JOHN DAY, Ore.—Salvage logging on the Malheur National Forest will close Aldrich Lookout Road (Forest Service Road 2150) and surrounding areas beginning this fall, limiting hunter access to Aldrich Mountain on the northwest side of the popular Murderers Creek Wildlife Management Unit.
The closure is due to the Thorn Salvage Fire Recovery Project and runs from Oct. 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008. It directly affects 7,800 acres of the 735,762-acre Murderers Creek unit and includes portions of the Murderers Creek-Flagtail Travel Management Area.
For public safety during harvest operations, National Forest lands within the salvage area will be closed to all public entry, including foot travel. In addition, Forest Service Roads 2140, 2150, 2170 and associated roads will be closed to all vehicles to reduce safety concerns associated with logging and log haul.
“Though salvage logging will occur on only a small portion of the Murderers Creek Unit, the road closures will restrict access to a larger portion that happens to be popular with hunters,” said ODFW District Biologist Ryan Torland. “Hunters need to be aware of the closure of both roads and forestland in the Aldrich Mountain area this season and plan their hunting trips accordingly.”
Hunters may still walk in to hunt in areas outside the salvage project perimeter. Maps showing the area and road closures are available at all Malheur National Forest offices and can also be found at http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/malheur/ (see Shake Table Fire Complex Road Closure Map).
The controlled hunts in Murderers Creek affected by the closure are:
- 246X Murderer Cr Unit – One bull elk
- 246A W Murderers Cr – One elk
- 246C Flagtail – One anterless elk
- 146 Murderer Cr Unit – One buck deer
Hunters that selected one of the above hunts as their first choice and now wish to change their selection should contact ODFW’s Licensing Division at (503) 947-6100 no later than June 1. Bighorn sheep and antelope hunts will not be affected by the closure.
The Thorn Salvage Fire Recovery Project is expected to salvage trees killed in the Shake Table Complex Fire, which burned in August 2006. The current proposal could salvage dead and dying trees on up to 3,900 acres and remove potential hazard trees along as many as 43.4 miles of open roads. For more information on the Thorn Salvage Fire Recovery Project, contact the Malheur National Forest at (541) 575-3000.
Receive News Release Updates by E-mail