NW Oregon Permit Goose Season

birdhunter · 04-22-2003, 07:22 PM

Well we all know the ducks are in bad shape, we're looking at a reduced season for sure this fall, but we may have some goose trouble as well. A little birdie is telling me we might have some problems with funding for the season this year. As in no funding. Word is money is tight everywhere and the feds are going to be pulling their contribution. Of course their contribution was also almost all of the contribution - $300,000 +/- to operate the check stations, enforcement and monitoring. Need some solid confirmation, but wanted to give you guys a heads up. Aditionally, the feds consider what ODFW has currently been doing with regard to the NW Permit season, to be the minimum.

You can bet that they'll want that same level of monitoring or better, even without their hefty contribution. Doesn't look good for the permit season this year.

skein · 04-22-2003, 09:00 PM

Arrrgghhh!!!

I'm speechless (not an easy state for me) and wondering where you get your information and what, if anything, we can do about it.

And speaking of ducks in trouble, you guys who have followed my posts know that I subscribe, along with Delta Waterfowl, to the idea that predators have a serious impact on the duck populations. Two days ago a friend called me and said he just watched a raccoon completely clean out a Wood duck nest - reaching in and grabbing and eating egg after egg.

With less water, waterfowl have less nesting areas. Less nesting areas mean predators don't have to travel as far or work as hard to find a nest. It's one thing to see a coyote grab a duck, but quite another to realize in three or four minutes a complete brood can be wiped out.

Sorry, Birdhunter, I didn't mean to get us sidetracked off your original thread. Let's see what we can do to salvage a permit season.

Skein

Tilla · 04-23-2003, 10:35 AM

Our farmer on our lease recieved a letter from ODFW warning them about this situation regarding the potential no goose hunting next year. :shocked:

birdhunter · 04-23-2003, 07:02 PM

Skein,

Don't know what we can do about it. I heard it from the Wildlife Division Director, Ron Anglin, at the last Commission meeting. Don't get much more reliable than that. Seems like it's being downplayed some on the hopes that funding will come though. And it could.... All is not lost yet, but there could be problems. Till we hear more from ODFW I'd say about all you can do is chew your nails. Sorry. :depressed:

Bill Monroe · 04-23-2003, 11:59 PM

I talked with Brad Bales about the budget problems, but he seemed to suggest there might be a permit fee in the offing and said nothing about shutting down the hunt.
I've got a call in...
He also talked about keeping an eye on the cacklers, which have had a coupla down production seasons. that could get everyone nervous as well..

Bill Monroe · 04-24-2003, 03:50 AM

I talked with Brad. He said there will be a goose season, but they're trying to figure out how to pay for the checkstations. They may have to cut the number, which would mean longer drives to check out. Some stations like Washington County just aren't productive and they pay someone to sit there all day with nothing to do (hey, there's a story)...But the season will go on.
There's been some thought about charging a permit fee, but they'd have to charge too much to pay for the program, so it doesn't sound like that will happen...and they can't really justify using all the state stamp money for one program's cost (about 300,000).

northriver1 · 04-24-2003, 09:53 AM

No ducks and no geese, I guess it is time to start thinking about going fishing full time.

Gun Rod Bow · 04-28-2003, 09:57 PM

I for one would support a fee for the permit.

As far as taxation and government go, I endorse the concept of special interests and users paying their own way.

I am willing to pay a fee, if and only if the money is specifically set aside for the intended use...not that I don't trust out Governor or anything.

Capin' Dan · 04-29-2003, 04:27 AM

GRB, We pay our fees and they keep going up and up and up. It is time for us to make our government accountable for what they get and send it in the right directions. I for one wonder every time I come off the water about the check stations the fish checkers and wonder is this our tax dollars at work and do we really need them. Lets make our state take a really really hard look at all the programs and then consider increased funding. I for one think that there is a lot of waste still going on in our government.
Special interest groups paying their way. Should we have a permit for wildlife viewing, bird watching, ect... I know that this is the extreme. I for one am not in favor of raising our fees or making new ones. We already pay a lot for our sport and it is getting down right rediculas on the cost.

thats my .02

TheRogue · 04-29-2003, 05:36 AM

Yeah, I hate when we have to pay extra for things that are NOT part of the ordinary scheme of things :whazzup:

:whazzup:

"Pay to Play" is where it's going, and that is life. The NW goose season is not part of the "normal" season structure, and costs extra $$ to administer. If you're upset there's no fed money, just look at the big sandbox on the other side of the world for where all that money is going.

TR