“The forecast looks wintry and mountain crews are at work preparing their departments for what’s sure to be a busy opening weekend,” said Dave Rathbun, President and General Manager. “A good Thanksgiving is key to getting off to a good start, and as it stands now, we’re well positioned. Our large percentage of returning staff will be an asset as we ramp up our operation to full speed.”

Early season conditions exist and most open terrain is recommended for intermediate and advanced abilities. Unmarked obstacles will exist and skiing and riding groomed terrain is recommended. Limited beginner terrain will be available via the Sunshine Express. An early season terrain park will be available. Opening day lift ticket rates will be $49 for adults, $39 for teens and seniors, and $28 for kids and 70+. Sliding scale ticket pricing will go into effect once skier levels, open terrain or weather conditions dictate. More information is available at www.mtbachelor.com/lifttickets.

Mt. Bachelor’s season pass office will be open in Bend’s Old Mill District through Wednesday, Nov. 18. It will re-open in West Village on Friday, Nov. 20. Guests who have elected to wait until opening day to get their passes printed should expect lines at the season pass office. The Mt. Bachelor Super Shuttle will also begin service on opening day. The full shuttle schedule will be posted available at www.mtbachelor.com.

OPEN: QUAIL (Mtn. Quail closed some areas), CHUKAR/HUN PHEASANT, FOREST GROUSE, and WATERFOWL (goose closed, see regulations), COUGAR and BEAR

Get your elk checked for CWD Nov. 1-2

Help ODFW monitor our big game populations for Chronic Wasting Disease, an untreatable and fatal neurological disease that can affect deer, elk and moose. If you harvest an elk, stop by one of our check stations on Sunday or Monday and get your elk checked. Stations open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at I-84 West at Biggs Junction or Prineville Weigh Station, just east of Prineville on Hwy 26.

Use the Oregon Hunting Access Map to see where to hunt.

It’s still a good idea to check for any fire related access restrictions before you go hunting.

InciWeb

Oregon National Forests

Oregon BLM

Oregon Department of Forestry

Don’t forget to report your hunt results. Anyone who purchases a big game or turkey tag must report hunt results online or by phone. Reporting is required even if you did not fill your tag or go hunting. More information

EVENT

Canyon Creek Youth Pheasant Hunt, Nov. 20-21 at Canyon Creek Outfitters in Dufur, Ore. Hosted by OHA Bend Chapter, Canyon Creek Outfitters, and ODFW. Register Oct. 5-Nov. 16 by calling 541-382-7229.

PRINEVILLE/OCHOCO WILDLIFE DISTRICT

Hunters should come prepared for typical fall to early winter conditions, which can mean extremes from sun to snow, and everything in between. All hunters and outdoor recreationalists should dress and be equipped accordingly. Hunters planning to hunt public lands should check with Ochoco National Forest or Prineville BLM offices for the latest information on access and camping.

FIRST PERIOD CONTROLLED BULL hunters should expect good hunting conditions if the predicted weather forecasts of snow are accurate. This year’s carryover of older, mature bulls are down from recent years, but the numbers of younger bulls, particularly yearling spikes, appears strong. Ochoco unit hunter are reminded the Rager and South Boundary Travel Management Areas (TMA’s) remain in effect.

EARLY RIFLE ANTLERLESS ELK hunts are active on mostly private lands in portions of the Maury, Ochoco, and Grizzly units. These hunts include private agricultural and ranch lands that require having landowner permission for access.

COUGAR and BEAR seasons are open, and hunters are reminded they must have valid controlled bull tags to be hunting when those seasons are open. Both species require check in at an ODFW office within 10 days of harvest that includes calling ahead of time to make an appointment, and remembering to bring in the unfrozen skull, hide, and other necessary parts needed for check in. Please consult the synopsis for all required parts. It’s also a good idea to prop the mouth open with a stick after harvest for easier tissue sampling, teeth collection and tagging.

BEAR are more plentiful in the more forested Ochoco and Grizzly units. The denser forested north slopes at higher elevations in both units would be areas to scout and look for bear sign. COUGAR are also present in these 2 units and the Maury as well.  Cougars are present at all elevations, and use the more open juniper-sage desert habitats, as well as the forested country.  Areas with known cougar activity include the Maury Mountains and S. Fk. Crooked River (Maury unit); S. F. John Day River, N F. Crooked River, and Lookout Mtn. (Ochoco unit); Upper Mill Crk., Green Mtn., and Grizzly Mtn (Grizzly unit).

FOREST GROUSE opportunities are limited to higher elevation forest lands on the Ochoco National Forest. Hunters should check the more heavily forested portions of the Lookout Mtn. and Paulina Ranger districts for these elusive birds. DUCK, VALLEY QUAIL, AND CHUKAR SEASONS are open.

This years QUAIL and CHUKAR populations appear down due to a difficult nesting conditions earlier this spring. Mountain quail season is open only in the Grant and Wheeler County portions of the District. Hunters are encouraged to check likely habitat areas on the Crooked River National Grasslands and the breaks of the John Day River system for opportunities.

WATERFOWL hunters will find opportunities limited as most birds in this area are closely associated with private lands where access may be difficult. GOOSE hunters are reminded the season closes in this area from Oct. 26 through Nov. 6, reopening Nov. 7.

THE DALLES WILDLIFE DISTRICT

Be sure to check with local state forestry and US Forest offices for fire season regulations before planning your outdoor adventure.

First season ELK opens Oct. 28. Elk are still generally using higher elevation forests, as we have yet to get enough winter weather to move animals to lower elevations, but weather reports look promising. Hunters should expect to cover some ground to locate elk in the Hood and White River units.

FOREST GROUSE in the area are scattered, with the best hunting generally being found in stream bottoms or on open ridges on either side of the Hood River Valley. Successful hunters are asked to give a wing and a tail to ODFW to help manage grouse populations in the state. Wings can be turned in at any ODFW office, or in one of the many wing barrels scattered throughout the district.

COUGAR season is open. Hunters wishing to pursue cougar will find best success near areas of deer and elk concentrations, or in the Deschutes and John Day river canyons. Successful hunters, remember you must check in cougar (hide and skull) and bear skull at an ODFW office within 10 days of harvest and bring them in unfrozen. It’s also a good idea to prop their mouths open with a stick after harvest for easier tissue sampling, teeth collection and tagging. See regulations for details.

BEAR hunters should focus their efforts within recent clearcuts within the Hood unit, or in one of the stream canyons along the eastern edge of the Cascades in the White River unit. Finding a good vantage point and spending time with good optics can increase the odds of finding a bear.

WATERFOWL are beginning to appear in the region as fall progresses. Limited public access for waterfowl hunting can be found along the Columbia and Deschutes Rivers.

Those wishing to pursue COYOTE will find the best success near agricultural lands. Be sure to ask permission to hunt private lands. Limited opportunities may also be found at White River Wildlife area, and on lower elevation forest service lands.

WHITE RIVER WILDLIFE AREA

BEAR and COUGAR hunting are open. BEAR hunters will find the best success adjacent to major drainages such as White River, Tygh Creek or Badger Creek.

COYOTE hunters should be looking in open areas along the eastern perimeter of the wildlife area.

GROUND SQUIRRELS, or gray diggers, can be found throughout the wildlife area.

The wildlife area is a vehicle regulated use area. Open roads have a green dot on them. Hunters bringing their ATVs are reminded that all vehicles are to stay on roads; cross country travel is prohibited.

• Several area lakes close to fishing after Saturday, Oct. 31. Be sure check the regulations or reports below before heading out.
• With the advent of cooler temperatures, trout fishing on David Lake should pick up. (While largemouth bass fishing may slow down.)

ANTELOPE FLAT RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, bullhead catfish

The reservoir will closed Oct. 18, 2009 for chemical treatment to remove illegally introduced bullhead catfish. Bullhead catfish populations have stunted, degraded water quality, and reduced success for trout anglers.

BIG LAVA LAKE: rainbow trout

Fishing has picked up with the advent of cooler temperatures. Big Lava is a great place to catch nice rainbow trout ranging from 12 to 20 inches in length. Please note Big Lava Lake closes to angling Oct. 31.

CRANE PRAIRIE RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, brook trout, largemouth bass

With the advent of cooler water temperatures fishing for both redband and brook trout should be improving.

Please note Crane Prairie Reservoir closes to angling Oct. 31.

CLEAR LAKE: rainbow trout

Clear Lake has been stocked with lots of fish and should be a great opportunity to catch a limit.

CRESCENT LAKE: rainbow trout, brown trout, lake trout and kokanee

With cooler temperatures there should be good opportunities for lake trout and brown trout.

CROOKED RIVER BELOW BOWMAN DAM: redband trout and mountain whitefish

Flows are slightly lower than they were over the summer (165 cfs) and they will be lowered to winter levels the week of Oct. 12. However, fishing is good will likely rebound quickly after flows are lowered. With cool winter temperature approaching, anglers are encouraged to use caution when wading on the slick rocks of the Crooked.

All anglers should visit informational kiosks located in the BLM campgrounds in the Wild and Scenic portion of the river where a flier has been posted to assist anglers in collecting valuable information. ODFW and OSU initiated a radio telemetry study on redband trout and whitefish in the fall of 2007. ODFW and OSU deployed new radio-tags in early October in fish caught by dedicated volunteer anglers from the Central Oregon Fly Fishers, Sunriver Anglers, ODFW, and OSU. Anglers are reminded that radio-tagged fish cannot be legally harvested. To determine if a fish is radio-tagged, anglers should check for an eight-inch wire antenna protruding from the rear of both redband and mountain whitefish. A sample of redband trout and mountain whitefish are also tagged with a numbered floy tag protruding from the back. Anglers who later catch a trout or whitefish with a floy tag are encouraged to release the fish after recording the tag number, fish length and location caught. Anglers can send the information to ODFW at (541) 447-5111 ext. 24 or michael.r.harrington@state.or.us.

CULTUS LAKE: lake trout, rainbow trout

Pressure has been light: no angler reports.

DAVIS LAKE: rainbow trout, largemouth bass

Cooler temperatures should improve trout fishing though might slow the largemouth bass action. Remember Davis is a fly angling lake only.

DESCHUTES RIVER: steelhead, rainbow trout

Mouth to Warm Springs: steelhead, trout, fall chinook (mouth to Sherars Falls)

Excellent fishing was reported for both steelhead and chinook in the Sherars Falls area. Steelhead angling has been good from the mouth upstream to Warm Springs, with good numbers of fish now dispersed throughout the entire river. Anglers are reporting good success on both flies and lures. Anglers should be aware that heavy rains may increase turbidity downstream from White River, but water conditions upstream should remain good.

Anglers can check the trap catch at Sherars Falls as an indicator of fish movement in the Deschutes at: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/fish_counts/sherars_falls/index.asp.

Trout anglers are reporting good fishing on caddis hatches. Look for some morning hatches and big evening hatches. Mayfly hatches also have been good, particularly on overcast days.

Lake Billy Chinook to Benham Falls: rainbow trout, brown trout

No recent reports. The flows are now well-suited for fishing. This reach of the Deschutes provides good spring angling opportunity for brown trout and redband trout.

Benham Falls to Wickiup Reservoir: brown trout, rainbow trout

Reports of fair success for brown trout and rainbow trout. No reports from the past weekend.

EAST LAKE: brown trout, rainbow trout, kokanee, Atlantic salmon

Anglers are still finding fair success for rainbow trout and brown trout. There have been some reports of days of great fishing. Please note East Lake closes to angling Oct. 31.

ELK LAKE: kokanee, brook trout

No recent reports.

FALL RIVER: rainbow trout

Recent reports from a couple of experienced angler types indicate that the angling has been slow fair with a few nice fish being caught. Despite the warmer temperatures and increased insect hatches it appears that nymphing is still the most productive method for catching fish. River water temperatures are generally in the 38 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit range. This is a popular spring fishery for fly-fishers.

FROG LAKE:

No recent reports.

HAYSTACK RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, brown trout

All fishing has been consistent. Anglers have reported catching large bass and trout at the inlet of the lake recently.

On Sept. 18, the Oregon Department of Human Services issued a blue green advisory on Haystack Reservoir. To find out more about the advisory and recommended precautions, please go to the DHS Web site.

HOOD RIVER: summer steelhead

Water conditions in the Hood River are good, but anglers are reporting slow fishing.

Find out how many fish are being captured at the Powerdale Dam trap.

HORSESHOE LAKE: rainbow trout

Horseshoe has been recently stocked and should offer good opportunity for legal and trophy-sized trout.

HOSMER LAKE: Atlantic salmon, brook trout

Some fine reports of Atlantic salmon being caught. Remember, it’s catch-and-release fishing for Atlantic salmon.

KINGSLEY RESERVOIR: rainbow trout

Along with earlier stocking of legal trout, Kingsley has received many excess summer steelhead that have returned to the Hood River.

LAKE BILLY CHINOOK: bull trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, kokanee, smallmouth bass

Fishing is average for this time of year. Kokanee bag limit is five fish per day, included in the trout daily bag limit. Anglers should consult 2009 Sport Fishing Regulations for new angling regulations on Lake Billy Chinook.

LAURANCE LAKE RESERVOIR: rainbow trout

Laurance Lake should offer good opportunity for legal and trophy-sized trout.   Anglers are reminded to release all non fin-clipped clipped trout.

LITTLE LAVA LAKE: rainbow trout, brook trout

No recent reports.

METOLIUS RIVER: redband trout, bull trout

Some recent reports of good success.

NORTH TWIN: rainbow trout

Fishing should improve with the arrival of cool fall temperatures. Good beaches, good wind protection and good numbers of stocked rainbow trout are North Twin positives. Please note North Twin Lake remains open year round though accessibility may be limited during the winter months.

OCHOCO CREEK UPSTREAM TO OCHOCO DAM: rainbow trout

Bait fishing is now allowed.  Five trout per day, 8-inch minimum length.

OCHOCO RESERVOIR: rainbow trout

Anglers continue to report occasional catches of large fish.

ODELL LAKE: kokanee, rainbow trout, lake trout

The fishing at Odell has been fair. Please note that all bull trout must be released unharmed. Please note Odell Lake closes to angling Oct. 31.

OLLALIE LAKE: rainbow trout

The lake has been stocked and should offer a great opportunity to catch lots of trout.

PAULINA LAKE: brown trout, kokanee, rainbow trout

Fishing for brown trout remains good. Rainbow trout fishing is fair. Please note Paulina Lake closes to angling Oct. 31.

PINE HOLLOW RESERVOIR: rainbow trout

No recent reports.

PRINEVILLE RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, black crappie, bass

Trout fishing should improve as temperatures cool and fishing for warmwater species is excellent. Anglers should note an error in the 2009 fishing regulations for Prineville Reservoir (p. 63). TheCORRECT regulation is: largemouth and smallmouth bass, 15 in. MAXIMUM length, only one of which may be a largemouth.

PRINEVILLE YOUTH FISHING POND: Rainbow trout and largemouth bass

Rainbow trout were stocked in the Prineville youth pone on Sept. 29, and fishing is excellent. The Prineville Youth Fishing Pond is open to children 14 and younger with a bag limit of five fish.

ROCK CREEK RESERVOIR: rainbow trout

Rock Creek Reservoir has extremely low water due to irrigation withdrawals.

SOUTH TWIN: rainbow trout

With the advent of cooler temperatures anglers should expect good fishing. South Twin provides plenty of opportunity for rainbow trout, great wind protected shoreline and good beach-like shoreline for the kids to run around on when they’re tired of catching fish. A great family lake. Please note South Twin Lake closes to angling Oct. 31.

SUTTLE LAKE: brown trout, kokanee

No recent angler reports.

TAYLOR LAKE: rainbow trout

Taylor Lake is a great spot to catch carp with flies; look for carp in the shallows as water temperatures warm to summer temperatures.

WALTON LAKE: rainbow trout

The reservoir closed Oct. 18, 2009 for chemical treatment to remove illegally introduced bullhead catfish and bass. Bullhead catfish populations have stunted, degraded water quality, and reduced success for trout anglers.

WICKIUP RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, brown trout, kokanee, largemouth bass

There should be very good opportunity for catching brown trout. Anglers are encouraged to work the shallows for browns and rainbow during the early morning hours and hours just before dusk. Please note that the Deschutes arm of Wickiup upstream of the ODFW marker located near the West South Twin Boat launch closed to angling Sept. 1. Wickiup Reservoir Lake closes to angling Oct. 31.

The decision was in response to a recent downgrade in the upriver spring chinook forecast by the US v. Oregon Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). On Monday, TAC downgraded its preseason estimate of nearly 300,000 to a range of 120,000 to 150,000 fish.

At the current forecasts, spring fisheries that have already taken place will have exceeded the federal Endangered Species Act limits on upriver chinook. The decision to delay the opening of steelhead season will prevent the incidental catch of chinook that would occur in this fishery.

The summer steelhead season will open no later than June 16, which marks the end of the spring management season for chinook salmon. In the meantime, managers will continue to monitor passage of spring chinook at Bonneville Dam to determine whether they can safely open the fishery prior to June 16. When the steelhead fishery does open, angling for jack chinook and sockeye will also be allowed.

Fishery managers left in place the recreational shad fishing season that opens on May 16 from Buoy 10 at the mouth of the Columbia to Bonneville Dam, due to the very low incidental catch of chinook that occurs in this fishery.

The newly revamped Teen Volunteer program allows teens to assist in almost every area of the Museum, from living history reenactments to animal presentations and earn school credit.

Teen volunteers will receive a week of intensive training focusing on customer service and techniques for information sharing.
Participants volunteer throughout the year. Teens who want to strengthen their commitment to the program may gain school credit through the through Bend La Pine School District’s School to Career Program.

And, the program is free, with a nominal charge for a Museum uniform polo shirt and badge. The program is designed to have participants advance in their Museum work as they improve their skills and increase their understanding of how the Museum inspires visitors.

Program training is June 22- 26. Teens must apply by June 14 at highdesertmuseum.org, and go through an interview process.

The new YES! (Youth Engaged in Science) program offers teens a way to gain science knowledge, explore careers in the museum field, and learn about the behind-the-scenes aspects of the Bats: Masters of the Night exhibit. Participants will observe scientific field research on local bats and research, design, and develop an exhibit model or multimedia presentation based on a Museum animal. $650. Register by June 14 at highdesertmuseum.org.

About the Museum
The High Desert Museum is nationally acclaimed for inspiring stewardship of the natural and cultural resources of the High Desert. It offers close-up wildlife encounters, living history performances, Native American and Western art, music, nature trails, tours and classes for all ages. It is on 135 acres in a pristine forest, five minutes from Bend on South Highway 97.

The Museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily May 1 through Oct. 31. Admission rates are: adults, $15; ages 65 plus, $12; ages 5-12, $9; ages 4 and younger, free. High Desert Museum (541) 382-4754, www.highdesertmuseum.org

“We understand the frustration customers and license sales vendors are experiencing and we apologize for the inconvenience this has caused,” said Roy Elicker, ODFW director. “We are dealing with a system problem that has slowed down service, and we are working around the clock with our vendor, Outdoor Central, to get the problem fixed.”

Typically every year, May 15 is the controlled hunt deadline. On May 12, ODFW extended the deadline to May 19 due to a slowdown in the license sales system believed to be caused by the high volume of sales activity in the days leading up to the deadline. The system continues to be slow so ODFW is extending the deadline further.

To ease the long lines, ODFW is making mail/fax order controlled hunt applications available at all ODFW offices and license sales locations. The application is also available on page 15 of the 2009 Oregon Big Game Regulations. Individuals can also download the application from the ODFW website. It’s called 2009 Big Game Mail Order Application Form under Licenses and Fees section of Web site.

Hunters can fill out the application and either drop it off at an ODFW office; mail it to ODFW Licensing, 3406 Cherry Ave. NE, Salem, OR 97303; or fax it to 503 947-6117/6113. Mailed applications must be postmarked by June 1; dropped-off applications given to an ODFW office by close-of-business or 5 p.m. on June 1; and faxed applications received by 11:59 p.m. PT June 1.

Hunters are also encouraged to apply for controlled hunts online. Online sales are not experiencing the slowness that sales at license agents are, especially when done early in the morning or later in the evening.

Hunters need to purchase a hunting license and obtain a Hunter/Angler ID number before they can apply for a controlled hunt, but the license purchase can be made simultaneously. Hunter/Angler ID numbers stay the same from year to year, so even if you have not yet purchased a 2009 hunting license, you can write in your past ID number on your application.

The deadline extension will also delay the controlled hunt draw and results notification. The draw will occur by June 15 instead of June 5 and hunters will be mailed results notification no later than July 1, rather than by June 20. Draw results are usually made available online at the same time that notification postcards mailed. Any leftover controlled hunt tags will go on sale July 15 at 10 a.m. PT rather than July 1.

“We recognize these delays may impact planning for the fall hunts and we apologize again for any inconvenience,” said Elicker.

Some of Oregon’s big game hunts are limited entry, including almost all rifle hunting of deer and elk east of the Cascades and pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, and Rocky Mountain goat hunts. These hunts require a controlled hunt application.

“The improvement in the weather this week has really boosted the amount of debris we’ve collected,” says Katie Lighthall, Program Coordinator for the FireFree program. “This weekend’s outstanding forecast is even more promising so we encourage everyone to clean up their defensible space and recycle the debris for FREE,” Lighthall adds.

Residents are encouraged to take advantage of the remaining opportunities across Central Oregon – please bring yard waste and hazardous vegetation to local collection sites for FREE as you and your neighbors create and maintain defensible space in your Home Ignition Zone:

Deschutes County:

Debris will be accepted at the Knott Landfill in Bend through May 10th. Hours are 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM.

The West Side Recycling Depot on Simpson Ave in Bend will accept debris May 9 & 10. Hours are 8:00AM to 4:00 PM

The transfer stations in Redmond, Sisters and La Pine will accept debris the weekend of May 16 & 17 only. Weekend hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

The Alfalfa transfer station will accept debris on Saturday May 16th only. Hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

The Westside Stewardship Project consists of a collaborative team of individuals, including: private citizens, the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation, and other groups, working with Forest Service biologists to improve wildlife habitat on the west side of the Crooked River National Grassland. The Grassland is the largest of three grasslands west of the Rockies and the only one in Oregon. It has a rich and diverse cultural and natural history.

For more information, visit our website at www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon Click on “About Us” and Crooked River National Grassland, “Celebrating 50 Years 1954-2004”.