10-09-2007, 06:10 PM
SALEM, Ore. - The Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet Friday, Oct.12 at the department's Salem headquarters, 3406 Cherry Ave NE. The meeting begins at 8 a.m. and proceeds chronologically through an agenda available at
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/commission/minutes/
The Commission is expected to adopt the 2008 big game regulations already previewed during the June 2007 meeting. Among the changes ODFW staff are proposing that may affect hunters in 2008 are:
Bear tooth collection from successful hunters, an important tool used to estimate bear populations, will become mandatory. Participation in this currently voluntary program is not high enough.
Bow hunters will get a controlled late season buck hunting opportunity (a total of 90 tags, mostly in the High Desert Region). The department's proposal is in response to a request from the Oregon Bowhunters Association. Bow hunters that obtain these controlled tags would not be able to hunt during the general season.
Due to the ability of ODFW's new point-of-sale system to better track licenses, hunters will no longer forfeit preference points when not applying for a controlled hunt for two consecutive years.
Future hunters may begin applying for preference points at age 5 rather than age 11.
Under a law passed by the state legislature earlier this year meant to simplify the process for disabled hunters, hunters can now be certified as disabled by a certified nurse practitioner or a licensed physician assistant, not just a licensed physician.<br />
Also due to a law passed by the state legislature during the 2007 session, the Commission is expected to adopt rules to manage special department-appointed agents who would pursue bears or cougars with dogs. Agents could only use dogs when working in an official capacity to implement the state's wildlife management plans or responding to damage or public safety complaints involving bears or cougars. Staff are proposing that agents undergo background checks, attend a training session where a code of conduct, specific area boundaries and timing of activities is reviewed, and sign an agreement with the agency indicating rules are understood and will be followed.
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/commission/minutes/
The Commission is expected to adopt the 2008 big game regulations already previewed during the June 2007 meeting. Among the changes ODFW staff are proposing that may affect hunters in 2008 are:
Bear tooth collection from successful hunters, an important tool used to estimate bear populations, will become mandatory. Participation in this currently voluntary program is not high enough.
Bow hunters will get a controlled late season buck hunting opportunity (a total of 90 tags, mostly in the High Desert Region). The department's proposal is in response to a request from the Oregon Bowhunters Association. Bow hunters that obtain these controlled tags would not be able to hunt during the general season.
Due to the ability of ODFW's new point-of-sale system to better track licenses, hunters will no longer forfeit preference points when not applying for a controlled hunt for two consecutive years.
Future hunters may begin applying for preference points at age 5 rather than age 11.
Under a law passed by the state legislature earlier this year meant to simplify the process for disabled hunters, hunters can now be certified as disabled by a certified nurse practitioner or a licensed physician assistant, not just a licensed physician.<br />
Also due to a law passed by the state legislature during the 2007 session, the Commission is expected to adopt rules to manage special department-appointed agents who would pursue bears or cougars with dogs. Agents could only use dogs when working in an official capacity to implement the state's wildlife management plans or responding to damage or public safety complaints involving bears or cougars. Staff are proposing that agents undergo background checks, attend a training session where a code of conduct, specific area boundaries and timing of activities is reviewed, and sign an agreement with the agency indicating rules are understood and will be followed.