hunting area closure

FishinFinatic · 09-10-2002, 05:03 PM

If anyone is familiar with the north west area of the Heppner unit, there is a new closure in effect. The area around the 21 road, and the tupper area. Very good hunting but has just been put up for sale. Most likely to another hunting club. I can't quite remember but i think it easily over 300,000 acres of prime elk and mule deer hunting. For me and my hunting partners and others we are royely upset with this. as are the rifle hunters that drew tags and are recieving there letters of the closure soon. As for me i'm heading back tommorow insearch of new hunting area and that bull and/or buck.

whoever supports hunting clubs and units can go to you know were.

Mike

tailchaser · 09-10-2002, 05:23 PM

I know your pains, we used to hunt over towards LaGrande near the Dry Beaver Watershed area and a hunt club bought up nearly the whole area we used to frequent and couldn't do anything about it. I encountered the same problem on Snow Mountain last year also. The ranch on the North side has traded National Forest land to gain all of the sections below the lookout. This is a total farse that they can get away with this crap with land trades in the government. I guess you too could join in for a mear $5000 a day to hunt. That's right guys, that's the price so they can ticket you that if they catch you. A single day of hunting can turn out expensive. I'll have plenty to say to someone who is part of that outfit if I ever get the chance. If it's 5K then I might get my money's worth somehow.

tc

skein · 09-10-2002, 05:24 PM

Hunting clubs are PETA's best friends. When we are finally locked out of the last hunting areas, and it becomes the domain of the wealthy, our sport will die.

Anybody else out there upset about our license and tag money going to support herds in locked up areas? Yeah, I know, we're not going to get much out of ODFW, especially right now, but there are huge herds of Oregon elk running around on land you and I can't touch.

It makes me soooooo mad - and frustrated.

Skein

GutshotApe · 09-10-2002, 07:33 PM

Well, after all, it is private land. Over 55% of Oregon is public land so there will always be places to hunt for those of us (like me) who don't want to pay 5000/day.

bigshark · 09-10-2002, 08:56 PM

At that price I have to wonder what is worth that. Yet I fork out half of that to shoot ducks for a full season. I 'm not going to say it's a bargin but this is what is happening. I feel so badly about todays young men who have children. The hunting of waterfowl has moved away from their reach. We only have to look at Europe to see what can and might happen if we don't fund refuges. Lets hope that the likes of DU and others keep our hunting available to the generations to follow us.

skein · 09-11-2002, 07:33 AM

Interesting that you should mention DU. Have you ever tried to get ahold of them? Last year I tried and tried, but they don't seem to be interested in the little guy. On the other hand, I sent an email to Delta Waterfowl and got an almost immediate email reponse. Then one of their biologists called me at home!!! He followed our conversation up by sending me a packet of information about their take on habitat, hunting, and how-to. Needless to say, when DU sends me a plea for money, I think, "Yep, it's time to send something to the folks who know I'm alive - Delta Waterfowl."

I personally put hunt clubs in the same category as gill-netters. (There, that ought to start a flame war!) No, I don't blame anyone for doing what it takes to keep hunting, but I feel sorry for the working stiff who has a family he wants to introduce to the sport while trying to make ends meet. We can't teach our kids to love the outdoors by having them watch Ted Nugent on TV.

I also don't have any answers, but there's lots of thoughtful hunters and fishermen out there who I'll bet have some pretty good ideas.

Skein

Lured In · 09-11-2002, 08:04 AM

I too feel badly for you losing a traditional hunting location. This is nothing new though. It sounds like, as was mentioned, this was and will continue to be private property. The 'right' to hunt private lands is a privelege, not a right.

I think the worst part about this is that it is taking place right before the hunt dates, so those like yourself, just 'have to adjust'.

That's a crock.

As far as land management goes, I agree opportunities to hunt public lands are getting thin, especially here in the NW part of the state. Have you ever tried knocking on doors? WHOA! I couldn't believe the negative response I got! The opposition to hunting by some land owners is extremely high.

So what can we do? Although I can't say I really have a problem with private lands closing, it does rub me the wrong way. It just means that there is one less place for me to possibly hunt, if I had permission. I look at the duck and goose leases many participate in and that seems to be a reasonable idea and it certainly benefits the landowners.

I was just researching on this last night and did you know you can get a conservation easment? Essentially you sign a contract promising to allow wildlife development to take place on your land and in return you may get a tax deduction and promise not to develop the land. Sounds like a good idea to me. I know that the Access and Habitat Program (A&H) from ODFW generates funds to help, landowners in particular, improve habitat as well. I don't think we can stop hunt clubs from popping up, but perhaps we can continue to support programs that preserve access rights to private lands while financially benefitting the landowners.

King Fisher · 09-11-2002, 09:25 AM

Fishinfinatic,

I too am hunting Heppner for deer this year. We are going out next week to scout. Where are you going to be, shoot me an email.

GutshotApe · 09-11-2002, 10:07 AM

Lured In - The one real bright spot with private land access is the situation we have in Oregon with corporate timber lands comprising about 4.2 million acres, mostly in western Oregon. The vast majority is open for public hunting. ODFW's A&H program ($2 surcharge on hunting license) pays for extra OSP & sheriff patrols on this land helping to keep it open & available. A&H also promotes public access on other private land scattered statewide. :smile:

chummer · 09-11-2002, 10:10 AM

Another opinion on DU. First off, I have been a sponser of DU in hermiston in the past, am no longer. DU's focus is habitat, wherever it may be. recently, i've come to learn that includes private ranches that are fee hunting operations that do not allow public access. That does not sit right with me. I think there are a ton of public wetlands that need habitat help before spending a dime on private lands. Let those ranchers use the profits of thier fee operations to improve the habitat for the few high rollers that hunt thier land. This occurred in the columbia basin, in washington around Patterson i belive. [img]graemlins/berry.gif[/img]