNQRZO- HGJLQJ WKDW$79V FDQ EH enjoyable, many hunters are worried about the unin- tended consequences they bring, particularly con- cerning mule deer. The question arises - what is the recommended approach? &DQ$79VEHVWRSSHGDQG is it necessary to stop them, especially concerning mule deer? According to Jeremy Thompson, there has been a noticeable rise in the recre- DWLRQDOXVHRIR൵KLJKZD\ vehicles in various parts of the state. To address this, some roads, including those XVHG E\$79V DUH FORVHG during certain times of the year. These closures aim to protect the winter range and create secure habitats for hunting. In the Blue Mountains, designated trav- el management areas have been established to provide a hunting experience free IURP $79 GLVWXUEDQFHV Thompson emphasizes the importance of educating the public about the impact of vehicular use on wildlife. Collaboration with land management agencies is key in identifying areas where increased vehicle im- pacts are observed and im- plementing limitations on their use. The ODFW will FRQWLQXHRXWUHDFKH൵RUWVWR work with constituents and partners to mitigate these impacts. In response to ques- tions regarding the declin- ing mule deer population and the lowered number of desired deer on the land- scape, Smith emphasized the importance of setting re- alistic and attainable goals. ODFW aims for a 44% increase in mule deer pop- ulation, which would still EH D VLJQL¿FDQW LPSURYH- ment. It is worth noting that mule deer populations have been declining across many Western states, not just in Oregon. Poaching Concerns about litiga- tion and political interfer- ence in predator manage- ment were addressed by ODFW. They stated that they must adhere to the cur- rent laws and regulations set by the voters of Oregon, which includes the ban on hound hunting for cougar and bear. During her presenta- tion, Yvonne Shaw revealed that in 2019, the state leg- islature allocated a signif- icant amount of funding, specifically $4.4 million, to support an extensive anti-poaching initiative. 7KLVH൵RUWLQYROYHVWKHHV- tablishment of three teams, HDFKZLWKDVSHFL¿FUROHLQ combating poaching ac- tivities. The initiative in- cludes the appointment of a Wildlife Anti-Poaching Resources Prosecutor, who will be based at the Oregon Department of Justice. ODFW is actively re- cruiting more troops to combat wildlife crimes and intends to hire addi- WLRQDOVWD൵WRPRQLWRUDQG track cases through the court system. The lack of adequate prosecutors is recognized as a challenge, with the current ratio fall- ing short of the ideal ratio. Successful cases, like that of Walter Erickson, a no- torious poacher, highlight WKHFROODERUDWLYHH൵RUWVRI OSP, special investigations, and prosecutors resulting in VXEVWDQWLDO¿QHV MDLOWLPH bans, and asset forfeiture IRUR൵HQGHUV The draft of the mule deer plan is currently near- ing completion, and public input and comments are still being sought. Interested individuals can sign up for email updates on ODFW’s website to stay informed about the plan’s progress. It is worth noting that wolves were not extensive- ly discussed in the webinar series. DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 5PM Barney Lindsay Memorial JANUARY 27, 2024 Doors open at 5:00 pm, dinner at 6:00 pm, live aution begins at 7:00 pm. Gilliam Bisbee Building Tickets $40.00 each sold in groups of two, can be pre-purchased at Murray’s Drug in Heppner or sold at the time of the event at the door. Ashley Lindsay is making the meal, Joe Lindsay and sons will be providing the entertainment, Erin Heideman is the emcee and Kenny Grieb is the auctioneer. We lots of amazing live and VLOHQWDXWLRQLWHPVLQFOXGLQJ¿VKLQJWULSV$LU%Q%VWD\VD/LQGVD\ steer and lamb, fertilizer, grass seed, wine cases, many spa baskets DQGRWKHUJLIWEDVNHWV2YHULWHPV
