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New hunting law sparks concerns By Mark Freeman Some hunters and state wildlife biologists are sharing concerns that a new law aimed at more equitably doling out extra big-game tags may damage two of Western Oregon�s last remaining unfettered elk hunts. The concerns involve how the limited-entry hunting seasons in southwest Oregon�s Powers and Tioga units could suffer lower bull ratios and potential over-crowding of elk hunters beginning this fall. The Tioga and Powers units each sport a rarity among Oregon elk hunts: the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife traditionally offers hundreds more tags to hunters in the June controlled-hunt lottery and the mid-summer "second chance" drawing. But the second-chance drawing will not be used this year, and all unsold tags will be offered beginning July 1 on a first-come, first-served basis. This will allow hunters the legal chance of getting two bull-elk tags a year, so biologists expect the under-hunted Tioga and Powers units likely will bulge with first-timers when the seasons open in November. "With this new system, we�re going to sell all those tags," says Steve Denney, the ODFW�s Umpqua Watershed Manager in Roseburg. "I�d be surprised if we didn�t. With the potential for overcrowding and with the extra bulls that will be taken, there are some concerns we have and hunters have." Denney is trying to get out in front of the potential conflicts and problems by holding some public meetings this month to explain the new tag-selling law and its possible impacts on the Power and Tioga units, and to gather input on how best to limit these conflicts. Possible solutions include intentionally cutting back the bull-elk tags for the two units so there are no extra hunters in the Tioga and Powers units this fall, Denney says. Another possibility is not to alter this fall�s tag numbers, but watch closely whether the extra tags generate feelings of overcrowding or cases of overharvest of bulls from traditional levels, Denney says. A third possibility could include trimming back the tag numbers slightly, then monitoring its impacts, he says. Denney�s office mailed letters to more than 4,400 hunters who regularly hunt the Tioga and Powers units to let them know about the changes and invite their input at the public meetings. A meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday in Roseburg at the Douglas County Church Annex, 1134 S.E. Douglas St. A second meeting will be held at the Coos Bay Public Library at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The changes to controlled-hunt tag allocations come in the wake of a new law passed by the 1999 Oregon Legislature. Beginning this year, any hunting license holder may purchase a leftover tag after the regular controlled hunt drawing on a first-come, first-served basis � thereby allowing hunters to get as many as two bull-elk tags annually. Historically, Oregon has been a one-elk-a-year state. The hunts already have been scheduled for this November. However, actual tag numbers for the hunting units will not be set until June. Last year, the ODFW offered 5,360 total tags in the two November hunts in the Tioga Unit, and 1,083 total tags in two Powers hunts. However, only fewer than 2,200 people applied for the Tioga tags last year, and the Powers hunts didn�t attract 700 applicants. The low hunter numbers occur because most limited-entry elk hunters have used Eastern Oregon units for their one chance at drawing a bull-elk tag. Under the new rules, hunters still can attempt to acquire their Eastern Oregon tags in the drawing, then buy the Tioga or Powers tags almost as a bonus � something many elk hunters likely are going to consider advantageous. "Usually, about 300 to 500 tags remain after the two draws, so Tioga elk hunters could see that many more hunters in each elk hunt," Denney says. "There may also be an additional 500 to 600 hunters in the Powers Unit during the first season." Anyone wanting a copy of the information mailed to hunters can contact the Roseburg or Charleston ODFW offices. Hunters who cannot attend the meetings may submit written comments and recommendations by letter or e-mail to the ODFW at one of the following addresses. Comments must be received by March 16. Comments can be mailed to: Mike Black, ODFW, 4192 N. Umpqua Highway, Roseburg OR 97470. Or they can be sent electronically over the Web at: [email protected] Staff writer Mark Freeman covers the outdoors for the Mail Tribune. Call him at 776-4470, or e-mail him at [email protected] ) Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.