Tragic News: Poachers are Destroying Oregon's Deer Population

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LanceOregon

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The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife decided to launch an extensive investigation, in order to figure out why Oregon's Deer population is in such sharp decline. The study has now been concluded, and the sad findings are this:

Poaching is taking place in record numbers in Oregon, and is now so high, that is matching the legal harvest by hunters.

Even worse, the investigation determined that poachers are primarily killing does, which has a terrible impact on deer reproduction.

With Gray Wolves now in Oregon, and with the Federal government preventing Oregon from restricting their growth in numbers in any way, wildlife officials are predicting a grim future for deer hunting in Oregon. Predators, both human and animal, may continue to take an increasing toll on the population.

With the state government bankrupt due to decreased tax revenues from the bad economy here, wildlife officials are left wondering what, if anything, can be done stop this negative trend from increasing in severity.

Is poaching becoming a bigger problem where you live?

See:

http://www.kval.com/outdoors/fishhunt/108530584.html

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I'm not an expert. In fact, I'm more skeptical than ever about the "experts". Seems like they are working for agencies that have their own agendas.

But I don't think we have a significant poaching problem here in Wyoming. It exists I'm sure, but I doubt if it has a big impact on our hunting.

I do know though that we have a wolf problem that dwarfs any other effect our big game herd has faced in 90 years.

The "experts" say our elk, deer, and moose populations are affected by drought, people, pollution, and bad karma, but certainly not by wolves. Wolves do nothing but promote good vibes and healthy herds according to them. These "experts" are so convincing that I'm thinking of getting a couple wolves to turn loose with my goat herd to increase their health.
 
I'm not an expert. In fact, I'm more skeptical than ever about the "experts". Seems like they are working for agencies that have their own agendas.
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I'm convinced that it has to do with a much larger plan to eventually control the food supply. Of course I'm sure that I'll be accused of tinfoil hattery.
 
The "experts" say our elk, deer, and moose populations are affected by drought, people, pollution, and bad karma, but certainly not by wolves. Wolves do nothing but promote good vibes and healthy herds according to them. These "experts" are so convincing that I'm thinking of getting a couple wolves to turn loose with my goat herd to increase their health.
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Well, our state wildlife biologists had developed a wolf plan for Oregon, that would have allowed for wolves guilty of livestock predation to be hunted down and killed once there were a total of 7 packs established in the state. It also allows for a wolf hunting season.

However, since the federal courts re-listed the wolf as Federally endangered, Oregon's wolf management program is now totally on hold. The state is now powerless to manage the animals in any way. Their numbers can continue to grow, no matter how much game and livestock they are killing.

Sort of an insane policy to have, if you ask me.

Most ironically, the first formation of a government in Oregon took place when the first farmers and ranchers in the Willamette Valley got together for a meeting to organize the eradication of wolves in the valley, in order to protect the livestock of the settlers, which was so crucial to their survival.

We have gone from one extreme to the other in our state, when it comes to controlling wolves.

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Lance, Thanks for posting that. Before I read the article, I assumed it was going to be the blacktails that were getting poached due to the higher density of population in the valley. This doesn't say that isn't true, just doesn't address it. Of course, the area they were studying has higher human population than a lot of eastern Oregon.

I have not noticed a significant reduction of mule deer population in the area we hunt (when we can get tags), but it is a long way from any population centers.

I also found it interesting the number of cougar kills. And the problem with cougar kills is it is not contingent on human population centers, so I would think those numbers would translate more easily to statewide numbers.

I am for bringing back dogs for cats and bears, and baiting bears. That would have a far greater impact than the few packs of wolves.
 
I wonder if poaching is the right word for whats going on up there.IF the GOV.is bankrupt & the jobs are few & far between and your saying they are taking mostly doe's sounds more like it maybe more of a food thing than poaching for trophys.IF this could be possible IMO thats not poaching times are hard and we should'nt wrong anyone trying to feed there family after all the other things we turned a blind eye too. I just saying.
 
Big P - sorry, I will not agree with your logic. Would you say the same thing about robbing a convenience store or stealing a farmers cow?
 
That's a valid concern BIG P. And I would certainly have more sympathy toward a guy just trying to feed his family compared to a guy poaching just to take the horns. But... we have laws for a reason, and poaching is still against the law no matter the circumstances.
 
I do agree with Big P. Robbing a conveinance store is NOT the same.

If times are hard (they are), and a man has a hungry family and has a gun with a few rounds, he could go into town and rob the quickie mart, or head up the hill and (work) for his food. The lazy criminal scum will go take someone elses food money. The bigger man does what he has to do to feed his family without taking from others or crossing the line into criminality.

You may not agree. You may not have a family. This is ok. This is one of those fine lines of moral behavior that is acceptable in very special narrow set of circumstances (similar to lieing to save life as expressed in Peetzakillas essay recently).

We do not know if that is what is really happening in Oregon but it is likely with the shape of the economy.
 
Is poaching becoming a bigger problem where you live?
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I'm not sure yet where I am (I suspect it is, since I've seen evidence of poaching in the past here), but where I recently moved from the poaching is decimating the deer herds.

The sad part is that the Az G&F dept blames it on drought, predation, and other issues. The truth is, there are still far more deer in the backcountry than there are in vehicle-accessible areas. Poachers are generally lazy, and don't want to walk all that far.

I disagree with it being "acceptable" for the most part. If a man and/or his family is truly starving, and it's a matter of life and death, them I'm sure I could accept that. In truth, I've never known anyone that was that hungry, and I've been hungry a time or two myself. There's very few places or situations where a person couldn't come by a meal honestly if (s)he's willing to try.

Like many, I live on a limited income, and even have trouble making ends meet at times. Somehow I manage to pay the bills each month, and my freezer stays pretty full. It's really not that hard, and I've yet to have to break the law to make it work.

Daryl
 
Who is the person stealing from when they "poach" a deer to feed their family. The government? What man has a right to say you can't take an animal that was put on this earth for our use. If it is for a reason like feeding your family it is not wrong. Stealing from a farmer or a store is a different thing totally, that is someone else's work and lively hood you are stealing. Animals have been here for our use as long as we've been around, it has just been in the last 100 years or less that the government started telling us how we could use their deer. I know there has to be regulation on hunting and I agree with that completely but in a situation like stated above there shouldn't have to be regulation. I don't know if you have kids or not but if you do try and tell me there is anything you wouldn't do for their survival and well being.

I agree I've never met anyone that hard up, but I don't doubt there are a whole lot of them out there that the likes of us with computers and jobs will ever know about.
 
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Irish - you can't have it both ways:

What man has a right to say you can't take an animal that was put on this earth for our use.
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I know there has to be regulation on hunting and I agree with that completely
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One thing I do know is there are 2 pages of Help Wanted ads in our newspaper every day, but Oregon unemployment is higher than most of the country. I know if I was handed my last paycheck, I would be working for someone within 24 hours. It might not be a great job, or even a good job, but I would have a job.

I would do anything for my kids survival and well being, but teaching them that breaking the law is OK is not what I want my kids to learn.

It isn't the government poachers are stealing from - it is the people. It is regulated so the resource is available to the people.
 
Who is the person stealing from when they "poach" a deer to feed their family. The government?
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Nope the poacher is stealing from me and every other hunter and their families now and into the future.

I don't know if you have kids or not but if you do try and tell me there is anything you wouldn't do for their survival and well being.
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I believe in supporting and expanding the social safety net. It's cheaper than allowing poaching for the "deserving" poor.
 
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Although I am sure poaching is a problem here in Texas, it is ironic that the 2010-2011 State Fish/Hunting guide has in big bold letters in on one of the first pages "Use All of Your Tags". I assume this is to try and regulate the overpopulation of deer in Texas, especially in the hill country. One of the prices for having 98% private land in the state. I have been told that some of the people who poach do so because they have no place to hunt without paying a minum of $100 a day plus kill fees. Doesn't make it right, but it is a reason.
 
I think you could have it both ways. Regulation the way it is now for regular hunting, but I also think you should be able to apply for special permits to hunt out of necessity. People apply for food stamps and well fare every day why not apply for a permit that allows you to do some work for your meal. I wasn't very clear on my thoughts before and you got me thinking, so I thought I would explain a little better. Those permits don't exist to my knowledge so that's why I said "poaching". Yes and I agree with you on the working in 24 hours statement, couldn't be any truer.
 
Irish - I am all for additional tags - heck I could even support reduced license/tag fees if someone was receiving government aid such as food stamps.

We can form a political party - Fur and Fin, and have this as our main idea!
 
I would have to see more evidence to believe their investigation results. There will always be up and down periods over longer and also shorter periods of time, and sometimes the data can't or doesn't accurately reflect that.
 
I am for bringing back dogs for cats and bears, and baiting bears. That would have a far greater impact than the few packs of wolves.
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Yes, that was a HUGE mistake when voters past those limitations.

The wolf issue is not anything affecting game at this point in time. But it looms on the horizon as becoming an additional threat, if the state is not allowed by the federal government to manage the animals. So while there is no current threat, the potential in the future is very significant.

One of the biggest predator rights organizations in our country is located right here in Lane County next to us. Here is their website:

http://www.predatordefense.org/index.htm

They want all hunting and killing of coyotes, cougars, and wolves to be completely outlawed.

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+1 to youngunz - sample size is small for statistical validity.

Also noted in the article
Wallowa County, which is the size of Delaware and Rhode Island and has a population of 7,150, has three game officers
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That would be part of the problem.
 
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