09-27-2007, 04:10 PM
Deadline for Tag Sales: The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife encourages hunters to avoid long lines and purchase their buck deer, fall bear and general season cougar tags before the Sept. 28 deadline.
OPEN: blue grouse, mourning dove (ends Sept. 30), ruffed grouse and mountain quail, bear, cougar, general Western deer centerfire (opens Sept. 29), western gray squirrel, crow (opens Oct. 1)
Mountain Quail
- Photo by Greg Gillson-
Blue grouse, ruffed grouse, mountain quail
Look for these birds while they search for their meal of seeds, berries and insects along graveled roads in the forest. Hunters targeting the blue grouse should look in upper elevations, especially forested areas on ridge tops. Ruffed grouse are more common along stream bottoms and mid-slope areas. Mountain quail should be found in older, brushy clear cuts, especially on south facing slopes. ODFW staff observed higher than average number of grouse and moderate numbers of mountain quail in the Coast range.
General Rifle (deer)
BLACK-TAILED DEER tend to be quite active during the daylight hours in late summer but will restrict their activities more and become more wary as the fall progresses. Best bets are to scout along older, brushed-in clearcut edges near bigger timber. While deer numbers overall are moderate, buck escapement from last year's seasons was high, but leaning towards older bucks. Entry-level bucks (which tend to make up more of the usual harvest) may be in shorter supply.
The latest fire closure restrictions on industrial forest lands and access opportunities
Bear and cougar
Black Bear<br />
Oregon Fish and Wildlife<br />
Black Bear are actively feeding, especially on the very abundant wild berry crops from this summer. A strategy for hunting them in the early morning and late evening hours is watching clear-cuts and natural openings. At other times during the day, use of a predator call is the best approach. Generally, long and persistent calling is the most effective way to call them in.
All indicators point to the north coast as having relatively low cougar densities, when compared to most of the rest of the state. However, they can still be located, especially if hunters are dedicated to using calls as their primary strategy. Like with black bear, cougar are probably most effectively hunted by long and persistent calling with a predator call.
Western gray squirrels are most likely to be found in mixed deciduous-conifer forests amid oak and maple trees and in filbert orchards. Unlike in southern Oregon, these native squirrels occur at naturally low densities in north coast forests.
Back to the top
VIEWING
Fall Bird Migration: Tillamook Forest Center, Oct. 6, 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
During autumn, many birds stop in the Tillamook State Forest as they head south for the winter. Come learn about the incredible journey of migratory birds between their breeding grounds in North America and their wintering grounds in Mexico, Central and South America. More information and directions
National Estuary Day, Sept. 28-29, OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center
Visit the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport and learning about the importance of estuaries to people and aquatic life. Friday's program is "Estuary Live!" Saturday's program is "Know your Estuary: The Water through Time." More information
Look up! Early Migrant Waterfowl
Flying Geese<br />
- Photo by Kathy Munsel -
Ducks and geese are beginning to move south and can often be seen and heard overhead in the evenings. Coastal estuaries are stop-over points for many of these birds as they gather resources and rest up for their long trip to wintering grounds. Several species that are not resident to the north coast may make an appearance and can be viewed during this time, including white-fronted and snow geese.
A medium-sized goose that breeds on the arctic tundra, the Snow Goose travels south in large, high-flying, noisy flocks. Visit the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for photos, facts and a migration map
North Coast
Brown pelicans are often plentiful on the north coast in early fall. They usually roost on near-shore rocks and feed on fish in the ocean and north coast estuaries, including the Columbia River. During low tides, Netarts Bay has been host to hundreds, if not thousands of the birds, fishing in its shallow waters. Brown pelicans are both humorous and awe-inspiring to watch.
Astoria Area
Cormorant flexes his wings - Astoria<br />
- Photo by Kathy Munsel, ODFW -
Visit the viewing bunker at Ft. Stevens State Park that overlooks Trestle Bay and offers viewing of gulls, terns, pelicans and some waterfowl. Binoculars or a spotting scope are helpful to enhance viewing. The nearby South Jetty platform on the western side of Clatsop Spit is a great place to observe brown pelicans and occasionally seabirds. It's best to bring binocular to view from the platform. In either case, if you're in the area in early morning or late evening, be on the lookout for elk that inhabit the Park area. They are often seen feeding in open marsh grass areas near Trestle Bay, adjacent to the Clatsop Spit Road.
Seaside Area: Jewell Meadows
Elk<br />
- Photo by Robert Mutch -<br />
Elk viewing has been exciting at Jewell Meadows Wildlife Area. Elk are in full rut with the bulls bugling and battling for dominance. The breeding season should start to wind down over the next couple of weeks. Best viewing times are early morning and late evening hours, depending on the weather. As fall temperatures start to drop and the rainy season starts, the elk should be visible in the meadows for longer periods during the day.
Visitors to the wildlife area are reminded that areas posted as "Wildlife Refuge" are closed to entry all year and posted portions of the Beneke Tract are closed during elk hunting seasons including general archery season. Consult the 2007 Big Game Regulations for more information on hunting seasons.
Jewell Meadows is located in central Clatsop County along Hwy 202.
OPEN: blue grouse, mourning dove (ends Sept. 30), ruffed grouse and mountain quail, bear, cougar, general Western deer centerfire (opens Sept. 29), western gray squirrel, crow (opens Oct. 1)
Mountain Quail
- Photo by Greg Gillson-
Blue grouse, ruffed grouse, mountain quail
Look for these birds while they search for their meal of seeds, berries and insects along graveled roads in the forest. Hunters targeting the blue grouse should look in upper elevations, especially forested areas on ridge tops. Ruffed grouse are more common along stream bottoms and mid-slope areas. Mountain quail should be found in older, brushy clear cuts, especially on south facing slopes. ODFW staff observed higher than average number of grouse and moderate numbers of mountain quail in the Coast range.
General Rifle (deer)
BLACK-TAILED DEER tend to be quite active during the daylight hours in late summer but will restrict their activities more and become more wary as the fall progresses. Best bets are to scout along older, brushed-in clearcut edges near bigger timber. While deer numbers overall are moderate, buck escapement from last year's seasons was high, but leaning towards older bucks. Entry-level bucks (which tend to make up more of the usual harvest) may be in shorter supply.
The latest fire closure restrictions on industrial forest lands and access opportunities
Bear and cougar
Black Bear<br />
Oregon Fish and Wildlife<br />
Black Bear are actively feeding, especially on the very abundant wild berry crops from this summer. A strategy for hunting them in the early morning and late evening hours is watching clear-cuts and natural openings. At other times during the day, use of a predator call is the best approach. Generally, long and persistent calling is the most effective way to call them in.
All indicators point to the north coast as having relatively low cougar densities, when compared to most of the rest of the state. However, they can still be located, especially if hunters are dedicated to using calls as their primary strategy. Like with black bear, cougar are probably most effectively hunted by long and persistent calling with a predator call.
Western gray squirrels are most likely to be found in mixed deciduous-conifer forests amid oak and maple trees and in filbert orchards. Unlike in southern Oregon, these native squirrels occur at naturally low densities in north coast forests.
Back to the top
VIEWING
Fall Bird Migration: Tillamook Forest Center, Oct. 6, 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
During autumn, many birds stop in the Tillamook State Forest as they head south for the winter. Come learn about the incredible journey of migratory birds between their breeding grounds in North America and their wintering grounds in Mexico, Central and South America. More information and directions
National Estuary Day, Sept. 28-29, OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center
Visit the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport and learning about the importance of estuaries to people and aquatic life. Friday's program is "Estuary Live!" Saturday's program is "Know your Estuary: The Water through Time." More information
Look up! Early Migrant Waterfowl
Flying Geese<br />
- Photo by Kathy Munsel -
Ducks and geese are beginning to move south and can often be seen and heard overhead in the evenings. Coastal estuaries are stop-over points for many of these birds as they gather resources and rest up for their long trip to wintering grounds. Several species that are not resident to the north coast may make an appearance and can be viewed during this time, including white-fronted and snow geese.
A medium-sized goose that breeds on the arctic tundra, the Snow Goose travels south in large, high-flying, noisy flocks. Visit the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for photos, facts and a migration map
North Coast
Brown pelicans are often plentiful on the north coast in early fall. They usually roost on near-shore rocks and feed on fish in the ocean and north coast estuaries, including the Columbia River. During low tides, Netarts Bay has been host to hundreds, if not thousands of the birds, fishing in its shallow waters. Brown pelicans are both humorous and awe-inspiring to watch.
Astoria Area
Cormorant flexes his wings - Astoria<br />
- Photo by Kathy Munsel, ODFW -
Visit the viewing bunker at Ft. Stevens State Park that overlooks Trestle Bay and offers viewing of gulls, terns, pelicans and some waterfowl. Binoculars or a spotting scope are helpful to enhance viewing. The nearby South Jetty platform on the western side of Clatsop Spit is a great place to observe brown pelicans and occasionally seabirds. It's best to bring binocular to view from the platform. In either case, if you're in the area in early morning or late evening, be on the lookout for elk that inhabit the Park area. They are often seen feeding in open marsh grass areas near Trestle Bay, adjacent to the Clatsop Spit Road.
Seaside Area: Jewell Meadows
Elk<br />
- Photo by Robert Mutch -<br />
Elk viewing has been exciting at Jewell Meadows Wildlife Area. Elk are in full rut with the bulls bugling and battling for dominance. The breeding season should start to wind down over the next couple of weeks. Best viewing times are early morning and late evening hours, depending on the weather. As fall temperatures start to drop and the rainy season starts, the elk should be visible in the meadows for longer periods during the day.
Visitors to the wildlife area are reminded that areas posted as "Wildlife Refuge" are closed to entry all year and posted portions of the Beneke Tract are closed during elk hunting seasons including general archery season. Consult the 2007 Big Game Regulations for more information on hunting seasons.
Jewell Meadows is located in central Clatsop County along Hwy 202.