Deer hunting season threatened if it doesn't start raining
OREGON CITY, Ore. – With deer hunting season set to start Saturday, wildfires and dry conditions are locking hunters out of some of their favorite spots.
Steve Pruitt bought his hunting license Friday and was excited for the opening of deer rifle season. It's been something he's been doing since he was a young boy.
Pruitt is one of those lucky hunters who has enough of his own land and who knows so many large landowners, he doesn't have to worry about where he can bag a big buck.
But thousands of other hunters are not that lucky, and when they try to hunt on private timber property, they'll find locked gates.
More than 3 million private timberland acres in Oregon are now closed – gates locked – due to high fire danger.
The manager of one sporting-goods store said it hasn't hurt business so far, because a lot of people are coming in and buying ammunition or a new pair of binoculars – even rifles. People are getting out and hunting while they can, fearing the rains will never come and the season could be closed altogether.
So Oregon hunters are praying for rain. It's not only needed so they don't loudly crunch their way across forests scaring game, it’s also needed to soak the dangerously dry forest and grasslands and save deer hunting season from a complete closure.
"This has been something that hasn't been an issue in the last few years, but I mean years ago, I remember a couple times where they did postpone the season," said hunter Ken Bahram.
"I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn’t start raining, if they cancel it," said Pruitt.
For more on which hunting areas are closed right now in Oregon, click here.
Move food for the wolves.Â
This is a good idea, the less people making a mess, the less chance of more fires starting. The ethical and honest hunters may suffer in some areas. But if they go about it the right way, they can get permission to hunt. All they need to do is prove they will take care of the area they hunt in.
I'd love to start deer hunting again, but one of the reasons I'm hesitant is because there's nowhere to go anymore. Too many locked gates crams all the hunters into too little land.
 @HuskyKMA Thats what a cutting torch is for
@Jim330rifle ,,,,,,Yeah and your mentality is the things private landowners are wooried about, idiots like you that do cut locks or pull out gates with winches, and vandalizing property. You're the idiot that gives ethical hunters like me a bad name, so if I ever catch you or anyone else vandalizing, first I'll get your license plate number, then I'll disable your vehicle, and then call the authorities and help prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.
@Just Lookin That's what it's gonna take. Ethical hunters like you and me.
bdou,
I know exactly what you mean, I would gladly help hold them while their vehicle was disabled. One time in the Trask area, a group of "butchers" killed a bunch of elk. Some of the regular hunters blocked the roads, and called the local game enforcement officer.They had no way of getting out. If I were a landowner, I would lock gates also, to keep those out who trash the area, shoot up the signs, leave beer cans all over.
 @Jim330rifle  @HuskyKMA You're the kind of guy who gets areas closed.