When I was about 10 years old, my father, an avid waterfowler, took me out on my first snipe hunt. His preface on the drive out to the marsh was to be suspicious of anyone who offered to take me on a snipe hunt. He explained the folklore of a fool's errand, where a city slicker is taken out in the woods with a burlap sack and a flashlight, basically left to their own devices with an impossible mission. Snipe hunting however is a real thing that people do, and although it's not as difficult as catching a bird with a sack in the middle of the night, it's still a fun, challenging endeavour.
The appreciation of small game hunting in general is something that seems to have been lost among the modern hunters of today. It's lack of popularity and hunter participation has some fringe benefits. Private landowners are more likely to grant permission to hunt small game than deer. Small game hunting areas, specifically the habitat that is likely to hold snipe, are typically less pressured. Getting away from other hunters offers an experience of solitude, which is a nice change of pace from battling with weekend warrior waterfowlers.
It's a great alternative activity when your days off don't always align with the best days of duck hunting. Snipe are often a by-catch as far as harvesting target species, and their season runs parallel with waterfowl in Oregon and Washington. A fair weather day that doesn't get ducks moving can often become a great snipe hunt. Popular public game reserves for pheasant and waterfowling are good places to look when duck hunters are at home waiting for a rainy day. Drainage ditches and shallow flooded grasslands near wooded areas are another safe bet. A snowy small game hunt can often narrow down the space these birds will occupy. Their long beaks are made for capturing worms in bogs, shorelines, or the edges of marshland. Frozen ground will often push them back into thick cover. They need to be able to probe the ground to be out and actively feeding.
Snipe are the only shorebirds legal to hunt, and they inhabit the northwest year round. There are many shorebirds that are protected species, but once you stumble upon snipe, observing their flying habits make them unmistakable. Killdeer are often encountered in the same areas and are off limits. They make a loud, continuous, annoying call, and often fake being injured to lead threats away from their nests. There are several other shorebird species such as the dowitcher, that are also off-limits that you're likely to see out in the marsh. These you'll often see out in open flats in large flocks. You'll be able to spot snipe once they're airborne, it is extremely unlikely you'll ever see one on the ground. They make a distinctive peep as they leave the ground and take to the air.
One tip my father gave me on that hunt as a kid was, "Shoot 'em before they shit!" His suggestion was that snipe are like a racehorse with wings, meaning that once they lifted off and lightened their load, they would suddenly accelerate into oblivion. That advice helped me take my first snipe on that hunt, just as it left the ground. However, hunting them as an adult revealed the value of patience.
The flight pattern of a snipe for the most part is highly unpredictable, zigging and zagging erratically as they reach a certain altitude, wings beating frantically, often looking confused as to where it's going, much to the confusion of the hunter aiming at it. A "sniper" is a shooter skilled enough to take down this strange bird. Although the birds are excellent table fare, this is admittedly not the most economical method at gathering food, and they are mainly appetizer sized birds. The scientific name for Wilson's snipe is Gallinago delicata, gallina being latin for "hen," the suffix -ago meaning "resembling," and delicata meaning "dainty." They are small creatures that are tough to hit and it often takes many shells to bring home a few. Non-toxic shot is required by law, and you don't have to use the smallest shot possible with the most pellets you can sling in their general direction, but it helps.
There is a bizarre phenomenon to their flight pattern that sometimes pays off not to take the shot right away. Once they've frantically zigged, zagged, and gained altitude until nearly out of range, they often seem to forget why they flew off in the first place, double back, and attempt to land where they took off. This is often your best shot, and you may not get this opportunity if you spray and pray right away. Walking with the wind to your back also creates an advantage as they often take flight into the direction of the wind, giving you a better chance at an early shot.
Hunting snipe is the hybrid of flushing upland game birds and waterfowling among the marsh. It's a great youth hunting opportunity on days when it's difficult to keep kids engaged because ducks aren't flying. It doesn't require fancy camo or a well-trained dog, and it's a good hunting opportunity for a minimalist that enjoys walking. Being able to hunt shallow marsh in fair weather often means you can perform this activity in jeans and hip waders, rather than getting fully suited and booted.
This article was published in the January 2019 issue of Northwest Sportsman Magazine
As the last leaves begin to fall and mornings are coated with a layer of frost, winter is slowly creeping it's way through Oregon. Having not only the right gear, but the right attitude can better prepare you for the seasonal transition.
The late Greta Wrolstad's poem "Fontaine de Vaucluse" speaks of rivers being released into a parched valley. The dry weather has shriveled up lakes and river systems into a series of puddles making it difficult for anadromous fish to travel upstream to spawn. As the seasons change in the Pacific Northwest, the lack of vitamin D, also known as the "Sunshine Vitamin" changes our moods along with the weather. Rain, although a mild irritation, is a necessary element to our environment. Welcoming, rather than lamenting the transition of sunshine into precipitation is merely a matter of changing your perspective. Replacing your resentment with gratitude will change your attitude.
With the rain, the dust settles. The moisture of the soil invites mycelium to spread beneath the layer of debris on the forest floor and mushrooms to fruit at our feet. Rising rivers push smolts out to sea, and invite adult salmonids upstream to create the next generation. Birds begin their migration to the south. While the exposed limbs of deciduous trees and dilapidated annuals are a symbol of death and passing, wildlife begins to hustle, bustle, and make moves. The darkness and rain can make shorter days seem dreary, but water is life. As Wrolstad says, "The Season of Rain is Coming, Hold out Your Hand."
It's important for our mental health to be like water, and go with the flow during the transition to the rainy season. Pull your rain gear out of the closet and run it through the wash. Have a good pair of boots. Replace your windshield wipers and tires. Prepare yourself mentally for the challenges of maintaining an active lifestyle and have all the necessary items to prevent yourselves from being discouraged to go outdoors, rain or shine. This article was published on the Visit Corvallis website on 11/25/19 https://www.visitcorvallis.com/articles/the-truth-about-oregons-rainy-season
E.E. Wilson Wildlife area located is located just north of Adair Village, and offers a multitude of opportunities within a short drive of town. During the month of October, ODFW releases rooster pheasants for upland bird hunters that often use a hunting dog to flush the birds. Hunting takes place between a half hour after sunrise until 5pm in the wildlife area during the pheasant season, but opportunities for quail and duck continue from fall into winter, as well as year round opportunities for small game like rabbit and squirrel. E.E. Wilson is shotgun only, requires the use of steel shot, and the use of rifles is prohibited. One exception is big game. Buckshot and slugs are legal to hunt elk and blacktail deer. Archery hunts for big game are another exception.
The archery range offers a variety of targets at varying distances, as well as a 3D target of a bull elk. Across Camp Adair road to the south, there's a sporting clay shooting range as well. Both facilities offer the opportunity for hunters to hone their skills and perfect their aim for the big hunt.
A parking pass is required for parking at the gated entrances to the wildlife area, and funds the upkeep and maintenance of food plots planted for wildlife. The wildlife area exists on the site of the World War II Camp Adair military base, and is gridded with paved roads that now serve as walking paths, while the dilapidated remains of structures still exist from that era. The scenery provides some historical significance and perspective, as nature continues to persevere, overtaking the concrete pillars and platforms with moss and debris. It's got an eerie vibe about it that is unlike hunting anywhere else.
That means not only picking up after yourself, but take a moment to pick up a few pieces of trash that you find this week. Accidents happen, and anglers lose tackle, so it's important to offset our impact on the places we fish by leaving those places better than we found them.
2. NO SWIMMING
Wading up to the knees is okay. Ideally, we don't want to scare the fish, so it's better to be stealthy.
3. NO THROWING STICKS/ROCKS/ETC -
We don't want anyone to get hurt, break any rods, and again, we don't want to scare the fish.
4. BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS -
Don't disturb other anglers. Look before you cast so you don't hook a tree limb or each other. Take in natural observations, what forage the fish might feed on and where fish might hide. Weather patterns, position of the sun and shadows being cast into the water. Enjoying the outdoors and learning about the local flora and fauna we're going to be discovering. Don't harass wildlife. Be aware of plants like blackberries, poison oak, or nettles that could ruin our day, or end the week early.
5. KNOW YOUR FISH -
- Discuss different species in the area - Catch and release laws vs. ethics
5. Overview of agenda for today:
- Nature walk - Observe plants, birds, habitat, (hopefully) fish - Turn over rocks/observe food sources for fish - talk about what kind of bait you could find in nature - how would you imitate that forage with artificial lures? 7. Tackle, Knots, & Rigging -
- Rods, Reels, and how they work, inside and out - Overview of Line, Weights, Swivels, Hooks - Fisherman's Knot - Rigging demonstration(s)
8. Fish anatomy and processing - Dispatch your catch (bleeding out to increase quality of meat and preservation) - Outer anatomy (fins, scales, etc.) - Inner anatomy (bone structure, organs, meat) - Filleting - Scaling - Gutting - Proper disposal
A small group in our community is working on creating a new promotional brochure that will highlight culinary and agritourism businesses in and around Benton and Linn Counties. We are now taking applications to join the Mid-Willamette Valley Food Trail and would love for you to apply or send this along to others who might be interested in this opportunity.
The Food Trail is a self-guided journey to culinary and agricultural experiences in and around Benton and Linn Counties that include the following:
·Printed brochures with a detailed map that lists your business for visitors seeking unique culinary and agricultural experiences. This brochure will be coming out in March 2020.
·Self-guided itineraries that visitors can use for trip planning. Itineraries will be featured in the printed brochure and online.
·Marketing campaign focused on telling the Mid-Willamette Valley's culinary and agricultural story through videos showcasing local stories via social media.
After applying and receiving confirmation, participants of this program will receive:
·Printed maps for distribution
·Listing on the website and possibly the printed brochure
·Part of promotional campaigns
·Access to culinary/agritourism support and resources
We would love for you to participate! Here is a link to where you can learn more about the trail and complete the application https://www.visitcorvallis.com/foodtrail. We will be taking applications until November 15, 2019, and anticipate decisions by early January. If your application is accepted, you will be required to attend a business training in January or February 2020, before the official launch of the trail in March 2020, to learn more about the program, marketing, and agritourism best practices. After completing this training, you will receive a free Agritourism Limited Liability sign (required for farms, ranches, and wineries per ORS 30.671 to 30.677).
With many of our fishing harvest opportunities shrinking or completely vanishing, there's one in particular that has moved into the spotlight in recent history. Casting from the surf can be a fun alternative to chasing unicorn meat among a myriad of jetboats in the spring. Surf perch provide an abundance of harvest opportunity, with an aggregate limit of 15 fish in Oregon, which is home to 9 different viviparous species classified taxonomically in the family of Embiotocidae. For those who don't speak greek, the family name comes from embios, meaning "persistent," and tokos, meaning "birth," because they are one of the few fishes that give birth to their young. The embryo as well as the yolk are both nourished directly by the mother. They typically give birth during the fall, so spring is the perfect time to gather a few for the table. This is also the time of year when surf perch typically begin to form schools tight to the shoreline to begin spawning.
As these fisheries grow in popularity, internet groups and forums specifically categorized for westcoast surfcasting or Oregon surf perch fishing are more relaxed on offering reports and information to improve your success, so by all means, utilize them. These small communities are often very welcoming to new members, and great ambassadors to the sport of fishing in general. While the catch may be plentiful, much about the Central Oregon Coast population of surf perch is still a mystery, so ODFW encourages keeping a few for the dinner table and releasing the rest. Redtail surf perch take 3 to 4 years to reach sexual maturity and the quantity of young they bear is relative to their size. Starry flounder, petrale and sand soles are sometimes a by catch, and also offer a very generous harvest limit of 25 fish.
The two most common species of surf perch are redtail and striped perch. Smaller species like the Walleye and Shiner perch are also quite common, but snack sized at best. The best part is all species of surf perch live within fifty feet of the shoreline, so you don't need a boat to target them. Having a surf rod that can handle slinging heavy weight long distances is definitely an advantage, but something sensitive enough to detect strikes in the churning waves is also helpful. Sandshrimp, sidewinder crabs, clams or mussels are good bait options, but their diet mostly consists of Pacific mole crab or "sand flea" or "sand crab." If you can find a sandy area with these critters, they make great bait, and there's probably surf perch around.
If you're fishing bait, a crappie rig and snell rigged baitholder hooks work just fine but a sliding weight can give you an advantage at detecting strikes in heavy surf and allows your presentation to move around a little more freely without being washed away. As far as hook size is concerned, consider if you'd like to catch more or bigger fish, and choose an appropriate size. Clawfoot or medallion weights are vital at keeping your presentation from being tossed around in the surf. Harry's Bait & Tackle in Newport is my favorite pitstop for all of the above, and don't be afraid to ask for a few suggestions on where others are having success. Horsefall Beach and Sparrow Park Rd are good starting points on the south coast. Vehicle and recreational ATV access offers some opportunity to be a little more mobile up and down the coastline in those areas. Ona Beach and Fishing Rock are good places to look along the central coast, while Seaside and Gerhart. are starting points for the North Coast.
Try to avoid large concentrations of people, as many of the popular parks and recreational areas will be full of looky-loos asking what you're doing every five minutes. If you can find access to a beach near residential areas, you'll have a little more space to work with, and you won't have to keep such a close eye on whatever you have back on the shore. Always check the local regulations for where you're planning on fishing just to make sure you're not entering a marine reserve.
If you're targeting redtails over the sand, look for areas with a depression in the waves, or flat water just beyond the breakers. That sweet spot is where you find schooling redtails. They are more likely to move up and down the shoreline than in and out, so if you find a school and lose it, move to your left or right instead of just trying to cast out further. Wearing waders is a good way to get a little closer, but respect the element of danger to being out there and don't turn your back on the ocean. Having a stringer you can carry and keep with you will also help keep your catch from washing away, or becoming a seagull snack on shore while you're focused and casting into the waves. Once you learn to read the water, you'll be able to spot "holes" in the surf, which could be as simple as an area where waves seem to meet from two different angles and just sort of die on the water's surface. Anywhere a creek or estuary dumps into the ocean is another safe bet, as there's a steady flow of food sources pouring into the surf.
Timing is everything. If you're not fishing on the incoming tide, the odds are stacked against you. All the little critters along the shoreline that are washed into the surf when the tide comes back in create a feeding frenzy. It may take a while for that frenzy to start or find a feeding school, so if you're not getting bit in a few minutes, bounce around a little bit and try some different presentations. Using a dual presentation can give you an advantage of trying a couple different baits at once to find out what they want they're on a finicky bite. Swells are almost necessary to churn up food for redtails. Anything beyond 5-6 feet swells aren't worth it to risk it for the biscuit. Not just because it's dangerous, but big swells will also churn up lots of salty vegetables that make it frustrating to impossible to fish.
Don't rule out soft plastics or scent either. A small mister twister curly tail grub with a motor oil color is a classic sand crab imitation. Berkeley gulp sandshrimp or sandworms are an excellent bait for redtails. You really only need about a 2" sized bait, so you can split them up and be a little more conservative with them. UV can sometimes make a difference as well. Rob Brown also sells a soft plastic creature bait that resembles a hellgrammite on his Custom Tackle Works website or on the shelves at Oregon Rod Reel & Tackle. ORRT also carries a wide selection of thirsty beads, which rigged above your presentation can aid in holding scent.
While all of these work great on the sand for redtails, striped perch tend to favor live bait over soft plastics, and hold tighter to outcropping rocks or pilings. When the surf or the wind picks up, you can still find areas tucked away behind geographical wind and current breaks where you'll find striped perch. Read the water like you would for salmon or steelhead. If there's something there to break the currents of the incoming (or outgoing) tides, fish the breaks in those currents or just beyond them. Small fingers or pilings off the jetties in estuaries are prime territory. They are opportunistic feeders that will often hold in that soft water waiting for food to wash over the structure. While redtails tend to hover along the bottom, striped surf perch will often be suspended, so a crappie rig with the weight on the bottom is more ideal than a sliding weight setup. Cast, reel the line tight, and raise the rod tip up so the two baits are suspended off the bottom. If you're crawling out on the rocks, make sure you can get back when the tide begins to rise.
If you're interested in a little friendly competition, YouTube user Pk Yi (who has a following of 41k subscribers) puts on annual surf perch derbies. His event last year brought in 90 participants, and he's planning another for July 27th at Ona Beach State Park. If you're in Washington, check out SurfPerchDerby.com for an annual event on May 19th in Long Beach. If you've got a busy schedule and can't make it to those events, you can also enter the month long derby in May held by Tony's Crab Shack in Bandon. All species of surf perch are accepted from Humbug Mountain, Port Orford to Horsefall Beach in Coos Bay at this event. Good luck!
This article was published in the March 2019 issue of Northwest Sportsman Magazine
That means not only picking up after yourself, but take a moment to pick up a few pieces of trash that you find this week. Accidents happen, and we might lose some tackle, but let's offset our impact on this place by leaving this place better than we found it.
2. NO SWIMMING -
Wading up to the knees is okay. Ideally, we don't want to scare the fish, so it's better to be stealthy
3. NO THROWING STICKS/ROCKS/ETC -
We don't want anyone to get hurt, break any rods, and again, we don't want to scare the fish.
4. BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS -
Don't disturb other anglers. Look before you cast so you don't hook a tree limb or each other. Take in natural observations, what forage the fish might feed on and where fish might hide. Enjoy the outdoors and learning about the local flora and fauna we're going to be discovering. Don't harass wildlife. Be aware of plants like blackberries, poison oak, or nettles that could ruin our day.
5. KNOW YOUR FISH -
- Discuss different species in the area
- Catch and release laws vs. ethics
4. Overview of agenda for the week: TBD
5. Overview of agenda for today:
- Nature walk - Observe plants, birds, habitat, (hopefully) fish - Turn over rocks/observe food sources for fish
- talk about what kind of bait you could find in nature
- how would you imitate that forage with artificial lures?
6. Traps -
- Creating your own traps from natural materials - Creating your own traps from discarded plastic bottles
- Placement & strategy
- Bait and set pre-constructed crawfish traps
7. Tackle, Knots, & Rigging -
- Rods, Reels, and how they work, inside and out - Overview of Line, Weights, Swivels, Hooks - Fisherman's Knot - Rigging demonstration(s)
8. Check Traps -
- Observe and identify different species
- Discuss why certain traps did or did not work
Children will encounter scenarios legislation can't prevent. Your suggestion to "hold gun owners accountable for responsibly storing their guns" as an alternative solution is focused on legislating the aftermath of horrific events, rather than preventing them.
Derek LeBlanc has worked diligently with representatives on both sides of the aisle presenting prevention based legislation. I've attended his course, witnessed his dedication to inform children about a real-life scenarios if they encounter a firearm that is not "responsibly stored."
I sympathize with concerns about "firearm safety for first graders," but have you read the bill? The classes are nonpolitical. Must neither encourage or discourage gun ownership. At no time may any real firearm or live ammunition be used or possessed during the class. They're a half hour each year during recess. Parents are given notice so they may opt and children can go to recess rather than participating.
While taboo for parents who don't own guns, I recommend considering Derek's program, whether or not the bill passes. Treating this subject with fear-mongering ignorance isn't going to prevent accidents. Regardless of your ideologies about gun ownership, this bill is focused on giving children necessary information that could save lives. It is deeply disappointing anyone would oppose this bill, saying it's "wrong to put the burden of firearm safety on children." You are accepting the burden of your children not being prepared for these real life scenarios, and the responsibility for accidents it could prevent.
In response to Diane Peterson's letter last week, I'd like to shed some light on the value of the bill related to youth firearm safety course for 1st graders, or SB801. It is wrong to oppose a bill that could potentially save the lives of children through education. While there IS a great responsibility on adult gun owners to store their weapons safely, children will find themselves in many situations during their lives where they encounter scenarios presented to them by irresponsible adults. Criminals who can't legally possess a gun can still acquire and discard a firearm where a child may come in contact with it. You can't prevent those types of scenarios through legislation. As a firm supporter of harm reduction philosophies, I believe we must meet these problems where they are, and do what it takes to prevent more accidents from happening. This involves educating children on what to do when they encounter a firearm. Your opposition to this bill and suggestion to instead "hold gun owners accountable for responsibly storing their guns" as an alternative solution is too focused on legislating the aftermath of horrific events, rather than preventing them from happening in the first place.
Derek LeBlanc, who originally presented a draft of this bill to legislators has worked diligently with politicians on both sides of the aisle to present a bill that is marketable and agreeable for everyone in an effort to do something to prevent accidental gun deaths involving children. I've personally attended his youth firearm safety course and seen first hand his dedication to informing children on what to do in a real-life scenarios if they encounter a firearm that is not "responsibly stored," as well as a curriculum focused on the subjects of video games vs. real life violence, the dangers of confusing firearms with toy guns, and with relation to things like airsoft guns, the promotion of aiming at targets rather than each other.
I can sympathize with the concern of parents who become apprehensive when they see headlines about "firearm safety for first graders," but have you actually read the text of this bill? It is nonpolitical and must neither encourage or discourage gun ownership. At no time At no time may any real firearm or live ammunition be used or possessed during the class. The class is a half hour each year and held during recess. Parents are given prior notice about the class so they may opt and their children can go to recess rather than participating.
Catering to the curiosity of children about guns may be a taboo for parents who do not own guns, but I would highly recommend that they consider introducing their children to Derek's program, whether or not the bill passes. Treating the subject with fear-mongering ignorance is not going to prevent accidents from happening. Most accidents don't happen in the homes of "dangerous people" that laws passed by legislators would prevent from being gun owners in the first place. Regardless of your ideologies about gun ownership, this bill is focused on giving children necessary information that could very well save their lives. It is deeply disappointing and downright disturbing that anyone would oppose this bill, and say it's "wrong to put the burden of firearm safety on children." By opposing this legislation, you are accepting the burden of your children not being prepared for these real life scenarios, and accepting the responsibility for the accidents it could prevent.
Last year, the Linn Benton Chapter of Coastal Conservation Association held it's annual banquet and fundraiser, drawing record attendance. With the formation of the Siletz Anglers Association, there is a great deal of momentum to improve our local fisheries, and the spotlight has been shining on potential improvements for the Siletz River.
Meanwhile, a shadow has been forming on the other side of the mountain. Carrying some of that momentum into a collaborative effort would greatly benefit recreational anglers who fish the Alsea, and in turn reduce pressure on central coast fisheries. Over the past several years, the Alsea fishery has been in a perpetual state of disrepair, and wild broodstock collection has been an arduous point of contention for guides and recreational anglers alike. Mortality issues affecting both the Alsea and Siletz have been a catalyst for long overdue equipment upgrades, but not without tarnishing the program's relationship with the community, and forming somewhat of a divide in cooperation and lack of transparency on multiple levels.
The hatchery has been extremely cautious to improve it's rapport, but hesitant to disclose information to the public that could help the productivity of the wild broodstock program on the Alsea. A good basis for comparison is the Cedar Creek and Alsea Hatchery facilities.
The timing seems optimal to capitalize on some of this momentum. I'm offering a list of talking points that I'd like our regional fishing community to consider moving forward between today and the week of March 25th.
The Siletz Wild Broodstock program has a quota to capture 35 pairs of wild broodstock fish for spawning.
The quota on the Alsea is 40 pairs (or 10 more fish of equal sex).
Historically, the Siletz Wild Broodstock program consistently reaches that annual quota.
The Alsea Wild Broodstock program has never met this quota in it's history.
On March 14th, Asst. Fish Biologist Paul Olmsted requested that Siletz Wild Broodstock Collection participants put the brakes on contributing fish until March 25th, citing: "You guys are too good!" and "This is a good problem to have."
As of today March 18th, the Alsea Wild Broodstock program has collected 18 bucks and 21 hens from anglers, 15 pairs of which have been spawned and another 9 fish that are being held until they are "ripe."
As of March 14th, the Siletz Wild Broodstock program has collected 33 pairs of wild broodstock.
There are an additional 4 bucks and 7 hens of Wild Broodstock that have been captured by the trap at the Alsea facility.
If the quota of 40 pairs of wild broodstock fish (the maximum allowed is 45) is not collected, hatchery stock will be used in the spawning matrix. If hatchery fish are used in the wild broodstock program, at least 30 percent of the broodstock will be of wild fish origin. (See page 6 of the Alsea Hatchery Program Management Plan)
PVC tubes have been used by anglers to collect wild broodstock fish on the Alsea River. As effective as they are at keeping the fish calm while they're stationary, boaters are often hesitant to use them. The hatchery also cites lack of manpower to retrieve them on a regular basis from pick up points at the boat ramps. Guides have reported leaving them at the ramp overnight and seeing them still in the same place when they finish their float the next day. There have also been instances of poaching, wildlife harassment, and liberation of the collection broodstock fish (likely by parties that oppose the program as a result of these issues). However, I'd like to offer some possible solutions.
Alsea Hatchery Angler Fish Drop Off
A self-service angler drop off area for Alsea wild broodstock is a new addition to the Alsea facility this year. There are only a small handful of people who have been consistently using it. It seems that this new addition has been for the most part ignored by the majority of the guides in our region who already have wild broodstock collection tanks on board their vessels or they are simply unaware of that it even exists. I'm hoping for this open letter to change both.
One of the top contributors to the program this year (by way of the self-service angler drop off) is a 19 year old Fisheries & Wildlife student at Oregon State University by the name of Logan Ellis. He is leading by example, and deserves some positive attention for the ambitious effort he has put into this program. If a teenage recreational angler can build his own livewell broodstock tank and become one of the most prolific contributors to the Alsea Wild Broodstock program, then large groups of well-organized, influential and well known professional guides should be taking notice just how far removed they are from it.
This is a call to action. I have a set of goals I'd personally like to see accomplished, but meeting the wild broodstock collection quota for the Alsea program is at the top of the list. The Siletz only needs 2 pair of wild broodstock contributions the week of March 25th, which should be easy to achieve. It seems like mission impossible to contribute nearly double the number of angler caught wild fish for the entire season on the Alsea in a matter of two weeks, but I'm asking anyone who can fit the time and effort into their busy schedules between now and the end of the month to simply step up and lead by example the way 19 year old Logan Ellis has. Let's end this season on a high note, and go into the next one prepared.
As for my other personal goals for the Alsea Wild Broodstock program, they are as follows:
1. Improve the current self-service drop off station
The current self-service drop off station did not have a net at the beginning of this season. I was told by hatchery personnel that the reason for this was "Most boaters already have a net." However, after seeing footage online of people grabbing fish out of their wild broodstock tanks and dropping them into the raceway, my concerns were confirmed. The concrete wall is a couple feet high, and so is the fence around it, meaning there's a 4+ foot drop into roughly 18" of water. The fish are doing a cannonball into the shallow end of the pool. I would like to see squared, fine mesh nets that are constructed to fit into the corners of the livewell tanks and be easier on the transition of the fish from box-to-box. After issuing an initial request for a net, being told everyone already has one, and showing them that people aren't using their nets, the hatchery provided a landing net at the station. This is a step in the right direction, but a net designed for this function needs to be acquired, and a landing net is likely more subject to theft.
Another possible solution is some sort of slide or chute, similar to a smaller scale version of the "Salmon cannon" designed by Whooshh Innovations so the fish aren't being just dumped in shallow water with a concrete bottom. This kind of project would likely require some thought going into the design and possibly additional funding, but would set a positive example for the Cedar Creek facility drop off area, which also has a bit of a drop over a fence and concrete wall before the fish hit the water when they are released.
2. Construct Livewell Broodstock Tanks for Public Use
There are far less tanks available on this side of the mountain than guides who consistently fish the Alsea and support our wild broodstock program. Even if we can't provide tanks to everyone, those who tube their fish and leave them at the boat ramp can collaborate with allies within the program who do have tanks to expedite the transfer of wild broodstock to the self-service drop off station. We can't depend on the hatchery personnel to perform this task of picking up the fish we collect, but we can volunteer efforts to do this ourselves.
If you are a guide or angler participating in the Siletz wild broodstock program, loaning out your tanks to those who are more focused on the Alsea fishery for the next week or two (until wild broodstock collection resumes on the Siletz) is one way you can help the Alsea program without having to leave the Siletz.
3. Transparency and self-regulation
The Cedar Creek facility has a drop off station with a weatherproof kiosk that has a clipboard which lists contributions by angler/guide, date, sex, and quantity. A similar kiosk existed for a very brief period at the Alsea facility, but was "destroyed by the weather." I was told that the complete list of contributors was now being kept confidential for privacy reasons, but that I could still acquire that information by filing a public records request with the ODFW office in Salem. I think it's valuable information for the contributions to be transparent for the accountability of both the participants and the hatchery.
4. Funding these projects independently through regional angler advocacy groups
Our Linn-Benton CCA chapter has a regional project fund it has never used since it was founded 5 years ago. The Alsea Sportsman's Association also has project funding that has not been earmarked.
Thank you for your consideration in these matters. I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish in the short time frame these opportunities have presented themselves, and moving forward into being better prepared for next winter steelhead season.
Randall Bonner
Member Linn Benton CCA
Alsea Sportsman's Association
Received an email this afternoon that Senator Gelser removed her chief sponsorship from the bill. This email is public record. Please send letters of thanks and praise to Senator Gelser for responding so quickly to concerns about Senate Bill 723.
Thank you for following up! It’s been a busy day and I was planning to direct message you to see if we could move this discussion to email as I was afraid I would miss things on Twitter, where my feed has been taken over by a debate about vaccines.
I appreciate that you raised the concerns you did about SB 723. I was visited in my office and also received a number of letters asking me to sign on to legislation to prohibit a specific kind of coyote hunting contests. I saw the photos and video, and found it to be disturbing. I remain concerned about that practice on a personal level.
However, based on your letter and that of others I realized that I am missing a great deal of information about the hunting and fishing community, predator management, and events and strategies. While I still oppose the cougar hunting contest, it is clear that this bill is much more broad and spreads into areas about which I lack sufficient information. As a result, I have withdrawn my name from the bill and am no longer a sponsor. I can’t justify being the sponsor of a bill about which I cannot answer all of the questions. There is a process that goes through, so the website may not immediately reflect that. It appears that it requires the approval of the Senate President to have my name removed.
I am happy to pick up this conversation later as the bill will be heard in the committee on which I serve. I’m interested in the topic generally and do hope there is a way for it to be more narrowly tailored to the problem it was described as trying to solve. In the mean time, I do need to send notes to my constituents to whom I indicated I would sign on as a co-sponsor so that I can explain my decision to them. I hope you will bear with me if it is next week before I can pick this thread with you back up. However, if you have urgent questions that need to be resolved right away of course you will immediately have my attention again.
Finally, I have never and will never introduce or support legislation based on who has put it forward or campaign finance. That’s not really my style. In this case, I signed on because I was moved by the photos and the description of what sounded like a very cruel and indiscriminate process. It was my error to not step back and learn more before I affixed my name to the bill that was brought by my office. I do not fault the proponents of the bill for this—I should have taken more time to study before I agreed.
Thank you for the part you played in helping me see my error.
"Prohibits person from organizing, sponsoring, promoting, conducting or participating in contest, competition, tournament or derby that has objective of taking wildlife for prizes or other inducement or for entertainment."
When news began to spread about the bill, the fishing community reacted to the threat that tournaments and derbies would be outlawed, removing many annual events statewide that fund everything from conservation projects to rural preschools. Given the history of Kate Brown's education record as governor, Alsea's rural preschool will probably take any help it can get from a recent fishing derby in the area. The Alsea Sportsman's Association also holds an annual fishing derby that funds conservation projects that the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife doesn't have in their budget.
As a resident of Corvallis, I reached out to Senator Gelser on Twitter. She seemed unaware of how the bill would effect competitive fishing, and even offered to seek amendment of the bill to exclude fishing tournaments.
Hi Randall, This bill was intended to stop coyote killing contests. I was surprised to learn the impact on fishing. I will seek amendment.
Upon further review, Senator Gelser discovered that the text of the bill would not apply to competitive fishing events, and was quick to point out that:
In the bill's definition of wildlife: “Wildlife” means amphibians, reptiles, feral swine as defined under State Department of Agriculture rules, wild birds as defined under State Fish and Wildlife Commission rules and other wild mammals as defined under commission rules.
What the Oregon Outdoor Council called a "Ban on Fishing and Hunting Derbies" is more aptly an attempt at halting coyote tournaments (according to Senator Gelser). However, the text of the bill could be expanded to other hunting competitions as well. Some examples that I speculate could be included under the text of this bill include the Sport Shows Heads and Horns Competition, Burnt Woods Big Buck contest, Sportsman's Warehouse Big Game photo contests, even the magazine I write for, Northwest Sportsman's Browning Photo Contest. All of them fit the bill's definition for wildlife and the objective of taking it "for prizes, other inducement, or for entertainment."
Even if fishing tournaments are not included as part of this bill, there are some curious discrepancies about the Senator's logical reasons for specifically banning coyote tournaments. Even some interesting comparisons between scales and fur, but we will come back to that later...
When there is a fishing contest, the fish are used for food. The coyote contests are just about killing coyotes as quickly as possible and without any management plan. It's just killing for sport.
First, let's address the concern that in a fishing contest, fish are used for food. It's important to acknowledge that this is not always the case for fishing tournaments, especially bass tournaments, where the catch is released at the end of the event. This could also be true for any salmon or steelhead derby in which broodstock is collected, spawned, and released. Sure, there are also tournaments where the fish are harvested as food. For example, the Oregon Tuna Classic has donated over a million pounds of food, including the catch from participating anglers, and food purchased with donations to the event.
But the preconceived notion that coyotes have no culinary value is false. Although regulated as a "furbearer," coyote is still legal table fare in the state of Oregon, even if it's a little taboo. In a scene from the Netflix Original Series "Meateater," host Steven Rinella stands over an open barbecue pit cooking coyote for the first time and acknowledges that,
"We humans have complex relationships with canines. Almost too complex for words. To put a piece of their flesh in our mouths is no light matter. I'm approaching this with a bit of trepidation." After a few bites, they begin to compare the flavors to other game animals, and sum the meal up by simply saying that, "On some basic level, meat is meat. It's good if you cook it good."
Many people in the sustainable food movement have turned to wild game for the source of protein. Jeremiah Doughty is a wild chef who has dedicated himself to educating the public on processing and cooking wild game through his business "From Field to Plate," which includes hands more than just a website and social media presence, but hands-on butchering classes. Like many wild chefs, Doughty promotes the ethics of eating what you kill, and using everything possible in the process. Coyotes are no exception to this. When I asked for a recipe recommendation, he suggested trying "Coyote Firecracker Chili."
I personally have no desire to enter a coyote tournament. Then again, I'm not much of a competitive sportsman either. I like to bass fish, but I'm not even interested in doing tournaments that are catch and release. That's not the point though. My lack of interest, my preconceived notions and my mixed feelings about all of this are not justification to prevent other people from participating in these events. A ban would be under the pretenses of an ethnocentric perspective that should not govern this or any other bill.
Author and Wild Chef Hank Shaw is an exception too. While having a reputation for an adventurous palate and trying just about anything, crows, canines, and felines are off the menu for Hank. Shaw says that he would never shoot a coyote, cougar, bobcat, or any other predator unless it endangered his life. In an entry on his blog, "Hunter Angler Gardener Cook," Shaw elaborates on "The Lines We Draw."
"We are fellow predators and view each other with wariness and respect."
Shaw acknowledges and accepts that other people don't share his views, but respects the right of people to kill predators where it is legal.
"While I don't like it, I am not about to impose my moral standard on someone else. Coyotes are almost as clever as crows. While I accept the right of hunters to kill coyotes where it is legal, I will never do so unless a pack threatens me. I know this is irrational. Part of me says I am limiting my culinary horizons by declaring certain foods verboten. How do I know I won't love something if I refuse to try it? Maybe crow is better than duck. Maybe it is, but I am content to never know."
I understand the Senator's concern for management. Coyotes are one of 8 species regulated as "furbearers" that are open season all year. 8 other species have specific seasons, and 5 more species are not legal to hunt in Oregon. It's not evident that the state has any desire at this point to change the course of managing it's coyote populations, and if there's concern of the adverse effects of overpopulation, then killing as many as quickly as possible IS the management plan, is it not?
Hunters often point to the fact that coyotes are "fawn killers," and adversely affect big game animal populations, and there is truth to this. However, coyotes also pose a risk to domestic livestock, especially as we encroach upon their territory. Western Oregon however, which is home to all 7 Democrats who sponsor the bill, is relatively new territory for coyotes. In fact, coyotes were rarely seen west of the Cascades prior to the 1940s.
SOURCE: COOK COUNTY, ILL., COYOTE PROJ. & S. GEHRT, OHIO STATE UNIV.
In recent history, coyotes attacked two young girls, ages 7 and 9 in separate incidents in southwest Portland last fall. Unfortunate incidents like these have been on a steady incline in urban areas of Western Oregon since the 1980s. In a Nature.com article, Bill Ripple, an ecologist at Oregon State University in Corvallis says, "the coyote's arrival will have unpredictable effects on other species in the ecosystem.
Still, many will likely view predator management as wasteful, and competitive events as barbaric. However, these private events play a role in management that saves the state from having to develop programs out of it's own pocket. And that's where things come full circle, and offering prize money for the best predator "managers" comes back around to comparisons between animals with scales and animals with fur.
The Northern Pikeminnow bounty fishery does just that, and this year will have paid out over a million bounties on the native fish in an effort to reduce predation of salmon smolts. You can track historical pikeminnow bounty data at pikeminnow.org which shows that 108,309 bounties were paid out on pikeminnow in 2018 alone. These bounties are paid out by the Department of Fish and Wildlife. In fact, the payscale is $5 per fish for the first 25. Then it goes to $6 per fish for 26-200, and $8 per fish from 201 and up. The payscale resets for bounty anglers annually. In addition to bounties set for various quantities, there are tagged fish in the system that fetch $500 each. They are tagged with both a spaghetti tag and a PIT tag, so that even if the spaghetti tag falls out, the PIT tag can still fetch an additonal $100 bounty. Last year's top angler scored a $70,000 paycheck. Do the math here.
Now ask yourself what's different about an incentive bounty on scaly predators with fins that are not (typically) revered as quality table fare and a privatized bounty on coyotes, which seem to fit the same mold? Both ARE managed for their role as predators that target populations of fish and game animals that are harvestest for food. The Humane Society of America is not after bounty anglers killing hundreds of thousands of pikeminnow in the Columbia River, but they have been vocal opponents of pinniped management in spite of serious predation issues that threaten endangered fish species.
Senator Jeff Golden (D - Ashland) told reporter Elise Herron of Willamette Week that being approached by the Humane Society influenced his decision to support this legislation.
"I didn't know about the practice before the Humane Society came to me early in the session. After reading up on these competitions, I decided to become a sponsor."
The Humane Society claims that "during wildlife killing contests, hunters compete by killing as many wild animals as possible." This is a dramatized statement. Even most of the contests operate on a set bag limit, and the winners are declared based upon weight, not quantity. They also claim that "no wildlife management purpose supports these contests," but a year long open season on coyotes is clearly a management decision, and private events that are held, bought in and paid out on their own are much more practical than involving the state to pay out bounties as a form of management.
Lastly the Humane Society claims that "some animals are sold for their fur, but most are discarded and go to waste." The problem with this claim is that is already against the law. Coyote hunters are required to purchase a furbearer permit in addition to a hunting license, which for a resident is $25. A resident furtaker's license is $53 and a non-resident furtaker's license is $395. In order for a furtaker to make use of the hides collected by those with furbearer permits, a tournament is an efficient collection point. Furbearer regulations set by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife also state that:
"It is unlawful to waste the pelt of any furbearer except when
authorized by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife."
Perhaps enforcement of existing laws would eliminate the issues of "waste" that legislators and the Human Society are concerned about.
Please contact your local legislators and ask them to withdraw their sponsorship for Senate Bill 723. While the intention of this bill may be directed at coyote tournaments, the text is simply too vague and broad beyond it's intentions. It also opens the door to banning other competitive tournaments and derbies, many of which, like hides being turned into purses for auction, fund charitable causes.
Senator Sara Gelser
Democrat - District 8 - Corvallis, Albany, Philomath, Millersburg, Tangent, and unincorporated parts of Linn and Benton County
