[ODFW-News] Columbia Basin Zone Cougar Season Likely To Close Prior To End Of The Year

[ODFW News]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 	
Contact: 	Information and Education 503-947-6002
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us 
	

For Immediate Release	Monday, December 6, 2004

Columbia Basin Zone Cougar Season Likely To Close Prior To End Of The
Year

LA GRANDE - The Columbia Basin cougar hunt zone in north-central Oregon
is very close to reaching the harvest quota and cougar hunting is likely
to close early, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced
today.

The Columbia Basin cougar hunt zone, also called Zone D, has a 2004
quota of 18 cougars. As of November 29, 16 cougars from Zone D had been
checked in at ODFW offices. Zone D includes the Fossil, Columbia Basin,
Biggs, Maupin and Grizzly big game management units.

No other 2004 cougar hunt zones are near their harvest quota at this
time. If the Columbia Basin cougar zone closes, hunters with an unfilled
general season cougar tag may hunt in any of the other five cougar zones
in the state.

Most cougars are harvested during deer or elk hunting seasons. Recent
winter weather conditions may enhance harvest opportunities and hunters
with valid cougar tags are urged to check the season status in the
Columbia Basin Zone before going out. Hunters are also reminded that all
cougars harvested must be checked in at an ODFW office.
The total statewide allowed cougar sport harvest for 2004 is 562
cougars. As of Nov. 29, hunters have taken 217 cougars statewide. The
statewide quota for the 2005 cougar season has been set at 579.

The 2005 general cougar season begins in all six zones Jan. 1, 2005,
for those hunters with a 2005 cougar tag and a 2005 hunting license.
Cougars harvested after Jan. 1, 2005, will apply to the new quotas for
the respective zones.

The cougar quota system was adopted by ODFW to more evenly distribute
cougar harvest throughout the state. Quota levels are set to manage
cougar population levels and appropriately distribute hunters.

Hunters can find out whether the season is open in other zones by
calling a local ODFW office, calling the general information line at
800-720-6339 or 503-947-6001, or visiting 
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/ODFWhtml/Regulations/2004_reg_changes.htm#biggame
and scrolling down to the cougar quota information.

More information about Oregon's cougar season can be found on pages
46-48 in the 2004 Oregon Big Game Regulations.

###