Oregon Regional News

September/Octobert 2008

Ken Hand, MDF Regional Director

Oregon’s window of opportunity for projects is closing rapidly. When I last wrote I was whining about the snow not melting so we could not get out to project areas. Now snow has melted except in very high elevations and the fire danger level has reached extreme in most areas so I’m whining about that.

On the evening of June 26 four volunteers from Klamath traveled thirty miles north of town to fence a guzzler. This guzzler happens to be in a grazing allotment and the old fence was mostly lying on the ground. Several posts had to be replaced and blow downs cut to clear fence line.

The Dalles chapter is feverishly working toward their August 23 banquet, but had time to submit a project titled “White River Mature Buck Collaring.” The study’s purpose is to find where deer using wildlife area’s winter feeders are summering.

By the time this hits print Ontario will have had their banquet. Jeff is keeping tabs on the Juniper Reservoir project scheduled for next spring. Seedlings have been ordered from the nursery for delivery next spring. Seeds donated by La Pine will be planted via drill by BLM employees.

Bend will soon be assembling their second decoy. This one will have robotics to add a little realism. Now they are looking for a project to spend this year’s chapter rewards on.

Matt’s crew in La Pine has been very busy on projects. Over the weekend of July 12, I attended their project and found out about blood, sweat and tears. One of the volunteers over stroked the post pounder and ended up with seven stitches in the top of his head. Again, it won’t be long before they are locked out of the woods due to fire danger.

On my end of things, I’m still spreading the fertilizer and waiting for something to grow. There is still promise in the Portland area, but no chapter chair yet. There is a meeting scheduled for August 12 at the Quality Inn in Medford where I hope to form a chapter.

If you are interested in helping out MDF in Oregon, please contact Regional Director Ken Hand at ken@muledeer.org.