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2021 Big Game Regulationsand Tag Numbers
OregonFish and Wildlife Commission
September 11, 2020
1
Presentation Overview
• Process for Big Game Regulation development
• Public Outreach and Information─ Approach─ Online Forum and Survey Results
─ Input on Proposals
• 2021 Regulations Proposals─ General Regulations─ Species Specific: season dates, tag numbers, etc.
2
Process for Adoption of Hunting Seasons
• Fall to Spring: Biological data collection
• March to June: Internal data analysis
• July: Public outreach
• September: Commission adoption
• November: Print following year regulations
• December: Begin selling licenses and tags
3
Process for Adoption of Hunting Seasons
• Typically not many changes year-to-year
• Big Game Review has led to some differences
• Priority investment in human dimensions research
• Increased outreach and information to public and constituent groups
• Dedicated, full time project lead
• Increased communication with the Commission
4
Public Information, Outreach and Opportunity for Input
5
Approach• Collect hunter input early, prior to developing
draft proposals
• Survey of randomly selected hunters
• Staff development of potential proposals
• Collect additional hunter input on proposals we are considering
• Release final Department proposals for Commission process
6
Early Input to Inform Proposal Development
Mark Duda, Executive Director
Responsive Management
(Shifting to 30 minute presentation before returning to this presentation)
7
Input on Proposals Considered• Utilized this early input to develop initial
proposals for public input
• Department provided public information on proposals being considered
• Solicited for input utilizing an online comment form as well as local level outreach
• Received >2,700 comments via online form
8
Input on Proposals Considered• West Cascade Deer and Elk
• Most comments supportive of change
• Some due to improving elk hunting
• Others due to lengthening deer season
• Few were concerned about impacts on populations
9
Input on Proposals Considered• Eastern OR Archery Elk Season
• Many want or understand the need for change, but disagree on scale and method of change
• Concerned about loss of opportunity to hunt every year
• Desire to maintain general season, possibly in smaller zones with limits on tags
10
Input on Proposals Considered• Eastern OR Archery Elk Season
• Interest in reducing the number of non-resident hunters
• Use of general season as “fall back” opportunity if unsuccessful in draw
• Concept of “choose your weapon” to prevent a person who is unsuccessful in the controlled rifle draw from purchasing a general archery tag
11
Input on Proposals Considered• Eastern OR Archery Elk Season
• Concerns related to preference point use and/or accrual
• Change in Eastern OR could lead to archery hunter increase in Western OR
• General season allows flexibility to adapt to fire closures
• Feeling that proposal goes from one extreme to the other 12
Input on Proposals Considered• Eastern OR Archery Elk Season
• Most frequent comment was that predators should be reduced, not archery hunters
• Interest in having a committee of sport group leaders make the decision instead of wide public participation or surveys
• Hunter survey – disbelief by some, appreciation by others
13
Input on Proposals Considered• Eastern OR Archery Elk Season
• Quality of archery season has decreased; controlled hunt would improve experience
• Density of hunters is too high
• Not many elk remaining on public land; mostly on private
• Unfair to have very limited rifle bull hunting opportunity and unrestricted archery
14
Input on Proposals Considered• Eastern OR Archery Elk Season
• Archery technology has become too advanced and effective
• Many suggestions to only change the areas with the highest problems
• Change should have happened many years earlier
• Suggestion to phase in a change over several years 15
Input on Proposals Considered• Eastern OR Archery Deer Season
• Many expressed concern about mule deer populations
• Some suggested greater reductions in hunting opportunity
• Believe that decreasing buck harvest will increase populations
16
Input on Proposals Considered• Eastern OR Archery Deer Season
• Concerns about loss of opportunity
• Archery success rate compared to rifle
• Many comments to reduce predators, not archery hunters
• Disbelief that nutrition could impact populations
17
Development of Final Proposals• All comments received are available for review
at: MyODFW.com “Big Game Review” page
• Input received was taken into consideration when developing final Department proposals
• Provided information on August 17th, to give the public time to provide comments to Commission
18
Proposed 2021 Big Game Hunting Regulations, Seasons and Controlled
Hunt Tags
19
Section Overview• General Hunting Regulations
• Species Specific
• Western Gray Squirrel
• Bear/Cougar
• Bighorn Sheep/Mountain Goat
• Pronghorn
• Elk
• Deer 20
• Proposing to allow crossbows during “Any Legal Weapon” seasons
• Commission packet details the requirements for draw weight, stock length, safety mechanism, arrow length, and arrow point/broadhead requirements
• Currently legal to use rifle, shotgun, muzzleloader, handgun or bow
• Not proposing to allow crossbows during archery season
General Regulations
21
2021 Western Gray Squirrel Seasons
No change for 2021North-Central Oregon (Hood, White River, Metolius, Upper Deschutes, and Paulina Units)
September 15 – October 313/day, 6 in Possession
Remainder of the State September 1 – November 15 5/day, 15 in Possession
Portion of Rogue UnitJanuary 1 – December 31No Bag/Possession Limit
22
Black Bear Management PlanCheck-in for all bear mortalitiesMandatory harvest reportingNew model beingdeveloped
Bear Population Monitoring
LMale Median Age
012345
Med
ian
Age
Light Harvest (L)Median Age All Bears
0123456
Med
ian
Age
Harvest sustainable if median age of males >2 years, females >4 years, and all bears >3 years
No indication of unsustainable harvest
Bear Population Monitoring
01234567
Med
ian
Age L
Heavy Harvest (H)
Moderate Harvest (M)
MM
HH
Female Median Age
24
Light
Moderate
Heavy
Bear Population MonitoringSex-age criteria to assess take level of black bears in Oregon. Criteria based on 3-year running averages of all mortalities.
Criteria Light Moderate Heavy
% Males ≥5 yr old >35% 25–35% <25%
25
0%5%
10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%
% M
ales
5+
Light
Moderate
Heavy
0%5%
10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%
% F
emal
esBear Population Monitoring
Sex-age criteria to assess take level of black bears in Oregon. Criteria based on 3-year running averages of all mortalities.
Criteria Light Moderate Heavy
% Females <30% 30–40% >40%
26
Spring Bear, 2021 Season Proposals
Maintain dates: April 1 to May 31 statewide9,905 controlled hunt tags across 17 huntsContinue to protect cubs & sows with cubsContinue mandatory check-in
Spring Bear
Year Estimated Harvest Teeth Check-In
Rate2015 577 533 92%2016 580 549 95%2017 607 545 90%2018 627 594 95%2019 724 674 93%2020 * 702 * 27
General Bear, 2021 Season Proposals
Maintain dates: Aug 1 to Dec 31 statewideMaintain season structureContinue to protect cubs & sows with cubs
Continue mandatory check-in
Fall General Season
Year Estimated Harvest Teeth Check-In
Rate2016 1,003 825 82%2017 1,134 943 83%2018 1,103 935 82%2019 1,484 1,145 77%
28
ZONE EBLUE
MOUNTAINS
Cougar Monitoring and Zones
ZONE ACOAST/NORTH
CASCADES
ZONE BSOUTHWEST
CASCADES
ZONE CSOUTHEAST CASCADES
ZONE FSOUTHEAST
OREGON
ZONE DCOLUMBIA BASIN
Cougar Management PlanCheck-in for all mortalitiesMandatory harvest reporting
29
Cougar Population MonitoringPlan Objective 1: ODFW will manage for a stable cougar population that are to not to fall below 3,000 cougars statewide
Statewide Population Estimate of 6,610 in 2019
Zone A: Coast/N Cascades
Zone B: SW Cascades
Zone C: SE Cascades
Zone D: Columbia Basin
Zone E: Blue Mountains
Zone F: SE Oregon
30
Cougar Population MonitoringThree-year average proportion adult (3+ year old) females in the total mortality ≤ 25-35%No Cougar Zones exceed 35%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018
Prop
ortio
n Ad
ult F
emal
es
Year
Zone A Zone B Zone C Zone D Zone E Zone F
31
32
Cougar Population MonitoringZone quotas (i.e. mortality caps) include all known cougar mortalities across all agesHarvest closes when cap met but removals for damage and conflict are still permitted, and all forms of mortality are still counted
Quota
Total Mortality
Quota
Total Mortality
Zone 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019A Coast/North
Cascades 120 99 103 120 121 130 101 180 117 177 157 193 160
B SW Cascades 165 90 96 109 106 143 100 200 98 131 140 156 111C SE Cascades 65 25 20 15 24 21 17 80 25 42 43 40 23D Col. Basin 62 38 31 36 38 50 26 100 41 27 38 39 30E Blue Mts. 245 158 163 169 164 135 93 270 106 114 142 117 125F SE Oregon 120 63 69 57 77 52 45 140 42 55 51 45 42Total 777 473 482 506 530 531 383 970 427 546 571 591 491
33
Cougar 2021 Season Proposals
Maintain year-round seasonMaintain season structureNo changes to Zone QuotasContinue mandatory check-inContinue to protect kittens & females with kittens
Bighorn Sheep Population Monitoring
0500
1,0001,5002,0002,5003,0003,5004,0004,5005,000
Popu
latio
n
Year
Oregon Bighorn Population Trend
California Rocky Mountain
34
Bighorn Sheep Population Management
Captures Winter 2019 – 20209 animals to 30 Mile Canyon25 animals to Utah18 Sampled for Disease
Captures Planned Winter 2020 – 2021California Bighorn Disease Sampling:
• 15 animals in McClellan• 10 animals in Riverside• 20 Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge
Rocky Mtn Bighorn:• Disease Sampling in Lookout Mountain
35
Bighorn Sheep Tag & Season Proposals
Delete three Rocky Mtn ram huntsOne new California ram huntTwo new California ewe huntsFive Rocky Mountain Bighorn ram tags in 202170 California Bighorn ram tags in 202110 California Bighorn ewe tags in 2021Six nonresident tags (7%)
36
Rocky Mtn. Goat Population Monitoring
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
Popu
latio
n
Year
Oregon Rocky Mtn. Goat Population Trend
37
Rocky Mtn. Goat Tag & Season Proposals
No season changes for 2021
29 Tags in 2021
Two nonresident tags (7%)
Increasing auction tag minimum bid
38
Pronghorn Population Monitoring
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
Popu
latio
n
Year
Oregon Pronghorn Population
39
Controlled Pronghorn Tag Proposals
Hunt Type2020 Tags
Buck/Either Sex 1,330Bow/Muzzleloader 648Doe 170Youth 40Premium 27Total Pronghorn 2,215
2021 Tags
% Change
1,279 -4%643 -1%143 -16%
40 0%27 0%
2,132 -4%
No season changes for 2021
40
Increasing auction tag minimum bid
020,00040,00060,00080,000
Popu
latio
n Si
ze
Year
Population MO
Elk Population StatusRoosevelt Elk
020,00040,00060,00080,000
Popu
latio
n Si
ze
Year
Population MO
Rocky Mountain Elk
41
≥100%
≤50%
51-75%
76-99%
% Of MO
Roosevelt Elk Population MOs
Elk De-Emphasis Area
Applegate
EvansCreek
Chetco
Dixon
Indigo
Santiam
McKenzie
Powers
Tioga
Siuslaw
Alsea
Stott Mtn. Trask
Wilson
SaddleMtn.
Scappoose
Metolius
FortRock
42
≥100%
≤50%
51-75%
76-99%
% Of MO
Rocky Mtn. Elk Population MOs
Elk De-Emphasis Area
SnakeRiver
Chesnimnus
SledSprings
Minam
WenahaWalla Walla
Mt. EmilyColumbiaBasinBiggs
Hood
MalheurRiver
Beulah Lookout Mtn.
Keating
Imnaha
Starkey
Desolation
Northside
MurdersCreek
Silvies
Ochoco
Maury
Grizzly
Paulina
Sumpter
WhitehorseBeatysButte
Juniper
Interstate
SilverLake
Sprague
KlamathFalls
FortRock
Pine Creek
43
050,000
100,000150,000200,000250,000300,000350,000400,000
Popu
latio
n Si
ze
Year
Oregon Mule Deer Population
Population MO
Mule Deer Population Monitoring
44
100%
≤50%
51-75%
76-99%
% Of MO
Mule Deer Population Status
SnakeRiver
Chesnimnus
SledSprings
Minam
WenahaWalla Walla
Mt. EmilyColumbiaBasinWest
Biggs
Maupin
MalheurRiver
BeulahLookout Mt.
Keating
Imnaha
Starkey
Desolation
Northside
MurdersCreek
Silvies
Ochoco
Maury
Grizzly
Paulina
WhitehorseBeatysButte
Juniper
Interstate
SilverLake
Sprague
KlamathFalls
FortRock
Metolius
Pine Creek
East Biggs
Hood
45
General Elk Season ProposalsSeason Bag Limit 2021 SeasonCoast 1st Season One Bull Nov. 13–16
Coast 2nd SeasonOne Bull
Nov. 20–26One Spike Bull(Units 12, 14, 20)
West Cascade One Bull Nov. 6–12Rocky Mtn. 2nd Season One Spike Bull Nov. 6–14
General Season Elk Damage Tag Antlerless Elk
W Oregon & De-emphasis Areas,
Aug. 1 – Mar. 31;E Oregon outside
De-emphasis Areas Aug. 1 – Nov. 30
General Bow Legal Bull Aug. 29–Sept. 27
46
West Cascade General Elk• Proposing to move West Cascade elk season
three weeks later
• 2020: Oct. 17 – 23
• 2021: Nov. 6 – 12
• Improve hunting opportunity
• High public support
• Sufficient bull ratios to support the change47
Hunt Type2020 Tags
2021 Tags
% Change
Bull / Either Sex 39,903 38,125 -5%Bow/Muzzleloader 7,691 7,610 -1%Antlerless 10,561 9,652 -9%Youth 1,358 1,369 1%Premium 64 64 0%Total Elk 59,577 56,820 -5%
Controlled Elk Tag Proposals
48
Eastern Oregon Archery Elk• This issue has been the overwhelming
majority of effort and input for 2021 seasons
• High priority issue for Department due to management challenges with current general season
• Growing inequity in opportunity by weapon type, inability to manage harvest across all weapon types, and elk displacement off of public land.
• 2020 general archery elk tag sales +10% 49
Eastern Oregon Archery Elk• Objectives of proposals that we had
considered:
• Allow for tag changes for all weapon types when changes are appropriate to manage populations, bull ratio, and/or allocation of harvest
• Reduce archery hunter density where archery hunter density is believed to be impacting elk distribution
50
Eastern Oregon Archery Elk• Developed initial proposal to move from
general season with unlimited tags to controlled hunting
• Majority of hunters supported change; archery hunters divided on the issue
• Collected input on a proposal to hear impacts, preferences, concerns, etc.
• Significant amount of input received
51
Eastern Oregon Archery Elk• Based on input, we see an opportunity for
change that would:
• Meet Department objectives and help with management challenges
• Address many of the concerns expressed by both supportive and concerned hunters
52
Eastern Oregon Archery Elk• Decided to continue work and develop a
proposal for 2022 hunting season
• Received feedback concerned with status quo
• More time to develop final details and understand archery hunter preference on various options
• Also want to hear from all hunters
53
Eastern Oregon Archery Elk• Moving forward
• Status quo not a viable management option
• Eastern Oregon elk populations, particularly on public land are not an unlimited resource
• Develop proposal that will take steps toward achieving objectives and help with management challenges
• Proposal will include controlled hunting for archery elk in a portion of eastern Oregon54
Eastern Oregon Archery Elk• Moving forward
• Build upon existing information and input; not starting over
• Continue to prioritize unbiased information that takes into account hunter preferences
• Anticipate bringing forward archery elk proposals for 2022 at a time that does not conflict with archery season
55
General Deer Season Proposals
Season Bag Limit 2021 Season
Western General Deer Buck w/Visible Antler Oct. 2 – Nov. 5
Western General Bow Buck w/Visible Antler Aug. 28 – Sept. 26
NW Late Deer Bow Buck w/Visible Antler Nov. 20 – Dec. 12
SW Late Deer Bow Buck w/Visible Antler Nov. 13 – Dec. 5
56
Western Oregon General Deer• Previous Year General Deer Season
• Coast Buck Area
• West Cascade Buck Area
• West Cascade Elk Season proposed for after deer season
• Consistent Western Oregon wide general deer proposed for 2021
57
Controlled Deer Tag Proposals
Hunt Type2020 Tags
2021 Tags
% Change
Buck 45,198 43,413 -4%Bow/Muzzleloader 4,365 18,590 326%Antlerless (600) 7,568 7,530 -1%Youth 1,277 1,270 -1%Premium 67 67 0%Total Deer 58,475 70,870 21%
58
Controlled Deer Tag Proposals
Hunt Type2020 Tags
2021 Tags
% Change
Buck 45,198 43,413 -4%Bow/Muzzleloader 4,365 18,590 326%Antlerless (600) 7,568 7,530 -1%Youth 1,277 1,270 -1%Premium 67 67 0%Total Deer 58,475 70,870 21%
59
Eastern Oregon Archery Deer
60
• Current general season with unlimited tags
• Significant mule population declines
• Nearly 50% decline over last 40 years
• General season no longer an appropriate management approach
Eastern Oregon Archery Deer
61
• Objectives
• Increase control over harvest
• Ability to control all harvest when changes are needed
• All units in eastern Oregon controlled hunting
• Same controlled hunt area as rifle hunts in most units
Eastern Oregon Archery Deer
62
• Eastern Oregon controlled archery tags only valid in season and area of controlled hunt
• Consistent with muzzleloader and rifle hunts
• Spreads limited harvestable resource among all hunters instead of providing multiple hunting opportunities to some hunters
• Prevents unintended impacts on western Oregon late black-tailed deer season
63