OREGON STATE POLICE

MONTHLY FIELD REVIEW

DECEMBER2017

FISH AND WILDLIFE DIVISION

CONTENT

COMMUNITY OUTREACHSUCCESSFUL WELFARE CHECKS

AVIATION ENFORCEMENTADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF WILDLIFE LAWS

ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF ANGLING LAWS

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

CASE DISPOSITIONS

TURN IN POACHERS

FISH & WILDLIFE DIVISION RECRUITMENT Photo Location: Bly, Oregon

ROADKILL LAWS

Fish and Wildlife Troopers received information of a vehicle observed dumping two fresh deer carcasses on BLM land near Prineville. The troopers drove to the suspect’s house and he admitted that he had intentionally run the two deer over, a doe and fawn, killing one and then shooting the other to kill it. The subject stated he thought it was legal to pick up roadkill. While retrieving the meat from a freezer in the garage, the trooper observed a large set of velvet buck horns in the corner with no tag. When confronted about it, the subject admitted he killed it and never tagged it so he could continue to hunt. After seizing the meat, the velvet buck and the .22 rifle the subject used to kill the deer, the trooper asked the subject if there was anything else illegal at the residence and the subject led him to a tree near the edge of the property and showed him a large spike bull head concealed in a tree. The subject stated he and a friend found it in the Maury unit and claimed it was a cougar kill. The elk head was subsequently seized and the subject received criminal citations for Unlawful Take of Mule Deer – Vehicle and Illegal Possession of Game Mammal Parts.

POACHER INTENTIONALLY HITS DOE AND FAWN WITH TRUCK

REMINDER ABOUT ROADKILL LAWSUnder the new law SB 372 passed by the 2017 Oregon State Legislature, ODFW will make permits for salvaging roadkilled deer and elk available no later than Jan. 1, 2019.

Salvaging deer and elk remains unlawful until new rules creating a roadkill salvage permit program are adopted by the Fish and Wildlife Commission. More information will being released to the public when this program is implemented.

A Central Point Trooper contacted a subject who was in possession of an untagged blacktail buck deer he had harvested up Canyon Cabin Gulch. The subject did not possess any hunting licenses or tags at the time. The Trooper followed the man back to his residence where he presented a 2017 bow deer tag. Through further inspection and investigation, it was found the buck deer had been taken by a rifle, with no evidence of being taken by a bow. The suspect denied he had shot the deer with the rifle. The 3x4 buck and rifle were seized and taken back to the Central Point office. A bullet was recovered from the neck of the deer and was sent for further testing. The male hunter was also found to be a convicted felon. He was transported to Jackson County Jail where he was lodged for Possession of Firearm by Felon, Unlawful Possession of Firearm, Unlawful Take/Possess Buck Deer, Hunting Prohibited Method: Unauthorized Weapon, No License/Tag in Possession.

A Central Point Trooper contacted a vehicle that was illegal stopped and spotlighting deer on USFS Road 32 east of Butte Falls. The driver was found to be a convicted felon whose hunting and fishing privileges were suspended. A consent search of the vehicle was conducted and no firearms where found. The male driver was found to be Driving While Suspended and under felony probation. One of the passengers was also identified and found to have multiple outstanding felony warrants for his arrest out of Jackson County. The driver was cited for Driving While Suspended and the wanted male was taken into custody and transported to Jackson County Jail and lodged.

While patrolling the Whitehorse Management Unit, a Fish and Wildlife trooper contacted two chucker hunters with UTV’s near the Owyhee Canyon overlook. One of the hunters did not have an OHV sticker for his UTV. The second hunter did not have an Upland Game Bird Validation. Both were issued citations; one for No OHV Sticker, the second for No Resident Upland Game Bird Validation.

Administration and Enforcement of Wildlife Laws

Fish & Wildlife troopers responded to a call from a local guide who had been out hunting with a father and his son on private land. A juvenile hunter had a youth LOP antlerless deer tag and after shooting a large body deer, discovered it was actually a buck. The guide immediately called troopers who responded and inspected the buck and investigated the incident. Both Troopers immediately decided that although the deer was a buck it was not a violation that would be pursued, and a warning was clearly warranted to the young hunter. The buck only had large bulbs rather than antlers, and ODFW biologists, who were consulted, indicated the buck and its poor lack of development was most likely the result of surviving a respiratory infection at some point. The meat was determined to be fit for human consumption and was taken to be processed for charity.

Administration and Enforcement of Wildlife Laws

OSP Fish and Wildlife troopers responded to the report of a man shooting at geese from inside his car in the Westport area. There had been reports in the past of this vehicle doing the same thing in the area, but a license plate was never obtained. Troopers contacted the driver at his residence and he was subsequently issued criminal citations for No Waterfowl Validation and Take Game Bird Prohibited Method.

A Bend F&W trooper completed an investigation regarding the unlawful sale and possession of numerous raptor and game bird parts. The suspect was cooperative and admitted to not knowing the rules regarding her actions, and consented to the search and seizure of the mentioned evidence. The seller was issued a citation for Unlawful Possession, and issued numerous warnings regarding the sale of parts. Game bird and raptor parts were seized and placed into evidence at the Bend office.

A Fish and Wildlife trooper received a call regarding a subject who killed a large buck and was claiming it was a Blacktail Deer. Troopers made a call to the suspect wherein the suspect admitted what he did was wrong and he felt bad for doing it, admitted he illegally killed the Mule Deer buck west of Bend. The suspect took a trooper into the residence to retrieve the head and meat, and the trooper observed numerous other large buck racks with no tags displayed. After some brief interviewing, the subject admitted to two more deer illegally killed in the same spot in previous years using a Western Oregon Rifle Deer tag. All three buck racks were seized along with the deer meat. The subject was criminally cited and released for Unlawful take of Mule Deer – Closed Area and for Illegal Possession of Game Mammal Parts.

AdministrAtion And EnforcEmEnt of WildlifE lAWs

AdministrAtion And EnforcEmEnt of WildlifE lAWsSalem Fish & Wildlife troopers worked with the OSP aircraft covering Marion and Linn Counties. The aircraft observed two vehicles driving around east Linn County and successfully guided troopers to the two vehicles location. Upon investigation it was discovered that one male subject operating an SUV was driving while suspended-misdemeanor and the other operator admitted to pulling a Christmas tree out of the ground with his truck. The operator of the SUV was cited for DWS-Misdemeanor and the other operator was cited for Unlawful Cut/Transport Special Forest Products. The Christmas tree was seized as evidence.

While working with the F&W OSP aircraft, a trooper was guided to a vehicle on a gravel road; it took off at a high rate of speed upon contact. The trooper followed the vehicle back onto a city street in Mill City, where a traffic stop was initiated on it for an observed violation. A records check of the driver revealed that his driving privileges were returning as Suspended/Misdemeanor. The driver was cited and released at the scene and the vehicle was impounded for DWS and Driving Uninsured.

FISH AND WILDLIFE AVIATION UNIT

A night flight was conducted in Wallowa and Union County. During the flight, the pilot assisted ground troopers in locating unlawful hunting activities. Three individuals were contacted actively spotlighting in Wallow County. All three individuals were cited; one was taken into custody and transported to the Wallow County jail for a probation violation.

Members of the Albany/Salem Fish & Wildlife team conducted a night flight operation with the OSP aircraft and a vehicle was observed casting an artificial light from a motor vehicle. Trooper initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and observed a rifle and spotlight behind the seat being concealed by a blanket. The known passenger in the vehicle has been convicted of numerous wildlife offenses in the past. He was arrested and taken to the Linn County Jail where he was criminally cited for Hunting Prohibited Hours, Hunting While Suspended, Hunting with Artificial Light and violation cited for Casting Light from a Motor Vehicle while Armed. The rifle and a spotlight were seized as evidence.

E n f o r c E m E n t f l i g h t – 3 s p ot l i g h t E r s c a u g h t

Troopers Enforce Wildlife Laws with the Assistance of the OSP Aircraft

While patrolling a known problem area of the lower Metolius River a F&W trooper came across two vehicles parked at a gate leading into private property. Two suspects and a juvenile were contacted as they hiked through the woods back to their vehicles. The suspects provided a fabricated story about the juvenile having to use the restroom. The trooper followed their tracks in the snow, which lead around several abandoned cabins, eventually locating a large net containing 16 bull trout and other angling equipment. The bull trout ranged from 20 to 26 inches in length. During a subsequent interview, the suspects identified a third adult suspect that had fled the earlier contact. Following cooperative interviews, a total of 16 criminal citations were issued to the suspects as a result of the investigation.

A Fish & Wildlife trooper contacted two anglers on the Rogue River near Stratton Creek. One of the anglers had just caught and kept a steelhead as he approached. The subject stated he had just caught the steelhead and was putting in on a stringer, which appeared to be the case and the subject stated he had not put it on his tag yet. The subject stated he thought the steelhead was a hatchery fish, but when it was checked it was confirmed to be a Non-Adipose Fin-Clipped 24” steelhead buck. The steelhead was swimming on the stringer, so it was taken off the stringer and attempts to revive the fish were not successful. The subject was cited for Unlawful Take of a Non-Adipose Fin-Clipped Steelhead and the steelhead was seized.

AdministrAtion And EnforcEmEnt of Angling lAws

AdministrAtion And EnforcEmEnt of Angling lAws

A St. Helens Fish and Wildlife trooper concluded an investigation into a rock quarry that had been polluting a local stream for over a year. The quarry operator was discharging storm water into the salmon bearing stream, at times, increasing the turbidity over 2000%. The quarry operator was fined more than $55,000 by DEQ but he continued to discharge for months afterwards, taking no steps to mitigate his impact. The quarry operator was cited criminally for Water Pollution.

A F&W trooper responded to an address in Clatskanie to attempt and locate the suspect in a dumping call being investigated by Clatsop County. The trooper was able to locate the suspect and obtain a confession from him. He then followed the man back to where he had dumped and burned a couch. The man cleaned up what was left of the couch and was issued a citation-in-lieu of custody for Offensive Littering by Clatsop County.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Trooper Evans attended the annual “Shop with a hero” event hosted by the Coquille Police and Fire Department. This event is sponsored by local businesses and volunteers who raised funds for under privileged children. Over 140 local children were able to attend the event this year. The children were bussed to the local store where they enjoyed a Christmas shopping spree with local law enforcement, Fire personnel and community volunteers.

Senior Trooper Niehus participated with several patrol Troopers in the local “Shop with a Cop.” 51 children attended the event and were taken shopping to pick out Christmas presents for family.

Troopers from the St. Helens Worksite participated in a local Shop with a Cop event hosted by the Columbia City PD. Officers from Scappoose Police Department, St Helens Police Department, Columbia City Police Department, and Columbia County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the event.

Senior Trooper Ring participated in Shop with a Cop on two different days taking two well deserving young men shopping. The program was a great success and well received by the communities of Central

Oregon.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

On December 1st 2017 at approximately 8:00 a.m. a Senior Trooper in Patrol Division was dispatched to a report of a welfare check on SR 230 near milepost 6. The weather was turning bad and the temperatures were dropping extremely fast. The reporting party stated his friend walked away from the vehicle attempting to find help at approximately 2:30 a.m. This area of Jackson County is extremely remote, no cell phone coverage, and has little to no traffic. Two Fish and Wildlife Division Troopers responded to assist. They ultimately worked together tracking down the missing person in the snow off the roadway. He was lost and was walking away from the roadway towards the wilderness and open waterways in search of higher ground in hopes of getting a signal for his cell phone. The missing man had been separated from his vehicle for approximately seven hours prior to being found by the F&W Troopers nearly two and a half miles from his vehicle. He was extremely grateful and that he’d been lost and scared prior to being rescued.

SUCCESSFUL WELFARE CHECKS

OSP Fish and Wildlife conducted a boat patrol on the Snake River. During the patrol, Troopers retrieved a collar for ODFW from a deer that was emitting a mortality signal. Troopers hiked several miles in the Hells Canyon Wilderness area to locate the collar. The deer was collared by ODFW as part of a study biologist are conducting in Wallowa County and the information gathered from the collar is extremely important for the study. During the patrol a plane crashed on a remote air strip on the Snake River where the Salmon River connects with the Snake River. The passengers of the plane were uninjured and were flown out by another plane that had landed on the air strip with them. The incident was turned over to the Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer for follow-up and necessary reporting.

A Fish and Wildlife Division Senior Trooper in Coos Bay conducted a welfare check on campers under the SR 42 Spur bridge at Fishtrap Road. Temperatures were 32°F and the homeless subjects advised they were cold. The trooper provided 18-hour hand/body warmers and some food to the individuals.

A John Day F&W trooper recently received the following court dispositions on cases that he had completed. • Subject pled guilty Unlawful cutting and transport of Special Forest Products; $435.00 fine. • Subject pled guilty Unlawful cutting and transport of Special Forest Products; $435.00 fine. • Subject pled guilty Aiding in a game Violation; 3 year hunting license suspension, $450.00 fine, $250.00 restitution to OHA Decoy Fund. • Subject pled guilty Exceeding Bag Limit of Game Mammal / Unlawfully and Knowingly Hunt from a Motor Vehicle; 3 year hunting license

suspension, $450.00 fine, $250.00 restitution to OHA Decoy Fund.

A man plead guilty in Wasco County to charges relating to a criminal Fish & Wildlife investigation from last archery season. The man was seen shooting arrows at a deer on private property without permission from a public highway and when he was confronted by a neighbor, he ran over a garbage can and fled the scene. It was later proven that he illegally took a deer on private property later the same day and returned in a 2nd vehicle to retrieve the deer. The man was sentenced to the following:• 15 days jail• 3 year hunting suspension• $1535.00 restitution (Deer, TIP Reward, and Garbage Can)• Forfeiture of Deer and Bow

A Fish & Wildlife trooper in Burns received the following disposition from the Harney County Circuit Court involving an individual that exceeded the bag limit of antelope and wasted an antelope during the 2017 Season. • 36 month Hunting License Suspension• 6 months bench probation• $100 in fines• $3100 in restitution

OSP Fish and Wildlife received a notice of disposition on a subject that was cited for selling sport caught Tuna in Gold Beach. • $500 Fine• $800 restitution for value of tuna• 18 month probation where subject is prohibited from angling

CASE DISPOSITIONS

TURN IN POACHERS1-800-452-7888 or *OSP(677) TIP@state.or.usWhat Should I Report?POACHING (otherwise known as the illegal take of game or fish), trespassing, littering, theft, destroying of property and road closure violations. Poaching affects all Oregonians. When making a report, provide as much of the following information as possible:

- Nature of violation or activity observed or advised about- Location of activity (Road, Milepost, GPS, etc.)- Date and time of violation/activity- Description of any vehicle involved- Name and/or description of violator

The TIP reward is paid for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation for the illegal killing or taking of wildlife and/or for illegally obtaining Oregon hunting/angling licenses or tags.

People who “work” the system and falsely apply for resident license or tags are not legally hunting and/or angling and are considered poachers.

TIP rewards can also be given for the illegal taking, netting, snagging, and/or dynamiting of salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, and/or large numbers of any fish listed in Oregon statue as a game fish.

Rewards:$1,000 Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat & Moose $500 Elk, Deer & Antelope $300 Bear, Cougar & Wolf $300 Habitat Destruction $200 Illegally obtaining Oregon hunting/angling license / tags$100 Game Fish & Shellfish$100 Upland Birds & Waterfowl$100 Fur Bearers

Oregon State Police work hand in hand with OHA and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to ensure that present and future generations have a hunt-able wildlife resource. OHA sponsors the Turn In Poachers (TIP) program, which rewards individuals who help catch poachers.

“Assuring compliance with the laws which protect and enhance the long-term health and equitable utilization of Oregon’s fish, wildlife, and habitat resources.”

Interested in becoming an Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Trooper?

Exciting, Rewarding and Challenging...A career that makes a difference!

For more information, please visit our website at:

www.osptrooper.com

Questions? Please call 503-378-4931 or email OSP Training Division:

Senior Trooper Tiffany Lynn @ Tiffany.lynn@state.or.us

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OREGON STATE POLICEFish & Wildlife Division

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