Oregon Regional News
May/June 2008
Ken Hand , MDF Regional Director
Oregon starts 2008 on positive note! Funding has been approved on four projects and two others are in the pipeline. The Klamath Falls and Paulina Peak Chapters have chosen to use their 2007 Chapter Rewards to fund guzzlers in their respective areas. Installation for both guzzlers is in the process of being scheduled for this spring. Central Oregon High Desert is helping out game enforcement, funding two deer decoys, one with robotics, to be used in the Bend area.
The 2007 Chapter Rewards from the Ontario/Western Idaho chapter will be added to this year’s (2008) rewards for seeding in fire restoration areas. The Dalles chapter chose to purchase fertilizer for the White River Wildlife Area.
Additionally, two projects we are looking at funding will aid game law enforcement:
- the purchase of trail cameras to monitor road closures and wintering grounds and
- join with other sportsmen’s groups in Oregon to assist in the contracting with Idaho Fish and Game to do DNA analysis for wildlife violations.
Another positive was the banquet in Klamath Falls where ~$26,000 was raised for MDF’s mission. Two banquets are scheduled for May. May 3 is the annual Paulina Peak (LaPine) banquet and fundraiser. Committee Chairman Matt Bales believes they will beat their 73% banquet efficiency which was #1 in MDF last year. The following week will be the banquet and fundraiser of the Central Oregon High Desert chapter in Bend.
At the present time I have been in contact with individuals in Medford and Portland about starting chapters in their areas. If anyone would be interested in helping in these areas or any other area in Oregon, please contact Regional Director Ken Hand had at ken@muledeer.org.