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SCI-First For Hunters is the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in promoting wildlife conservation worldwide. SCI's 173 Chapters represent all 50 United States as well as 13 other countries. SCI's proactive leadership in a host of cooperative wildlife conservation, outdoor education and humanitarian programs, with the SCI Foundation and other conservation groups, research institutions and government agencies, empowers sportsmen to be contributing community members and participants in sound wildlife management and conservation. Visit www.safariclub.org or call 520-620-1220 for more information on SCI and Expedition Safari.

March, April ocean chinook salmon season closes.

CLARIFICATION: The Tillamook Spring Chinook Terminal Area fishery in the ocean off of Tillamook Bay is also closed this spring as part of the ocean angling closure announced March 12 (see news release below). “This terminal area fishery is regulated as part of the overall ocean season, and because the ocean is now closed so is the terminal area,” explained ODFW biologist Keith Braun.

NEWPORT – With northern California chinook salmon runs forecast to be at historic lows, the sport salmon season south of Cape Falcon scheduled for March 15 through April 30 has been closed. The commercial ocean troll salmon fishery for all species except coho between Cape Falcon, Oregon and the Oregon/California Border that was scheduled to open for the period of March 15 through April 30 was also closed.

Both actions were by the National Marine Fisheries Service in consultation with the Pacific Fishery Management Council, the State of Oregon, and fishery interests. A decision on any April seasons will be made at the Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting April 6-12.

Oregon’s Chinook Salmon 2008 Fisheries

The ocean salmon fishing closure off the California and Oregon coasts that was announced this week does not affect Oregon’s spring 2008 Columbia River and inland fisheries. These fisheries will continue as scheduled providing great angling opportunities:

• On the Columbia River, fishing opens on Sunday, March 16 in what promises to be a great season. The spring chinook salmon run is projected to be 269,300, the third-highest since 1977.

• On the Willamette River, spring chinook salmon fishing is open now. The projected run of 34,000 is below average and slightly below last year’s.

Legislative Update

Session Overview

 

Pac/West is happy to report that the outdoor recreational community, and specifically Safari Club International, enjoyed another successful session this year.  Despite intense attacks on several fronts by radical animal rights activists, we were able to protect shooting rights and even enhance some of the wildlife management plans.  Here is a brief overview of the significant legislation tracked for SCI by Pac/West Communications this session.

 

SB 490

Sponsored by Senator Vicki Walker, this bill directs the Fish & Wildlife Commission to adopt rules prohibiting the use of Internet or closed circuit media in hunting.  It was broadly supported in both chambers and has been signed into law by the Governor, with an effective date of July 1, 2008.

 

SB 572 – Would have completely redefined the management of wildlife in Oregon and virtually reclassified all animals not indigenous to the state.  The bill’s language was very broad, as well as vague.  While it did pass through the Senate, upon arriving in the House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources, several concerns had been raised.  Due to some significant lobbying and questions raised about the merits of the bill, Rep. Arnie Roblan did not schedule the bill for a work session and it died in committee.

 

SB 804 – This legislation was requested as the result of the recent Supreme Court ruling regarding the definition of “wildlife.”  Representatives of ODFW testified that the ruling completely overrode all previous rules regarding their authority to define exotic animals and the department needed the legislation passed to restore their authority to manage wildlife properly.  Deputy Director Roy Eliker testified in committee that ODFW was not seeking broader authority and would not attempt to exceed the department’s previous role or status but as merely seeking to regain its previous role in managing wildlife.  Based on this testimony, the legislation did pass both chambers and has been signed into law by Governor Kulongoski.

 

HB 2295 – This is the legislative proposal to redefine gray wolves as a game mammal.  There was sufficient opposition mounted to keep the proposal in the House Committee on Natural Resources and it received only one public hearing and died in committee.

 

HB 2970

This legislation was introduced at the request of the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife and clarified some concerns regarding the suspension of an individual’s hunting or fishing license.  It is part of the Wildlife Violators Compact and will bring Oregon into a better position to be able to support the compact.  The legislation strengthened the sanctions for those who violate hunting laws and allows suspension of a violator’s license for committing crimes against the state’s wildlife and hunting laws.  It has been signed into law by the governor.

 

HB 2971 – This bill allows ODFW to appoint agents to hunt cougars that damage property with dogs and was promoted as another for ODFW to properly manage the state’s cougar population.  It was supported by ODFW but was still somewhat controversial due to the many complaints of anti-hunting activists.  It was opposed on the basis that it violated the state initiative prohibiting hunting with dogs, but the bill still won legislative approval and has gone to the governor’s desk for his signature.

 

HB 3164

Sponsored by Representatives Krieger and Clem, this bill was meant to clarify how public lands should be used for wildlife management and was designed to increase access to public lands for hunting.  The bill was passed overwhelmingly in the House but stalled in the Senate once it reached that chamber’s Natural Resources Committee.  It never even received a hearing in the Senate and died in committee. 

 

HB 3165

Also sponsored by Representative Krieger, this legislation directs the Oregon Fish & Wildlife Commission to establish a youth hunter mentoring program.  The bill received a public hearing in House Agriculture on March 21, 2007.  It was supported also by Oregon Gun Owners, Oregon Hunters Association and National Rifle Association-Oregon.  Unfortunately, despite all the positive aspects of such a program, the bill never received a work session in the House and died in committee.

 

HB 3437 – This bill added crocdylia (crocodiles) to the list of exotic animals in Oregon but was originally written to establish new procedures for defining who can and cannot own and breed exotic animals in Oregon, and ban most exotic animals as pets.  While it did make it to the House floor for a vote, it was referred by the committee chair, Rep. Arnie Roblan, back to the House Committee on Rules for further consideration. The bill was amended to restrict the ownership of some exotic animals and exempt anyone with a USDA license from the legislation but has still not been sent to the floor for a vote.
Hunter Education Graduates See Hunter Orange

The Portland Chapter of SCI along with Sportsman's Warehouse of Clackamas have distributed over one thousand hunter orange vests to students who have completed ODFW Hunter Education course. Ken Palmer, store manager for Sportsman's Warehouse purchased the vests and the Portland Chapter of SCI covered the silk screening costs. The back of the vests have the Sportsman's Warehouse along with the TIP, Turn in Poachers phone number 1-800-452-7888 on the back of the vest. The SCI logo, First for Hunters, Portland Chapter is on the left front of the vest. These vests have been distributed since January of 2005 to hunter education graduates in Tigard, Hillsboro, Banks, Dundee, and the Tri County Gun Club in Sherwood.

Oregon is one of only three states where hunter education is not mandatory if you are over eighteen years of age, but all other western states have stricter requirements and many adults are taking the course so they can purchase or apply for tags in other western states. For example, in Nevada, those born on or after Jan. 1, 1960 must show proof of hunter education to purchase a hunting license. The birth year in Wyoming is 1966, in Utah, 1965, in Texas, 1971, and in Colorado, 1949. That means if you are 56 or younger you must have proof of hunter education to hunt in Colorado. All first time hunters in Hawaii must have a hunter education card no matter what your age. If you need or want to take a hunter education class you can go to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife website (www.dfw.state.or.us) to find a class near you, but be forewarned, they fill up fast.
: : Copyright 2008 - Safari Club International - Portland Oregon Chapter : :