Hre is something you need to address with ODFW. Here is the summary of the new cougar management draft plan:

Key facts about cougars in Oregon and the draft cougar management plan. The full plan and contact info are on the ODFW web page.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife continues to seek public comments about the proposed update to the Cougar Management Plan. Some key facts about the plan follow.

Cougars are an Oregon success story. After being nearly eliminated by the mid-1960s, today they have a healthy population. The current cougar population in Oregon is estimated to be 5,100.

As both the cougar and human populations have grown, so have the number of conflicts and damage complaints. This draft management plan is designed to address the conflicts between the growing numbers of cougars and humans.

This draft plan establishes a minimum desirable cougar population of at least 3,000. It does not set a targeted cougar population level or a ceiling. The number of cougars in Oregon may exceed 3,000 as they do today, but the draft plan calls for managing no fewer than 3,000 cougars.

ODFW works within the framework of the law. Oregonians have twice said through initiative petition that hounds may not be used to hunt cougars, and the Legislature and Governor have agreed with that stance. This draft plan abides by that determination.

However, existing law does allow federal and state employees to use the full range of management tools, including hounds and snares but not including poison, to deal with cougars that are causing human, pet or livestock conflicts. ODFW will continue to respond to safety and damage complaints. Problem cougars that pose a risk to humans, pets or livestock will be humanely euthanized.

This draft plan follows the same prescription as other management plans by incorporating specific actions to deal with conflict while maintaining recreational – hunting and viewing – opportunities.

As is the case with all similar wildlife management plans, the costs of cougar management are funded by the sales of hunting licenses and tags.

The important part of this is the last sentence above. The cougar hunting restrictions in place today are the result of a ballot initiative several years ago where wildlife biologist input was ignored in favor of emotionalism.

Since this problem is the result of voter action I and many others do not feel this problem is an appropriate place to waste money from the sale of hunting licenses and tags. Funding for this control should come from the general fund with appropriate media articles explaining that this problem is the result of uninformed voter action and should therefore be funded by the general public rather than by hunters.

ODFW is accepting comments until 12 April 2006.

NMSight

“As is the case with all similar wildlife management plans, the costs of cougar management are funded by the sales of hunting licenses and tags.”

It is my understanding, as of a few years ago, that all license and tag fees went into the general fund.  Now, ODFW’s funding has no correlation to license and tag fees.

“As both the cougar and human populations have grown, so have the number of conflicts and damage complaints. This draft management plan is designed to address the conflicts between the growing numbers of cougars and humans.”

Over the years, Oregon hunters have contributed millions of dollars and millions of volunteer hours focused at deer and elk herd improvement.  Their efforts and dollars have been for naught now that the “new” cougars are feeding on the results.  Are deer, elk and cougar management plans integrated?  I think not!

“After being nearly eliminated by the mid-1960s,…”

Just like the wolf, the cougar was considered as a dangerous predator that not only had human lively hoods on it’s menu but humans themselves.  So, they were hunted to near elimination in self-defense.

One “management tool” not yet presented by ODFW that was used in the past is the issuing of a cougar tag free with every deer or elk tag.  I’d like to see it happen again.

Quoted: I wish I had been on here when the vote was put thru for the ban of hound hunting, I'd be screaming "I TOLD YOU SO" over and over and over again. It's truly a sad time when the vote of people who have no interest,experience with a managment tool at all can override the employees/bioligist of the ODFW. With out the aid of hounds, even on a limited basis, there can be no guranteed method of controlling this problem, plain and simple.  Even back in the days of hound hunting it was never a sure thing, as the anti's would like you to believe otherwise. I personlly have no problem paying the minimal fee for a cougar tag as it is.  Would I not shoot one if I didn't have it?  No way in hell.  Sorry, they are just an oversized nusiance right now, with no predators capable of putting a dent in the population right now.  The incidental contact that hunters have now and the number of cats taken becuase of the chance sightings is not enough to keep them within managment goals, plain and simple. There is not enough funds in the county or state governments to keep enough trappers on the payroll to take care of all the problem or damage complaints. If you ask me, there is no short term solution, other than to let the ODFW set the methods to which this problem needs to be dealt with, not the voters.  That, would hopefully be a selected harvest using hounds again. Ya know what is really funny?  You can take this problem...and apply it to the damn sea lions that seem to be preying on our "beloved" salmon right now too.  You know what the kicker is on that? Nobody will ever take notice untill the indians start to complain about their catch being down. This state and it's managment practices of the game animals that most of us enjoy to pursue just pisses me off to no end

+1, could not have said it better.  

Well, I found a deer that a cougar had killed just 50 to 75 yards from my house about 6 weeks ago, then on saturday my father and I went for a walk around my property and found another deer carcas (obvios cougar kill) about 75 to 100 yards from my houses back door. It's a little un-nerving. I've now installed several game trail cameras around my property, so hopfully I can post some good pics in about a month.

Well said peta. I am not a hunter but I do think that those who do hunt should have been the only voices heard on the hounds deal and not think that the left-wing, non-meating, no-hunting, anti-gun, peace and love to all animals, libtards should have had the vote on that. Hunters and the ODFW should have been the decidng people.



ETA: Looking forward to those pics Mr. Hoffa!!

Quoted: Quoted: I wish I had been on here when the vote was put thru for the ban of hound hunting, I'd be screaming "I TOLD YOU SO" over and over and over again. It's truly a sad time when the vote of people who have no interest,experience with a managment tool at all can override the employees/bioligist of the ODFW. With out the aid of hounds, even on a limited basis, there can be no guranteed method of controlling this problem, plain and simple.  Even back in the days of hound hunting it was never a sure thing, as the anti's would like you to believe otherwise. I personlly have no problem paying the minimal fee for a cougar tag as it is.  Would I not shoot one if I didn't have it?  No way in hell.  Sorry, they are just an oversized nusiance right now, with no predators capable of putting a dent in the population right now.  The incidental contact that hunters have now and the number of cats taken becuase of the chance sightings is not enough to keep them within managment goals, plain and simple. There is not enough funds in the county or state governments to keep enough trappers on the payroll to take care of all the problem or damage complaints. If you ask me, there is no short term solution, other than to let the ODFW set the methods to which this problem needs to be dealt with, not the voters.  That, would hopefully be a selected harvest using hounds again. Ya know what is really funny?  You can take this problem...and apply it to the damn sea lions that seem to be preying on our "beloved" salmon right now too.  You know what the kicker is on that? Nobody will ever take notice untill the indians start to complain about their catch being down. This state and it's managment practices of the game animals that most of us enjoy to pursue just pisses me off to no end +1, could not have said it better.

+2
<------ Former houndsman. I miss my ol black and tans

As is the case with all similar wildlife management plans, the costs of cougar management are funded by the sales of hunting licenses and tags.

That's State of OR bullsh*t!  I am reasonably sure that fees from hunting and fishing licenses and
tags go right into the general fund.  ODF&W submits a budget request and I believe the
legislature/governor appropriates the funds.  Who knows what percentage of the proceeds go
to the ODF&W.

Remember a couple of years ago, the State increases combination license fees by $10?  That was
Gov. TaxAndGougeMe at his finest.  He raised every fee the state collected.

That bitch Ginny Burdick probably scooped up the extra $$ and fed into her pet programs to improve conditions for Measure 11 convicts, IMHO.  Oh yeah, remember the State of OR has a funding
problem, NOT!

Anyway, hunting & fishing fees fund the State of OR which then funds the ODF&W.  

Back to the orginal topic, Cougar Hunting, the socialists in Portland backed the ballot measures
big time.  These people hate hunting and even more so hunters.  

To bad there isn't a season on these liberals.....

Off the the soapbox,

Spambo

Yup, they hate it, but, like most stuff, if they keep it around if they can use it to squeeze money out of us...

Rat bastard politicians.

Quoted: As is the case with all similar wildlife management plans, the costs of cougar management are funded by the sales of hunting licenses and tags. That's State of OR bullsh*t!  I am reasonably sure that fees from hunting and fishing licenses and tags go right into the general fund.  ODF&W submits a budget request and I believe the legislature/governor appropriates the funds.  Who knows what percentage of the proceeds go to the ODF&W. Spambo

Ok, I'll have to admit I don't know how OR does it's bookkeeping. My point was that our license/tag money is supposed to go to managing wildlife. That money should not be used for the cougar control.

I agree that much of it probably goes to other things. Bottom line is if you are concerned about this please submit an email to ODFW. I found out through the oilseed canola thing I was involved in last year that our state agencies do take into account public testimony and it can make a difference.

NMSight

Quoted: I wish I had been on here when the vote was put thru for the ban of hound hunting, I'd be screaming "I TOLD YOU SO" over and over and over again.

Ha ha ha - reminds me of when that vote was coming up. My boss at the time (from CA no less) was holding forth each day about how we needed to vote that in and stop all this animal cruelty. The neighbors behind our warehouse were raising two pigs for the freezer. One morning we get to work and the neighbors and state police were out there at the property line so we went out to see what was up. A cougar had hopped the 4' plywood pig pen, killed and absconded with one of the almost ready to butcher hogs.

My boss lived about 2 or 3 blocks directly behind this place (places were 1 or 2 acres each) and while he was listening to the neighbor and looking at the gore you could see the wheels turning. He finally said "Why, I live right behind here. My children play outside a lot. That thing could come on my place. Well, that's stupid - I'm not voting in favor of that."

It's just too bad more people didn't stop and think first.

NMSight

All in all.. the main question is "Why do we keep funding people who just wants to keep screwing us?"

Quoted: Quoted: Ok, I'll have to admit I don't know how OR does it's bookkeeping. My point was that our license/tag money is supposed to go to managing wildlife. That money should not be used for the cougar control. I agree that much of it probably goes to other things. Bottom line is if you are concerned about this please submit an email to ODFW. I found out through the oilseed canola thing I was involved in last year that our state agencies do take into account public testimony and it can make a difference. NMSight There is a point that I'll argue with you over.  My money that I put into the general fund had better damn well be used to enhance my opportunites while I am doing whatever with that tag or license.  My money should be used for conservation, to conserve what I love to pursue, so it will be there for my son to do the same.  My money had better be used to enhance habitat, fund research, pay for hatcheries, so on and so forth. My money had better pay the damn best biologists the ODFW can afford so I can rest assured when tag numbers and dates for seasons are set, they are done with the correct amount of research. If it took my money to pay a county trapper to get rid of the dozens of cougar and bear damage complaints we have in Doug. County alone, I'd sleep well knowing that is where it is going.  Those damn oversized toothy cats eat on the average one deer or elk per 7 days.  You do the math

Point well taken. The problem however was not caused by the hunting community. The money needs to come from somewhere else. Every penny spent on cougar control will take away from everything else on your list.

Quoted: When we allowed the voters to set regulations instead of the folks who know best, that's when the screwing started.

That is the key right there. How this every passed legally  I will never understand.  

As far as archery hunters...I have a spur in my side for them. Not so much for the whole but because I KNOW FOR A FACT that more animals are injured and never recovered by archery hunters then hound hunters ANYDAY! Thats another story though.

Fact is, voters should not be doing the job of the biologists that our tax dollars are paying for.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quoted:
When we allowed the voters to set regulations instead of the folks who know best, that's when the screwing started.
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You guys got it right.  I agree with you.  Because of laws like this I would like to do away
with the Initiative Process.  It cuts both ways.  I am glad that Measures 11 and Measure 37
passed but on the other hand, Ballot Measure 5(Gun Shows) and Bear & Cougar hunting limitations
piss me off to no end.

Anyway, with all the influx of CA residents to the Willamette Valley, few of which hunt, the anti-hunting
sentiment runs high.  This liberal scum hates hunters and is more sympathetic to PETA.  

For example, I work in Beaverton by a large swamp(i.e wetland in liberal speak).
There are a few flocks of Canada Geese that make the lawns, sidewalks and streets their home.
There is literally goose shit everywhere.  Several times, I have seen the geese standing in the
middle of the streets and people stop traffic and wait for them to move out of the way.  No one
honks their horns, let alone making road pizza.  These people love animals.   Now I like wildlife
too but when they become tame and shit everywhere, I think it is a problem but nobody else I work with does.  

Damn, just give me my 10/22 and a box of Stingers.  It wouldn't take long.

Plain and simple, there are too many liberals in OR.

Rant Mode off

Spambo