[ODFW-News] Comments sought on goose hunting proposal

[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, Dec. 27, 2004

Comments sought on goose hunting proposal

CLACKAMAS - The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking
comment on a proposal to alter the goose hunting regulations for 2005 in
the Lake Labish area of Marion County. The change would increase
protection for the dusky Canada goose, whose numbers have declined in
recent decades. 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service requested that ODFW consider
expanding the Northwest Oregon Permit Goose Zone to include the Lake
Labish area. Lake Labish is a drained lake located between Salem and
Brooks, east of Interstate 5. Federal biologists have identified Lake
Labish as an area used by dusky Canada geese.

The change would require Lake Labish goose hunters to follow rules for
the Northwest Oregon Permit Goose Zone. Those rules require hunters to
pass an identification test before hunting geese, to take all harvested
birds to a check station, and to hunt on three days only each week.

Oregon has seven subspecies of Canada geese that all look quite
similar. The Northwest Oregon Permit Goose Zone was established to
protect a small population of dusky Canada geese while allowing hunting
of abundant western, Taverner's and cackling Canada geese, subspecies
that cause considerable damage to Willamette Valley agricultural crops.
The permit zone includes all of Clatsop, Columbia, Washington, Yamhill,
Polk and Benton counties and a portion of Multnomah, Clackamas, Marion,
Linn and Lane counties.

Two public meetings will provide an opportunity for interested parties
to provide input on expanding the Northwest Permit Goose Zone. The first
opportunity will be in Newport in early March 2005, during the Pacific
Flyway Study Committee meetings. (The exact date and time have not yet
been determined.)  The second opportunity will occur during the April
15, 2005, meeting of the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission at ODFW's
Salem headquarters. The Pacific Flyway Study Committee and the Fish and
Wildlife Commission will each make a recommendation to the USFWS
regarding expansion of the permit zone. The USFWS will make the final
decision regarding zone expansion. 

Written comments may be e-mailed to Brad Bales, ODFW waterfowl
biologist and representative to the Pacific Flyway Study Committee, at
bradley.d.bales at state.or.us or sent to Brad Bales at ODFW, 3406
Cherry Ave. N.E., Salem, OR 97303.

For further information on the Northwest Oregon Permit Goose Zone,
consult the 2004-2005 Oregon Game Bird Regulations.

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