New elk hunt for Oregon?

Quite some time ago I made a feable attempt at writing up a proposal and gathering signatures, and then submitting it to ODFW regarding creating a new elk hunt for Oregon. It failed miserably as expected, but I thought it would be an interesting discussion here. Oregon is offering a few November rifle hunts for deer now, so maybe it's time to discuss the possibility of a new elk hunt again. Here's my proposal.

Create a 5 day elk season that runs Monday through Friday, occurring between the end of standard archery season and the start of standard rifle deer season. I would characterize this hunt as a "quality experience" hunt more than a "trophy" hunt.

- Make the tags good for public land only, to alleviate concerns of too many animals being harvested via LOP tags.

- Keep tag numbers very low, say 5 per unit.

- Make some units rifle, some muzzleloader, some archery.

- Make the tags good for one bull or one elk depending on herd conditions.

- If xx number of tags are allocated to the "quality" elk hunt, reduce that number of tags proportionally from the other controlled hunts in the unit. For example, if unit xx currently has 500 controlled bull/either sex tags. Issue 5 tags for the "quality" hunt, and 495 for the other hunts.

Here are some of the positives IMO of creating this hunt.

1. This hunt would offer a very high quality hunting experience in regards to very little competition from other hunters. Many hunters desire this type of experience. Many other states successfully manage September rifle/muzzleloader hunts for elk, Oregon should be able to as well.

2. Predictably, this hunt would likely be very popular, and would attract many applicants. This should increase the odds of drawing the standard controlled hunts for those that prefer that experience.

3. Having different weapon types for units would create equity among the various user groups, i.e., archery, rifle, muzzleloader.

4. Having the season occur during that time frame would not conflict with any other standard archery or rifle deer/elk hunts. My hope is that this would alleviate the concerns many archers would have about competing with rifle hunters.

5. There are those that would argue that the herds cannot stand any additional harvest, however, by not allowing LOP tags, and subtracting tags from the standard controlled hunts there should essentially be no change from current harvest levels. For the westside units that only have general bull seasons, I would argue that 2-4 additional elk being harvested on a unit wide basis is not significant enough to negatively impact herd health.

This topic has been touched on over on Ifish, but no detailed proposal such as this one has been discussed. Interested in hearing others thoughts/suggestions. If theres enough positive interest maybe I will make another attempt with ODFW.

B

Sounds good to me. They need to offer more hunts that are appealing to hunters so that the points can be spread out a little more. Same thing needs to happen with antelope and deer. Oregon has a lot of antelope and some great quality bucks. ODFW needs to come up with a lot of hunts to spread across the board. Like you said, these hunts should have a very limited amount of tags. More hunts...Not more tags.

LAST EDITED ON Dec-15-11 AT 12:59PM (MST)[p]ODFW gave us the late rifle hunts to be fair because they had so many archery and muzzleloader hunts in the rut.

I would like to see every antelope unit offer archery and muzzleloader tags and have them go in correct order....archery, muzzleloader and then rifle.

I would also like to see more muzzleloader deer hunts, some early some late.

Oh, and iFish sucks!

Hmm...It might be a good option. That puts a rifle hunt right in the peak of the rut, what impact might that have on the rut? That also keeps the pressure on all the time, no break from people in the woods, Though with under 10 tags per unit it may not have a huge impact. I'm not sure how many people would apply for these tags... but it might ease the draw pressure some. My first reaction is to say not interested in yet another hunt but as i think about it, it might be ok...

I couldn't agree with ole Tyson more. More hunt options would be great... but, less tags overall. Most other states have a larger range of seasons. I'm not sure that ODFW is that creative or adventurous unfortunately.

Bonepicker,

I'm no biologist, but I do have a fair amount of experience hunting general season units in Idaho and Wyoming that have rifle elk hunts during the rut. These hunts have existed for decades and the elk there seem to be reproducing as well, or better, than they are in Oregon. So my opinion, for what it's worth, is that such a tiny amount of hunting pressure will have no effect. In general, Oregons units are very large, so I just can't imagine 5 people spread out, or even concentrated, is going to effect the overall elk rut in any one unit.

And again, just my opinion, but I think this hunt would pull in many applicants for very few available tags. Surely not to the degree of a Wenaha big bull tag, but I could certainly envision lots of folks wanting the opportunity to hunt a unit like Starkey, or Tioga, or Desolation, etc. with virtually no competition for 5 days.

So I see it as a win-win. Those that desire this type of "quality" experience can now have an opportunity, and those that prefer the traditional seasons should have better drawing odds. And we can do it without changing overall tag numbers, or impacting elk herds.

B

I vote a West High Cascade muzzle loader hunt in that time frame to start with. It would be a quality hunt taking alot of preassure of the east side of the state. There are plenty of elk in the Cascades to handle the extra hunt. I would apply for it!

LAST EDITED ON Dec-15-11 AT 10:31PM (MST)[p]i like the idea,

and i agree, ifish sucks! alot of tree huggers hiding on that forum

I think there are to many total hunt days during the rut right now. Get the bow hunters to give up the 5 days before you start adding more tags or allow the hunt during bow season.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------support your local guzzlers. OHA life member,lapine oregon

My problem with that is under current Orgeon Law as an archery hunter there is very little time left in any unit between seasons that i can actively hunt for Bear or Cougar with a rifle, or take my daughter out in the woods with a rifle. Oregon has the party hunting philosphy 180 degrees wrong imo. There are bad apples in every weapon category of hunters but they aren't solving a darn thing with these rules.


My favorite hunts are because they were with friends and family not just because "I got one".

>I think there are to many
>total hunt days during the
>rut right now. Get the
>bow hunters to give up
>the 5 days before you
>start adding more tags or
>allow the hunt during bow
>season.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------support your local guzzlers. OHA
>life member,lapine oregon


sounds like it came strait from I fish???

instead how bout we cut 1/2 of the rifle tags , so that the animals harvested are equal? 50% HARVEST for bow, 50% HARVEST for rifle- kinda like a quota?

in reality, you would put 200% more huntters in the woods during bow season, and rifle hunters would hunters would hunt half as much....

sounds like the type of thinking that got this state into this mess.......

Airo,
The point you bring up about the "party hunting law" is a good one. Other hunts are exempted from that law and I would propose these new hunts be as well.
Baltz,
I can appreciate the concern about continued pressure and how that might affect elk breeding success. Just my opinion, but if one looks objectively at all the other western states and examines elk productivity in units with rut rifle hunts and seasons that are generally much more liberal, the evidence seems overwhelming that rut rifle hunts and healthy herds can coexist. I agree Oregons herds have some problems, but I believe predators and managing for low bull ratios are the root of the problems.

Good discussion so far, hope more will chime in

B

I like the idea.
I agree CRY FEESH does suck.
Ryan

I like the idea. The tags could help get the point hoarders back to zero and help with the point creep issues in the few trophy elk areas we have now. The only thing I think is if you give 5 rifle tags in the rut you will need to remove 50 tags from the regular draw to keep harvest the same. This would vary by unit and can be figured by historic annual harvest

Why not a rifle combo hunt for deer and elk?
Archery hunters already have that chance.

Desparate,

I don't disagree that success rates will be higher, however I don't think reducing overall tag numbers will fly politically with MOST Oregon hunters, and revenue reduction wouldn't be too popular with ODFW.

Brute,

I love the idea of a combo hunt. LOTS of other western states have them, why not us?

So if an idea like this is going to be more than daydreaming, somebody has to take some initiative to get the ball rolling. I am unsure as to the best way to attempt this, but here's what I am willing to do. I will write up a more formal looking draft proposal, and e-mail it to whoever p.m.'s me. Then if you will share it with as many folks as you can, we can refine it somewhat and maybe get a couple hundred signatures and submit it to ODFW. I am open to suggestions if anyone has a better plan of action to recommend. You can reach me at [email protected].

B

LAST EDITED ON Dec-21-11 AT 05:15PM (MST)[p]Here is the page link to the commission of ODFW if you want to get any traction on your idea. You will need at least one of them to like your idea. Start at the top http://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/commission/members.asp ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------support your local guzzlers. OHA life member,lapine oregon

>Desparate,
>
>I don't disagree that success rates
>will be higher, however I
>don't think reducing overall tag
>numbers will fly politically with
>MOST Oregon hunters, and revenue
>reduction wouldn't be too popular
>with ODFW.
>

I like the idea and I would sign on to help get it passed. My reason for support is a selfish one. It would benifit me to have the high point holders applying in more units. But until the ODFW stops thinking about the bottom line and focuses on the well being of our herds, we will never be able to compare our hunting to that of states like Arizona, Utah and Nevada.

Banger,

I love your idea and your initiative? That's exactly what is needed here. I might make a suggestion:

Since you are essentially making this your baby, take a moment and decide on a formal process you would like to follow to receive input and support. Then, see the process through. Also, be prepared to be inundated with opinions and realize that you will not keep everyone happy. Frankly, I doubt you could keep even 25% of us Oregon hunters happy; we're all so frustrated with ODFW. Good luck. I'll support your cause as much as I'm able.

Everyone,

So unfortunately I am going to have to retract my offer in post 15 of trying to push this idea through, at least temporarily. An initiative such as this one would take considerable time and effort I think, and one of lifes unexpected circumstances is going to require my energy elsewhere. So please hold off on sending me e-mails, and my apologies to those of you who already have.

If anyone else has the desire to take this on please do so. I am by no means claiming ownership of the idea, or looking for any credit or anything like that if it were to succeed. Perhaps someone out there who is much more connected than me could start the ball rolling. As Baltz suggests, maybe someone who knows a commissioner, an ODFW biologist who is receptive, OHA leadership, etc.

I really hope to get back to this again if someone else does not take up the cause, as I think it would really be a great thing for Oregon's hunting community. My apologies again that I cannot take it on now as I had intended.

B