THE Field Review

AUGUST 2017

Oregon State PoliceFish & Wildlife Division

Content

Community Involvement

Interagency Cooperation

River and Ocean Patrols

Wildlife Laws

Case Dispositions

Turn in Poachers

OSP Fish & Wildlife Recruitment

August 2017

Solar Eclipse Patrols

Photo provided by Randy Camp

“The guy was an absolute machine! ...I have nothing but thanks for him and it only made the trip that much better.” -Meghan Jones

Cover Story

On August 26, 2017 Senior Trooper Kyle Bachmeier met an archery hunter hiking out of the woods in the Tioga Unit. Randy Camp had successfully taken a 5x7 bull elk and was heading to town to pick-up some help for packing the animal out. After a friendly chat about the hunt and the location of the elk, Trooper Bachmeier said he would return to check on the progress later in the day. A short time later, Bachmeier located Randy, his truck and his help. It turned out the hunter had returned with his fiancé, Meghan Jones, and their three boys all under the age of ten. With the temperature rising over 90 degrees, our trooper realized that the family was going to need some assistance getting this elk quartered and packed out before it could go bad. He set to work on the animal. As is typical of young children, the boys had lots of questions for the trooper. Meghan wrote on Facebook, “The guy was an absolute machine! He was amazing with the boys and set an absolute perfect example for the boys! I have nothing but thanks for him and it only made the trip that much better.” According to Randy, “he checked everything he needed to (while being awesome)”. Bachmeier said it was a really great experience and he enjoyed getting the chance to help the family and interact with the kids.

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Trooper Assists Hunter and Family

Chetco Bar Fire, Fire Suppression, Illegal Crab Possession

Owl in a Garage, Fledgling Osprey, Golden Eagle, Blue HeronAnimal Rescues

Waste of Game Mammal, Exceeding Bag Limit

1-800-452-7888 or TIP@state.or.us

Grateful Family Praises Trooper for His Hardwork

Troopers from Central Point and Grants Pass patrolled the Rogue River from Grants Pass down to Graves Creek in the jet boat. Numerous anglers and boaters were checked. The troopers checked a 12 year old angler who had just caught a nice looking steelhead and was excited when asked to pose with the F&W trooper.

Two young anglers had a great fishing experience when a Fish & Wildlife trooper stopped to give them some tips along the North Santiam river. The photo was provided to us courtesy of William Mickel.

This August, the eighth Superintendent’s Salute took place at Newport’s Oregon Coast Aquarium. The Fish and Wildlife Division was represented by a trooper from the Tillamook office who brought his patrol truck and an off-shore patrol vessel. Department family and friends were able to enjoy the display throughout the event. Kids were all smiles as they got the chance to climb onboard and take the helm.

On August 1st, numerous OSP employees attended the National Night Out event in North Bend. National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer and a more caring places to live.Communities from all around organize BBQ’s, recreational activities, town hall meetings and more to bridge the gap between police and the community they live and work in. The Fish and Wildlife patrol boat and patrol vehicles were on display. Troopers also helped children shoot off water bottle rockets using two-liter soda bottles and a bike pump – it was a very popular attraction. Over 1,500 people attended the event.

Community Involvement

Great Day Fishing

Nice Fish!

OSP Fish and Wildlife assisted Brian and Laurin from the Cascade Raptor Center with the rescue of a Blue Heron from a local mill pond. Jonathan Jones with the Oregon Office of State Fire Marshall was on site for a log deck fire when he noticed the oil and debris covered Blue Heron in the pond on the property. Junction City Fire, Junction City Chief of Police, and OSHA were also on site to assist. After crawling through a large briar patch, the Raptor Center staffers were able to make contact with the bird, wrap it in a blanket and take it to safety. Thanks to Deputy State Fire Marshal Kristina Deschaine for getting a photo of the rescuers with the heron.

A F&W trooper was involved in the rescuing of a road struck Golden Eagle on Hwy 7 in April of 2017. A representative with Blue Mountain Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education assisted and transported the injured Eagle to the rehabilitation facility in Pendleton. The bird spent four months in rehabilitation. On August 26, the trooper was able to release the Golden Eagle back into the wild.

In the early morning hours, a Fish & Wildlife trooper responded to a report of an owl that was trapped in the garage of a residence in South Salem. The trooper used a net and ladder to retrieve the owl. After the rescue it flew off on its own to safety.

A F&W trooper in Gold Beach responded to a report of an injured Osprey that was now in a cage. After a quick examination of the bird's wings and body, the trooper found there to be no trauma or other injuries. The Osprey was released and flew to a nearby telephone pole. Minutes later the bird reunited with another Osprey.

Animal Rescues and Releases

Fish and Wildlife troopers from the Prineville office patrolled the Ochoco’s at Big Summit Prairie where a major solar eclipse party was being held. At one point the event caused a traffic jam that stretched 30 miles back to the town of Prineville. Troopers walked through some festival areas with the Crook County Sheriff deputies. Their presence was appreciated and event attendees were very respectful. Most issues were either related to traffic congestion at the entrance or related to medical/drug complications.

A traffic stop by a Salem Patrol trooper resulted in the seizure of over 300 illegal

crabs. The subject was issued criminal citations and the crabs were donated to a local charity. Remember when crabbing for Dungeness, ALL female Dungeness must be immediately released and no more than 12 male Dungeness crab that are 5 3/4 inches across or

wider (NOT including the points) can be retained per shellfish license.

Check out ODFW shellfish regulations and limits here.

Photos of the eclipse event at Big Summit Prairie taken by the Prineville Police Department from the OSP F&W aircraft.

Multiple Fish and Wildlife troopers answered the call to provide coverage for the Chetco Bar Fire in Brookings. Troopers assisted with road block check points, local patrol coverage, and evacuations of residences where necessary. No injuries were reported but, unfortunately, five homes and two barns were lost during the two day period.

While patrolling the North Fork Smith River, a F&W trooper came upon a fire of an abandoned structure that had very recently started. An off-duty forester happened to be passing by and had just radioed it in and was preparing to begin firefighting efforts. The trooper and the forester forced entry through the gate at the property, put out a spot fire from embers that had crossed the river, and started building hand lines. Western Lane Fire Protection District employees responded with a helicopter and about half a dozen fire trucks and quickly extinguished the fire before it could spread further into the forest. Evidence at the scene indicated that the fire was likely started by trespassers shooting at the abandoned structure and an abandoned truck on the property.

Three year old Amelia showed up at the hangar to help her dad, an OSP Fish and Wildlife pilot, prepare for the Oregon Eclipse.

Solar Eclipse Patrol Traffic Stop Uncovers Crab Poacher

Chetco Bar Fire

Trooper Prevents Spread of Fire

F&W troopers partnered with Lincoln County Marine Patrol Deputies for an offshore halibut patrol the first weekend of the summer All-Depth season. Fishing pressure was high due to excellent ocean conditions. Many boats were checked throughout the weekend. One angler was contacted who had just caught a lingcod. The angler admitted to have caught and retained another lingcod earlier that morning while offshore near Stonewall Banks. Upon checking the fish hold, a large lingcod and one halibut were found. The angler was cited for Unlawful Possession of Groundfish on an All Depth Halibut Day. The lingcod was seized.

Troopers from the Enterprise office, the United States Coast Guard (USCG), Oregon State Marine Board (OSMB), Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR) and United States Forest Service (USFS) conducted a courtesy guide/outfitter and boater’s safety checks on the Snake River in the Hells Canyon scenic section. During the operation 23 boats were inspected including two guide/outfitters. Three warnings were issued for minor safety violations and one injured rafter was transported down river to the nearest boat ramp where medical personnel were waiting to treat their injury.

OSP Fish and Wildlife, the Department of State Lands (DSL), and Oregon Water Resources Department (WRD) conducted joint boat patrols along the Willamette River in August. The Willamette River provides a great deal of water that hundreds of farmers rely on for a successful harvest. Due to the high demand and large volume of water needed, it is imperative that the water rights are managed appropriately. Compliance with the regulations can ensure that impacts to salmon habitat and other eco systems are limited. The goal of the patrols was to identify and document violations and effectively enforce future compliance rates.

River & Ocean Patrols

Fish and Wildlife troopers from the Newport office conducted a joint boat patrol of the Salmon River along with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office. A boat with three anglers onboard was contacted fishing for

halibut. One angler claimed a fourth fish was just caught right as the Trooper’s boat was pulling up. The trooper boarded the vessel and found a cooler full of halibut on the back deck. According to the anglers, the fish on top was so slimy and floppy that it managed to flop around the deck, into the boat cabin and right into the cooler. “It was the craziest thing!” The angler said the fish was still alive and should just be released. The trooper examined the lifeless halibut in the cooler and determined it wasn’t ever going to swim away. He also noticed there were four additional halibut in the cooler. The angler said he had no idea how the fish got there and he must have miscounted. The fish were seized. The three anglers were cited for Fail to Validate Harvest Card for the fish they were allowed to keep. One angler was also cited for Exceeding Daily Limit of Halibut.

All seized fish were donated to the Lincoln County Food Share.

On opening day of archery season a trooper received information of a subject hunting deer within the city limits of La Pine, where a large 4 point deer had been seen. The subject was contacted and issued a citation for Hunting Prohibited Area: within City Limits.

Troopers contacted two subjects at their residence in Turner after an anonymous tip indicated the husband had shot a bull elk without a valid tag and then borrowed the wife's bull tag. Subsequent to the investigation, it was confirmed the complaint was factual and occurred in Tillamook County during the 2016 1st Season Coast Elk hunt. The antlers, remaining meat and a tag were seized. The husband was cited criminally for Take Bull Elk and Borrow Big Game Tag. The wife was cited criminally for Lend Big Game Tag.

A F&W trooper responded to a complaint of a male subject shooting a turkey vulture at EE Wilson Wildlife Area. The trooper located the male subject who denied having a firearm or shooting the turkey vulture. Subsequent to an interview, the male subject admitted he shot the turkey vulture and took the trooper to the Savage .17 rim fire rifle that was hidden in the brush. The male subject had his 7 year old son with him and allowed him to shoot the turkey vulture with his BB gun. The rifle was seized as evidence and the male subject was cited criminally for Take/Possession of Prohibited Species, Discharge of Rifle or Handgun, and violation cited for No Fee Parking Permit.

A F&W trooper received a report of a Great Blue Heron shot and killed in the back yard of a residence near Willamina. Upon contact, the homeowner admitted to shooting the heron with a 12 gauge when he saw it fly away from his uncovered backyard koi fish pond. The homeowner admitted he knew that it was not legal to shoot the blue heron. The deceased heron was recovered nearby and the homeowner was cited criminally for Unlawful Take of Protected Wildlife. The Winchester 12 gauge magnum shotgun was seized as evidence.

During the opeing weekend of the Archery Deer and Elk Season, a Fish and Wildlife trooper issued four citations to subjects violating the Milli Fire closures. Albany Fish and Wildlife troopers

received a complaint of a deer shot with a bow. They went to the residence of a male subject and found out he was arrested the previous night on multiple warrants. A female subject at the residence provided the troopers with a crossbow that the male subject used to shoot a three point buck deer. She also showed them the blood trail from the deer. The female said he shot the deer at 11:00 PM and two others helped him track the deer but they were unable to locate it. The troopers interviewed the male subject At the Linn County Jail where he admitted to shooting the deer with the crossbow at night. He was criminally cited for Hunting Closed Season, and Hunting Prohibited Method.

Fish and Wildlife troopers from the Burns patrol area responded to a report of suspicious activity on the Malheur Wildlife Refuge. Troopers arrived and found drag marks and blood coming out of the refuge to the roadway. An investigation revealed a male subject had shot an antelope on the Malheur Refuge earlier in the day, which is prohibited. One male subject was cited and released for Take/Possession of Buck Antelope Prohibited Area. A second male subject was cited and released for Aiding/Counseling in a wildlife violation. A rifle and trophy class antelope buck were seized.

Troopers responded to a call in the Beatys Butte Unit regarding a man who shot a buck Antelope, walked over to it, then turned and walked away leaving it to waste. Moments later the suspect was seen shooting and wounding another buck Antelope. Later that same day, the same individual was seen in a different area, with a dead Antelope on the back of a 4-wheeler, traveling off established roadways. The individual was contacted by one of the troopers and initially denied shooting all three Antelope. After consulting with his father the suspect later confessed to shooting all three Antelope and driving his 4-wheeler across the habitat and prairie to retrieve one of them. The suspect was arrested and charged with Exceeding the Bag Limit, Waste of Game Mammal, & Committing Habitat Violation-ATV. The individual was transported to the Harney County Jail where he was lodged.

Enforcement of Wildlife Laws

Great Blue Heron Shot

Hunting Prohibited Method

Poacher Arrested

TURN IN POACHERSTIP PROGRAM

What Should I Report?

POACHING (otherwise known as the illegal take of game or fish), trespassing, littering, theft, destroying of property and road closure violations. Poaching affects all Oregonians. When making a report, provide as much of the following information as possible:

- Nature of violation or activity observed or advised about- Location of activity (Road number, Milepost, GPS, Range, etc.)- Date and time of violation/activity- Description of any vehicle involved- Name and/or description of violator

The TIP reward is paid for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation for the illegal killing or taking of wildlife and/or for illegally obtaining Oregon hunting/angling licenses or tags.

People who “work” the system and falsely apply for resident license or tags are not legally hunting and/or angling and are considered poachers.

TIP rewards can also be given for the illegal taking, netting, snagging, and/or dynamiting of salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, and/or large numbers of any fish listed in Oregon statue as a game fish.

Rewards:

$1,000 Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat, Moose $500 Elk, Deer, Antelope $300 Bear, Cougar, Wolf $300 Habitat Destruction $200 Illegally obtaining Oregon hunting or angling license or tags

$100 Game Fish, Shellfish$100 Upland Birds, Waterfowl$100 Fur Bearers

1-800-452-7888 or *OSP(677)

TIP@state.or.us

OSP Fish and Wildlife received the following outcome on an elk case from 2016. The case involved a subject Hunting on the Enclosed Lands of Another, killing an elk and Failing to Validate his Elk Tag. The subject was found guilty during a jury trial of both charges. The subject received a three year hunting license suspension, 364 days of bench probation, $1500 restitution to ODFW for the elk, $550 in fines, and a $100 probation fee.

In March 2017, the Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife Division received information a local man had taken two mule deer bucks without a valid controlled hunt tag for the Southern Oregon unit where the deer were shot and harvested.

Based on the information OSP was provided, troopers from the Springfield Patrol Office applied for and obtained a search warrant to search the man's residence in Veneta for additional evidence of the crimes. Troopers executed that warrant on March 24, 2017, seizing various deer parts, a scoped rifle, and ammunition.

The investigation revealed Jason Brian Barker of Veneta, age 45, had legally obtained a controlled hunt buck tag for the Fort Rock Unit in Southern Oregon. However, Barker personally took two mule deer bucks in the Interstate Unit, exceeding his personal bag limit, as well as exceeding his permissible hunt area. The investigation confirmed Barker utilized an acquaintance's tag on the second deer, and reported on both tags to the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife that the harvests had occurred in the Fort Rock Unit.

On August 18, 2017, Barker appeared in Lane County Circuit Court and plead guilty to two counts of Unlawful Taking of a Mule Deer Buck (No Valid Tag for Unit) and one count of Unlawful Borrowing of Big Game Tag.

Barker was sentenced to three years court probation, a 3-year suspension of his Oregon hunting privileges, $2000 in restitution to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for the unlawful takings, 5 days of jail to be served on the road crew, forfeiture of the remaining deer parts, as well as a .300 Ultra Magnum scoped rifle, and a special condition that he not participate in any hunting excursions during the period of his probation.

The Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife Division is asking for the public's help to identify the person(s) responsible for the unlawful killing of a cow elk in Douglas County.

On the morning of August 13th, 2017, OSP was notified of a dead cow elk southeast of the Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area. The animal was located near the intersection of Deans Creek Road and Johanneson Creek Road. An OSP Fish and Wildlife Trooper responded and found the dead elk in an open field approximately 75 feet from Deans Creek Road. The animal had been shot and the majority of it was left to waste. Investigation revealed the elk was most likely shot on or around Friday, August 12th, 2017 during the late evening hours.

A reward of up to $500 is offered for information leading to an arrest or the issuance of a citation in this case. The reward is comprised of $500 from the Oregon Hunters Association Turn-In-Poacher program.

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact OSP Trooper Jay Evans through the Turn in Poachers (TIP) hotline at 1-800-452-7888 or 541-900-0447. (Case # SP17288134) (Email - JEvans@osp.state.or.us). Information may be kept anonymous.

Case Dispositions

Request for information

“Assuring compliance with the laws which protect and enhance the long-term health and equitable utilization of Oregon’s fish, wildlife, and habitat resources.”

OREGON STATE POLICEFish & Wildlife Division

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Questions? Please call 503-378-4931 or email OSP Training Division:

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