1MONTHLY FIELD REVIEW JULY 2019

OREGON STATE POLICEFISH & WILDLIFE DIVISION

CONTENTCommunity Outreach ............................................................................................... 3OSP Pilot Assists with Rescue ................................................................................... 4Clamming on the Oregon Coast ............................................................................ 5-7General Law & Rescues ......................................................................................... 8-9Administration and Enforcement of Wildlife Laws ................................................. 10Marine Fisheries Team ........................................................................................... 11Shellfish and Angling ......................................................................................... 12-13Turn in Poachers ..................................................................................................... 14F&W Recruitment ................................................................................................... 15

On the cover:An OSP All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area (ODNRA) in Douglas County.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

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Hunter Education Field Day - Siletz

Fish & Wildlife Troopers, Lincoln County Hunter Education Program Volunteers, and members from the Lincoln/Yamhill County Oregon Hunters Association chapters conducted a Hunter Education field day at Big Timber Rifle and Pistol Club in Siletz. Ten kids and their parents attended the field day. Participants went through multiple rotations where they received instruction on ethics and hunting laws, shoot/don’t shoot scenarios, firearms safety, a blood tracking course, and a live fire exercise. The field day was a success and all of the kids who attended received their hunter education certification.

USFS Training - Oakridge A Fish & Wildlife Trooper conducted a short training session about local hunting and angling regulations for U.S. Forest Service (USFS) recreation staff at the Middle Fork Ranger District in Oakridge. There were approximately 20 employees in attendance. Hunting and angling regulations were provided to the group. Cougar and bear awareness brochures were also shared with the group.

Hunter Education Field Day - Clatsop County

A Fish & Wildlife Trooper assisted a newly certified Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW) Hunter Education instructor with a field day at the BKS Gun Club in Knappa. 14 students, most of which were from the local Clatsop County 4-H Chapter, took the course. All students passed the class and will be mailed their hunter safety education cards from ODFW.

Elk Damage Working Group Meeting

At the request of the ODFW, OSP Fish & Wildlife Troopers attended a meeting with the Gurdane/Columbia Basin Elk Damage Working Group. 20 people were in attendance, including staff from other agencies and landowners. The presence was well received.

OSP Presentation - Nehalem Bay State Park

A Fish & Wildlife Sergeant gave a presentation on the duties of an Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife Trooper, and water safety when participating in recreational activities, at Nehalem Bay State Park. The presentation was well received by the attendees. Following the water safety portion of the presentation, the attendees were invited to examine various personal flotation devices (PFDs) on display, and experience deploying throw bags.

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OSP PILOT ASSISTS WITH RESCUE

On July 18th, Lake County Sheriff Deputies and Warner Valley Ambulance responded to a nearly unconscious elderly male found with a dog near Shirk Ranch in a very remote part of Lake County. The Deputy’s investigation revealed that the subject had left Lakeview on July 14th and became stranded. The subject, over the next four days with minimal food and water, walked several miles before collapsing and being found by a bicyclist. The deputy attempted to locate the subject’s Jeep but was unable to do so due to the rugged terrain. The subject stated another dog was at the Jeep, and it was unclear if anyone else was at the Jeep due to the subject’s condition.

On July 20th, a Fish & Wildlife Trooper received a request for assistance by the Lake County Sheriff ’s Office to find the missing Jeep possibly occupied and with a dog. The Trooper requested assistance from the OSP southwest region pilot and US Fish & Wildlife Service law enforcement. The plane quickly located the vehicle in a narrow, roadless canyon. OSP Fish & Wildlife Troopers and a US Fish & Wildlife Officer responded. Due to the rugged area, only ATVs could reach the Jeep’s location. The Jeep was stuck in a muddy creek bottom and on a rock. The missing dog was located alive though needed medical attention after being without food for several days. The dog was taken to a local animal hospital for immediate care. Local BLM law enforcement was notified of the Jeep’s location.

We are happy to report that the man and his two dogs were reunited and are back home resting after their harrowing ordeal.

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CLAMMING ON THE OREGON COASTRazor Clamming on the North Coast The beaches of Clatsop County are known to be the best place in Oregon to dig razor clams. This 18-mile section of the north coast yields more than 90% of the total razor clam harvest in Oregon. On the right day, at the right low tide, recreational clam diggers have been known to dig a limit of razor clams within a very short time span. Sometimes, when the harvest is that easy, it can be hard to stop digging. OSP Fish & Wildlife Troopers encounter this all too often on their regular patrols. Sometimes it’s an honest mistake, losing track of the count as they dig. Other times it’s willful disregard of the daily bag limit. Either way, keeping more than 15 razor clams per person, per day is against the law. The regulations also require you to keep the first 15 dug regardless of size or condition. This is due to the fact that razor clam shells are easily broken, and it is difficult to place razor clams back into the sand correctly causing most of the abandoned razor clams to die and be wasted.

Recreational clamming accounts for approximately 85% of the total razor clam harvest in Oregon. The majority (80%) of the commercial razor clam harvest is sold for human consumption, with the rest mainly sold for bait.

The annual conservation closure for the Clatsop beaches is currently in effect and runs from July 15 to September 30. This rule has been in place for more than 50 years and closes razor clam harvesting on the beaches from Tillamook Head to the Washington border. The closure gives young clams a chance to grow undisturbed. Razor clam counts are also completed by ODFW during the closure.

End of Season Razor Clam Patrol

A Fish & Wildlife Trooper conducted a razor clam patrol during the last day before the annual season closure north of Tillamook Head. During the patrol two subjects were contacted near the wreck of the Peter Iredale after a clamming offense was observed. Upon inspection of shellfish licenses and harvested razor clams, it was determined one of the subjects had dug 36 razor clams (21 over the daily bag limit). In addition to exceeding the bag limit, the subject was found to have given 19 razor clams that he had dug to another subject who was concealing the clams in a separate container. One subject was cited and released for Exceeding Daily Bag Limit of Clams and Dig Another’s Clams. The second subject was cited and released for Aiding/Counseling in a Wildlife Offense. In total, the patrol resulted in four citations for Exceeding the Daily Bag Limit of Clams and two warnings. 27 razor clams were seized and donated to the local food bank.

Closed Season Razor Clam Patrol

Fish & Wildlife Troopers conducted a closed season razor clam patrol on Clatsop County beach during the first day of the area closure north of Tillamook Head. In total, 33 warnings were issued for Take Clams Closed Area and over 200 clams were seized and donated to the local food bank.

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CLAMMING ON THE OREGON COAST

Clamming on the Mid-Coast While the North Coast provides an abundant amount of razor clams, they are also found south into Tillamook and Lincoln Counties, though the clam set is sporadic and unpredictable from year to year.

Fish & Wildlife Lieutenant Hoodenpyl offers his tips for the best spots to dig clams on the Mid-Coast:

Nehalem Bay has some clamming opportunity but mostly for eastern softshells with very little cockle harvest taking place. Not to say that there are no other species of clams there, rather it is rarely considered a clamming destination.

Tillamook and Netarts Bays are extremely popular for bay clammers with large amounts of people hitting these locations on low tide during the summer. Cockle, blues, butter, steamer, eastern softshell and goeduck clams are all present and in large numbers. Both bays have a commercial clam fishery that is also very popular for diving and intertidal harvest. There are multiple access points and many access the clamming areas by boat.

Sand Lake which also has a small bay is primarily a cockle harvest. This is a destination used by very few clammers, but provides a private setting with no crowds.

Siletz bay is a popular purple varnish clam area with a few eastern softshells present near the mouth of Schooner Creek. Access to this fishery is accessible from Hwy 101 or Taft city streets.

Yaquina Bay contains a variety of bay clams but primarily cockles and gapers. Most people access this area off the South Jetty Road or near the marina area along Rogue Brewery. There is a smaller population of eastern softshell clams located in the upper portion of the bay towards Toledo.

Alsea Bay has a variety of bay clams but it also is primarily cockles and gapers with some purple varnish clams. Most people access these clams in Waldport near the sea wall or from the Bayshore community on the north side of the bay.

Mid-Coast Shellfish Saturation Patrol Fish & Wildlife Troopers from the Tillamook, Astoria and Portland offices, and General Headquarters, participated in a four day shellfish saturation focused on Netarts and Tillamook Bays. The saturation was planned during a series of early morning low tides which brought hundreds of clam diggers to the area. During the four day operation, troopers wrote a total of 23 citations and gave 27 warnings. Charges included No Shellfish License, Exceeding Bag Limit of Clams, Digging Another’s Clams, and Failure to Use Own Container.

Exceeding Daily Limit of Clams - Siletz BayA Fish & Wildlife Trooper was notified by ODFW about two individuals exceeding the limit of purple varnish clams in Siletz Bay. The Trooper located one of the subjects and learned the second subject had left the area stating to ODFW employees he was going to buy a shellfish license. The individual who stayed on scene was issued a citation for No Non-Resident Shellfish License and Exceeding Daily Bag Limit of Clams. 698 clams and 23 sand shrimp were returned to the bay by ODFW employees. Criminal charges are pending for the second individual who had left the scene.

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CLAMMING ON THE OREGON COAST

Clamming on the South Coast

On the south coast, there is more diversity in the clam populations. Fish & Wildlife Sergeant Harris describes Coos Bay as the best bet on the south coast for digging clams. There is excellent public access throughout the bay by foot or by boat. People will find a good variety of clams in the lower bay and softshell clams farther up. The softshell clams generally run a bit smaller than other nearby rivers and are often an underutilized resource.

The lower bay, from the Empire area on down, is a great place to take kids due to the variety of clams they can find and relatively easy access. The main catch in the lower bay are gapers, butters, cockles, and littlenecks. Other large south coast rivers, such as the Siuslaw, Umpqua, and Coquille, have great softshell clam beds. These rivers push out more fresh water than the Coos River, which makes better habitat for softshells, but not so good for the other bay clam species.

Razor clamming on the south coast is a bit trickier than on the north coast. On many years, the razor clams don’t set or establish as well as they do on the North Coast. Some research will need to be done to find digging areas, but for starters, people can check out Whiskey Run up to Cape Arago, and the beaches to the north of the Umpqua and Siuslaw Rivers. The Rogue River and other south coast rivers and beaches not mentioned don’t see nearly as much clam digging effort, but may be worth checking out as well.

Clammer Rescued - Florence A Fish & Wildlife Sergeant was in the Florence area when he saw a couple coming back from the clam beds. They told him about another couple that looked ill prepared for the excursion to the clam beds. The Sergeant went to check on the older couple and found the male was stuck in the mud. He had a flat nose shovel and was unable to move. The Sergeant was able to get the male’s feet unstuck and got him back to a grassy area. The couple told the Sergeant that they would do more research on clamming and may give up the sport.

Bay Clam Violations - Charleston Fish & Wildlife Troopers observed recreational clam harvest in Charleston. One subject was observed digging over his limit of bay clams. Upon contact the subject had 28 clams (eight over the limit) and had not purchased a shellfish license for the year. The subject was cited for No 2019 Shellfish License and Exceeding Daily Limit of Bay Clams. The clams were seized.

Low Tide Patrol - Brookings Fish & Wildlife Troopers patrolled a low tide in the Brookings area. A subject was contacted as he was leaving the tidal area. Investigation revealed he had been clamming, and had harvested 12 clams over the daily bag limit. The subject stated that he knew he was well over the limit. The clams were seized and the subject was issued a citation for Exceeding the Daily Bag Limit of Clams.

The Guardian on patrol near Brookings.

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GENERAL LAW & RESCUES

Bull Elk Rescued from Railroad

A Fish & Wildlife Trooper responded to a report from the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) about a bull elk caught in an old communication line and unable to get out. The location was in a remote area along Meacham Creek. The Trooper met with a UPRR employee who was able to show him the exact location of the elk. They initially attempted to cut the bull free, but could not safely do so. The Trooper contacted an ODFW biologist, who was able to respond to the scene with a tranquilizer. A Umatilla County Deputy also came to assist. The elk was successfully sedated, which allowed him to be cut free from the wires. The elk recovered and appeared to be in great shape.

Disturbance Call - Garibaldi While working a late evening shore patrol near Garibaldi, a Fish & Wildlife Trooper responded to a disturbance at the transient dock in the marina. The Trooper arrived first with two Tillamook County Sheriff Deputies not far behind. When the Trooper arrived he saw one of the male subjects running down the dock and he appeared to get on another boat. As the Trooper walked down the pier to access the dock he noticed what he thought was a seal swimming across the marina towards other boats across a small channel to the main marina docks. After talking with the other subjects, the Trooper and Deputies realized that what was in the water was not a seal. It had actually been a male subject who had a warrant out for his arrest. A Port of Garibaldi employee quickly reviewed security video and it revealed the exact boat that the subject climbed aboard when he got out of the water. The subject was quickly located and taken in to custody without further incident and lodged in the Tillamook County Jail.

Bald Eagle Rescue

Fish & Wildlife Troopers responded to a call of an injured raptor south of Coos Bay. The injured adult Bald Eagle was removed from the highway by passing motorists. The bird was transported to Florence where it regained nearly all of its motor skills and sunny disposition. A well trained team of raptor handlers were able to successfully remove the eagle from the transport cage of the patrol truck. The eagle was transferred to staff from the Cascade Raptor Center for an evaluation. The eagle is doing well and should be able to be released back into the wild.

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GENERAL LAW & RESCUES

Entangled Doe Deer Rescued - Lincoln City Fish & Wildlife Troopers received multiple reports about a doe deer wrapped in red wire fencing in a gated community near Devil’s Lake in Lincoln City. The Troopers located the doe and her two spotted fawns. A Newport area Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife Assistant Biologist met the Troopers at the location and tranquilized the deer which allowed the Troopers to safely remove the wire. The doe had minor injuries on her front right shoulder from the constant rub of the wire but did not appear to have any other significant injuries. The doe recovered from the tranquilizer and was observed walking away with her two fawns.

Sunken Jeep Investigation

A Fish & Wildlife Trooper was dispatched to a vehicle in the Middle Fork Coquille River ESH (Essential Salmon Habitat), near the Powers Highway junction. The Trooper found the vehicle to be buried mid-height to the top of the hood. The trooper dug down to the license plate, which had not yet been obtained. The registered owner was contacted and reported that they had sold the vehicle.

The case was originally investigated by Coos County Sheriff ’s Office several months prior. At the time it was reported, the water was dangerously high and rapid flowing. The investigation and recovery attempts are ongoing.

ADMINISTRATION & ENFORCEMENT OF WILDLIFE LAWS

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ATV Patrol - OR Dunes National Recreation Area

A Coos Bay Fish & Wildlife Trooper conducted an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) patrol in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area (ODNRA) in Douglas County. Numerous ATVs and Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs) had arrived in anticipation of the upcoming DuneFest event. Two motorists were cited for Improperly Equipped ATV – Flag.

Antelope Poached

A Fish & Wildlife Trooper responded to a report of an antelope being poached. Two witnesses observed a subject driving past them with an antelope tied to the front of his ATV. Being hunters themselves, they knew there were no antelope seasons open. The suspect was contacted and denied having an antelope, but the blood and hair on the ATV gave him away. He admitted to walking up to the antelope and shooting it. When the subject heard the police had been called, he disposed of it over a hill. The antelope was recovered and the firearm used seized. The antelope was unable to be salvaged. The suspect was cited and released for Take/Possession of Pronghorn Antelope.

Citation Issued After Dog Kills Fawn

A Fish & Wildlife Trooper investigated a report that a domestic dog had run down and killed a deer fawn. The witness confronted the dog’s owner and was not satisfied with the man’s response so he took photographs of the dead fawn and suspect vehicle. Following the investigation, the dog owner was cited and released for Allowing Dogs to Chase/Harass/Kill Wildlife. The fawn was collected for evidence.

Fawn Held Illegally - Adrian Area

A Fish & Wildlife Trooper completed an investigation in the Adrian area regarding a fawn being held in captivity. A subject admitted to capturing the fawn in a hay field on his property. The fawn was being kept in a dog kennel in the yard. During the contact the subject admitted that this was the third fawn they have raised in the past several years. The fawn was released prior to being seized from the subject. The subject was issued a citation for Take/Hold Young Game Mammal.

Hunting Bear with Bait - Yamhill County

Fish & Wildlife Troopers received information regarding a bear bait station in rural Yamhill County. That same day the Troopers met with the reporting party at the property where the bear bait station was said to be. While walking to the bait site the Troopers and reporting party came in contact with the suspects who admitted to be hunting for bear. After interviewing the suspects they eventually admitted to setting up a bear bait station several weeks prior to the start of fall bear season. The Troopers were led to the bait station by the suspects and the suspects were ultimately issued criminal citations for Hunting Bear with the Use of Bait.

Deer Shot with Pellet Gun

A Central Point Fish & Wildlife Trooper responded to a call regarding a deer shot with a pellet gun. The suspect/reporting party advised he observed the deer kick through his garden netting and begin eating his tomatoes. The suspect then took a pellet gun to “harass” the deer but according to the suspect the deer dropped immediately after the shot. The wound was located in the neck. The deer was donated to Wild Life Images and the suspect was cited.

Unlawful Take/Possession of Cougar

A Fish & Wildlife Trooper received information regarding a subject who had taken a road struck cougar from Highway 26 near mile post 38.5. The subject validated his 2019 cougar tag and started to take the cougar to ODFW in Tillamook to check it in. The Trooper went to ODFW in Tillamook and arrived before the subject with the cougar. Once the subject arrived the Trooper seized the cougar and the subject was issued a citation for Take/Possession of Cougar. The cougar was donated to ODFW Tillamook for testing and other biological purposes.

MARINE FISHERIES TEAM

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Ocean Salmon Patrol - Newport

Fish & Wildlife Troopers and United States Coast Guard (USCG) Yaquina Bay conducted an ocean patrol out of Newport to target recreational salmon enforcement and boating safety. They contacted numerous boats and issues multiple warnings were issued by both agencies for boating safety violations and minor angling offenses. Multiple citations were issued for Angling Prohibited Method – Barbed Hooks and Treble hooks.

Ocean Salmon Patrol - Depoe Bay

A Fish & Wildlife Trooper conducted an ocean boat patrol out of Newport and Depoe Bay assisted by USCG Station Depoe Bay to target recreational salmon enforcement and boating safety. The Trooper and USCG personnel contacted numerous boats and multiple warnings were issued by both agencies for boating safety violations and minor angling offenses. One angler was cited for Unlawful Possession of Non-Fin clipped Coho Salmon. The angler had retained a Coho with a deformed but large adipose fin. The angler claimed he thought the fin had been partially cut because it was slightly deformed so he thought he could keep it. The fish was seized and donated to the Oregon Coast Aquarium.

Commercial Halibut Patrol - Newport

A Fish & Wildlife Trooper conducted an ocean patrol out of Newport in conjunction with the USCG Cutter Orcas for the first commercial halibut opener. Two boarding teams were deployed and contacted commercial fishing vessels during the season to ensure fisherman were fishing in the proper areas, careful release of bycatch and undersized halibut as well as determining what species were being retained and persons on board. Once the season closed, USCG boarding officers did numerous vessel safety checks as the boats were headed back to port. The following day a Trooper conducted dockside checks at Newport dealers for the halibut offloads. One captain was warned for Exceeding Trip Limits for exceeding his open access sablefish quota.

Razor Clam Patrols - Seaside

A Fish & Wildlife Trooper conducted razor clam foot patrols on Seaside beach over the course of a few days during a low tide series. The Trooper watched a subject as he dug his limit of razor clams and put them in a clam bag. The subject then kept digging and put clams in his coat pockets. The Trooper followed the subject to his car where he watched the subject unload clams from his coat pockets into his car. The subject was contacted and found to have 25 clams in his pockets. He was cited and released for Exceed the Daily Limit of Razor Clams. The next day, the Trooper watched the same subject digging again, and watched him put small damaged clams back in the sand. Charges for Fail to Retain Clams as Required will be added.

Winchester Bay Angling Patrol

During a patrol, Troopers contacted salmon anglers and rockfish anglers utilizing long leader gear. They came across one angler who admitted they retained a hatchery Coho salmon that was not yet tagged. He was issued a citation for Failing to Validate Harvest Card. On a separate contact the Troopers observed an angler trying to pull his gear out of the water and pinch his hooks. During the contact the angler admitted he got a call from his friend and was told to remove his barbed hooks because OSP was out checking. He was issued a citation for Angling Prohibited Method, Barbed Hooks. On a different contact the Troopers located an angler who hadn’t tagged his hatchery Coho salmon and he was issued a citation for Failing to Validate Harvest Card. Another contact admitted he knew he needed barbless hooks but he didn’t get them pinched down. He was issued a citation for Angling Prohibited Method, Barbed Hooks. Various warnings were also issued.

SHELLFISH & ANGLING

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Wild Coho Taken - Winchester Bay

A Fish & Wildlife Trooper responded to a report that ODFW seized two wild Coho Salmon in Winchester Bay. The anglers were inexperienced and misidentified the fish. The subjects were cited for Take Wild Coho Salmon, and the fish were seized and donated to charity. While completing the investigation, ODFW seized a 12-inch wild Coho which was caught in the Umpqua River. The angler who caught it advised he thought it was a jack Chinook and the minimum required length was 12 inches. When asked how he came to that conclusion, the subject showed that he looked online to determine the length requirements. The subject admitted to not checking the regulations specific to Oregon, or the regulations regarding wild Coho. The subject was cited for Take Wild Coho Salmon and warned for Take Undersized Coho Salmon. The fish was seized and donated to charity.

Umpqua River Drift Boat Patrol Coos Bay area Fish & Wildlife Troopers conducted an overnight drift patrol of the Umpqua River above Elkton, covering approximately 25 miles of river. It was a busy holiday weekend on the river and numerous contacts were made. Two warnings were issued for No Resident Angling License. Additionally, two subjects were cited for No Resident Angling License.

Commercial Halibut Derby - Charleston

Fish & Wildlife Troopers worked a late evening shift in Charleston the night of the commercial halibut derby. USCG and NOAA fisheries forwarded a complaint of one commercial fishing vessel cutting another’s long line. After further questioning, it is believed that two boats set their gear too close together and one accidentally ran the others line over, cutting it with the prop. The vessel that had their line cut lost approximately 33 tubs of longline gear because they broke the other side of the line while pulling gear. Well after all of the other boats came into port, the vessel with the lost gear was spotted entering the mouth of the river at a very slow speed with a deckhand at the very back of the boat. The Troopers contacted the vessel when they moored in Charleston. The crew and skipper were very upset and hostile due to the fact that they lost almost all of their gear and landed very few fish. A consent search of the boat revealed the boat had landed one Halibut, nine Black Cod, and one very small fresh Chinook Salmon. The Troopers attempted to determine why and how the boat had landed the salmon but the skipper would not tell the whole story and the deckhands refused to answer questions from the Troopers. It is believed that after losing all of their longline gear, they trolled for salmon on the way into the mouth. The skipper and one deckhand were cited and released for Possession of Undersized Salmon. The skipper and one deckhand were also violation cited for No Individual Commercial Fishing License. All aboard the vessel stated they had an individual commercial fishing license but did not have the license with them. A records check later showed none of the subjects were licensed. Additional charges will be referred to the DA’s office.

SHELLFISH & ANGLING

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Angling Patrol - Leaburg Dam A Fish & Wildlife Trooper from the Springfield area conducted a two day patrol near the Leaburg dam. Angling at the base of the dam is prohibited because Spring Chinook are concentrated and very vulnerable. In the two day patrol the Trooper contacted several anglers in and around the no angling zone. Multiple citations were issued which included: Angling Prohibited Area (Within 200 Feet of a Fish Way) Failure to Immediately Validate Harvest Card, and No Columbia River Basin Endorsement.

Gaper Clam Violations - Yaquina Bay A Fish & Wildlife Trooper contacted a subject walking off of the clam flats in Yaquina Bay carrying a bucket of gaper clams. The subject was checked by ODFW and found to have 20 gaper clams in his possession, which is eight over the limit. The subject said his friend had dug some of the clams, but he didn’t know how many each of them had dug. The friend showed up and confirmed the story. The initial subject presented a resident shellfish license with a Washington driver’s license. The other subject presented a three day shellfish license. The three day license holder was allowed to keep a limit of clams and was warned for Failure to Use Own Container. The other subject was cited for No Non-Resident Shellfish License and warned for False Application for a Resident License. His resident license and the eight extra gaper clams were seized.

Unlawful Possession of Rainbow Trout

A Madras area Fish & Wildlife Trooper conducted a bike patrol on the Lower Deschutes River. The Trooper contacted a group of anglers and discovered a 17” non-fin clipped rainbow trout in possession of one of the individuals. The man was cited for Unlawful Possession of a Game Fish and the rainbow trout was seized.

Crab Seized - Yaquina Bay A Fish & Wildlife Trooper contacted an adult subject and his juvenile son walking back to their vehicle after crabbing from the Newport Pier in Yaquina Bay. During a consent search of a cooler, a large amount of undersized and female Dungeness crab was located within the cooler. Both subjects did not possess valid shellfish licenses. When asked why they did not have shellfish licenses the father replied he just didn’t have time to get one. In total, 127 crab were discovered inside the cooler (19 red rock crab, and 108 Dungeness crab). Of the 108 Dungeness crab, 40 were female, 67 were undersized males, and only one was a legal sized male. All of the crab were returned to the bay unharmed. The adult subject was cited and released for Take/Possession of Female Dungeness Crab, Take/Possession of Undersized Dungeness Crab, No Resident Shellfish License and warned for Aid/Counsel in a Wildlife Offense. Three crab pots were seized as evidence.

Fish & Wildlife Troopers conducted a patrol on the Grande Ronde Wild and Scenic River.

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TURN IN POACHERS5 Points-Bighorn Sheep5 Points-Rocky Mountain Goat5 Points-Moose5 Points-Wolf4 Points-Elk4 Points-Deer4 Points-Antelope4 Points-Bear4 Points-Cougar

$1,000 Bighorn Sheep $1,000 Rocky Mountain Goat$1,000 Moose$500 Elk, Deer & Antelope $300 Bear, Cougar & Wolf $300 Habitat Destruction $200 Illegally Obtaining License/Tags$200 Unlawful Lend/Borrow Big Game Tag(s)$100 Game Fish & Shellfish$100 Upland Birds, Waterfowl & Fur Bearers

PREFERENCE POINTS CASH REWARDS-OR-

The TIP program offers preference point rewards or cash rewards for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation for the unlawful take/possession or waste of big game mammals.

WHAT SHOULD I REPORT?- 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

Click here to access the TIP form

Oregon State Police work hand-in-hand with the Oregon Hunters Association and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to ensure the preservation of wildlife resources.

1-800-452-7888 or *OSP(677) TIP@state.or.us

FISH & WILDLIFE DIVISION

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