December 9, 2009

Contact: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Michelle Dennehy, 503-947-6022
Fax: 503-947-6009
www.dfw.state.or.us

ODFW Grants Keep 608,000 Acres of Private Timberlands Open to Hunting and Fishing

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – A $200,626 grant from ODFW’s Access and Habitat Program along with a $36,840 grant from the Fish Restoration and Enhancement Program is helping to keep 608,000 acres of industrial timberlands owned by JWTR Company of Klamath Falls open to public access for hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation opportunities through 2014.

Sprawling across portions of Lake, Klamath and Jackson counties, these extensive properties provide hunting opportunities for deer, elk, wild turkeys, predators, and upland game birds. Extremely popular with hunters, more than 18,000 hunter use days were estimated on JWTR lands in 2008. The properties also provide fishing access to tributary streams of the Sprague and Klamath rivers.

 “The properties control access to several wildlife management units,” explains Tom Collom, district wildlife biologist for ODFW’s Klamath District. “If we didn’t have that access, we wouldn’t be able to provide nearly as many opportunities to hunt for deer, elk and upland birds.”

The grants will be used to help fund additional law enforcement patrols by the Oregon State Police and to manage motor vehicle access to prevent resource damage and protect fish and wildlife habitat. Some parts of the area will be closed to public access during the winter to protect winter range for big game animals.

In addition to ODFW funding, JWTR Company, Oregon Wildlife Heritage Foundation, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Oregon Hunters Association, Mule Deer Foundation, and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation are also contributing to the project.

The A&H Program is funded by a surcharge on hunting licenses and revenues from auction and raffle hunts. Funds raised by the program are distributed through grants to individual and corporate landowners, conservation organizations and others for cooperative wildlife habitat improvement and hunter access projects throughout the state.

For information on the A&H Program call program coordinator Matt Keenan at 503-947-6087 or visit the Web site at www.dfw.state.or.us/AH/.

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The Fish Restoration and Enhancement Program was created by the Oregon Legislature in 1989 and is funded by a surcharge on sport and commercial fishing licenses and commercial poundage fees. The program provides funding for fish restoration and enhancement projects throughout the state.

For more information on the R&E Program call coordinator Laura Tesler at 503-947-6259 or visit the Web site at www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/RE/.

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About MDF (www.muledeer.org)

The Mule Deer Foundation is a national non-profit 501(c)3 organization, with over 12,000 members. MDF’s mission is to ensure the conservation of mule deer, black-tailed deer and their habitats. MDF is dedicated to restoring, improving and protecting mule deer habitat (including land and easement acquisitions) resulting in self-sustaining, healthy, free ranging and hunt-able deer populations; encouraging and supporting responsible wildlife management with government agencies, private organizations and landowners; promoting public education and scientific research related to mule deer and wildlife management; supporting and encouraging responsible and ethical behavior and awareness of issues among those whose actions affect mule deer; and acknowledging regulated hunting as a viable component of mule deer and black-tailed deer conservation.

For information about the Mule Deer Foundation please call 888-375-DEER (3337).