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WINCHESTER — Hunters were skeptical of a draft state plan to manage cougars at a meeting hosted by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Monday.
Of the approximately 60 people to attend the meeting at Umpqua Community College, many said they don’t trust the department to successfully decrease cougar numbers in Oregon without allowing hunters to use dogs, which voters banned in 1994.
“You want to harvest so many cougars, and how are you going to do this?” asked Oakland resident Jeff Meacham.
The meeting was one of eight around the state to gather comments on the plan, an update of the 1993 version that guides the state on how to increase hunting in order to decrease populations near rural
communities.
“We’re proposing to manage the conflict and at the same time maintain sustainable cougar populations in the state of Oregon,” said Mark Vargas, an ODFW wildlife biologist out of Central Point.
The plan proposes to divide the state into management zones, and to monitor populations, the percentage of adult females, damage complaints, big game populations and other factors in each zone to be able to track cougar numbers.
In the plan’s Southwest Cascades zone, which includes the Umpqua Valley, it’s estimated the cougar population has increased from 10 cougars per 100 square miles to about 13 since the hound hunting ban.
Statewide, the population has grown to more than 5,000 from 3,000 in 1994. The goal is to maintain a cougar population of at least 3,000 and to kill no more than 25 to 35 percent of the adult female
population.
Since the ban, reports have increased of cougars harassing people and harming or killing livestock. Cougar complaints in this area have increased from 154 in 1994 to 324 in 2003.
Ted Paselk of Roseburg described how his father was put out of the ranching business from cougars killing his sheep.
“How many more people are just going to go out of business?” he said, asking officials to consider livelihoods and local economies when developing the plan.
Of the approximately 60 people to attend the meeting at Umpqua Community College, many said they don’t trust the department to successfully decrease cougar numbers in Oregon without allowing hunters to use dogs, which voters banned in 1994.
“You want to harvest so many cougars, and how are you going to do this?” asked Oakland resident Jeff Meacham.
The meeting was one of eight around the state to gather comments on the plan, an update of the 1993 version that guides the state on how to increase hunting in order to decrease populations near rural
communities.
“We’re proposing to manage the conflict and at the same time maintain sustainable cougar populations in the state of Oregon,” said Mark Vargas, an ODFW wildlife biologist out of Central Point.
The plan proposes to divide the state into management zones, and to monitor populations, the percentage of adult females, damage complaints, big game populations and other factors in each zone to be able to track cougar numbers.
In the plan’s Southwest Cascades zone, which includes the Umpqua Valley, it’s estimated the cougar population has increased from 10 cougars per 100 square miles to about 13 since the hound hunting ban.
Statewide, the population has grown to more than 5,000 from 3,000 in 1994. The goal is to maintain a cougar population of at least 3,000 and to kill no more than 25 to 35 percent of the adult female
population.
Since the ban, reports have increased of cougars harassing people and harming or killing livestock. Cougar complaints in this area have increased from 154 in 1994 to 324 in 2003.
Ted Paselk of Roseburg described how his father was put out of the ranching business from cougars killing his sheep.
“How many more people are just going to go out of business?” he said, asking officials to consider livelihoods and local economies when developing the plan.
The plan proposes to teach hunters more successful hunting strategies and hire more state houndsmen to hunt problem cougars.
Government agents are allowed to use dogs for cougars that are harassing communities.
Attendees were frustrated that the state would need to spend money to hire more houndsmen when Oregon hunters would gladly pay to hunt the cats with hounds.
“I believe that the sportsman could handle the problem at a net gain to the state,” while the state’s plan will cost millions of dollars, said Kelly Forney, a houndsman from Roseburg. He suggested the plan include a cost.
Many support calling for legislative changes that would reopen the use of hound hunting to some degree. However, Ron Anglin, who oversees the department’s Wildlife Division, said overturning the ban has been unsuccessful in the last six legislative sessions.
Douglas County Commissioner Dan Van Slyke, who was part of a focus group that reviewed the draft plan, suggested the state develop a maximum number of cougars allowed in each zone as well as a minimum to create a target range.
Cat Koehn of Eugene, the lone person who spoke out opposed to hound hunting at the gathering, said the department should focus on restoring habitat by creating roadless areas, which would help deer and elk populations rebound and restore cougars’ declining food base.
Comments will be incorporated into the plan, which will be presented to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission in December and voted on in January.
• You can reach reporter Diane Huber at 957-4218 or by e-mail at dhuber@newsreview.info.
Government agents are allowed to use dogs for cougars that are harassing communities.
Attendees were frustrated that the state would need to spend money to hire more houndsmen when Oregon hunters would gladly pay to hunt the cats with hounds.
“I believe that the sportsman could handle the problem at a net gain to the state,” while the state’s plan will cost millions of dollars, said Kelly Forney, a houndsman from Roseburg. He suggested the plan include a cost.
Many support calling for legislative changes that would reopen the use of hound hunting to some degree. However, Ron Anglin, who oversees the department’s Wildlife Division, said overturning the ban has been unsuccessful in the last six legislative sessions.
Douglas County Commissioner Dan Van Slyke, who was part of a focus group that reviewed the draft plan, suggested the state develop a maximum number of cougars allowed in each zone as well as a minimum to create a target range.
Cat Koehn of Eugene, the lone person who spoke out opposed to hound hunting at the gathering, said the department should focus on restoring habitat by creating roadless areas, which would help deer and elk populations rebound and restore cougars’ declining food base.
Comments will be incorporated into the plan, which will be presented to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission in December and voted on in January.
• You can reach reporter Diane Huber at 957-4218 or by e-mail at dhuber@newsreview.info.
COUGARD Plan glance
WHAT: Draft Oregon Cougar Management Plan
SUBMIT COMMENTS by Oct. 31 • Via e-mail at cougar.plan@state.or.us • Via U.S. Mail to ODFW Cougar Plan, 3406 Cherry Ave. NE Salem, OR 97303 ONLINE: www.dfw.state.or.us |
