Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!erb1!osnome!hunting From: rickc@scotty.TEKTRONIX.COM Newsgroups: rec.hunting Subject: Re: Question on Oregon Elk hunting Message-ID: <502@erb1.engr.wisc.edu> Date: 6 Apr 91 12:52:53 GMT References: <498@erb1.engr.wisc.edu> Sender: news@erb1.engr.wisc.edu Distribution: world Organization: WV Lines: 72 Approved: hunting@osnome.che.wisc.edu I agree with F&G Com. requiring a permit to hunt the first season. To bad the Salmon runs on the Columbia where not handed in this manner. I've hunted Elk in Eastern Oregon for the last 15 years with my flamily in the same area each year. The Elk population in the area I hunt has diminished greatly in the last five years. When I started hunting this area it was miles of open range, and the Elk heards naturally migrated through this area. An large herd before the season opened (they are usally herded up from the august-sep. rut) would be 80 to 120 head, consisting of at least 25 forked bulls, and numberous spikes. Then about 4-5 seasons ago the F&G started a elk and deer study where they set up a fenced off area of I belive to be approx. 40 to 60 sq. miles using a 10 foot elk proof fence bordering the area I hunt and right in the middle of the elk's natural migration path. They also set up a quarter mile no hunting zone around the fence. The first season after the installation of this fence the elk were slaughtered. As soon as the shooting started on opening morning the herds would start running using thier normal routes and end up at the fence. They were then forced to circle back towards the shooting or along the fence. That that was the last season were there were lots of forked bulls. Also about five or six years ago a rancher who had leased the land next the game study area and also the area I hunt, set up a private pay-to-hunt ranch called Aventures Unlimited ($1500. to hunt the first season) . I don't know what kind of deal the rancher had with the F&G, but there was no quarter mile dead zone bordering the game study fence on the ranch. Some of the elk herds in the national forest would end up running along the fence which would then lead them right onto the ranch. You could hear shooting all day long on the ranch durning the entire 5 day season. Forutunately for the elk, the rancher had to shutdown his business two years ago because he could not afford the liability insurance he had to carry. Now his ranch hands and friend only hunt his land. Now last year when we showed up two days before the season opened to set up camp, we found that they had started logging the canyons along the game fence. They did'nt leave any cover for the elk. After the shooting starts the big bulls will break away >from the herds and hide in the thickest cover they can get into. They don't have that cover now. I think to sum up the reasons for the declining elk populations, they are: 1. Reduction in forest land do the logging. The Oregonian newspaper did a good artical on this last year right before the hunting season. They showed a map of an area during 1970 and the same area in 1990. The increase of logging roads in that area had basicly wipe out the elk. The F&G does close alot of logging roads during the season making it difficult for hunters to access those areas, they need to do more of this. 2. Over hunting of the big bulls... They should change the rules to be able to only take spikes and/or forked horns for all areas. This would help build up the best blood lines. Last year I only hear of one 5-point and a 7-point in the area I hunt, and I don't think they were taken by hunters. I've never taken a big bull before, but i would think it would not taste as good as a tender spike, but i guess there are those trophy hunters out there. I hope the hunt by premit only this year will help, its a good first step. I've sent in for my permit this year, hopfully i be one of the lucky ones. I glad to see a rec.hunting and look forward to reading it on my breaks.