Turkeys first to Suffer from Snow

[ommedia]

Talked with a Bio last night, and the OHA Field Director as well. Reports out of Wallowa County (Enterprise) and LaGrande are that Wild Turkeys are starting to die off. Snow is too deep, and thus no food source for them.

I believe that OHA will be asking it's chapters to make contributions to fund a feeding program.

This needs to happen fast. Contact your local OHA board member or the Bio's in those areas for more details if you feel like helping out.

These two areas are finally loaded with birds, this could easily set them back 3-4 years.

FYI

[Hunt'nFish]

Oh this is bad news.

For years my Ol'Man has wintered over the Allen Canyon flocks, feeding them via ODFW feed, his own $$ and spillage from the local grain growers Co-Op. But he got married & moved, so nobody there to do the feeding anymore. I'm sure the birds are wondering what's happened.

I'll call Dad & Vic and see if we can fill the need for these flocks.
Hunt'nFish

[BrianMaguire]

Any one know what the conditions are like on the White river WMA?

[sliverpicker]

Originally Posted by BrianMaguire

Any one know what the conditions are like on the White river WMA?

As of last Saturday, everything looks to be doing okay. There was only about 5-6 inches in Pine Grove, 12 inches up by Rock Creek Res. But as soon as you move west it gets deep fast! It was also snowing pretty hard last Saturday, so the depth may have changed. I have a friend that lives At Rock Creek Res, I'll call him and see how much more snow came after I left.

The turkeys I saw were moving around good, and the deer all looked healthy. There was a BIG mast crop last fall, so the deer are still digging for acorns. They're also pruning the greasewood and manzanita pretty heavy in some areas. The turkeys can and do fly over the game fence and head for the fields where there's basically no snow.

I didn't drive up there, but I imagine Hunt Park(fairgrounds) up behind Tygh Valley has several hundred turkeys in it. They're been wintering in/near the park the last few winters.

The cats have moved down and are hammering the deer and elk though. Just about need a snow machine to cover very many of the roads that go up into the national forest. The lower roads that are open have been beat out by weekend warriors.

[BrianMaguire]

Originally Posted by sliverpicker

The cats have moved down and are hammering the deer and elk though.

This is heavan for the cats.

[johndeeregreen]

Originally Posted by Hunt'nFish

Oh this is bad news.

For years my Ol'Man has wintered over the Allen Canyon flocks, feeding them via ODFW feed, his own $$ and spillage from the local grain growers Co-Op. But he got married & moved, so nobody there to do the feeding anymore. I'm sure the birds are wondering what's happened.

I'll call Dad & Vic and see if we can fill the need for these flocks.
Hunt'nFish

Keep us in the know.

[merrile]

I've been up toward hunt park before I take it is off limits for hunting?

Originally Posted by sliverpicker

As of last Saturday, everything looks to be doing okay. There was only about 5-6 inches in Pine Grove, 12 inches up by Rock Creek Res. But as soon as you move west it gets deep fast! It was also snowing pretty hard last Saturday, so the depth may have changed. I have a friend that lives At Rock Creek Res, I'll call him and see how much more snow came after I left.

The turkeys I saw were moving around good, and the deer all looked healthy. There was a BIG mast crop last fall, so the deer are still digging for acorns. They're also pruning the greasewood and manzanita pretty heavy in some areas. The turkeys can and do fly over the game fence and head for the fields where there's basically no snow.

I didn't drive up there, but I imagine Hunt Park(fairgrounds) up behind Tygh Valley has several hundred turkeys in it. They're been wintering in/near the park the last few winters.

The cats have moved down and are hammering the deer and elk though. Just about need a snow machine to cover very many of the roads that go up into the national forest. The lower roads that are open have been beat out by weekend warriors.

[sliverpicker]

Originally Posted by merrile

I've been up toward hunt park before I take it is off limits for hunting?

Hunt Park is closed to hunting I'm positive.

If you go up the 27 Rd and cross the cattle guard where the game fence is, then you're on state land. Continue west a couple miles and it turns into USFS.

[merrile]

I've hunted back there with a Tygh Valley guide. funny. I sure hope we were not hunting on USFS land if you know what I mean. We got a good look at a few turkeys it was early duck season. We took a road near some houses so I would imagine it was private land with cabins and a pond. Turkeys were up the road. Got a good look at them!

[snazl]

HERE IS A SITE IF YOU WANT TO VIEW AND KEEP TRACK OF THE WEATHER IN THE ROCK CREEK RESERVOIR AREA.

VIDEO CAM IS AT WILDCAT MEADOWS

http://rockcreekweather.com