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OREGON
Guest Editorial
MAY 1975
What About This
Anti -Hunting Thing?
WILDLIFE
Volume 30, No.
5
John Madson
Anti -hunting is a hard thing to weigh and measure. Is it really significant, or
is it one of those phantoms that exists more in the hunter's imagination than in
the mind of the public? I sometimes wonder-it seems that all Alice Herrington
of Friends of Animals has to do is clear her throat and ten million of us go right
up the wall.
But although our responses to our critics are often blown out of proportion,
there's little real doubt that anti -hunting is a growing force, and something that
hunters must watch closely and try to understand.
For as long as I can remember, there have been anti -hunters. It's nothing new.
But for a long time it was a shapeless attitude, unorganized and undirected. It
seemed to take on a new dimension not long after World War II, and especially
in the past 15 years. There are several basic reasons for that:
For one thing, our growing population has become largely urban and suburban, losing its rural roots and forsaking the old rural arts-of which hunting is a
by
RON E. SHAY, Editor
HAROLD C. SMITH, Staff Artist
Oregon Wildlife is published monthly by the Oregon
Wildlife Commission. Volumes 1 through 28 were entitled Oregon State Game Commission Bulletin.
OREGON WILDLIFE COMMISSION MEMBERS
ALLAN L. KELLY, Chairman
Portland
FRANK A. MOORE, Vice Chairman Idleyld Park
MRS. ALLEN BATEMAN
Klamath Falls
DAN CALLAGHAN
Salem
JAMES W. WHITTAKER
Pilot Rock
.
JOHN W. McKEAN, Director
All correspondence should be sent to:
OREGON WILDLIFE COMMISSION
P.O. Box 3503
1634 SW Alder Street
Portland, Oregon 97208
Permission to reprint is granted; credit would be appreciated.
Oregon Wildlife is circulated free of charge. Please
report change of address promptly giving both new
and old addresses and zip codes.
Second -class postage paid at Portland, Oregon.
prime example.
It's possible, too, that a long and unpopular war has helped build public
revulsion against guns, violence and killing.
In recent years, the surge of environmental concern has turned some of the
public against what seems to be reckless consumption of colorful wildlife
resources. Add to that the fact that many communications media seem far more
skilled in knowing how to communicate than in knowing what to communicate
and it isn't hard for modern magazines and television to arouse public revul- `1
sion against hunting.
We've heard it said that there is relatively no more anti -hunting than there
ever has been
that the number of anti - hunters is larger because the population is larger, but that the proportion is about the same. I don't believe that; we
can be sure that anti -hunting sentiment has increased, that it is far more effective than it has ever been, and that it makes good sense to large segments of the
public.
On the personal level, there are several basic reasons for anti -hunting sentiment.
Joseph Wood Krutch felt that hunting was "the pure form of evil" which
metaphysicians had long sought. Professor Krutch had no brief against killing
for actual need. But killing for pleasure, or as part of a pleasurable pursuit, he
felt, was reprehensible.
Dr. Albert Schweitzer felt that sport hunting demonstrated a total lack of
"reverence for life." And as a theologian, scientist and humanitarian, he felt
that reverence for life was one of the highest conditions to which man can aspire.
He once said that modern man is truly ethical only when he refrains from
needlessly taking life.
Many anti -hunters oppose hunting because they feel it inflicts needless pain
and suffering on innocent wild creatures. Others are more pragmatic; they simply feel that our wildlife resources face enough danger under modern technology,
without being hunted in the bargain.
Finally, there are those anti -hunters who feel that hunting is a barbaric
pastime that we should outgrow-not for the welfare of wildlife itself, but for our
own spiritual welfare. 'l'heir concern is less for the creature that is hunted, than
for the man who does the hunting. That is reminiscent of Oliver Cromwell's
edict against bear -baiting in the English arena not because of any pain that it
caused the bears, but because of the pleasure that it gave the spectators. In re- -..
cent times in England, it has been seriously suggested that red deer be completely eliminated from the British Isles in an effort to stamp out the last of the
(Continued on Page 9)
-
-
The Cover
Roosevelt Elk
Photo by Ron Shay
HUNTER EDUCATION
PROGRAM
INSTRUCTORS APPROVED
Month of March
Total Active
...
STUDENTS TRAINED
Month of March
Total to Date
17
1,888
519
219,516
HUNTING CASUALTIES REPORTED
IN 1975
Fatal
Nonfatal
Page
2
0
4
-
MAY
1975
1974 Big Game
Hunting Seasons
by Paul Ebert
Staff Biologist,
Big Game Management
M
r
A decline in deer population and an
unusually dry season discouraged
deer hunters but elk hunters turned
out in record numbers and harvested
a near record number of elk. Results
from the annual questionnaire survey
which sampled a random number of
the 401,900 individuals who purchased 1974 hunting licenses indicated
that Oregon's big game hunters spent
2,827,445 days afield and bagged 76,400 deer, 14,070 elk, 1,703 bear, 712
antelope, 16 cougar and 8 bighorn
sheep.
Deer
The general deer season opened on
October 5 and extended through October 17 for mule deer in eastern
Oregon but remained open through
November 10 west of the Cascade
summit for blacktails. While no
antlerless deer permits were authorized for eastern Oregon, 31,075 permits
to
take antlerless deer became valid on
r
October 19 in western Oregon. Warm,
dry weather prevailed throughout the
entire mule deer season but hunting
conditions in western Oregon improved midway through the blacktail
season. This change was insufficient
to cause any movement of the herds,
r
_
._
however.
Pre -season prospects for mule deer
hunting were poor and hunters were
encouraged to seek blacktails. Three
percent fewer hunters purchased deer
tags in 1974 than in 1973 and 55 percent of the 286,560 participants
hunted mainly in western Oregon.
The total harvest of 76,400 deer was
26 percent below the total for 1973 but
remained above the tally reported in
1972. Hunters averaged 27 percent
success overall and the harvest conOREGON WILDLIFE
sisted of 59 percent blacktails and 41
percent mule deer. Bucks made up 85
percent of the state total.
Besides the 31,075 management
unit permits available, blacktail
hunters could apply for the nine -day
High Cascade buck season or for a
permit in one of four damage control
seasons. Opportunities were also
available in one area restricted to
muzzleloaders and in all or parts of
four units open to extended season
hunting. Altogether, 177,255 hunters
participated in harvesting 45,470
black -tailed deer for an average success of 26 percent.
Mule deer hunters were able to participate in two muzzleloader seasons
and could also apply for a permit in
one of six agricultural damage areas.
A total of 140,719 hunters reported
taking 30,930 mule deer for an
average success of 22 percent.
Elk
The general season for bull elk extended from October 26 through
November 13 in eastern Oregon and
from November 16 through
November 27 west of the Cascades.
Hunters were required to make a
choice when purchasing an elk tag
and could not participate in both
areas.
Elk tag sales increased 5 percent
above 1973 and a record number of
108,133 tags were sold. The increase
was contrary to reports indicating
fewer hunters afield, probably reflecting the effects of a new regulation
which prohibited hunting with a rifle
in elk areas unless the hunter possessed a valid elk tag.
A take of 14,070 elk was reported
which was comparable to the 1973
harvest. Seventy-five percent of all
elk hunters purchased Rocky Mountain elk tags, harvesting 75 percent of
the state's total. Bulls made up 68
percent of the total take.
The regulations provided for 4,020
permits in eastern Oregon management units and 1,325 permits in 10
areas where damage problems existed. Those with permits harvested
3,595 antlerless elk and 25 bulls.
Either -sex hunting was also allowed
in portions of the Ochoco and
Malheur National Forest during the
first nine days of the general elk
season.
Warm weather prior to and during
the Rocky Mountain elk season made
stalking difficult but proved ideal for
camping and access to hunting areas.
A total of 69,100 hunters took 10,664
Rocky Mountain elk, averaging 15
percent success. Hunter numbers increased by 6 percent but the harvest
was comparable to that reported in
1973.
Roosevelt elk hunters were afforded
a 12 -day bull season plus 725 permits
in 10 damage areas. A total of 37,600
hunters reported taking 3,406 elk and
averaged 9 percent success. Hunter
numbers increased 12 percent while
the harvest declined 5 percent com-
pared to 1973.
Antelope
The general antelope season extended from August 17 through
August 21 with 1,590 tags being
authorized in 16 areas of southeastern
Oregon. Hunters reported taking 712
antelope for an average success of 53
percent which was identical to that
reported in 1973.
(Continued on Page 7)
Page
3
SUMMARY- 1974
DEER SEASON
GENERAL DEER SEASON
Units By
Region
Number of
Hunters
Alsea
Clatsop
McKenzie
Nestucca
Polk ._ .................... ..........................__...
Santiam
Scappoose
Siuslaw _________..___.____.....__._
Trask
..__.
Willamette
_...._ .... ....................._.........
Wilson
21,460
10,340
25,260
3,050
7,060
.___...
*
Applegate ..._._.. ..._._.___........_._..........
Chetco
.._..._.._..._...
Dixon ......._......__ .......................__._.__.
NORTHWEST REGION TOTALS
Elkton
.
Evans Creek
.
_
Melrose
Powers
Rogue
Sixes
Tioga
.
_____._............
..._._.._._....
..__.....
............._
SOUTHWEST REGION TOTALS
*
Deschutes
..___.........
Grizzly
Hood River .__. ..........___._.__.........._._
Keno
...___.._...._.........
Klamath ..........._... _...._......._._........._.....
Maupin
..._.._..
Maury __..........._ ...__..._._ ............._...._.
Metolius _._.._... ..._...._.__ .............__..._
Ochoco ._........ ....__....__.__.__........_....
Paulina .._. ............ .............._....._..........
Sherman
..._..._........
Sprague ..
...................._..__.._...
._.__..
Wasco
CENTRAL REGION TOTALS
*
Baker __
__........ .._ ................._._.__.....
Catherine Creek
....
Chesnimnus
Columbia Basin
Desolation
_........_._....
Heppner
_..._....
Imnaha
_....
Keating ___
................._....
Lookout Mountain
Minam
..._..
_
_
Murderer's Creek
Northside ....
Pine Creek
_.....
_.
Sled Springs
Snake River
.- __..__.......
Starkey ----_.._. ..........._........._....__._.
Ukiah __...__... _.._._........__....._...__....
Umatilla .
Walla Walla __......_._.._..
Wenaha
_
_
_.......
Wheeler
______..._ *
NORTHEAST REGION TOTALS
Beaty's Butte
-
Beulah
Fort Rock
Interstate ....._..
Juniper .............
Malheur River
.
Owyhee
Silver Lake
Silvies .
Steens Mountain
SOUTHEAST REGION TOTALS
GENERAL SEASON TOTALS
EARLY SEASON TOTALS
LATE SEASON TOTALS
....
210
270
570
160
300
210
260
570
8,550
83
320
8,880
14,570
14,820
9,270
109,600
8,540
3,680
9,950
4,270
5,460
11,270
3,680
14,880
6,150
5,707
55,300
9,570
1,590
1,520
650
770
14,570
1,120
780
1,720
1,040
1,000
2,910
720
1,650
1,570
980
13,490
590
1,460
120
530
1,500
370
240
250
1,530
330
830
660
960
9,370
1,100
560
280
370
670
1,400
440
380
370
650
900
1,020
1,280
2,160
2,070
13,050
6,740
2,480
3,140
7,460
59,900
5,810
2,870
1,620
1,210
3,060
7,740
1,640
2,530
1,250
2,490
5,560
4,190
740
170
3,610
1,320
3,500
3,950
5,040
1,190
1,820
6,440
56,000
1,160
4,500
6,160
5,760
660
5,500
1,640
6,970
1,040
290
360
790
550
150
270
2,070
13,830
270
930
610
1,060
40,400
274,440
*
17,670
*
19,260
* 286,560
*
130
4,420
720
*
2,200
490
3,310
19,080
5,690
1,830
3,630
8,450
Unit
Permit
Harvest
3,080
1,160
2,930
610
1,810
3,800
3,210
950
3,480
Wagontire
Warner _..........._ .... ..........._.._.._.___....
Whitehorse ........ ........................
Bucks
140
1,100
410
1,000
790
530
90
610
300
7,840
59,100
GRAND TOTALS
*Total omits duplication of hunters participating in more than one unit or season.
0
0
0
40
66
0
79
0
0
2,680
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
ADDITIONAL
DEER HARVEST
General
Percent
Season
Hunter
Early
Late
Total
Success
Seasons
Seasons
5,280
1,650
6,240
340
25
30
500
16
0
120
0
880
2,380
480
1,890
1,730
910
1,340
23,120
1,950
780
1,720
1,040
1,400
3,570
12
12
720
2,440
1,570
980
16,170
590
1,460
120
530
1,500
370
240
250
1,530
330
830
660
960
25
0
0
11
11
21
12
6
14
40
0
0
0
30
200
0
210
540
0
0
30
1,530
0
0
3,010
17
220
120
0
0
24
0
26
32
0
20
26
0
130
70
19
0
0
40
180
0
170
70
0
29
320
920
6
110
0
24
21
23
21
16
26
0
7
15
18
160
0
300
0
0
0
0
11
0
0
12
0
0
12
0
0
48
5
0
0
33
30
0
21
0
70
0
3
750
5
20
0
0
17
0
31
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
560
280
370
670
1,400
440
380
370
650
900
1,020
170
1,040
290
360
790
550
150
270
2,070
13,830
270
0
0
930
610
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
11,230
22
18
27
15
0
0
15
30
0
0
26
4
0
16
4
0
24
23
0
0
0
29
22
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
10
11
4
13
15
32
25
23
0
4
20
0
0
3
6
370
110
60
0
21
0
0
0
0
1,060
10
18
0
140
21
0
0
0
1,100
410
1,000
790
530
90
610
300
7,840
70,330
20
25
0
30
14
0
0
0
0
21
0
0
17
0
0
0
70
0
160
0
0
0
9
18
42
19
1,760
2,470
1,340
26,350
2,230
780
2,020
1,040
1,440
3,750
720
2,740
1,710
980
17,410
700
1,700
120
3
0
1,090
2,960
480
1,890
530
1,500
370
240
250
2,010
330
860
660
1,060
10,330
1,180
560
280
370
670
1,400
440
530
370
690
940
1,020
170
1,040
290
400
790
590
150
270
2,160
14,310
330
930
610
1,060
140
1,100
440
1,000
790
530
90
680
300
8,000
210
0
0
0
138,380
64,760
167,800
17,740
40,890
106,020
28,280
47,420
72,310
105,040
46,580
835,220
50,870
29,100
52,190
22,320
28,150
79,270
16,080
106,100
40,930
28,730
453,740
45,320
20,790
7,210
12,560
32,770
4,360
8,370
6,570
53,040
26,000
8,050
0
16
19
0
0
5,810
1,650
6,560
340
0
9,370
1,100
0
Total
Hunter Days
0
0
29
13
ALL SEASONS
Total
Harvest
0
10,760
42,450
278,250
28,610
10,390
6,620
3,530
12,670
27,700
5,570
14,280
4,390
13,490
24,960
17,490
3,590
16,300
5,890
19,080
15,380
26,830
4,620
7,660
22,760
291,810
5,450
17,070
25,560
25,390
3,080
24,010
6,140
29,910
15,040
13,010
3,960
15,470
3,430
187,520
26
1,280
4,790
76,400
2,046,540
1
1974 ELK SEASON
Unit By
Number of
Hunters
Region
Alsea
._
Clatsop .........__........_........................_.._...
McKenzie _.... _.._ __ ........................_........
Nestucca
___..._.. .__......__................
Polk .__......__ __ ...._._. .._._ ............._............
_.
Santiam
________. ._....._.______......_.........
Scappoose
. .............._......_.........
Siuslaw
.....____....._...._._.....
ELK HARVEST
Hunter
Days
Bulls
*
1,880
12,820
2,300
680
260
850
850
690
2,910
320
4,190
24,070
8,880
62,430
16,750
2,380
1,010
3,570
3,000
2,030
9,630
1,470
17,300
122,450
*
30
790
1.620
2,750
30
1,930
1,290
1,480
830
5,460
13,640
90
3,010
6.710
10,280
30
7,190
4,760
7,320
3,220
23,610
66,220
320
470
37,600
1,190
490
1,680
190,350
170
510
100
520
2,260
290
0
0
1,510
2,130
4,200
6,650
9,800
19,520
Baker _._ ................
Catherine Creek ..._
Chesnimnus .
Columbia Basin __..
Desolation
Heppner
Imnaha
Keating
Lookout Mountain
Minam
Murderer's Creek _
Northside ..._.....__....._
6,640
2,430
36,670
12,870
363
5,020
30
4,100
4,520
2,600
25,860
Pine Creek ......._......_..
Sled Springs ..................
Snake River .
1,130
-
__.
_
_
_
_
_
_
Trask
..........._..._._
Willamette
Wilson
NORTHWEST REGION TOTALS .....
Applegate
Chetco
Dixon
Elkton
___. _. __.___.. ...._.__..._._.______.........
.....____.._...__...__ _____.......__...
_
.
.___..._......
Evans Creek
Melrose
_........_.
............... ..._..................._.......
__...___.__ ..___._..._____ .............._.
.__....___.._._ ...............
Powers ..
Rogue .
Sixes
Tioga
SOUTHWEST REGION TOTALS
Deschutes
Keno
150
CENTRAL REGION TOTALS
ROOSEVELT ELK TOTALS ..._.........
*
*
Grizzly ..
Hood River
Maury
Metolius
...
Ochoco
Wasco
CENTRAL REGION TOTALS
Starkey
Ukiah
Umatilla
_____
Walla Walla
Wenaha
Wheeler
*
1,370
330
2,930
2,230
2,480
4,570
1,800
8,340
7,630
9,450
2,440
5,970
..___._....
_..._..
_
___.. ..._.__.___........_......._...
. ......_._............_.........
....... ......._......._...............
......._......__._._._.........
NORTHEAST REGION TOTALS ............
1,070
*
64,000
119
785
209
Percent
Hunter
Antlerless
Total
0
119
1,213
209
428
0
29
0
0
29
75
0
75
37
64
100
24
27
64
64
100
24
12
0
0
0
12
Success
6
87
9
9
2
81
11
9
8
9
3
8
271
0
271
6
1,725
455
2,180
9
0
0
0
0
0
82
152
173
0
0
10
82
152
136
Percent
Yearling
Bulls
9
80
100
69
69
76
69
80
100
93
82
0
39
79
85
0
0
37
0
89
5
94
5
81
0
0
0
131
89
44
10
3
3
10
73
100
85
81
131
6
0
44
24
510
1,168
10
24
520
52
1,220
9
0
0
0
0
6
0
6
4
6
6
1
2,899
0
507
3,406
9
3
6
9
3
0
26
0
5
5
100
23
0
0
0
0
13
0
0
0
0
20
2
23
49
88
7
24
127
33
147
215
5
27
726
255
859
11
69
180
0
0
0
25,360
24,730
13,890
7,090
467
335
87
135
554
470
205
78
206
411
177
1,240
19
14
14,570
9,730
10,970
5,970
23,930
10,560
48,450
44,820
51,790
209
202
80
119
86
194
255
33
411
162
313
158
749
403
10
17
0
14
10
16
19
10
14
7
64
659
363
132
200
13
14
40
77
16
91
22
80
75
87
68
83
26
77
13,360
31,470
4,130
417,640
123
87
98
71
0
0
0
82
26
88
0
65
76
75
65
63
71
15
421
328
225
178
681
481
263
392
944
873
11
11
880
234
675
311
1,191
13
6,364
3,806
479
869
55
10,170
20
23
245
194
32
120
39
49
40
169
79
10
17
14
31
5
0
176
103
279
8
48
15
5
16
81
Beulah _._._ ........................ ......._....._._._.............
Malheur River ..._
Silvies .....__...__...._._..... ___
1,760
1,070
610
SOUTHEAST REGION TOTALS
3,340
8,600
4,990
2,810
16,400
69,100
453,560
6,628
4,036
10,664
15
76
*106,200
643,910
9,527
4,543
14,070
13
78
_______
ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK TOTALS
STATE TOTALS
_........___.._...._ .....
*
7
61
31
*Total omits duplication of hunters participating in more than one unit.
OREGON WILDLIFE
Page 5
1974 ANTELOPE SEASON
(74% Report Card Return)
Management Units
Report
Cards
Received
Tags
Issued
Beaty's Butte
_______..._..._._.
Beulah .__......._._. _..._... __..._....____.__._....._..._..
Fort Rock -Silver Lake .. ......_ ................____.___ _......
Interstate (Lake County)
.__.
Juniper
Malheur
._._.........._...__...........
Maury - .......... .....___...........__....___.._ ___ .....___
Murderer's Creek ......_......._. ........._..._..____..___......
Number
Number
Hunted
Did not
Hunt
160
130
4
126
75
25
55
2
19
2
50
36
5
53
17
31
125
3
75
89
115
48
15
15
Paulina- Wagontire .............._.__..___.............._._..._......
Silvies
.__._...___..
Steens Mountain .
................ .................._...__.__.._.
Warner ____._.______....._.. _.__........_...._...__._....__
50
150
100
75
160
115
37
98
____........_.............._...
250
_
_
_
Ochoco _..___....___..__....._._ ... ..............___...._.....__..
Owyhee
Whitehorse ................._..._..._
National Antelope Refuge
_
Gerber Res. Archery 1st. Season
Gerber Res. Archery 2nd. Season ..._....__ __...___._....._
Estimated total harvest
.
HUNTING TRENDS
1952
-
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
188,250
204,808
215,047
230,585
233,842
221,960
233,885
248,701
259,739
265,326
263,838
258,375
249,080
267,840
270,770
272,150
284,600
264,900
282,000
1971 279,220
1972 245,770
1973 296,290
1974 286,560
ELK
Hunter
Harvested
Success
77,897
105,275
112,622
133,834
146,568
116,409
116,251
146,003
157,504
163,939
139,712
117,619
143,023
119,369
147,975
142,000
151,380
101,500
101,600
87,800
73,400
103,470
76,400
41
General
1933
1940
1945
1950
1955
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
Page 6
2,440
6,152
8,597
22,802
27,709
51,349
52,991
..
.
..
54,724
62,898
67,387
68,178
64,200
65,900
66,000
73,560
74,550
79,100
98,300
106,200
Bulls
579
1,350
2,398
3,157
4,228
9,707
7,998
10,082
11,846
8,066
8,030
7,660
7,160
7,800
10,150
7,830
8,075
11,087
9,527
3
4
52
58
54
52
50
59
61
62
53
45
57
45
55
52
53
38
36
31
30
35
27
Number
Harvested
126,719
121,356
134,617
148,566
146,568
140,627
139,183
138,856
141,102
147,597
143,580
136,676
148,215
143,618
147,975
153,950
163,260
166,350
180,150
162,180
110,700
124,040
118,980
53,030
64,607
76,877
90,126
85,394
81,873
71,250
88,261
96,122
97,951
76,776
64,678
84,665
71,637
88,516
87,180
89,020
68,860
72,200
47,240
29,380
41,340
30,960
1933
-
Antlerless
0
1,179
67
2,234
1,855
2,384
2,178
3,606
5,311
4,200
3,372
2,870
2,250
2,118
2,530
2,440
2,235
2,913
4,543
85
36
67
68
301
7
41
61
35
111
37
66
43
73
251
61
260
13
15
13
29
100
119
17
44
30
37
47
45
27
60
29
102
53
55
36
55
92
281
11
10
91
1,590
1,170
59
1,111
593
53
2,929
59
62
57
9
48
0
271
11
50
0
0
0
235
11
61
51
6
109
8
6
0
80
184
712
BLACK- TAILED DEER
Percent
Antler-
Success
Total
Harvest
61
68
Hunter
53
57
of
61
58
68
67
68
70
51
61
64
61
68
66
53
61
61
58
47
57
50
56
57
60
55
55
59
60
60
less
Antler-
General
Season
Hunters
20,570
24,652
22,410
37,752
37,978
26,853
19,308
23,685
28,254
30,538
24,977
15,403
39
38
29
42
61,531
19,931
23
27
26
61
55
59
23,374
41
68
40
71
29
54
27
33
26
40
40
14,265
14,453
7,840
95
62
1,018
41
Percent
less
19,242
22,821
29,518
27
27
29
83,552
80,430
81,919
87,274
81,333
94,702
104,750
110,725
31
101,971
32
24
108,343
105,603
110,555
44
33
34
26
21
20
17
0
1
3
108,281
110,384
109,250
111,940
88,850
92,050
109,120
127,200
153,360
155,420
Number
Harvested
24,867
40,668
35,745
43,708
40,277
34,626
Percent Percent
Hunter
of
Success
40
49
44
32
39
32
53
33
46
43
47
54
32
30
55
65
58
39
65,988
62,936
52,941
58,358
50
53
47,732
59,459
54,820
62,360
32,640
29,400
40,560
44,020
62,130
45,440
44
40
52
50
56
40
37
32
37
35
32
29
46
60
60
59
45,001
56,670
61,382
41
29
Antler-
Total
less
Percent
Antler -
Harvest
less
5,210
13,045
8,043
13,446
13,340
8,877
15,251
20,108
20,133
24,529
21,932
16,754
18,807
13,348
14,687
15,089
16,586
33
26
34
35
33
37
35
32
32
27
25
27
27
5,757
4,347
18
15
7,990
7,970
19,099
20
10,511
23
39
39
40
45
45
41
39
41
21
32
22
31
18
31
1974
STATE TOTAL
Hunters
35
93
66
5
Days
196
117
304
238
512
22
Percent
Hunters
Season
51
HUNTING TRENDS
Year
15
MULE DEER
Percent
Deer
Hunters
0
2
Hunter -
1974
STATE TOTALS
Year
6
Percent
Success
19
86
109
45
3
69
55
115
88
190
15
TOTALS
DEER
150
Reported
Harvest
ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK
Total
Harvest
Percent
Hunter
579
2,529
41
2,465
29
5,391
24
22
24
6,083
12,091
10,176
13,688
17,157
12,266
11,402
10,530
9,410
9,918
12,680
10,270
10,310
14,001
14,070
Hunters
Bulls
Success
24
19
25
27
18
17
16
14
15
17
14
13
14
13
Antlerless
ROOSEVELT ELK
Number Percent
Harvested Hunter
Hunters
Bulls
Success
2,440
4,809
7,270
16,726
21,504
36,514
39,432
41,216
41,010
47,651
49,504
46,100
45,600
46,300
52,190
51,640
53,700
65,100
69,100
579
1,152
2,176
2,210
3,361
7,098
6,460
6,959
7,576
5,768
5,529
5,220
4,170
5,800
6,920
5,330
5,742
7,626
6,628
0
1,179
67
579
2,331
2,243
1,234
1,749
1,863
1,925
3,444
5,110
3,606
4,879
3,594
3,189
2,690
1,980
2,080
2,420
2,260
2,188
2,735
4,036
24
48
31
21
8,961
24
25
8,385
21
10,565
12,455
26
30
9,362
8,718
7,910
6,150
7,880
9,340
7,590
7,930
20
10,361
10,664
Percent
Number
Harvested Hunter
Success
1,343
1,327
6,076
6,205
17
14,835
13,559
13,508
21,888
19,736
18,674
18,100
13
17
18
15
15
16
15
20,300
19,700
21,370
22,910
25,400
33,200
37,600
18
Antlerless
No Open Season
198
0
222
0
947
1,000
867
2,609
1,538
3,125
4,270
2,298
106
521
2,501
183
180
270
38
110
180
2,440
2,990
2,000
3,230
2,500
2,333
3,461
2,899
198
222
1,947
973
3,130
15
17
32
16
21
253
1,791
13
0
3,123
4,702
2,904
2,684
2,620
3,260
2,038
3,340
2,680
2,380
3,640
3,406
23
432
606
47
178
507
21
15
14
14
16
10
16
12
9
11
9
MAY 1975
Big Game
r'`
(Continued from Page 3)
Bear
Most of the state was open to bear
hunting from August
1
through
December 31 with a bag limit of one
per hunter. A bear tag was required
for the first time and a return card
was included for reporting success.
Tag sales totaled 17,930 and 16,720
persons reported hunting. The take of
1,703 bear represented an average
success of 10 percent. Of the bear
harvested, 72 percent were taken by
hunters who did not use dogs. The
number of hunters increased 5 percent while the harvest declined 28
percent from that reported in 1973.
Cougar
Seventy -five cougar tags were
authorized in four areas of
northeastern Oregon for use during
the month of December. Only 34 tag
holders reported hunting, of which 16
were successful in taking a cougar for
an average success of 47 percent.
Bighorn Sheep
Seventeen hunters had a once -in -alifetime opportunity to hunt bighorn
sheep in the Owyhee and Steens
Mountain Units and on Hart Moun-
tain during the last half of
September. Eight hunters were
successful in bagging a ram, five being taken on the Steens, two on the
Owyhee Unit and one on Hart Mountain.
Bow Hunting
The general archery season extend-
ed from August 24 through
September 29 in 18 areas and additional hunting was available in
seven other areas for varying periods
extending through January 31, 1975.
Two antelope seasons available to 65
hunters each were allowed in the
Gerber Reservoir Area.
The 19,900 archers reported taking
1,343 deer, 429 elk and 124 bear. No
antelope were taken in 1974.
The accompanying tables display
results of the 1974 big game seasons.
Estimates are based on projected in-
formation from questionnaires
. returned by hunters who were
selected at random and from report
cards sent in by elk, bear, antelope
and cougar hunters.
OREGON WILDLIFE
1974 Game Bird Seasons
by Chester E. Kebbe
Staff Biologist,
Small Game Management
Upland game bird and waterfowl
hunters enjoyed fair hunting in 1974
with a harvest of birds slightly greater
than in 1973. This was confirmed by
the annual hunter questionnaire
which randomly sampled Oregon's
401,900 licensed hunters. Results of
the survey indicate that 87,736 upland bird hunters spent 583,200 days
afield and bagged 730,200 game birds
of 11 species, approximately the same
overall success as was enjoyed the
previous year.
Waterfowl hunters, however, had
better hunting than in 1973 with
much of the best shooting occurring
during the last month of the season.
October and November were exceptionally warm and dry and, as a
result, waterfowl flights were late in
arriving. Hunters had few good hunting days. Fifty -six thousand waterfowl hunters spent 502,300 days afield
and bagged 659,800 ducks, geese,
coots, and snipe.
An accompanying table presents
the harvest and hunting pressure by
county on the major species of game
birds.
Upland Game
Pheasant hunting success and
hunter participation show a direct
correlation with the steady decline in
pheasant populations since 1959. The
number of pheasant hunters increased slightly from 1973 but the
harvest dropped to 168,378, the second poorest season on record. Forty six percent of the birds were taken in
two counties
Malheur and
Umatilla.
Quail populations are severely
-
affected by prolonged periods of cold
winter weather but recover rapidly
with favorable nesting conditions.
This was the situation in eastern
Oregon during the winter of 1973 and
the following spring. A quail population sharply reduced by winter losses
brought off fair -sized broods. Except
for opening weekend, hunting
pressure remained light during the
entire season. One hundred forty
thousand quail were taken compared
with 156,000 in 1973.
Chukar partridge production was
low in southeastern Oregon but
greater than in 1973 in canyons in the
northeastern part of the state.
Hunters had good hunting in the
more productive areas and bagged
106,600 birds compared with 95,600
during the previous shorter season.
High populations of blue and ruffed
grouse throughout the forested
regions in Oregon resulted in the take
of 60,500 birds, the largest harvest
since 1958. Favorable hunting conditions were encountered as seasons
in both eastern and western Oregon
opened in September and were not interrupted with fire closures.
Cool weather in late August
triggered an early migration of doves
but band -tailed pigeons remained in
the state through most of September.
The harvest of doves was comparable
to the 1973 take but the number of
pigeons taken continued its steady
decline to 59,600 birds.
Waterfowl
The forecast of a slight increase in
the size of the fall flight of ducks from
Canada was not apparent in Oregon
until late in the season. Most of the
predicted increase was in pintails,
which had an exceptionally good
nesting season. Comparatively few of
these birds, however, winter in
Oregon with the largest flights headed
nonstop for wintering areas in California.
Relatively few ducks were found in
Oregon during the early part of the
season and hunting was poor. With
the arrival of large numbers of
mallards, widgeon, and pintails late
in the year, hunting in western
Oregon improved greatly. Fifty -six
thousand duck hunters took 523,400
ducks and 54,500 geese during the 93day season.
(Chart next page)
Page 7
Counties
By Region
..................
Benton
Clackamas
Clatsop ..._
Columbia
Lane
Lincoln
Linn
..
105
2,387
2,852
161
911
0
852
981
100
2,060
1,594
0
157
10,697
595
2,801
3,559
122
1,411
278
Mt. &
Valley
Quail
Hunters
Harvest
2,002
2,506
1,030
Pheasants
Hunters
Harvest
70
196
2,228
782
694
0
5,754
1,888
846
3,083
131
2,472
2,367
28,113
1,697
578
4,079
10,963
2,990
20,307
Mourning Dove
Hunters
Harvest
Hunters
Harvest
Duck
1,869
210
Harvest
Goose
Waterfowl
Band-tailed Pigeon
Hunters
Harvest
5,879
0
1,171
21,477
2,158
4,097
5,550
2,248
35,530
9,952
20,325
19,088
10,129
242,310
37
11,897
1,509
949
15,332
649
1,654
23,701
3,324
2,114
11,630
3,027
477
956
1,702
2,370
3,270
691
1,736
1,136
422
2,362
866
2,840
711
2,174
1,663
1,955
1,423
1,658
3,194
2,447
1,080
2,279
20,630
213
213
1,130
2,450
10,272
518
819
4,174
10,603
236
1,038
112,424
1,369
3,196
133,040
7,068
2,122
1,874
6,708
1,099
4,657
3,827
30,015
5,958
2,562
919
55,745
7,810
1,841
6,435
21,451
28,882
56,768
54,560
1,066
5,247
1,497
0
37
671
3,979
1,441
212
528
200
335
540
65
0
397
150
65
37
890
1,895
2,362
523,393
9,087
3,003
1,558
477
2,393
2,835
3,934
33,615
36,857
61
59,645
738
2,097
3,374
514
528
70
0
1,314
29,767
2,177
33,328
5,780
8,444
1,012
5,525
9,606
1,588
9,471
41,426
*56,038
1,738
2,683
1,316
3,296
2,886
3,547
379
535
523
684
1,489
262
0
628
10,455
1,071
418
2,370
3,370
2,930
35
3,374
1,016
262
549
1,433
2,263
91
275
*10,366
1,285
3,820
567
2,839
38,802
2,761
0
201
1,551
11,327
8,447
1,163
5,100
9,839
1,182
35
916
1,273
227
624
0
470
523
35
266
733
289
252
19,788
6,922
15,350
19,357
35,961
0
5,697
3,945
53,566
1,988
2,481
799
523
7,627
7,028
3,202
1,179
210
1,164
995
28,902
Harvest
Blue & Ruffed
Grouse
Hunters
453
1,033
1,105
1,063
3,435
656
1,040
523
161
488
838
612
628
981
0
170
170
4,778
4,639
9,692
135
0
499
598
161,113
1,997
243
1,676
2,889
8,333
4,791
1,107
2,065
23,101
104
182
286
*17,539
1,386
497
455
540
490
1,221
2,458
336
35
0
196
435
3,820
3,826
418
9,720
0
161
706
835
647
217
1,399
1,270
418
'
1974 GAME BIRD HARVEST
744
450
379
71
Chukar
Partridge
Hunters
Harvest
97
172
132
744
0
122
3,111
694
680
91
0
925
418
154
1,185
589
4,165
4,530
598
283
1,202
1,144
1,550
227
0
91
60,525
0
100
*22,095
18,813
6,081
0
30
679
2,804
1,279
313
295
383
0
23,411
5,008
500
31,347
36,855
414
778
227
1,047
0
61
8,056
551
3,394
1,442
669
5,068
106,654
470
65
420
537
1,346
881
2,678
2,543
1,137
7,096
771
21,920
9,261
0
3,851
1,843
6,914
26,514
3,831
0
65
523
813
1,483
3,701
161
581
717
1,833
4,017
2,838
5,914
3,592
827
2,456
3,630
46,685
4,019
3,309
29,995
37,323
*20,688
673
1,150
1,085
309
754
776
649
605
3,613
140,559
887
2,740
28,302
*26,729
542
205
227
435
4,876
2,665
9,167
907
357
470
1,653
2,158
730
2,244
1,018
152
469
880
0
904
1,836
1,124
622
3,344
7,732
3,068
6,522
24,248
70
0
974
8,591
683
10,318
5,513
3,900
32,198
2,449
3,237
3,274
30
1,829
70
0
3,089
..... 3,581
61
Marion .................. 2,731
Multnomah
974
Polk
2,093
Tillamook
..............
Washington
Yamhill
............._..._..
..._...._...._...
NORTHWEST
Coos
Curry
..........
1,001
Douglas ..._ ............. 508
Jackson
4,789
Josephine .............. 586
SOUTHWEST
Crook
Deschutes
586
192
1,528
2,927
1,203
2,686
6,470
730
1,397
6,827
27,726
.._............
Hood River
Jefferson
Klamath
Sherman
Wasco
Baker
2,218
Gilliam ........._..._.. 532
Grant .
534
Morrow .._ .............. 1,872
7,490
1,919
CENTRAL
371
1,576
353
49,530
..................
NORTHEAST
Harney
......................
168,378
4,451
357
1,005
.......... ...
581
Umatilla
Union .
Wallowa
Wheeler
963
Lake
Malheur
..........
*59,344
8,851
1,262
49,817
52,084
SOUTHEAST
STATE TOTAL
*State total omits duplication of hunters hunting in more than one county.
N
>'
al
1975
Q.
m
a
co
f<
MAY
Anti -Hunting
(Continued from Page 2)
big game hunting there. Incidentally, some of this same feeling has
been directed against fishing.
There are thoughtful hunters who
can see flaws in all of these viewpoints, and who can defend their act
servationist: a man with many polished outdoor skills and abilities, and
whose affection and knowledge of
nature are matched by his efforts to
conserve it. Maybe this is the guy
that James Fenimore Cooper called
"the ideal man in the state of
nature."
Those who aspire to this ideal are
deeply offended by both the slob
hunter and blind criticism from
of hunting on ethical and who really know nothing about those
hunphilosophical grounds. But, as I said
ting or wildlife. Such criticism is even
earlier, that's not the point under dismore biting because it is a puritanical
cussion.
indictment of a life style that we
The maddening part of all this is
respect and cherish. And when such
the fact that opposition to all hunting
criticism comes from someone like
usually stems from critics for whom
Cleveland Amory or Lauren Bacall
we have no real respect
critics who
who wouldn't know the difference
not only lack credentials, but who are
between a Cooper's Hawk and a
themselves open to moral judgment.
Fungo Bat it's especially irritating.
Dr. C. H. D. Clarke, the eminent
Anti -hunting criticism is with us,
Canadian biologist, once wrote:
and will be from now on. Yet, there
"If one reasonable man speaks out are some good things about it.
against us, we owe it to ourselves to
Neither hunters nor their sport are
seek the truth. But the voices that
perfect, and criticism forces the
have been raised against us have been
genuine hunter to examine himself
charged with emotion, coming, not as
and his motives demanding that he
they pretend, from philosophical
understand himself and the resources
heights, but from tight compartments that support his hunting. It hurts an
insulated from reality. For this
ethical hunter to be called a barreason, sportsmen have scorned
barian who kills out of sheer
them."
bloodlust. But there's an old Korean
The bitterness of the hunting -antisaying: "Pain makes men think,
hunting controversy is made keener thought makes men wise, and wisdom
because it's almost entirely makes life endurable."
emotional. Anti -hunters, generally,
Out of the soul- searching that we
are operating on pure, unbridled emohunters and professional consertion. And to a great degree, so are the
vationists are being forced to do,
hunters. As long as both factions are
something good will come. We are beentirely emotional, there is little hope
ing made to turn our eyes inward, as
of mutual understanding and
well as outward. It is no longer
tolerance.
enough to say to our critics that we
It often seems to me that the provide ten jillion dollars per annum
greatest gap between hunter and to support wildlife conservation. We
anti- hunter exists at the lowest levels
must defend our actions not just on
of outdoor experience and knowledge.
financial grounds, but on ethical ones
The greater the lack of genuine outas well.
door mileage and perception, the
In the eyes of many people, our
greater this gap between hunter and
means do not justify our ends. From
anti -hunter.
their point of view, modern game
This basic gap tends to narrow as
management is analogous to a man
knowledge and total experience and
buying a horse so that he can beat it
understanding in nature increase, to death. He may have paid cash for
and the deeply involved hunter and
the horse, but his act is basically
the deeply involved nonhunting cruel and without purpose.
naturalist may merge until they are
Put it another way: there is more to
indistinguishable. The image of the
being a good father than just paying
"ideal hunter" at the point of the
the bills. The good parent gives
pyramid will vary according to what something of himself to his children
you feel the ideal hunter should be,
spiritual and ethical base, a sense
but I suspect that it's a balanced of values. Much the same can be said
blend of hunter, naturalist and conof hunting. It is not enough that we
-
-
-
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-
-a
OREGON WILDLIFE
support wildlife conservation; we
must also infuse our act of hunting
with a special morality. I believe that
one of the greatest responsibilities of
a conservation department today is
not just to manage fish and wildlife
populations as well as it can, but to
also be an ethical arbiter of how those
populations are used by the public.
The trouble is, game and fish people
have had their hands so full of the
first problem that they haven't had
enough time to attend to the second.
Just one year ago, I was invited to
speak to the student chapter of the
Wildlife Society at Kansas State
University. I pontificated for about 20
minutes, talking about hunting and
anti -hunting to a fine group of 60
students. After that, just for the heck
of it, I turned into a devil's advocate.
I asked how many of the students
were hunters: about 99 percent of
them were. I then demanded that
they defend their sport of hunting.
For about a half -hour the students
presented the usual threadbare
defenses of hunting, and I tried to
rebut those reasons as Joseph Wood
Krutch or Alice Herrington might
have. Some of the kids began getting
mad
but they also began to think.
By the time the session ended, we had
all been shaken up a bit. It was the
sort of thing that they'll be facing
when they get out of school, and they
may as well begin now. I wish I'd
gotten some of that in college
it
would have saved me a lot of time. It
might be a good idea for a wildlife
school to hold a couple of senior
seminars on anti -hunting, air ng the
pro- and -con philosophies of killing
fish and wildlife for pleasure.
Anyway, our stock defenses of hunting aren't acceptable to muck of the
public. To defend hunting n the
basis that managed game por ations
can afford to be hunted is ;
condoning burglary of a rich me
home
simply because he can affore e loss.
Such a defense of hunting
Il not
-
-
a
satisfy a thoughtful nonhunting
public. That public has the right to
demand several things of us: that the
wildlife population be able to support
the hunting pressure exerted on it,
that hunting does not affect nonconsumptive uses of wildlife, and that
the hunter conducts himself in an
ethical manner.
The hunter is no longer free to act
without ethical restraint. He is acPage 9
countable to his sport, to the wildlife
that sustains his hunting, and to the
nonhunting public. This sense of accountability must be drilled into
hunters if the sport is to survive. I
sometimes think that whatever the
future holds for the hunter, he
deserves. He's probably going to get
what's coming to him; whether that is
good or bad depends largely on him.
In its simplest terms, the sport of
hunting must operate on two principles: (1) that the act of hunting does
not jeopardize the existence of any
wildlife species, and (2) that the act
of hunting shames neither hunter nor
the animals that he hunts.
Professional game managers have
been preoccupied with the first principle, and have tended to neglect the
second. Yet, if either of these principles is violated, the act of hunting is
insupportable. So what can we do to
strengthen these principles in the
future?
Biological game management
based on good research and good enforcement of such management
is
the beginning. This is basic, as is a
solid information -education effort.
Then comes the big problem of conducting good public programs.
The best answer that I can see is
mandatory hunter -safety training,
and certification of all new hunters.
Actual safety training is only part of
this, and perhaps a minor part. More
important is education in biological
game and fish management, and in
the principles of ethical hunting. If
there's a grassroots effort that holds
-
-
more promise than this one, I sure
don't know what it would be. It is important to recognize that it is not
"hunting per se" which is on trial
it is the "conduct of the individual
hunter" which is at the heart of the
-
issue.
The weak point, of course, is the
availability of qualified instructors.
Such men must be hunters who know
guns and shooting, of course, but they
must also be able to convey the essence of wildlife conservation and
hunting ethics
and make it stick.
It's a very tough job to find and
recruit such men, and furnish them
with good materials, but it must be
done.
To make things even tougher, there
may be a critical time element.
A lot of us didn't begin hunting
with a ready -made set of ethical
guidelines. I sure didn't. Anything
that I know about the ethical field
-
behavior, and ethical attitudes
toward wildlife, has taken me 35
years to learn. And we just don't have
that kind of time today; we can't
leave it to chance, and let our hunters
"jes' grow," like Topsy. We've got to
give the young hunter a running start
working knowledge of gun safety
and conservation. And above all, we
must instill in him a bitter intolerance of slob hunting. The militant anti -hunters won't give us much
time to do this they want the sport
of hunting (and our state fish and
game departments) to be abolished
now.
In the meantime, it's essential that
-a
-
professional wildlifers do a lot of
homework on the subject of anti hunting. Two excellent sources with
which to begin are Dr. C. H. D.
Clarke's "Autumn Thoughts of a
Hunter" in the Journal of Wildlife
Management, October, 1958, and
Jose Ortegay Gasset's "Meditations
on Hunting," published in 1972 by
Charles Scribner's of New York. Doug
Clarke is a brilliant wildlifer with a
profound grasp of international
literature; Gasset was a Spanish
sportsman and one of the eminent
philosophers of this century. Nowhere
have I seen writings by anti -hunters
as perceptive as these. The fact of the
matter is, there has been far more
good stuff written to support hunting
than to condemn it. There's good
reason for that
the people who
write bitterly about hunting simply
don't know enough about hunting to
do a real job of it.
Unfortunately, that is not as true of
-
television and motion pictures.
Disney proved that. It is a simple
matter to attack hunting with a mo-
tion picture or a TV special, and it
can be extremely difficult to produce
a TV special that captures the essence of hunting
and even more
difficult to sponsor it on prime time.
This is the fault of television, not of
the hunter. Someone has said that
American television is a sword rusting
in its scabbard while we're fighting
environmental battles. That certainly
applies to modern game management
and what it has meant to Americans
and American wildlife.
-
John Madson has authored a number of books on wildlife and countless environmental articles. Currently he is Assistant Director of Conservation for
Winchester - Western Conservation Department. His comments on anti -hunting
were printed in the March-April 1975 issue of Colorado Outdoors magazine.
Page 10
MAY 1975
This and that
compiled by Ken Durbin
More Nesting Cover
The Fish and Wildlife Service is
moving to give wildlife top priority on
the Malheur National Wildlife
Refuge in Oregon, according to the
Wildlife Management Institute. It is
the kind of action needed to improve
the refuge system.
FWS has determined that haying
and livestock grazing on the refuge
may be reducing the area's waterfowl
productive capacity. Thus these activities will be curtailed. In the late
1940s, 146,000 ducks and 6,000
Canada geese were produced there
annually. During the last few years,
with increased grazing, production
has been only 28,000 ducks and 1,500
geese a year.
Reproductive success of waterfowl
and other ground- nesting birds
depends on the quality of nesting
cover. Therefore FWS will begin leaving blocks of undisturbed vegetation
for that purpose. The 80 -acre blocks
will be grazed or moved every three to
five years as their nesting qualities
deteriorate and as other blocks of adjacent cover mature. Consequently
livestock use will not be prohibited. It
will, however, become more intensively managed to benefit wildlife.
*
Oregon Newspaper Editor Honored
Herbert Lundy, a long -time Oregon
conservationist and editor of the
Portland Oregonian's editorial page,
was elected to the Board of Directors
of the National Wildlife Federation as
the country's largest conservation
organization concluded its 39th Annual Meeting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was one of three new
directors -at -large named to the board
during a three -day convention which
also elected three new regional NWF
/"--" directors. George Reed, also of
Portland, was the Oregon Wildlife
Federation's delegate to the convention.
OREGON WILDLIFE
Cast Iron Stomachs?
One of the coyote's most
remarkable attributes is its ability
and willingness to eat virtually
anything. A booklet written in 1940
by the renowned naturalist Adolph
Murie entitled Ecology of the Coyote
in the Yellowstone contains an
astounding list of items found in the
analysis of more than 5,000 coyote
droppings.
In addition to the remains of large
mammals, small mammals, birds,
amphibians, reptiles, insects, and a
surprising amount of vegetable
matter, there is a list of miscellaneous
food and nonfood items which prove
the coyote is versatile and not very
discriminating in choosing its dinner.
Among the more unlikely substances
listed is horse manure, muskmelon,
paper, canvas -leather glove, rag,
butter wrapper, twine, banana peel,
orange peel, cellophane, match, 2
square inches of rubber, tinfoil, 8 inches of rope, lemon rind, and two
pieces of shirt.
The book may be obtained free of
charge, incidentally, by writing Chief
Scientist, National Park Service,
Science Center, National Space
Technology Lab, Bay St. Louis,
Mississippi 39520.
*
Hunting Safety
The story goes that a conservation
officer was checking an elderly hunter
who stood resting the muzzle of his
shotgun on the toe of his shoe. The officer commented that it could be a
dangerous practice.
"It's safe," was the reply, "there
ain't no toe in that shoe. I blew it off
ten years ago with this same gun!"
Colorado Outdoors
*
Fish Tagging Began
100 Years Ago
The first fish tagging experiments,
according to the National Marine
Fisheries Service, took place more
than a century ago. Wealthy Scottish
landowners, who wondered what
happened to trout and salmon in the
streams they owned, began to find out
through the use of fish tags.
Oregon Energy Report Available
A report which focuses on Oregon's
energy needs is now available from
the State Office of Energy Research
and Planning, according to Earl
Adams, research coordinator.
The study was requested by the
1973 Legislature and has been 18
months in the preparation. Among
the most striking recommendations of
the study is a complete halt to
nuclear fission electric power in the
state and a systematic transition to a
solar based economy.
In presenting the report to the 1975
Legislature, Joel Schatz, director of
the energy office, said the negative
aspects of developing nonnuclear
energy sources "are dwarfed by the
awesome threats of a nuclear fission
based economy."
Even though the potential hazards
of nuclear based energy plants have
been reduced to very low levels, the
report states "they have not and cannot be absolutely eliminated."
A "solar farm" on a square of land
12 miles on a side could supply the
state's needs, the report said, but
added that supplementary systems
such as hydroelectric would be needed for overcast days and nights.
The report may be obtained for $5
per copy by writing the Office of
Energy Research and Planning, Office of the Governor, State Capitol,
Salem, Oregon 97310.
*
Don't Say You Weren't Warned
Woe unto them that join house to
house, that lay field to field, till there
be no place, that they may be placed
alone in the midst of the earth!
Isaiah 5:8
O
Page 11
BPA Powerline Seeding
by Jim Gladson
Sometimes imagination and the
spirit of cooperation can combine to
benefit both people and wildlife.
Such is the case with a joint project
recently completed by the Oregon
Wildlife Commission and the
Bonneville Power Administration.
The two agencies joined forces in
the seeding and fertilizing of 272 acres
of powerline right -of-way between
Carlton on the east side of the Coast
Range and Tillamook on the west
side.
The right -of -way for BPA's new
powerline is a cleared swath of land 40
miles long and 100 feet wide through
good deer country.
Parts of this area were seeded by
airplane with a special mix for big
game forage and then fertilized to encourage growth. This cleared area
should become an excellent food
source for deer and, hopefully, elk.
The seeding and subsequent grass
growth will also help BPA in controlling erosion and unwanted brush
growth along the right -of-way. Nor mally, brush is kept down with herbicides but these chemicals also
destroy plants useful to wildlife. If the
seeding is successful, then the grasses
should keep unwanted brush growth
from becoming established and thus
reduce herbicide usage.
Total cost of the project was about
$20,000, with BPA paying $12,500
and the Wildlife Commission covering the rest.
If this operation is successful, then
similar projects may be planned for
suitable new rights -of-way in the
future.
OBE
IiFE
-4 4464
((
COMMISSION
1634 S. W.
P.
ALDER STREET
0. BOX 3503
PORTLAND, OREGON 97208