ODFW News: Commission approves '06 Big Game Regs

[Pete]

For Immediate Release Friday, Oct. 7, 2005

Commission approves 2006 big game hunting regulations

SALEM - The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission at its regular monthly meeting today in Salem approved big game hunting regulations for 2006.

Major changes include a 5-percent increase in spring bear hunting tags statewide, to 6,778 tags. A new spring bear hunt in the Hood Unit is added.

The statewide cougar harvest quota is increased, from 580 to 668. The check-in requirement is expanded from 72 hours to 10 days, recognizing the needs of hunters in remote areas and those on extended hunting trips.

Bighorn sheep hunters will see five new hunts throughout existing units. Rocky Mountain goat hunters will have an additional four days in their hunts. A second hunt for pronghorn antelope is added in the Whitehorse Unit, with 80 tags estimated for 2006.

Archery elk bag limits will be changed for 2006. The standard bag limit will be a legal bull, except in units where herd levels allow antlerless harvest. Biologists will propose units for antlerless animals to be included in the bag limit, following herd surveys each spring. A list of proposed "antlerless or legal bull" units will be available by May 1.

The Ochoco Management Unit, east of Prineville, will become a controlled archery hunt for elk in 2006. Bow hunters will need an Ochoco archery elk tag to hunt deer in the unit. The tag also will be good in general season areas.

Details soon will be available on ODFW's Web site, www.dfw.state.or.us

[Hunt'nFish]

Thanks, Pete!
Looks like the predation issue is not improving.
I strongly recommend EVERYONE carry a bear & cougar tag with them, even if you don't normally hunt them.
Chance encounters are the ODFW's only management tool now.
Hunt'nFish

[BrianMaguire]

I went to the meeting and testified against the Ochoco unit going draw. I was the only one to give such testimony or any meaningful testimony against more rules. The OHA lobbyist, Al Elkins stuck his nose so far up the commission rear end that I thought he was Pinocchio. I still can't fingure out why he even testified. Other than that the department does pretty much whatever they want, without doing their job of actually "maximizing recreational opportunity" and bowing to political pressure from the OCA and the commission approves it.

Yea, I am a little bitter.

[tailchaser]

Just another good reason to start exploring Idaho more.

tc

[lor]

Thanx for the report.
I'm not suprise at OHA's support of these archery restrictions.
Well, I don't hunt that far from Idaho, what are the pros and cons of crossing the border.

[IRONMAN]

I am all for the Bull only rule, it will weed out alot of the part time bow hunters and increase quality hunts for real bow hunters. you should see alot less pressure in some of the units. I would like to see all cow hunts removed from the Eastside rifle except for damage conrol. Let the critisism begin. Its just my 2cents.

[BloodNtheboat]

increase quality hunts for real bow hunters.

Wow, so if you kill a cow you are not a real bowhunter?

[FishTech101]

it will weed out alot of the part time bow hunters.

wow not all of us can hunt the whole season many have jobs,kids, school i have all three. and anything with a bow is a trophy if you ask me but eh thats my 10 cents. no recipe for antlers

[bullslayer]

I agree with your take on the no shooting cows, but I'm a part time twanger and I'm just as passionate about hunting as you! I live and love to hunt and whether it be with stick or rifle it doesn't matter. I'll continue to do both as long as we are able. I'm tired of being classified as a part time twanger by the so called "real" archers. It's and attitude like this labeling that is going to destroy hunting as a whole. Can't we all just get along. I also feel that for most of us any big game animal harvested with a bow is a true trophy. Kris.

[MountainLion84]

I am guessing by part time twangers, he means guys that only hunt bow when they don't draw rifle tags.