A wolf here? Not likely
(Bend Bulletin © 03/16/2009)
John Stephenson, with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, investigates tracks of an animal — definitely not a wolf — that appeared to be low to the ground and moving quickly. Stephenson snowmobiled through the Sisters Ranger District on Friday, seeking evidence of wolves. The 5-inch-wide paw prints had potential. “It’s the right size,” said John Stephenson, Or-egon’s wolf coordinator with the U.

Gray wolves no longer are endangered
(Hermiston Herald © 03/15/2009)
If gray wolves are to be listed as an endangered species, so should cocker spaniels. And poodles. And wiener dogs. Gray wolves are no more in danger of becoming extinct than any of those other common breeds of dog. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has removed two populations of gray wolves from the endangered species list. From the perspective of a wildlife biologist, the move was an absolute

8 charged in Ore. elk killing violations
(Pendleton East Oregonian © 03/15/2009)
LA GRANDE, Ore. (AP) -- Oregon State Police say eight people have been charged with a variety of violations in the killing of six elk in far northeastern Oregon. The La Grande Observer reports that the elk were killed in the Wenaha hunting unit in December, two left to waste and four retrieved. Troopers say they believe four of the elk were killed by one of the suspects who borrowed three tags to

Hunters flock to event
(Blue Mountain Eagle © 03/12/2009)
  Jeanette Hueckman and Dean Elliott monitor the bidding on items in the silent auction. Eagle photos/David Heldreth Jon Kimball shows a painting to the bidders during the live auction at the Grant County Chapter of the Oregon Hunters Association’s annual banquet and fund-raiser Saturday, March 7. Hunters flock to event Blue Mountain Eagle JOHN DAY - Grant County residents pac

Teens set sights on donated turkey hunt
(Medford Mail Tribune © 03/12/2009)
State wildlife biologists, an Eagle Point ranching family and two local hunting organizations have teamed up to offer private, guided turkey-hunting trips next month for six lucky local kids who win free drawings, including a drawing tonight in Medford.The Kuyper family is offering three kids ages 17 and under a chance to hunt toms on their Eagle Point-area ranch this spring, beginning with the an

Photo by Vic CogginsA group of bighorn sheep search for food above Lostine last week. Nearly 600 Rocky Mountain bighorns reside in Wallowa and Baker counties. Many are trophy size rams.
(Wallowa Chieftain © 03/12/2009)
By Andy Martin Wallowa County Chieftain Wallowa and Baker counties continue to produce record book-size Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep for hunters, including three trophy rams taken during the 2008 season. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife recently completed its reports for last year's hunts, during which 13 rams were taken. Three qualified for the Boone and Crockett record book, accordin

Cougars cause concern
(Ashland Daily Tidings © 03/11/2009)
The number of cougars killed in Oregon because of livestock damage and safety concerns for humans and pets has skyrocketed since the 1980s.The issue came home on Feb. 7 when a cougar resting in a tree on Clay Street in broad daylight was shot by Ashland Police Department and Oregon State Police officers.The cougar showed no fear of a crowd of adults and kids who had gathered around the area. Pets

House Takes Up Wilderness Bill
(New York Times (State Version) © 03/11/2009) (Registration Required)
Filed at 11:38 a.m. ET WASHINGTON (AP) -- The House is considering a bill to set aside more than 2 million acres in nine states as protected wilderness. Majority Democrats agreed to amend the bill to clarify that it won't impose new restrictions on hunting, fishing or trapping on federal land. The amendment was sought by the National Rifle Association. Republicans complained that the bill --

Feds OK gray wolves' removal from endangered list
(Oregonian © 03/07/2009)
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said Friday he was upholding the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's decision to remove gray wolves from the federal endangered list in the Northern Rockies and the western Great Lakes. Wolves would remain a federally protected species in Wyoming because the state's law and management plans were not strong enough, he said. But management of

Controlled big-game hunt applications now available online
(Capitol Press Agriculture Weekly © 03/06/2009) (Registration Required)
Hunters can now apply for controlled big-game hunts online using the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife online license sales site. This is aimed to make controlled-hunt applications more convenient for hunters. In Washington purchasing licenses and submitting hunt applications has been made easier by using the online site www.dfw.state.or.us/online_license_sales. As group chairman, I can su

Condor Country
(Medford Mail Tribune © 03/06/2009)
Yurok tribal members are looking into reintroducing endangered California condors into the lower Klamath River basin, a move that likely would mean a bird not seen in Oregon in more than a century would be flying over the Rogue Valley.The tribe, based in Klamath, Calif., is hosting a two-day summit beginning today with state and federal officials as well as condor experts about the chance of retur

'CSI-Backwoods' case filed in elk killings
(Medford Mail Tribune © 02/12/2009)
Two men were arraigned on felony misdemeanor wildlife charges Wednesday in Eastern Oregon for allegedly poaching a cow elk in the first use of a new Oregon State Police program using DNA testing on evidence in game cases, authorities said.Aleksandr Katko, 52, of Gresham, and Vadim "Tito" Tioukh, 44, of Boring, each face charges of first-degree theft, first-degree criminal mischief, taking an elk w