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In an effort to address the concerns being raised by its archery stakeholders, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) convened the 2014 Archery Review Public Advisory Committee (ARPAC) to review the structure of archery deer and elk hunts across the state. ODFW, Oregon State Police (OSP), several archery hunting organizations, and select archery hunters from around the state met four times between January 25 and March 22, 2014.
ARPAC developed three primary recommendations. This is just a summary; the Final Report contains a more complete discussion and additional, less formal recommendations from ARPAC.
ARPAC Recommendation: That ODFW use criteria to provide an either-sex bag limit during the general archery season that is based on trends in animal population and recruitment. Currently, this ability is based on meeting a certain antlerless rifle tag threshold. ARPAC also recommends that ODFW offer limited, either-sex archery tags in units below the threshold to have a general either-sex bag limit. See ‘General Either-Sex Archery Criteria’ in Appendix C of the ARPAC 2014 Final Report.
ARPAC Recommendation: That ODFW create a controlled archery deer season (with reasonably high tag numbers) in the Walla Walla, Wenaha, and Mt. Emily WMUs that runs for the first 9 days of the standard general archery season (or the first 10 days when Labor Day is on the second weekend). This would provide an opportunity for deer hunters that do not hunt elk or draw an elk bow tag for one of these units. The controlled deer tag would also be valid in other units during the general season. The remaining hunt structure, which requires general deer season archers to be in possession of a controlled elk tag in those three WMUs, would remain in place.
ARPAC Recommendation provided by external committee members for ODFW to consider:
- That ODFW consider a controlled late (October – November) white-tailed deer opportunity for archers in NE Oregon (see Appendix F in the Final Report)
- That ODFW consider severing tied tags in the Sled Springs, Chesnimnus and Ochoco WMUs and return these units to a general deer season to provide archers more time and opportunity
- That ODFW consider returning the Mule Deer Initiative WMUs of Maury, Steens, and Warner to a general season for deer and elk, unless there is biological data which indicates this would not be prudent.
Public comments about these recommendations will be accepted at regulation meetings scheduled around the state, at the June 5-6 Commission meeting in Salem and at the Oct. 10 Commission meeting in Medford. Comments can also be emailed to odfw.comments@odfw.oregon.gov, faxed to 503-947-6330 or mailed to ODFW Wildlife Division, 4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE, Salem, OR 97302.
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