OREGON STATE POLICEFISH & WILDLIFE DIVISION

Monthly Field Review

2018

CONTENTBOBCAT RELEASEMARINE RESERVE PATROLSFLOAT PATROLS

MULTIPLE ELK STRUCK

BALD EAGLE COUNT

SWIFTWATER RESCUE TRAININGADMINISTRATION OF WILDLIFE LAWS

OSP SEEKING INFORMATIONCASE DISPOSITIONS

TURN IN POACHERSF&W RECRUITMENT

A Fish and Wildlife trooper responded to a report of a bobcat that was caught in a live trap in rural Polk County. The bobcat was transported in the live trap to private timberlands and released unharmed.

BOBCAT RELEASE

At about 2am, two Fish and Wildlife troopers drove up on two subjects at the Warrenton Commercial Dock that were loading a large duffle bag into the back of an SUV. The subjects seemed nervous as the troopers aproached. The exterior of the bag was noticeably wet and the bag itself appeared heavy. One of the subjects stated they were both deckhands on a crab boat that just returned from fishing. The subject stated there was a mix of legal crab and undersized crab in the bag, to which he did

not have any documentation or take home receipts. The bag contained a total of 78 crab (46 undersized and 32 legal sized) for a total of 106 pounds. The crab were seized and sold to a fish dealer. The subject was cited for Unlawful Take of Undersized Dungeness Crab and Failure to Sell Foodfish to a Wholesale Fish Dealer.

Newport Fish and Wildlife troopers conducted a Marine Reserves patrol on the Guardian. The troopers responded to an anonymous complaint of commercial crab gear in the Cape Perpetua Marine Reserve. They located and seized 14 commercial crab pots within the reserve.

MARINE RESERVE PATROLS

A Fish and Wildlife Trooper and NOAA’s Lieutenant Busch flew along the Oregon coast with the US Coast Guard aboard their C-27 aircraft. Oregon's marine reserves were monitored for illegal deployment of fishing gear. The Cape Blanco to California border crab closure was also monitored. No violations were observed. MARINE RESERVE PATROLS

Fish and Wildlife troopers conducted a boat patrol on the Columbia River covering the entire Bonneville Pool from Bonneville Dam to The Dalles Dam. While on the boat patrol they observed two subjects from a distance angling on the shoreline bank. As the Troopers approached they observed one subject walk over to both rods and use his cigarette to burn both of the lines while they were actively angling. Troopers immediately went ashore and made contact with subjects who admitted to using barbed hooks and knew it was illegal. One of the subjects was cited for Littering within 100 yards of a Waterway. Troopers also checked a boat that retained a sturgeon they had tagged on their harvest card measuring 38 ¼ inches. Troopers took measurements on the fish, using the same measuring tape the subject used, getting a measurement of 37 ¼ inches. The legal slot limit for retention is 38-54 inches. The subject was issued a citation for Unlawful Possession/Take of Undersize Sturgeon with the fish seized as evidence.

NORTH FORK NEHALEM FLOAT PATROL

A steelhead patrol was conducted by a F&W trooper on the North Fork Nehalem River. Downstream from the hatchery one subject was observed carrying two steelhead to his vehicle. The subject was contacted after he placed the steelhead in his vehicle and was about to leave. Upon inspection of the subject’s combined angling tag, it was determined he had not tagged either steelhead. The subject claimed he left his pen in his vehicle and was going to do it once he got back to his residence. When asked what the regulations say about tagging steelhead, the subject said he has never looked at the fishing regulations. He was cited for Fail to Immediately Validate Tag and given a sport fishing regulations booklet.

FLOAT PATROLS

An OSP Fish and Wildlife trooper participated in a Bald Eagle count with ODFW. They travelled along the Columbia River between Scappoose Bay and Cathlamet, Washington. All in all, 86 adults and 26 juveniles were counted.

Photos courtesy of ODFW

BALD EAGLE COUNT

On January 4, 2018, at approximately 4:30 AM, the Oregon State Police and Washington County Sheriff's office responded to a crash on Highway 26 near milepost 54 in Washington County. The initial report was that a vehicle hit approximately eleven elk. The Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife

Division was contacted and responded to the scene. The Washington County Sheriff's Office handled the crash and the Oregon State Police worked with the Oregon Department of Transportation to remove the elk. There were thirteen known elk hit by one vehicle. Approximately half of the elk were killed on scene and the others were put down for humane reasons. Troopers were able to salvage the meat and distribute it to area food banks and senior centers.

Multiple Elk Struck by Vehicle

A Fish and Wildlife Trooper responded to a report of a Sperm Whale that washed up on the beach in the Ophir Beach area 10 miles north of Gold Beach. Biologists removed the lower jaw with the majority of teeth intact for research and educational purposes before it could potentially be removed unlawfully by others.

A Fish and Wildlife Trooper responded to Bastendorff Beach for a report of a Harbor Seal with a gunshot wound to the head. A necropsy was conducted on the animal and it was determined to have died from a cracked skull due to a shark bite. Three tooth punctures were located on one side of the head and two on the other. The US Coast Guard was training rescue swimmers nearby and were advised to use extra caution in the area. Several local surfers were advised as well. Coincidentally, a video was recently posted to social media of a Great White Shark eating a Harbor Seal in the area.

SPERM WHALE WASHES UP ON OPHIR AREA BEACH

HARBOR SEAL KILLED BY SHARK

A Fish and Wildlife Trooper attended swift water rescue training with other troopers, deputies and fire fighters from various agencies and locations around the state. The course focuses on hazard recognition, equipment use, shore and boat-based rescue techniques, and other swift water rescue skills.

SWIFTWATER RESCUE TRAINING

In early January, three OSP Fish and Wildlife Troopers, along with two Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputies, were able to recover one drift boat from the South Umpqua River that sunk a few days prior. They were also able to locate and extract another drift boat that had been submerged for about six weeks. The occupants of both boats had made it to shore safely. The boats were considered to be hazards to navigation.

DRIFT BOAT RECOVERY

A Fish and Wildlife Trooper arrived at the mouth of the John Day River for the report of subjects shooting at geese from a moving boat. The two subjects

in the boat, and the operator who wasn’t hunting, believed that if they shut the motor off and coasted to the birds they’d be legal. The subjects also thought they were hunting in an open area, which it was not. The operator was criminally cited and released for Aiding/ Counseling in a Wildlife Violation and the two subjects were criminally cited and

released for Hunting Closed Area and warned for Shooting Game Birds from a Moving Motor Boat. Thirteen ducks and one Canada

goose was seized, field dressed and donated to an area Senior Center.

On January 6, 2018 F&W Troopers from Springfield and Oakridge patrolled the Fern Ridge Wildlife area for duck hunters. The permit hunt area in the East and West Coyote units along with the Fisher Butte and Royal Amazon units was patrolled. Troopers checked 26 duck hunters and two citations were issued for No Federal Waterfowl Stamp. One hunter was warned for No Resident Waterfowl Validation.

Fish and Wildlife troopers contacted two duck hunters in Yaquina Bay. Both subjects had a limit of Scoters and one of the subjects did not have a sea duck permit. The subject was cited and the birds were seized.

OSP Troopers from Grants Pass and Medford conducted a drift boat patrol on the Rogue River in Josephine County. Six Boats were contacted, 18 anglers and two duck hunters. All were in 100% compliance.

The Newport OSP Fish and Wildlife team received a complaint of duck hunters who were shooting from a boat and harassing the waterfowl. Two F&W troopers contacted the boat at the South Beach boat ramp and checked two subjects. They denied actually shooting ducks when the boat was moving. One subject did not have his Sea Duck Permit. He was cited for the offense and all seven of his Scoter sea ducks were seized.

Administration and Enforcement of Wildlife Laws

A F&W trooper contacted two duck hunters on the Alsea River. The subjects had their blinds and decoys set directly off Highway 34. The subjects had two Buffleheads in possession and had hunted within 150 feet of Eckman Lake, which is prohibited. The subjects were cited for Hunting Prohibited Area-Violation.

OSP Fish and Wildlife Troopers worked a joint patrol with Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife and Hood River County Sheriff’s Office on the first Saturday of the Zone 6 sturgeon fishery. Three separate boat patrols were conducted between Bonneville Dam and the John Day Dam. Troopers checked 38 boats, 124 sturgeon anglers, seven walleye anglers, nine waterfowl hunters and two guides. In total, six warnings and four citations were issued. Overall, sturgeon catches were low and compliance was good. Citations were issued for Angling for Sturgeon with Two Rods, a Personal Flotation Device Violation, No Federal Waterfowl Stamp and Expired Boat Registration.

Duck hunters were contacted by a F&W trooper as they came off the water at the Aldrich Point Boat Ramp in Brownsmead. The first boat contacted had a single person on board. After an inspection of his license it was determined he did not possess a federal waterfowl stamp. The subject was warned for No Federal Waterfowl Stamp and given information on where to purchase the required stamp. A second boat was contacted with four people on board. One of the individuals did not have a hunting license in his possession but said he had purchased the required license and stamps in order to duck hunt. A records check showed the subject had not purchased the required State Waterfowl Bird Stamp, Federal Waterfowl Stamp, and had not completed the HIP (Harvest Information Program) Validation. The hunter was cited for No Waterfowl Validation and Warned for No HIP Validation.

Fish and Wildlife troopers conducted a boat patrol on the Columbia River within the Lewis & Clark National Wildlife Refuge. In total, 21 duck hunters were contacted, one citation was issued for No 2018 Resident Hunting License, three warnings were issued for Hunting on another’s Cultivated or Enclosed Land, and two warnings were issued for Failure to Sign Federal Waterfowl Stamp.

On January 7, 2018 a F&W trooper located a trap-set and soon after located the trapper. The trapper had placed out three unbranded traps. The traps were seized as evidence and the trapper was cited for Trapping Prohibited Method- Unbranded Traps.

A F&W trooper contacted a suspect involved in poaching case from October 2017, where a doe deer had been shot and left to waste. Shortly after the incident was reported a press release was issued, but no credible tips were received. With the help of a witness, the suspect was identified and contacted at his residence in North Bend. The suspect admitted to shooting and leaving the doe, and admitted to trespassing on private timber land to do so. The subject was criminally cited and released for Unlawful Take Antlerless Deer, Wasting of a Game Mammal, and Hunting in Violation of Criminal Trespass. A Winchester Model 70 rifle was seized as evidence.

Fish and Wildlife troopers in Douglas county investigated a trespass complaint that consisted of a trapper trespassing and setting traps on private property. While following up on the complaint, several trap sets were also found on public property. The trap sets were illegal due to the use of grouse and gray squirrels as bait. It was then determined the trapper had not checked the traps within the required 48 hours. While investigating and finding more trap sites, one of the troopers located the trappers. There were 45 unbranded traps seized as evidence. The trappers were subsequentially cited and released for the mentioned violations.

DOE DEER LEFT TO WASTE

UNBRANDED TRAPS SEIZED

TRESPASSING COMPLAINT LEADS TO ILLEGAL TRAP SETS

On January 27 at approximately 9:00 am, Central Point Fish & Wildlife troopers were called to the Sam’s Valley area to investigate the possible shooting of an elk. Troopers arrived to find a four point bull elk standing in a pasture with what appeared to be a bullet wound just behind his left shoulder blade. Shortly after the troopers arrived, the bull succumbed to his injuries. A witness in the area said that two hours prior to the troopers arrival, he’d observed a newer white full size truck that had stopped in the roadway just east of where the bull was located and the passenger of that vehicle shot. The vehicle then left the area. Troopers are asking for any information that might lead to the suspects that poached this elk. All reports can remain anonymous.

TROOPERS SEEKING INFORMATION FROM THE PUBLIC

A La Pine area trooper received a disposition on a Deschutes County case involving a buck deer taken during closed season. The subject, plead guilty and received ten days jail, 36 months hunting suspension, and 18 months, probation, with fines.

CASE DISPOSITIONSOn August 12, 2017 the Burns OSP Fish and Wildlife Troopers responded to a call in the Beatys Butte Unit regarding a male subject who shot multiple buck Antelope. The four reporting persons reported watching a hunter from across the drainage, they saw him shoot a small buck. The reporting group saw the antelope immediately go down and the subject walked up to it and lightly kicked it twice and walked away. At the same time a herd of antelope that were in the drainage ran up toward the subject’s location. The subject then shot at a large buck in the herd as the antelope ran by him. The reporting group noted the large antelope buck had started to limp on its front leg and then heard two more shots. They subsequently called the OSP Dispatch Center. While enroute, the Troopers received a message that the same subject had killed a different medium size antelope buck and he had it loaded on the front of his ATV. The male subject was contacted and initially denied, but later confessed to shooting all three Antelope. The male suspect was arrested and transported to the Harney County Jail where he was lodged for Exceeding the Bag Limit x2 and Waste x2.

A request was made that $250 dollars TIP Reward be paid out to each of the reporting parties and they all received a TIP. The suspect was convicted of a Misdemeanor and received: Jail time, 36 month hunting suspension, six month Bench Probation, $3,100 dollars in fines, and forfeiture of his rifle.

Oregon State Police work hand in hand with OHA and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to ensure that present and future generations have a hunt-able wildlife resource. OHA sponsors the Turn In Poachers (TIP) program, which rewards individuals

who help catch poachers.

Rewards:$1,000 Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat & Moose $500 Elk, Deer & Antelope $300 Bear, Cougar & Wolf $300 Habitat Destruction $200 Illegally obtaining Oregon hunting/angling license / tags$100 Game Fish & Shellfish$100 Upland Birds & Waterfowl$100 Fur Bearers

What Should I Report?POACHING (otherwise known as the illegal take of game or fish), trespassing, littering, theft, destroying of property and road closure violations. Poaching affects all Oregonians. When making a report, provide as much of the following information as possible:

- Nature of violation or activity observed or advised about- Location of activity (Road, Milepost, GPS, etc.)- Date and time of violation/activity- Description of any vehicle involved- Name and/or description of violator

The TIP reward is paid for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation for the illegal killing or taking of wildlife and/or for illegally obtaining Oregon hunting/angling licenses or tags.

People who “work” the system and falsely apply for resident license or tags are not legally hunting and/or angling and are considered poachers.

TIP rewards can also be given for the illegal taking, netting, snagging, and/or dynamiting of salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, and/or large numbers of any fish listed in Oregon statue as a game fish.

TURN IN POACHERS1-800-452-7888 or *OSP(677) TIP@state.or.us

OREGON STATE POLICEFish & Wildlife Division

Interested in becoming an Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Trooper?

Exciting, Rewarding and Challenging...A career that makes a difference!

For more information, please visit our website at:

www.osptrooper.com

Questions? Please call 503-378-4931 or email OSP Training Division:

Senior Trooper Tiffany Lynn @ Tiffany.lynn@state.or.us

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“Assuring compliance with the laws which protect and enhance the long-term health and equitable utilization of Oregon’s fish, wildlife, and habitat resources.”

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