Hunter information booth to be set up

Fire prevention cooperatives throughout Eastern Oregon will sponsor hunter information booths in preparation for the 2001 Controlled Buck Centerfire Rifle Season, which runs September 29 to October 10.

Community volunteers and fire service representatives will staff the booths September 27-29 for hunters seeking information about fire restrictions, road closures and current game regulations. Hunters can buy Bureau of Land Management, USDA Forest Service and Oregon Department of Forestry maps at many booths.

The Sisters booth will be open September 27 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and September 28 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Ray's Food Place on Sisters' west side.

Fire officials throughout Oregon are concerned that current drought conditions may increase the risk of human-caused fires during hunting season, said Pete Martin, a fire prevention specialist for the Bureau of Land Management.

"It's always best to check fire restrictions for the unit you'll be hunting before you go."

Current public use restrictions for many Central Oregon units can be found by calling 1-800- 523-4737.

Citizens concerned about hunters, thieves

By Jim Cornelius

Residents who live in the woods and sage flats around Sisters are worried about hunters shooting indiscriminately into areas where people live. Though the law creates a 150-foot no-shoot zone around subdivisions, a centerfire rifle cartridge has considerably greater range than that and residents worry about their safety.

Citizens raised concerns about hunting at a town hall meeting with Sheriff Les Stiles on Wednesday, September 12.

Sheriff's deputies told them that they should feel free to call the sheriff's office to report concerns about hunter safety or possible game violations. While Oregon State Police troopers act as official game officers, deputies are fully empowered to handle trouble with hunters.

"I'm perfectly comfortable doing that, so call us," Deputy Randy Shepherd told those at the meeting.

He noted that most hunters respond appropriately when deputies warn them away from residential areas. The deputies at the town hall were also receptive to proposals to help inform out-of-town hunters about the existence of subdivisions and other residences in the Sisters woods.

Citizens also had questions about a recent spate of business burglaries. In at least two burglaries, thieves made off with safes containing substantial amounts of cash.

Sheriff Les Stiles and his deputies were reluctant to go into detail, but they assured that the burglaries are "under intensive investigation."

Sergeant Mike Johnston noted that the current spree has created a "spike" in crime statistics, but that does not necessarily indicate that Sisters is experiencing a trend toward more crime.