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PORTLAND – The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission expanded hunting opportunities for healthy populations of chukar, California quail, pheasant, and fall turkey and maintained liberal bag limits for most species of ducks and geese Friday when they adopted the 2000-2001 game bird seasons.
In addition, the Commission responded to significant public comment and implemented a two-day statewide youth waterfowl hunt on Sept. 23-24. The youth hunt allows young hunters to have a hunting opportunity before the regular waterfowl seasons begin on Oct. 7 and Oct. 14. Last year, there was a one-day youth game bird hunt.
The Commission is the rulemaking body for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and acted on ODFW staff recommendations to approve the upcoming game bird seasons and establish 2000-2004 season frameworks for upland game birds. Through Aug. 17, the public may comment on the exact language used to describe the Commission’s direction. ODFW Director Jim Greer will officially adopt the seasons on Aug. 18. A synopsis of the regulations will be available at license agents and ODFW offices in late August.
A mild spring and early summer in many areas of the state resulted in good upland bird production in Oregon, especially for chukar in the Snake River area, and California quail throughout the state.
Waterfowl production was affected this year by poor to good water conditions across parts of western North America. However, the number of adult ducks remains high because of low harvest in some areas last year. ODFW Game Bird Biologist Brad Bales reported good nest success for geese this year.
Based on biological data, historical hunting seasons, and a desire to simplify rules, the Commission adopted the following upland game bird frameworks:
Ring-necked and Sichuan Pheasant: The season is lengthened by about one month in western Oregon for pheasants. The current conservative harvest limit of two roosters per day was maintained. The season will be open from the Saturday nearest to Oct. 15 through the Sunday nearest Dec. 11. Fee pheasant hunts and Oregon Outdoor Women pheasant hunts were also approved with no changes from last year.
Chukar and Hungarian Partridge: The season was extended in Grant, Wallowa, and Union counties from Dec. 31 to Jan. 31 to increase hunting opportunities for healthy partridge and chukar populations on public lands. For most of eastern Oregon, the season is open from the Saturday nearest Oct. 8 through Jan. 31. For Umatilla and Morrow counties, the season will be open the Saturday nearest Oct. 8 through Dec. 31. The daily bag limit is eight birds.
California (valley) quail: The season will last five additional weeks by opening earlier and closing later. In western Oregon, the season is concurrent with expanded pheasant season and in eastern Oregon the season is concurrent with partridge seasons. The daily bag limit is 10 birds.
Mountain quail: No changes were made from last year. In western Oregon, the season will be open Sept. 1 through the Sunday nearest Jan. 8 with a 10-bird daily bag limit. In Wallowa and Klamath counties, the season is open the Saturday nearest Oct. 8 through Dec. 31 with a daily bag limit of two birds.
Forest (blue and ruffed) grouse: No changes were made from last year. In western Oregon, the season is Sept. 1 through the Sunday closest to Jan. 8 with a daily bag limit of three blue and three ruffed grouse. In eastern Oregon, the season is Sept. 1 through the Sunday nearest to Nov. 27 with the same bag limit.
Sage Grouse: No changes were made to the 2000 hunting season from last year. The Commission authorized 1,265 permits to be awarded through a drawing. Hunters must apply between Aug. 19 and Aug. 28 for the season that occurs Sept. 9-13. The bag and season limit is two birds.
Turkey: A greatly expanded area for the controlled fall season was established in Curry, Josephine, Jackson, Coos, Douglas, Lane, Benton, Polk, Marion, and Linn counties. The Commission ended the controlled permit process starting in 2001 and replaced it with "first-come-first-serve" permit sales because the number of hunters applying for fall turkey permits does not exceed the number available. The fall season is Oct. 15 – Nov. 15 with a bag limit of one either sex turkey. For the spring general season, the definition of a legal bird changed to any turkey with a visible beard. The spring season will be April 15 – May 31 with a daily bag limit of one legal turkey and a season limit of two legal turkeys. In southwestern Oregon, a third turkey may be harvested in the spring season.
Falconry Season: A season from Sept. 1, 2000 to March 31, 2001 was approved to allow hunting with falcons for one pheasant of either sex, two California quail, two Hungarian partridge, two chukar, two ruffed grouse, two blue grouse, and one sage grouse per day. The possession limit is double the daily limit. The sage grouse season limit is two birds.
Youth Hunts: Youth pheasant hunts were established for Sept. 16-17 and Sept. 23-24 at E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area, Sept. 16-17 at Sauvie Island and Sept. 23-24 at all other youth hunt areas. The Commission established new safety standards for the youth pheasant hunts to decrease the potential for accidents. In addition, the Commission established a two-day statewide youth waterfowl hunt on Sept. 23-24.
Firearms restrictions: The Commission voted to maintain the existing prohibition on rifles and handguns for game birds, citing safety, ethics, and public perception.
The Commission also adopted 2000-2001 migratory bird seasons for mourning dove, band-tailed pigeon, common snipe, crow, duck, merganser, September Canada goose, general fall goose, northwest Oregon permit goose, and coot. The seasons are based on requirements established through the federal regulatory processes and no significant changes were made from last year to seasons or bag limits. (See attached table for dates.)
The waterfowl season will close Oct. 19 and 20 to allow a youth waterfowl hunt Sept. 23-24. Oregon is limited to 100 goose hunting days, 107 duck hunting days. The youth hunt uses two of those days.
Uploaded: 8/17/2000
Uploaded: 8/17/2000