Oregon
Paulina Peak Chapter Spotlight
Mar./Apr. 2007
By Ray Bartlett and Matt Bales
To start with, and also to familiarize you about the area that the Paulina Peak Chapter calls home, it’s important to know that LaPine, Oregon is smack-dab in the middle of the biggest migration area of mule deer in the entire state. Therefore, one would assume that the support for an organization like MDF would be huge. And you would be right in your assumption as before the Chapter was started, the now Chapter members went through LaPine and the surrounding towns nearby with a petition to see the interest in starting a local MDF chapter. The end result……over 150 signatures by those people who felt that it was great idea – thus, the Paulina Peak Chapter was born.
On July 1st through the 4th 2005, a fundraising/membership drive booth was set up at a local event. There were kid’s games, raffle, and merchandise sales. Over 60 new members were signed aboard and there were two cases of MDF magazines handed out. Only a few weeks later, on July 24th, a follow-up BBQ fundraiser was held which brought in another twelve new members! There were also merchandise sales, raffles, and more great magazines were given out. In addition, the Paulina Peak Chapter also held a sporting goods only “garage sale” which generated a great turn-out as well. It’s not hard to see that the enthusiasm the Chapter members were displaying was becoming more and more contagious.
The Paulina Peak Chapter is comprised of people who do not sit around and wait for things to happen. In fact, most of the committee members had already been involved with Oregon’s “Adopt-A-Guzzler” program for years. They continue to repair, maintain, and fill these guzzlers during the summer when water is at its lowest. However, little did any of them know that their efforts in building up strong chapter members early, was about to pay off even more.
In June of 2003, lightning storms in the Davis Mountain area ignited fires that consumed 22,000 acres. Seventy percent of the area had such high intensity burns that many of the seed sources were eliminated. Although monitoring has shown some grasses and forbs are regenerating in some pockets, the bitterbrush has not. As bitterbrush is a heavily utilized forage by big game, the urgency to restore the valuable forage was a must. However, to establish healthy bitterbrush, plants from near by plots would have to be used.
In March of 2006, a project plan was brought to a committee meeting and the Chapter members immediately went into action. The initial plan was 2 to 3, 50’ x 50’ plots that would be planted and fenced to give the seeds time to establish themselves. On June 3rd, 2006, 14 MDF members and two biologists, as well as four wildlife technicians planted over 5,000 bitterbrush plants, 25 aspen, and 25 currant bushes ranging from 50’ x 50’ size plots up to 3/4 of an acre. Free planting totaled 15 separate plots in all, with five of them being totally fenced. This project was a monumental one that stretches over a mile and a half of the entire Davis Burn. It is also a project that will do well for all the wildlife in this critical summer range. The Paulina Peak Chapter was also able to begin a positive start to a long-lasting relationship with the Crescent Ranger District. They are eager to do what they can and look forward to more projects with them.
Another great project that the Paulina Peak Chapter has gotten right in the middle of is the Round Mountain Fencing Project. Round Mountain is 800 acres of seasonally flooded meadow with a variety of plant life. It is also fawning and calving ground for deer and elk. There are several springs that provide water to the surrounding area with a mixture of pine trees and bitterbrush making this a beautiful place to see.
During the 1970’s, the Round Mountain Meadow was ditched, drained, and crossed fenced for summer cattle pasture. This, however, resulted in poor water quality and competition for forage with the area wildlife. In the 1990’s, the Winnema National Forest reacquired this area and the adjacent uplands. At that time, restoration goals were set to rehabilitate this wetland wildlife habitat and to restore water quality in a critical spring/summer range watershed, as well as to enhance water storage. A perimeter fence was construction in 2004 to restrict cattle access and to minimize damage. This fence is only in place during cattle turnout which usually takes place during mid-July through October. The fence also requires being put up and taken down each year.
The Paulina Peak Chapter of the MDF adopted this project officially in 2006 with a voluntary agreement with the Winnema National Forest Chemult Ranger District. Seventeen members, in cooperation with Biologist T.L. Simpson, are responsible for putting up the 3.25 miles of lay down fence and completing repairs to sagging and broken wires. The Chapter has also replaced the wire stays and tightened up loose H braces caused by heavy snowfall. In addition there was also two miles of old barbed wire fence line which was removed because while the fence is down during fawning and calving season, it is laying adjacent to the meadow. By removing the old barbed-wire, the chances of entanglement by fawns and calves was reduced dramatically. To accomplish all of this, the Paulina Peak members worked 7 hours a day on July 8th and 9th, in over 90 degree, mosquito infested, heat for a total of 238 combined man-hours. They all survived the camping out, enjoying good company, and doing their part to restore and protect valuable wildlife habitat. With a very busy first year this Chapter has earned the nickname of “The Mule Deer Mafia” because this chapter will do the dirty work that others have turned down!
Before they all knew it, July 22nd, the date of their first banquet was upon them! The fundraisers held and the donations collected before this banquet proved to be the keys to their success! The Paulina Peak Chapter’s first banquet held a net to gross of 54% ––– an excellent job for there first banquet. Another thing that really stands out with this Chapter is their youth involvement! As Chapter Chair, Matt Bales, said to me, “We need to show them how it’s done….because if we don’t, no one else will.”
What the Paulina Peak Chapter has done from May 14th, 2005 to this date has nothing more to do with other than pure dedication and love of mule deer. The hard work and sacrifice that this Chapter has committed themselves to should be a model for other chapters to take note of. If you would like to join this Chapter or just want to help out with projects please give Matt Bales a call at 541-536-3188. And again, my hat’s off to the Paulina Peak Chapter for a job well done!