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Illegal Denman hunters to pay AP Illegally hunting on off days at the Denman Wildlife Area's Hall Tract will now get expensive. By MARK FREEMAN It will start costing more than a sheepish apology for hunters who illegally stalk waterfowl or other birds at the Denman Wildlife Area during regular off days for shooting. Off-day hunting at the wildlife area's Hall Tract will start costing $75 -- more for those who shoot birds -- because of a crackdown on people illegally hunting the wildlife area on off days. The wildlife area's Hall Tract is open for hunting only Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays in an effort to give huntable critters a few days off each week as well as offer a break to nearby landowners unhappy with shooting on the state-owned property. But a continued rash of off-day hunting has state wildlife biologists, who had been lenient with rookie offenders, so frustrated that breaks to first-timers are now a thing of the past. "We're tired of it, and we're going to start pinching people," wildlife area manager Mark Vargas says. "The rule has been in place long enough. It's time to crack down." The first to feel the effects of the new policy is Stanley Dritchas, a White City man who was cited Monday by an Oregon State Police officer for taking wildlife while hunting in a closed area. Dritchas was seen by an OSP officer walking out of the Hall Tract holding a duck, police said. His ticket has a $150 bail, but would have been just $75 had he come out empty-handed. Dritchas could not be reached for comment Wednesday. Vargas says he sent Dritchas a warning letter for a similar alleged violation last year. The Hall Tract is a large section of flooded fields and ponds of the state-run wildlife area. It is bordered by Avenue A and Table Rock Road, and shots fired there are within hearing distance of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife District Office, which is also on the wildlife area. Hunting is allowed at Denman and other state-run wildlife areas, but under some specific rules that do not apply elsewhere. For waterfowl, that means shooting is allowed only on Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays and Thanksgiving Day from Nov. 1 through the end of waterfowl hunting on Jan. 23. The intent of the rule is to reduce hunting pressure on the tract's waterfowl as well as provide some quiet time to nearby landowners unhappy with regular and legal shooting so close to their residences. "It's a rule to give the birds a chance to rest and the land-owners a little piece and quiet," Vargas says. The rules are plainly written on Page 22 of the 1999-2000 Oregon Game Bird Regulations booklet, and posted at all Hall Tract entry points. Despite the availability of the rules, many hunters enter the area on off days. "Most people are legitimately unaware of it," Vargas says. "But it's posted and we've had it in place long enough." In the past, most first-time violators have been given warnings and sent away. "We gave a lot of warnings last year," OSP Senior Trooper Pat McNeilly says. "I'm not in the mood to give them this year." Those who are cited can either pay the bail or appear in court. Those who appear in court and either are convicted or plead guilty tend to get reduced fines, provided they have a clean background, McNeilly says. Those with one or more convictions for past fish or wildlife violations tend to get stiffer penalties, McNeilly says. (Staff writer Mark Freeman covers the outdoors for the Mail Tribune. Call him at 776-4470, or e-mail him at [email protected] ) Outdoor Journal main page Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA