This page is meant strictly to be informative, and when we find something that needs attention it will be posted here.  Issues that are in the forefront of MPHC right now are:

• The Nesting Bird Season - MPHC along with OUSDA are working on this issue.  The administrative rule can be interpreted in various ways by various people.  There seems to be a lack of communication and AR meaning between ODFW and OSP, neither seeming to come together on what the rule says or how it was intended to be applied.
• New Hunting Regulations at Sauvie Island - actually this should read "A Lack of Hunting".  As reported in the news letter regulations have changed - the only hunting that will be allowed on Sauvie are Deer and Bird.  MPHC is currently looking into this situation. The story behind this change can be found by going to http://www.oregonrabbithunting.com/Articles/RabbitHuntingOnSauvieIsland.aspx 
  

12/12/09

CONGRADULATIONS!   Because of everyones efforts ODFW removed the SIWA issue off their December 2009 agenda - for now.  Hold up, this is good news - It means they are hearing our voice, not that they like it; but it is having an impact on what they plan to do.  MPHC is still persuing this actively and will continue to do so - as noted in Decembers news letter.

What we are needing to do now. 
ODFW plan on having the SIWA issue addressed at a later commissioners meeting.  Which means we need to get it on the agenda before March 2010, as in April they will move the meeting to a new location. This usually means outside the area being addressed in hopes that few or none representing a change to bring back hunting at SIWA will attend.  They have done it before and will try to achieve this again.  We are asking that short letters encouraging the reveral of non-hunting ammendments concerning SIWA be written and sent to the ODFW Commissioners (the address is listed below). 

The importance of this is that if ODFW achieve their goal not allowing small game hunting at SIWA, it will open the door for changes in other Wildlife Areas in the future which could and will impact future hunting on these lands.  Remember it is YOUR hunting dollars that pay for the enhancement and habitat of these State lands.  The hunters are the only contributors - not bird watchers, hikers, horseback riders, bicyclests.  YOU have paid for these properties to be maintained and open to the public and should not be excluded from enjoying the your chosen outdoor activity. 

Again, please read the following letter and write to the below ODFW addresses.  Your help in this matter will continue to make a difference.  Thank You.


 

    The management of the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area outside of Portland has seen fit to declare illegal all hunting of furbearers, predators,  unprotected, and protected wildlife, except black-tail deer and game birds!  No hunting of upland game such as rabbit, squirrel, raccoon, etc.  This declaration is made on pages 54  and 55, under Objectives 3.1: Strategy 1 of the ten-year Sauvie Island Wildlife Area Management Plan 2009.  This is also a current Oregon administrative rule, having begun with the 2008-2009 hunting season, and this is discrimination!
    To get a better idea of what caused the manager to change hunting on the island, please go to www.oregonrabbithunting.com and read “Michael Malley’s Sauvie Island Story.”  It should make you mad as hell!    
     Sauvie Island is about eleven thousand five hundred (ll,500) acres in size.   ODFW needs to promote all hunting opportunities on the island.  We understand that the island has a heavy population of waterfowl, but dollars from all hunting and fishing licenses are used to manage it.  If the mission of ODFW is truly to “protect and enhance Oregon’s fish and wildlife and their habitats for use and enjoyment by present and future generations,” Sauvie Island has an obligation to offer all hunting opportunities.    
    In the next few months we will be working hard to reverse this blatant disrespect for the hunting community and to overturn the manager’s abusive use of power.  Specifically, we want all restrictive language pertaining to “furbearers, predators,  unprotected and protected wildlife” removed from the Sauvie Island Wildlife ten-year management plan.  This is how you can help shape the plan that the commission will consider in November:
    (1)  Send your written comments to:
          ODFW
        3406 Cherry Ave.
        Salem, Oregon 97303-4924
        Ref. Sauvie Island Management Plan.

            To assure that someone other than the manager of Sauvie Island reads your letter and hears your concern, send a second copy to the commissioner of  the congressional district #3, the Sauvie Island district:  
   
            Commissioner Skip Klarquist
            215 S.W. Washington St.  3rdFloor  
            Portland, Or. 97204

             You might want to write to any other or all the other commissioners:  
            Chair: Marla Rae, Vice Chair: Dan Edge, Jon England,
            Carter Kerns, Bobby Levy, Zane Smith
            or ODFW Director  Roy Eliker at:

            ODFW
            3406 Cherry Ave.
            Salem, Oregon 97303-4924
        Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife phone #503-947-6000
        
    If you just want to talk about this injustice, give me a call at 541-745-7311.  

                    Sincerely,
    
                    Jerry C. Ray