Oregonian Hunting 2002

birdhunter · 09-15-2002, 05:43 PM

Normally I'm simply unimpressed by the Oregonian and just let it go. This "2002 Hunting Guide" left me insulted. In 6 pages I count only 3 actual articles and 1 blurb about Finley elk. Never mind that one of those articles isn't even about hunting. That small part of the remaining material that isn't advertisement is nothing more than regurgitated ODFW releases and regulations. Not that I ever depended on the Oregonian to make or break my hunting season, but come on. This is absolutely ridiculous.

How about an article on the predicted flyway numbers for this year, why pintail season will be shortened and canvasback season closed, or what duck numbers and habitat are looking like in the long run. Or maybe something more than a 1 paragraph, misinformed blurb on ODFW's new western forest grouse research. Or how about an article on the affect this summer's fires will have on this hunting season and future hunting seasons in specific areas. Seems to me that several hundreds of thousands of acres went up this year. Some of those just might have been someone's hunting area. Or at least write about present and potential fire restrictions. Or how about an article about mechanical decoys and what ODFW is considering doing with them.

Just my .02 but I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one.

TheRogue · 09-15-2002, 06:11 PM

I agree with you, BH. I, too was hoping for something a little more in-depth. Unfortunately, such is the times we live in. Look what happened to F&H News, STS, WA/OR Game and Fish...how many pages in those are devoted to actual informational articles?? In a way, what we're doing right now is a big part of their demise....the Internet!!! More information, when we want it, just have to know where to look.

TR

24 on/ 48 off · 09-15-2002, 07:01 PM

I also happen to agree. I am also sure Bill Monroe will read this thread.

But let's be realistic, how big of staff do you think Bill has? I believe The Oregonian would much rather focus its news on current events, both locally and on a worldwide scale. I am not defending The Oregonian, just pointing out that Bill likely has his hands full.

--spud-- :smile:

TheRogue · 09-15-2002, 07:41 PM

24/48.........

That part is also true!!!

bigshark · 09-15-2002, 09:07 PM

I think I like to read this board and depend on the reports here more than those in the paper.
The paper does as best it can but its resources are not going spent on hunting. The new little paper called the Tribune thats free in the Portland area has scooped the Oregonian several times, that has to make them worry about doing a better job in news and the heck with the rest of it.

Uglygreen · 09-15-2002, 10:02 PM

Bill once told me that he would like to do more extensive coverage on all hunt/fish topics, but his editor(s) don't let him. Something about the price of newsprint (paper) if I remember right. I probably belive him on this one...yet I wonder if there would be in increase in readership or sales large enough to justify the additional space in the paper if they bothered to do a half-a$$ed job covering outdoors.

I never bother to buy the paper because of the reasons previously mentioned, and obviously I am not alone. I wonder how many sportsmen and women in the state feel the same way?

UG.

MasterCaster · 09-15-2002, 10:28 PM

Pretty much the only reason I ever buy a newspaper is for the classifieds.

Jon :smile: :grin: :smile:

bigshark · 09-16-2002, 12:01 AM

OK.......Bill if you are reading this thread I have a question for you............It seems to me that deer hunters who plan to hunt with a rifle east of the Cascades should have their season included in your calender. Why are no dates shown? Am I to assume they will not have a season? :tongue: Of course I'm only kidding but someone really needs to proof-read this stuff before it goes to print. P.S. the number four has a u in the word. :grin:
I know you are short handed and I hope my post is not taken the wrong way. I know I could not do as well. But if you want someone to help a little next year without pay give me an e-mail and I will try my best.

GutshotApe · 09-16-2002, 04:48 AM

I have often wondered about newspaper editors and how they see the world. Oregonians like to fish & hunt. Its why many of us live here. Yet, outdoor sports get relatively little coverage, maybe a small column once a week while high school, college & pro athletics have an entire section each & every day. The Eugene paper's outdoor section routinely runs big stories about snowboarding, skiing, bicycling, windsurfing - with the occasional hunt/fish article thrown in just in case.
I guess the editors don't think the hook & bullet crowd reads the paper, or if we do, that we don't read the ads? :whazzup:

chummer · 09-16-2002, 10:55 AM

Probably most of our "college boy, journalism major, suits" newspaper editors grew up without ever holding a gun or fishing rod in thier hands, and have no idea what a passion for the outdoors is all about, so they don't really care about the quality of the articles printed. No offense intended toward Mr. Monroe (i can't say the same for his boss though!) I'm sure bill would love to have a larger slice of the sports section to expand upon the reasons for more restrictions on waterfowl, what big game areas have become private, why we are threatened with hatchery closures, and on and on, but it's those afore-mentoined "suits" that don't view us as profitable readers.

'ZZZZzzzzzz' · 09-16-2002, 02:24 PM

Hey Birdhunter:

It is no surprise to me that a "Hunting Section" in the Oregonian is of little value to anyone who really knows anything about Hunting???

It has been obvious to myself and several friends who hunt that the Oregonian is about as anti-hunting and anti-firearm as can be. It is for that reason that many people do not subscribe or cancel subscriptions. Do not expect to see anything positive about Hunting in the Oregonian.

The best The Oregonian can usually muster about hunting is a sentence or two alerting the general public that there have been complaints about early season Goose hunters spraying shotshell pellets over barns throughout the Willamette Valley.

There are many better sources for information on hunting such as our little discussion board here.

This was a good post and I agree with you - it's disappointing.

Z's