Drop in deer population worries hunters

Local deer populations have taken a hit recently.

That means local hunters may have fewer opportunities for shots at deer or elk this fall.

Some Central Oregon hunting units may remain unchanged from 2004 while others may be reduced by as much 25 percent. That was the message that some 40 hunters heard from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists at a Wednesday, May 4, public meeting in Redmond.

Disease, movement of wildlife to private lands, loss of habitat and other factors are all part of the mix that will determine the number of tags and types of hunting seasons, biologists reported.

In the Sisters area, the number of deer tags for the Upper Deschutes Unit south of Sisters may be reduced by 20 percent from 2,500 to 2,000. For the Metolius Unit north and west of Sisters, there may be a reduction in the number of deer tags by 38 percent from 800 to 500.

According to officials, the drop in tags in the Sisters area reflects a low buck-to-doe ratio, poor fawn survival and the impact of Adenovirus Hemorrhagic Disease (AHD) on populations.

“As all Central Oregon residents know, we had a very mild winter,” said Brian Ferry, Ochoco District wildlife biologist stationed at Prineville.

“While that produced a higher than normal deer fawn and elk calf survival this spring in some units, it wasn’t true for all units.”

Staff recommendation for buck tags for the large Ochoco Unit east of Prineville remains unchanged from last year with 4,000 tags proposed. However, the number of bull elk tags for that unit is being recommended for a reduction from 350 to 250 for each of the early and late elk seasons.

“We are finding that elk are now spending more time on private lands adjacent to the public national forests,” Ferry said. “That is increasing the level of damage being done by the animals, so we are proposing several special hunts on private lands.”

The Grizzly Unit north of Prineville was found to have a low buck-to-doe ratio of seven, lower than other units that range from 11 to 14.

The reason for the decline is unknown at this time and additional studies are underway.

Those attending the meeting raised questions on the impact of the growing number of cougars on deer and elk populations.

Biologists acknowledged that since the ban on hunting cougars with dogs was passed by Oregon voters, cougar populations have increased.

However, determining the losses of deer and elk to cougars is difficult.

“From my experience, the increasing loss of winter range to development of homes and subdivisions, more roads, and a growing population have had a bigger impact of wildlife than cougars,” said Steve George, Deschutes District wildlife biologist stationed in Bend.

George went on to say that development of a statewide cougar management plan is on a fast track and should be ready for public review later this year.

Other problems that impact wildlife are diseases, including deer hair loss syndrome affecting the health of black-tailed deer in Western Oregon and AHD affecting Central Oregon mule deer herds.

Hunters encouraged the biologists to try variations of seasons, tag numbers, and other changes to see if wildlife populations and quality of hunting might be improved.

Summaries of citizen committee reports on archery hunts also were reviewed. Studies are aimed at improving the quality of hunts in areas where numbers of bow hunters has been dramatically increasing.

The public may comment on these proposals at a May 13 evening meeting of the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission in Prineville.

Written comments may be addressed to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Wildlife Division, 3406 Cherry Ave. NE, Salem, OR 97303.

Final decisions will be made at a June 10 commission meeting in Salem.