Post by The Black Jeep on Aug 30, 2009 14:36:39 GMT -5
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NW Media Distribution
Aug. 20, 2009 Bob Teran, (503) 842-2545
Herman Biederbeck (503) 842-2741
Seasonal road restrictions announced for hunters in Tillamook State Forest
The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) will resume road restrictions this fall in the western part of the Tillamook State Forest to improve deer and elk escapement during hunting season, but four roads previously affected roads will remain open.
Some roads will be closed to motorized use during general archery and rifle hunting seasons in September, October and November. Selected roads in the North Fork Trask River, Hembre Ridge and Little North Fork Wilson River areas will be gated and signed.
The four roads closed to motorized vehicles in the past that are now open are Welcomb Ridge, Continental Loop Road, Samson and New Potato #2. Two new areas, Blue Potato in the lower Kansas Creek area and Lone Pine Ridge, will be be closed to motorized vehicles..
Hunters and other recreational users are welcome to access the gated areas by foot, mountain bike, horse or other non-motorized means.
Controlled access during those three months is designed to reduce hunting pressure in these areas where expanded clearcuts have left the deer and elk more vulnerable.
ODF accelerated its rate of clearcut timber harvest in recent years in the western part of the Tillamook State Forest to convert diseased stands of Douglas-fir to disease-resistant species of trees. This has resulted in larger clearcut areas. Deer and elk generally benefit from openings created by clearcuts as more forage is available to them, but cover for hiding tends to decrease.
ODF is partnering with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and the Tillamook Chapter of the Oregon Hunters Association (OHA) in this program.
Motorized access by ODF staff or contractors working in those areas may occur on occasion. Maps of the road management areas are available at the Tillamook ODF office located at 5005 Third Street, Tillamook and at the Tillamook District’s Web site at egov.oregon.gov/ODF/FIELD/TILLAMOOK/about Tillamook.shtml. Once at this link go to the “Recreation” section for the information.
If you have questions about the road management program, contact Bob Teran at the Tillamook ODF office (503-842-2545) or Herman Biederbeck at the Tillamook ODFW office (503-842-2741).