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GRANT COUNTY
Hunting
JOURNAL 2020
Published by the
Blue Mountain Eagle
MyEagleNews.com
‘The majestic
giant’
Ty Sharp recounts last year’s
bull elk hunt. SEE PAGE 8.
2 // Grant County Hunting Journal 2020 // MyEagleNews.com
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MyEagleNews.com // Grant County Hunting Journal 2020 // 3
Welcome GRANT COUNTY
to Grant County Hunting
Stay safe while hunting JOURNAL
W Inside
ith eight northeastern big game RUZKHUHVRPHRQHFDQ¿QG\RX:HFDQ¶W¿QG
units located either partially or \RXLIZHFDQ¶WVHH\RX´
fully within its borders, Grant 2. Have a plan. “Many of our calls for help Local hunters photo gallery ..................................................................................................... 5, 10, 17 and 30
County is a popular spot for bow FDPH IURP QHUYRXV IDPLO\ PHPEHUV EHFDXVH The first buck ...............................................................................................................................................................6
‘The majestic giant’ ...................................................................................................................................................8
DQGULÀHKXQWHUV WKH\ WKRXJKW WKH KXQWLQJ SDUW\ ZDV RYHUGXH The Promise .............................................................................................................................................................. 14
Prairie City is near the Strawberry Mountain ZKHQLQIDFWWKH\ZHUHQRW´'REOHUVDLG³6HY- ‘A precious tradition’ .............................................................................................................................................. 14
:LOGHUQHVV'D\YLOOHLVSRSXODUIRUGHHUVKHHS eral hunting camps in Grant County were con- The tag of a lifetime .........................................................................................................................................18-19
DQGHONKXQWLQJDVZHOODVXSODQGJDPHELUGV WDFWHGDIWHUQHUYRXVIDPLO\FDOOHGIRU6$5RQO\ Shooting the Breeze: The blissfully ignorant ................................................................................................ 23
0W9HUQRQKDVSUHPLHUHPXOHGHHUDQG5RFN\ ‘Jumping up cow’ .................................................................................................................................................... 24
WR ¿QG RXW WKH HQWLUH LQFLGHQW ZDV SRRU FRP- Meet Buck, Oregon’s only anti-poaching K-9 ............................................................................................... 28
0RXQWDLQ HON KXQWLQJ 0RQXPHQW LV NQRZQ PXQLFDWLRQ6$5LVQRWDQDQVZHULQJPHVVHQ- State considering requiring hunters to draw for archery tags ............................................................... 29
IRULWV¿VKLQJKXQWLQJDQGZKLWHZDWHUUDIWLQJ JHUVHUYLFH6WLFNWRDFOHDUZULWWHQSODQDQG 2020 big game preview ....................................................................................................................................... 32
6HQHFD LV JUHDW IRU SURQJKRUQ 5RFN\ 0RXQ- if you need to change it, call and agree on the
WDLQHONDQGPXOHGHHU/RQJ&UHHNLVNQRZQ 1188 Brewing Co........................................................................................................................... 33
FKDQJHV´ 1st Choice Auto Body.................................................................................................................. 21
for trophy mule and whitetail deer, along with
3. Get a satellite communicator.³'HYLFHV Andy’s Plumbing & Sports......................................................................................................... 31
5RFN\0RXQWDLQHON Bare Bones ...................................................................................................................................... 27
For more information about the county, OLNH6327DQG*DUPLQ,Q5HDFKZRUNRIIVDW- Blue Mountain Chiropractic ..................................................................................................... 21
Blue Mountain Hospital ................................................................................................................2
YLVLWWKH*UDQW&RXQW\&KDPEHURI&RPPHUFH HOOLWHVDQGGRQRWUHTXLUHFHOOSKRQHFRQQHFWLY- Blue Mountain Eagle ................................................................................................................... 35
LW\´'REOHUVDLG³'HSHQGLQJRQZKLFKGHYLFH Boyer’s Cash Store ........................................................................................................................ 20
advertising index
DW : 0DLQ 6W LQ -RKQ 'D\ RU RQOLQH DW
JFRUHJRQOLYHFRP RU FDOO RU you choose, you can pre-program the buttons Burnt River Market ....................................................................................................................... 25
Chuck’s Little Diner ...................................................................................................................... 27
RQWKHGHYLFHDQGVHQGDQHPDLORUWH[WPHV- Dale Store ........................................................................................................................................ 15
Dayville Café................................................................................................................................... 20
VDJH GHSHQGLQJRQWKHGHYLFH WRVHYHUDOSHR-
Stay safe while hunting SOH DW DQ\ WLPH 7KHUHIRUH \RX FDQ OHW \RXU
Dayville Mercantile ...................................................................................................................... 25
Dayville Mini Market.................................................................................................................... 35
7KH *UDQW &RXQW\ 6KHULII¶V 2I¿FH 6HDUFK ORYHGRQHVNQRZ\RXDUH2.QHHGVRPHKHOS
Depot RV Park (City of Prairie City)............................................................................................4
Doug’s Motor Vehicle Repair .................................................................................................... 25
DQG 5HVFXH WHDP KDV DYHUDJHG DERXW WKUHH EXWQRWD6$5RU\RXDUHLQWURXEOHDQGQHHG DP Home Entertainment ..............................................................................................................9
calls per month for the last 18 months, accord- Duke Warner Realty ..................................................................................................................... 12
LPPHGLDWH KHOS 7KHVH GHYLFHV FRVW DERXW Eastern Oregon Realty ................................................................................................................ 15
LQJWR&RRUGLQDWRU'DYH'REOHU
%DVHG RQ ODVW KXQWLQJ VHDVRQ 'REOHU VDLG $200 along with the annual monitoring fees Ed’s Sinclair & Mobil ..................................................................................................................... 13
Ferguson Surveying..................................................................................................................... 33
many of the problems were from miscom- IRUWKHHPHUJHQF\QRWL¿FDWLRQ
4 // Grant County Hunting Journal 2020 // MyEagleNews.com
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MyEagleNews.com // Grant County Hunting Journal 2020 // 5 Brenda Murphy Ray Davis Tony Gardner Shanna Wright Raney Anderson Tyler Stout Samantha Gangler Cash Madden Riley Robertson
6 // Grant County Hunting Journal 2020 // MyEagleNews.com
The first buck
$IWHUWXUQLQJ2OLYH7KXQHOOPDNHVKHU¿UVWKXQWFRXQW
By Rudy Diaz
Blue Mountain Eagle
“I FELT EXCITED BUT NERVOUS AT THE SAME TIME BECAUSE
I
t’s the magic number for many young
I DIDN’T HAVE A LOT OF PRACTICE SHOOTING. I WAS AFRAID I
KXQWHUV WKH ¿UVW \HDU \RX FDQ WOULD MISS AND NOT BE ABLE TO FILL MY TAG.”
apply to hunt big game.
When 13-year-old Olive Thunell ell —Olive Thunell
hit the big milestone last year, she he
was excited for the opportunity to begin pre- e-
SDULQJIRUKHU¿UVWELJJDPHKXQW
She had experience helping her family ly
pack out an elk or a buck, assisting in any ny
way she could when they went hunting, but ut
WKLVZDVKHU¿UVWWLPHZLWKDWDJ
Thunell said, upon drawing the tag, she he
felt several emotions.
“I felt excited but nervous at the same me
time because I didn’t have a lot of prac- c-
tice shooting,” Thunell said. “I was afraid dI
ZRXOGPLVVDQGQRWEHDEOHWR¿OOP\WDJ´
Thunell practiced shooting with her dad ad
to prepare for the hunt. The preparation on
reduced her nervousness and built excite- e-
ment for the hunt.
“I was afraid the gun would kick and hurt urt
my shoulder, but my dad said, ‘Don’t think nk
about it. It’s not going to hurt you, and don’t
n’t
go to close to the scope. Otherwise you’ll ’ll
scope yourself,’” Thunell said.
When the season came, she, her father er
and her little brother set up camp on Mur- ur-
derers Creek. After several days of hunting, g,
Thunell had her chance to make personal al
history.
“During the end of the day, right when en
we were about to go home, we decided to go
on one more hunt before we left, and that’s t’s
ZKHQ,VKRWP\¿UVWEXFN´7KXQHOOVDLG
When Thunell and her father saw the he
deer, they got out of the truck and hiked ed
up on a little hill to get a better shot due to Contributed photo
bushes surrounding the animal. Olive Thunell shot her first buck in her first hunting season last year.
She said she was standing about 100-150
yards from the animal. She had to calm her- was bouncing up and down because he got ot Contributed photo
self down before taking the shot with her WRZLWQHVVP\¿UVWEXFN´ Olive Thunell poses with
7mm-08. Her dad dragged the animal to the road so her family and the prize she
“I told myself don’t panic, stop shaking it would be easier to load, and she worked ed won from Pioneer Feed’s
and just calm down and be ready,” Thunell with her father to load the buck in the truck. k. big game drawing last year.
said. “I shot it, and it ran to the road because Thunell said she was happy for the help lp
it wasn’t far from the road, and it fell in the her father gave her and learned to keep calm m
ditch.” when under pressure.
When they caught up with the buck, she “There shouldn’t be any pressure and just ust
shot it again to complete the hunt. try and do your best,” Thunell said.
“I was really excited and happy I got 7R WRS RII KHU ¿UVW \HDU RI KXQWLQJ VKH
KH
what my goal was, which was at least a ZRQ D &UHHGPRRU ULÀH IURP 3LRQHHU HU
three(-point),” Thunell said. “My little Feed’s Third Annual Big Game Drawing ng
brother (Mikey, 6) loves to go hunting with ZLWKDSLFWXUHVXEPLWWHGRIKHUDQGKHU¿UVW UVW
P\GDGDQGKHZDVMXVWVRHOHFWUL¿HGWKDWKH buck.
MyEagleNews.com // Grant County Hunting Journal 2020 // 7
Stock up for Archery
Hunting Supplie
s
Season
• Guns • Tools
• Knives • Clothing
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• Arrows • Sleeping Bags
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s
m’
Hardware
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Ny
The helpful place. John Day * 541- 575-0549
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8 // Grant County Hunting Journal 2020 // MyEagleNews.com
‘The majestic giant’
Ty Sharp recounts last year’s bull elk hunt
By Ty Sharp through, so I snuck back and got into position.
th
For the Blue Mountain Eagle The lead cow entered the bedding area. She
T
searched the area, making sure they were safe.
se
his story begins like every summer er She came through followed by several more.
Sh
as we hunters patiently await the he All but one had moved to the far side of the
A
draw results to come out on June ne area.Then here he came up at 62 yards. With-
ar
20. I was hoping to be one of the he out a shot, I stayed patient (something my dad
ou
lucky ones to draw a coveted archeryry never accused me of doing). I watched the bull
ne
re
elk tag for one of the big three trophy units here bed.
be
me,
in Oregon so I could pursue a bull of a lifetime, At about 8:02 a.m., without having a shot, I
and like every year, I read the words unsuccess- s- decided to try my luck at getting a little closer.
de
ful on my report. Two hours and 40 minutes later, I had gained a
Tw
That didn’t stop me from being excited to mere 7 yards. I never knew my hip could cramp
m
get out there and on an over-the-counter public ic from trying to sneak.
fr
land tag to enjoy what I like doing the most.. I I tried videotaping him in his bed, which
live all year for every September to get another er revealed my uncontrollable shaking of excite-
re
chance to chase rut-crazed bugling bull elk! k! ment. Then the only cow near me decided
m
And after thousands of practice arrows shot ot she needed to move. She stood up and started
sh
throughout the summer, I was ready and Sep- p- toward the others, and I realized my opportu-
to
tember was here! nity was coming fast.
ni
So on the morning of Sept. 18, 2019, I found
nd I ranged the opening again: 55 yards. The
myself hunting alone. I always second guess ss giant rose up out of his bed. I hooked up my
gi
myself when I hunt alone. So I pull up to the he Alpha release by B3 Archery, and he took the
A
closed road where I last heard the giants growl,
wl, three steps I needed to draw my bow, and he
th
I grab my bow and head out the ridge. I get in stepped into the opening. I remember I was
st
a good place where I could let out a location on going to hit him with a nervous grunt to stop
go
bugle, a place where it will travel down the he him perfectly, something I learned from Elk-
hi
drainage but yet echo off the ridges up drainage.
ge. Nut, but the bull stopped on his own to look
N
It’s cold and damp, not a lot of noise hap- p- around as I tried settling my pin working
ar
pening, so I rip off a loud, long locator usingng through my shaking.
th
my Phelps Game Calls Blackout series No. 1 &RQ¿GHQWO\ , VHQW WKH (OHPHQW $UFKHU\
diaphragm anticipating a response. I waited andnd 6WRUP VHULHV DUURZ RQ D PDMHVWLF ÀLJKW :KDW
6W
waited but nothing, so I crank off another one.ne. took a fraction of time seemed like forever to
to
Still nothing. Filled with frustration I screamed
ed reach the bull. On impact, the bull whirled and
re
demanding him to answer but received nothing ng crashed off the mountain. I was immersed with
cr
in return. excitement and nervousness. I doubted the place-
ex
So I then decide maybe he climbed out of ment of the shot, so I immediately backed out,
m
the drainage into the next. Back to the truck dis-
s- not wanting to risk losing the incredible king of
no
appointed, I went into the next drainage. With th the
th mountain I was so patient to get a shot at.
no reply there either, I told myself he had to be Contributed photo I discussed the placement with some bud-
there, so back to the closed road with low spir-i Ty Sharp poses with the elk he shot last year. dies
di and hunting partners. We all agreed the
its and no expectations. EXOO VKRXOG EH GHDG ,W KDG EHHQ ¿YH KRXUV
I pulled up to the ridge and started back I knew I was in great position. It was like giant as I dogged his every movement, but with when we took up the blood trail, which
out it. It’s still cold and damp and pretty quiet he was searching for me, the bull that just an all the commotion it only drew more attention wasn’t very hard to follow, because the
as I walk alone down the road. I hear some- hour before demanded his attention. But now IURPZKDW,¿JXUHGZDVPRUHKXQWHUV7KHEXOO bull’s equilibrium was starting to fail from
thing and immediately stop to listen. It’s a low, KH FDQ¶W ¿QG KLV RSSRQHQW DQG KH ZDV IUXV- would only answer to my bugles as we put dis- the blood loss. His legs were really digging
earth-rumbling growl of the old warrior I was trated that things didn’t go as he had planned. tance between us and the others. Finally as we into the soft hillside as he stumbled off the
yearning to do battle with. There he was. I With cows in sight, I was held in my posi- approached the end of the ridge, I gained a lot steep slope. After about a 100 yards, the bull
couldn’t see him, but no hesitation, I knew that tion, not seeing the bull. I searched with my of distance cutting through a dark, cool, quiet decided to slow his pace.
voice! eyes, trying to get a bead on the bull. When saddle that smelt like the musty stank of a rut- His tracks were now barley visible so I
With a quick check of the morning thermals, all of a sudden from up the drainage a horri- ting bull. I thought to myself I’ve got him now, picked my head up to check my surround-
I was afraid I wouldn’t have a play on the old ble-sounding attempt of a bugle rang out. It hit but the tricky monster held quiet. ings. I spotted the bright blonde body tucked
smart king, but with a lot of luck the stormy a switch, and as quick as I found him, the bull I knew he had to be right there below me up next to some dark old growth trees, and
weather had brought in a wind that happened to sent out a roundup bugle and the herd started as I listened for any sound from the warrior. I with a shout, I sprinted to my bull of a life-
be in my favor. So down the draw I went, only to move farther out the ridge about midway up had a suspicious feeling that he was trying to time and turned to see the approval from my
gaining distance when the beast would growl. the side. give the slip and was circling the point of the older brother and uncle. We all were incredi-
Closer and closer. Louder and louder. Trying to slow the pace, I screamed at the ridge heading back to his bedroom I just came bly impressed by the majestic giant!
MyEagleNews.com // Grant County Hunting Journal 2020 // 9
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10 // Grant County Hunting Journal 2020 // MyEagleNews.com
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S198438-112 // Grant County Hunting Journal 2020 // MyEagleNews.com
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S198947-114 // Grant County Hunting Journal 2020 // MyEagleNews.com
By A.K. Moss
THE PROMISE
day. I am excited for this one promise on one ning, he proceeds to wake me from my sleep grabs the fresh laundered camo I laid out and
For the Blue Mountain Eagle day, a promise that this anniversary would be on the couch and tells me his story of smell- prepares for his morning hunt. Apparently he
F
all about us. The romance of it, the forgiveness, ing fresh elk, seeing tracks and hearing distant had already told his hunting partner he would
or the record, I love horses, and my a month of me doing all the chores, all of the mewing of cows. Then comes the request. be ready at 4:30 a.m.
husband loves hunting. This is how rerun hunting videos, all of the lonely evenings “Ummmm, babe, can I amend my promise?”
our anniversary worked. and long weekends
eeeke ndss off aalone
kend lonnee ttime.
lo ime.
im
ime would
e. I w ould
ouldd sset
ett llook
I lo okk aatt hhi
him,
im,
im,
m, w with his
iitth hhi eyeess ttwinkling
is ey
eyes wii
w with The anniversary
Archery season 1998: Our anni- it all aside aand n rrelish
nd elis
el ishh in
is in tthe
h aaccomplish-
he c om
cc ompl i h-
plis
is excitement,
ex
xcite
cciitteeme
ment
nt, yeyyet
et myy hheart eart
ea rt iiss a little bro- 4:30 a.m.: Alarm goes off. I wait for Tracy
versary — 12 years — 12 success- ment of 12 years years
ears
ears aand
ndd sweet
swe
weet et mem-
memem-- ken,
ke n kknowing
en, noowi wingg I ccould
ould nnot turn him
ould
ou to shut if off. He doesn’t. I roll over, and he is
ful years of marriage and an anniversary in the ories. The thought
tho
h ug
ughth of of himhiim ddown.
do wn.
wn “What
n. “W Whaat do yyou propose already dressed and ready to go. “Happy anni-
middle of archery season. What? You might looking mee iinn th thee eyeeyes,
yes
eess, fforr an aamendment?”
fo menn
me I versary,” he whispers as he slips out of the
say: Married in the middle of archery season? taking my hahand
and dduring
urin
ur ingg
in aanswer
an werr bback
sw ackk hoping he
ac room. I hear the door close, and he is gone.
Well, don’t judge too hard, for my husband a candle-litt dinner, would
woul
wo uldd at least take I roll back over and go back to sleep. It’s
ZDVDULÀHPDQEHIRUHZHZHUHPDUULHG,ZDV the whisper per of me to bbreakfast. Saturday. I have all morning.
the one who bought him a bow for Christmas sweet nothings things “Well,
“W can I 11:30 a.m.: I have done the dishes, taken the
and well, here we are. in my ear — oh, go huhunting in the dogs for a walk, vacuumed and dusted.
Years of diehard hunting, several seasons of the romancee of morning?” He
morn 12 p.m.: Laundry folded put away.
tag stew and hundreds of complete rerun stories it! sounded like
soun 12:30 p.m.: Beds stripped and fresh linens
of that famous Elusive Almost Bull. 5:14 p.m.:
m.: a cchild asking on bed made.
The eve of our anniversary: I hear the for a candy bar 1 p.m.: I call my mom and visit about her
5:05 p.m.: Tracy is home from work, get- familiar sound und that lay within day.
ting his camo on for the anticipated pickup at of his hunt- unt- his grasp. “I 1:30 p.m.: Packing a weekend bag to go see
5:15 p.m. So far this hunting season, it has not ing partner’s er’s will be home my mom.
been very successful — no sign, no bulls call- pickup pulll up by 111, I prom- 1:46 p.m.: Car loaded.
ing, just dry hot days and lots of miles hiking. in the driveway.
way. ise. Then we 1:47 p.m.: Phone rings as I am walking out
Tracy is pulling his camo shirt over his head Without a can ddo the anni- the door to leave. I debate whether to answer or
when he hears my voice. “So, do we have plans glance or second versary thing. We just go ahead and go the movies with my mom.
for our anniversary tomorrow?” I casually thought. my hus- were so cclose, Kath, I pick up the phone.
mention. I notice Tracy freeze, his head still band reaches es for the Contributed photo
so close,” he stated, “Hey, Kath, I got an elk!” my husband states
in his shirt. I can tell his wheels are spinning door. “Make ke it a day A.K. Moss
reinforcing tthe excite- excitedly. “Umm, do you want to help us pack
IRU,QRWLFHKLVKDQGVFOHQFKLQD¿VWRIHPR- you won’t forget.” he says ment of the hunt. it out?” He was quiet a moment, then as if to
WLRQ+HUHJURXSVTXLFNO\DQG¿QLVKHVSXOOLQJ as he walks ks over the thresh- I have to smile. I don’t get sweeten the pot he said, “We are going to be
the shirt over his head, with a deer-in-the-head- old. He pauses
uses turns around wraps his to see this man excited ver very often and using horses. We will come by and pick you
lights look. bow-laidened ed arm around me for a half hug hug, know he has hunted hard — and to get that up.”
I wait. gives me a kiss on the cheek, “See you later, close. “OK,” I say, “as long as we get to go out I was quiet, weighing my options: mov-
With one motion pulling on his shirt, he slips love ya,” as he heads to the awaiting vehicle. and get lunch or something.” ies with my mom or an anniversary ride in the
his baseball cap on his head and scoops up his I just have to grin as I shake my head, turn “I will take you to lunch,” he stated con- mountains with my husband — 12 years on that
hiking boots — um, I mean his hunting boots back into the now empty house and start to ¿GHQWO\ ³$UH \RX VXUH \RX¶UH QRW XSVHW"´ KH day I said “I do.” I have to smile. If only I had
— sitting down on the couch to pull them on. come up with ideas for our special day, as I put asked cautiously. known what kind of monster I was going to cre-
“I’ve been thinking about that, babe.” Sec- a load of camo clothes in the washer. “No, I’m good” I stated, knowing he is usu- ate buying him that dang bow. “Alright, I will
onds tick by. “Tomorrow I thought we could do ally back by 11 o’clock for a nap until midaft- catch my horse.”
whatever you wanted to. Just you and me.” Amended promise ernoon or early evening hunt. 2:30 p.m.: My husband drives up and hands
“Really,” I get excited, “anything?” 9:58 p.m.: Tracy comes strutting into the “Are you sure?” me a cold gas station burrito for lunch.
+H¿QLVKHVW\LQJKLVERRWVVWDQGVXSWRJUDE house, playing with the excited dogs, who by “Yes, I promise.” I smiled, knowing after 8:32 p.m.: Elk in cooler, unsaddling my
his bow and fanny pack, glances at his watch, the way are happy to have him home. Certainly this many years, this was his time of the year to horse.
three minutes to spare. “Anything.” not the normal quiet-as-a-mouse man he had enjoy and have fun. 9:15 p.m.: Cold roast beef sandwich for din-
I grin. I have a whole evening to plan our been for the last 25 days. Adrenalin still run- He gives me a hug, “Thanks, babe.” He ner, a shower and clean sheets.
Trinyty Howard, the granddaughter of Neil and
‘A Jan Bauer, shot this buck last year. Nissa Howard
wrote, ‘After what was seeming to be a dud buck
season, this boy ran across the highway in front
PRECIOUS of us heading right into the field where it was
clear to shoot. Trinyty barrelled out of the truck
TRADITION’
with her gun and her Daddy right behind her.
She put one in the chamber as she crossed the
road and a within a minute or so the shot was
heard. A happy and grateful girl. Proud parents
and grandpa. Hunting in Grant County is a
precious tradition.’
Contributed photoMyEagleNews.com // Grant County Hunting Journal 2020 // 15
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GRI, ABR, SRES
Principal Broker
Michal Madden
Broker
541-620-4408
541-820-3721
Locally Owned And
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De Ann Sandor Lindsey Madden Traci Frazier
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360-690-5233 541-792-0031 541-620-0925
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ZZZUPOVFRPZZZUHDOWRUFRPZZZ]LOORZFRPZZZWUXOLDFRP
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Make sure your animals • 9 sites with full RV hook-up. All but 2
accommodate up to 40’.
are prepared this • Lots of tent space on grass.
hunting season. • A few blocks from Boyers Local Store, which has
everything you may need also an ATM.
C HECK OUT OUR GREAT
SELECTION OF QUALITY
FEEDS INCLUDING
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G
Reservations can be made on the site or by
& INDUSTRIAL
NDUSTRIAL contacting me at 541-233-3273. Our website has
this information along with much more. The website
312 N Canyon City Blvd., Canyon City • 541-575-2050 is northforkrvandcamping.com.
Open Mon-Sat 8am-6pm, closed Sun. S198625-1
S199164-116 // Grant County Hunting Journal 2020 // MyEagleNews.com
We’re here when
you need us!
/(1¶6
3KDUPDF\
Camping Supplies • Souvenirs • Digital Prints
Frontier Equipment
541-575-0629 • www.lensdrug.com
250 E. Main St. 541-932-4777 120 East Main St., Downtown John Day
Mt. Vernon www.frontierrepairandrental.com S198714-1
S199318-1
Welcome to
BEAUTIFUL GRANT COUNTY
Excellent Dining Establishments, Lodging Facilities, Vacation Rentals and B&B’s
• World Class Museums • Breathtaking Scenery
301 W Main St., John Day
• Mountains - Lakes - Rivers - Streams • Hunting - Fishing - Hiking 541-575-0547
•Bicycle and Motorcycle Routes • Geocaching - Fossil Beds 1-800-769-5664
gcadmin@gcoregonlive.com
• Blue Skies and Starry Nights
S199043-1MyEagleNews.com // Grant County Hunting Journal 2020 // 17 Jesse Madden Chad Lauer Arnold Fox Chanse Bennett Cash Madden Alan Mullin Cayden Howard Jeff Compton Brogan and Cash Madden
18 // Grant County Hunting Journal 2020 // MyEagleNews.com
The tag of a lifetime
Laci Wheeler bags
bighorn alongside
father and husband
By Rudy Diaz
Blue Mountain Eagle
M
Contributed photo
any try, but few succeed in getting a tag to Laci Wheeler put in for tags for bighorn
hunt for bighorn sheep. sheep for years and made the most of the
Laci Wheeler got the rare oppor- opportunity when she drew one in 2019,
tunity at 27 to hunt for an animal taking the ram out in one shot.
that people spend a lifetime trying
to get a tag for.
Wheeler has been big game hunting since she
turned 12. One of her favorite aspects of hunting
has been working with her family.
“Every big animal that I ever killed has been
with my dad, and that provides some really spe-
cial memories for me,” Wheeler said.
After taking down animals, Wheeler and her
family all pack out the big game together and pro-
cess the meat together at home.
“It’s the relationships and family values that
come with it and being able to provide meat for
my family, and it makes it a little bit cheaper in
the long run,” Wheeler said.
The luck of the draw
Luck plays a big part in getting a tag to hunt for
a bighorn sheep. Wheeler said it is a lottery draw-
ing each year for people hoping to get the tag.
“You don’t have the preference points like you
do with your normal deer and elk where you can
build those points that can get you closer to get-
ting a tag,” Wheeler said.
Her father and grandfather have been putting
in for this tag for most of their lives with no suc-
cess. Wheeler put in for 15 years before she drew
the tag.
The day she learned she drew the tag, it felt
surreal.
“I was on the phone with my mom after get-
ting the tag, and she was freaking out,” Wheeler
said. “I was just a little bit scared because it’s a lot
of pressure because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime tag.”
Preparing for the hunt
Wheeler began preparing in June for the big
hunt at Aldrich Mountain in September.
She had the support of her family as they
prepared by going out shooting together and
See Tag, Page 19MyEagleNews.com // Grant County Hunting Journal 2020 // 19
Tag “GROWING UP IN GRANT COUNTY, BORN AND RAISED, WE LIVE IN SOME OF THE
BEST AREA THIS NATION CAN OFFER, AND WE HAVE SO MANY COOL ANIMALS
Continued from Page 18
AND SO MUCH TO ENJOY OUT THERE. PEOPLE SHOULD ENJOY IT WITH LOVED
scouting the area where they planned to hunt ONES AND TAKE CARE OF IT SO WE CAN KEEP IT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
because getting close to a bighorn sheep is
YHU\GLI¿FXOW LIKE MY SON. I WANT HIM OUT THERE WITH ME, MY DAD AND MY HUSBAND
“My dad helped me a lot, and my aunts
and uncles helped with scouting, seeing ng
KILLING HIS FIRST DEER.”
DEER. —Laci Wheeler
ZKHUH WKH DQLPDOV ZHUH DW´ :KHHOHU VDLG
G
“Most of my preparation was shooting and nd
WU\LQJWRVWD\LQVKDSHIRUWKHKLNH´
After months of preparing, September er
DUULYHGDQGWKHKXQWZDVRQ
The hunt of a lifetime
The day Wheeler bagged the bighorn rn
sheep she was surrounded by family who ho
ZHUHDOOWKHUHWRVXSSRUWKHULQKHUKXQW+HUHU
aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, par- r-
ents, brother and husband were all at Aldrich ch
0RXQWDLQWKHGD\RIWKHKXQW
“Just having all that family surrounding ng Contributed photo/Tanni Wenger Photography
me that day just really made a cool moment,” ,” Laci Wheeler was pregnant with Owen
:KHHOHUVDLG Wheeler when she went hunting for bighorn
She was also seven weeks pregnant with th ssheep
heep last year.
Owen Wheeler, whom she had not told all of
KHUIDPLO\DERXW\HW
On opening day, Wheeler went out and nd
saw some bighorn sheep but did not have a
JRRGVKRW
2QWKHVHFRQGGD\VKHJRWWKHSUL]H6KH KH
was with her husband and father during the he
KXQW
“It was nice having my family there, butt I
ZDVQHUYRXV´:KHHOHUVDLG³20 // Grant County Hunting Journal 2020 // MyEagleNews.com
ay ville Cafe Boyer’s Cash Store
D We’re On The Way. Monument, Oregon
Family Owned Since 1927
GREAT FOOD • GREAT SERVICE
Groceries • Snacks
Homemade Desserts • Hand Breaded Fish & Prawns
Fresh Painted Hills Beef • Hard Ice Cream Milkshakes Gas & Diesel • Propane
S198710-1
212 W Franklin Avenue, Dayville • 541-987-2122 335 John Day St., Monument • 541.934.2290
Wed-Sat 7am-8pm • Sun 8am-4pm S198856-1
Family-Owned • Groceries & Snacks
John Day River
• License & Tags • Bait
• Fishing Gear • Trapping Supplies
TRADING POST
2021 • Non-Ethanol Fuel • Beer & Wine
Fa
Au gu i r • Boat & Paddle Board Rentals
st
11-14
Mon-Sat 8am-6pm
Sunday 10am-4pm
Winter hours starting Nov 1st:
Tues-Fri 8am-4pm
Sat-Sun 10am-4pm
41345 Hwy. 19, Kimberly, OR
(541) 934-2060
S198433-1 S198709-1
We Pick, Trust the
professionals.
You Pick
Take your trophy to
THOMAS ORCHARDS Russell’s
Custom Meats
• Cherries • Nectarines & Deli
• Peaches • Apples Complete wild game
processing.
• Apricots • Pears Pepperoni, jerky & sausage.
541-934-2870 235 N Canyon City Blvd.
Canyon City • 541-575-0720
Kimberly, Oregon Open Mon-Fri 8am-5pm
S198563-1
S198860-1MyEagleNews.com // Grant County Hunting Journal 2020 // 21
Owner ~
Jeb Bowling
Windshield Repair & Replacement
S198430-1
Complete Auto Body & Paint
700 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day • 541-575-1786 or 541-575-1785
We’ve got what you like!
S198436-1
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195 NW 2nd Ave. • John Day • 541-575-1410
5 D . W- M
Hungry? Stop by for the best
burgers, pizza and broasted
chicken in John Day. Minors
allowed until 8PM.
The Ugly Truth
11AM - 8PM • 541-575-1310
145 E Main St., John Day, Oregon
S199036-1 S199064-122 // Grant County Hunting Journal 2020 // MyEagleNews.com
67$MyEagleNews.com // Grant County Hunting Journal 2020 // 23
SHOOTING THE BREEZE
THE BLISSFULLY IGNORANT
“IT ISN’T THAT CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY MEANS NOTHING; IT’S THAT IT DOESN’T MEAN EVERYTHING.”
—Dale Valade
By Dale Valade hours stewing over ballistics charts, test-
ho
For the Blue Mountain Eagle ing every new “wonder bullet” that came
in
along in his meticulously prepared hand-
al
ome years ago, I was elk hunting in loads. He didn’t burn up boxes of ammo in
lo
S Umatilla National Forest up above
Spray, and near the end of my stalk,
I came upon an old skid road and
ve
k,
nd
decided to walk it out to the main road
where I could wait to be picked up by some-
one in our party.
Nobody had cell phones
ad
e-
several agonizing hours shooting a veritable
se
howitzer off of a bench rest to prepare him-
ho
self for that proverbial “last day at sundown
se
‘sniper’ shot.” He spent no time reading
‘s
Kuiu, Danner or Havalon product reviews
K
and took no part in Black Friday sales nor
an
social media feuds.
so
back then, not sure they +DUU\ ZDV LQ WKH ZRRGV QRW MXVW WR NLOO
would’ve worked up there VRPHWKLQJEXWWRHQMR\VRPHIUHHGRPIURP
VR
even if we did. Not long the hustle and bustle of the world — yes,
th
after I had started down this even from the hunting world. Harry refused
ev
road, I saw another hunter to exchange the simple pleasures of hunt-
exiting a thicket with the ing for any sort of edge (real or implied)
in
same idea. No matter, I Dale afforded him by all the modern gear and
af
wasn’t seeing anything to Valade gadgets. I see now that he really was on to
ga
shoot at anyways. As I so
something there.
neared the fella, I waved to make sure he’d ’d By that time in my life, I had already
seen me, and he smiled and waved back in Contributed photo read several grocery sacks — paper not
re
acknowledgment. Dale Valade shot this buck on the last day of the season in 2018. plastic — full of the various hunting and
I could see he stood about 5-feet, shooting magazines. My young mind was
7-inches tall in his Army surplus “Mickey largely unimpressed,
p saying,
y g “When I was one of Harry’s y folks wandered up on us in ¿OOHG ZLWK FKDUWV QXPEHUV PX]]OH YHORF-
Mouse” boots, was wearing wool pants in the service,
vice, anything that big came on an old Dodge Ram pickup. Harr Harry collected ities, sectional densities and ballistic coef-
DQGDUHGÀDQQHOMDFNHWDQGDIHOWKDWZLWK wheels!” punkin-chunker from ¿FLHQWV 1RW ROG +DUU\ +H ZDVQ¶W EXU-
his prized punkin-chu
a shorter brim. It probably was a fedora at After an awkward my youthfully ignorant dened with such information, or if he was,
some point, but it sure wasn’t anymore. He silence, hee asked if hands and waved as he didn’t let it bother him too badly. Nope,
was girded about with a wide leather belt I would like to climbed into the what he knew was there were elk in those
he climb
that had only a few old cartridges in loops VHH KLV ULÀH
ULÀH cab, w wishing me KLOOVDQGKLVROGµ ZRXOG¿OOKLVIUHH]HULI
and a Ka-Bar knife dangling off of it. Once I quickly
ckly luck.
luck he got lucky and did his part. It must truly be
Like everything else the old boy car- wiped the All these EOLVVIXOWRMXVW³JRKXQWLQJ´
A
ULHGZLWKKLPKLVULÀHKDGVHHQPRUHWKDQ drool from om years
yea later, It isn’t that cutting edge technology means
a few miles. I could tell it was a Winchester my chin,
hin, I’ve come to nothing; it’s that it doesn’t mean everything. I
I’v
Model 94 but couldn’t tell which caliber. We I grasped
ped UHDOL]H MXVW think we hunters and shooters of today get so
UHD
passed the short time with small talk in sort WKH ULÀH how smart and caught up in the minutiae that we sometimes
of a half-whisper, betraying the fact that we from Harry’s
arry’s how lucky old miss the big things. We literally can’t see the for-
both somehow still held out hope that we extended hands Harry and others est for the trees, it would seem. We sometimes
might walk up on an elk. He was quite a to give itt a look like him really are. get to thinking that the more money we invest
friendly chap. We will call him Harry. As see. He warned
arned me that He had probprobably hap- will not only make us more successful in the
we neared the main road, we came across a it was loaded,
ded, and after pily hunted all of his ¿HOGEXWPRUHKDSS\LQWKHKHDUW+DUU\XQGHU-
downed log and had a seat. It was there that I had completed
pleted a short Contributed photo life with that old Win- stood that it’s the little things about hunting, and
the real conversation took place. inspection, he asked me Columnist Dale Valade sights in his chester. Maybe it was life in general, that are of the most worth.
,ZDVDERXWWRLQTXLUHDERXW+DUU\¶VULÀH what I thought. Although rebuilt .30-06 rifle in the spring of even a well-used hand- I never saw old Harry again, but I think
when he beat me to the punch and asked old guns have always 2016. me-down when he got about him every so often. He’d be 100 years
about mine. That day I was carrying a Rem- interested me, I couldn’t it. Possibly it was his old at least if he’s still around, lugging that old
ington 700 in 8mm Remington Magnum believe that anybody would willingly take RQHDQGRQO\ULÀHXQOLNHPRVWRIXVZLWKD .32 Winchester Special looking for elk in his
loaded with Sierra 220-grain Gameking a .32 Winchester Special to go elk hunting. library of guns to choose from. He bought 0LFNH\0RXVHERRWVDQGHQMR\LQJHYHU\EOLVV-
handloads. As he looked it over, I spewed What if he had to take a longer shot? Did his ammo at Wal-Mart, only when it was on ful minute of it.
ballistics and numbers like some guy read- he even know his muzzle velocity? It didn’t sale, and darned his socks when they wore Dale Valade, a local country gent with a
ing the disclaimer at the end of an infomer- HYHQKDYHDVFRSHMXVWEXFNKRUQVLJKWV thin. Unlike me, he didn’t stew over laser love for the outdoors, handloading, hunting
cial on TV. But despite my best efforts, it Tragically, before I could inform him UDQJH¿QGHUV KLJKGROODU RSWLFV ZLWK FXV- and shooting, writes a regular column
ZDV QR VDOH +DUU\ KDQGHG EDFN P\ ULÀH RIWKHPDQ\ÀDZVLQKLVFKRLFHRIZHDSRQ tom dials and mounts or spend countless for the Blue Mountain Eagle.24 // Grant County Hunting Journal 2020 // MyEagleNews.com
‘Jumping up cow’
Jake Reynolds founded Reynolds Riflery building and customizing rifles on the
ethics of hunting his late father Dennis Reynolds instilled in him and his brothers
By Steven Mitchell and
an did you pay for it?’”
Blue Mountain Eagle He said it was “empowering” that people
A
were
w interested in what he had to say.
s far back as Jake Reynolds cann Reynolds said he did some soul searching
remember, hunting season iss and
an decided to leave Portland and start work-
what always brought his familyy ing
in on the business. His mentor asked him what
together. he could do 40 hours per week and be happy
His father, two-term Grantt doing.
do
County Judge Dennis Reynolds who died lastt “I thought to myself, living in Portland and
year, taught him the importance oof ethicall working
w at this gym is not that for sure,” he
hunting. said.
sa “That was almost immediate to me.”
“A big emphasis of his h hunt-- Reynolds said he often stayed up late into
ing was how ethical yyou weree WKHQLJKWZRUNLQJRQULÀHVDQGHQMR\HGLW
WK
with it when you you’re har-- -DNHVDLGKLVGDGZKREXLOWSUHFLVLRQULÀHV
animal,” hee
vesting an anim and
an loved hunting as well, was supportive of
said. “You’re prepar-- Contributed photo his
hi plan to start the business.
ing to take that ani- Jake Reynolds works on one of his custom rifles “He would reach out to me and ask me a
life, and it’s at his shop, Reynolds Riflery, in Canyon City.
mal’s life question about a gun, and I’d be like, ‘Wait,
going to give its what?’” he said. “It was kind of one of those
life to support and he discussed it with both his father and his times where the padawan becomes the master.”
yours,
yours and brother Beau. Jake said he was 12 years old when he shot
so yyou need At the time, Jake said, he was working at a KLV ¿UVW EXFN RQ RSHQLQJ PRUQLQJ RI KXQWLQJ
to be very gym in Portland after earning a degree in exer- season on his grandmother’s Prairie City ranch.
smart and cise science from Western Oregon Univer-
sma Jake said he had practiced hunting side by
treat it the sity. He said he was not happy in Portland and side with his dad and had yet to pull the trig-
trea
right way.”
righ found himself counting down the days to hunt- ger. He said they had practiced everything from
T h e ing season. shot angles, entrance wounds, exit wounds and
set of Jake said he spent all of his time working, when to shoot and when not to shoot.
moral stan- researching and educating himself on craft-
mor So when his father pointed out a buck that he
dards
dard Den- LQJ DQG FXVWRPL]LQJ ULÀHV %\ WKH WLPH KXQW- needed to go up the cut bank to shoot, he knew
nis Reyn- ing season rolled around, Jake said, he drew a to put the bullet in the animal’s front shoulder.
olds passed pronghorn antelope tag and bagged it with his “After waiting 12 years to hunt, I didn’t
down to Jake SUHFLVLRQULÀH know what to do because I shot him and he
and his brothers, “So that was what kind of got me started,” came running right down the hill, and I was on
Beau and P Percy, is he said. “You know I had gone full circle there the train tracks and the train wasn’t stopping,”
what pushed him to IURPWKHFRQFHSWLRQRIWKHLGHDRIDULÀHWKDW he said.
start building aand sell- was going to be able to perform, do what I Jake said he pumped his magazine into the
LQJFXVWRPULÀHV5HFHQWO\
LQJFXVWRPULÀHV5 wanted to, a clean harvest.” deer before diving out of the way.
Jake said, he became federally He said it was “cool and felt really good,” Jake said, when he peeked over the bank, his
licensed to operate his bbusiness, but deep down he knew he could do better on GDGZKRGLGQRWVD\PXFKVDLG³MXPSLQJXS
5H\QROGV5LÀHU\ DQRWKHUFXVWRPEXLOWULÀH cow.”
Jake recalled he was sick with gguilt after +LV QH[W ULÀH KH VDLG KDV EHHQ XVHG E\ “I don’t know what that means,” Jake said.
he could not recover a bull he shot. W While he other hunters to bag both an elk and deer. $VKHJRWROGHUKH¿JXUHGRXWZKDWKLVGDG
VDLG QRW EHLQJ DEOH WR ¿QG WKH DQLPD
DQLPDO SURED- “It’s amazing the performance that you can PHDQW HYHU\ WLPH KH WROG KLP ³MXPSLQJ XS
Contributed photo bly
bl had
h d more to t dod with
ith his
hi shooting
h ti than the JHWZLWKDSUHFLVLRQPDGHULÀH´KHVDLG cow.”
Tanni Wenger Photography VWRFNRYHUWKHFRXQWHUULÀHKHVWLOOZDQWHGWR Reynolds said people started to take interest It was his way, Jake said, of saying, “I’m
Jake Reynolds do more and treat the animals with respect. ZKHQKHVKRWWKHULÀHDWWKHUDQJHDQGSRVWHG proud of you.”
shooting at the range “I wanted to do better,” he said. “I told photos of the gun on Facebook. He said he was ³,WZDVMXVWKRZKHVDLGWKLQJV´-DNHVDLG
with a custom rifle he P\VHOIWKLVULÀHFRXOGEHEHWWHUDQG,ZDQWWR proud of his work. “He wasn’t ever the person that would tell you
built. do more in order to ethically treat these animals “All of a sudden, it was a little bit of a change directly that he was proud and that he loved
that are gonna be giving their life, in order to in the sense that people were interested in what you, even though he did. He didn’t speak it that
sustain my own.” I was doing,” he said. “I would get questions, way.
5H\QROGVVDLGKLVLGHDZDVWREXLOGDULÀH ‘Where’d you get that,’ or ‘How much was that, ³,WZDVMXPSLQJXSFRZ´MyEagleNews.com // Grant County Hunting Journal 2020 // 25
Burnt River Come play with us!
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o e Cafe with Full Menu
m ! Breakfast,
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grantcountysnowballers.com
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S200431-1
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S198852-1
541-575-0544 S198853-1
One of Oregon’s oldest general stores, over 124 years of service.
Stop by and see where the Old West still lives.
c o a c h Grill
ge
The Sta ed on location
l oc a t k, & St ea
l l e d C hi cken ge s.
i f sau sa
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Featur ’s & vari ety o
kabob
e:
In -St or c on~Bean s
n ~ Ba S198706-1
u r bo
Beer~B
207 W FRANKLIN AVENUE, DAYVILLE, OR 97825 | DAYVILLEMERC.COM | (541) 987-213326 // Grant County Hunting Journal 2020 // MyEagleNews.com
3ංඈඇൾൾඋ)ൾൾൽ)ൺඋආ6ඎඉඉඅඒ
+ඐඒ-ඈඁඇ'ൺඒ
Bring your trophy in
for a photo to be
entered in this year’s
drawing to win
prizes! Grand Prize
is a Hunting Rifle.
“SOME OF THE BEST MEMORIES ARE MADE EVEN IF YOU DON’T PULL THE TRIGGER”
PROPANE
Hay, salt, Antlermax deer
blocks, feeds and more. S198859-1MyEagleNews.com // Grant County Hunting Journal 2020 // 27
Lori Hickerson
Principal Broker, GRI
Office: 541-575-2617
Sally Knowles
Broker, GRI
Office: 541-932-4493
Babette Larson
Broker, GRI
Office: 541-987-2363
Established Business in Canyon City!
Hardware, Tools, Building Supplies,
Large Fenced Retail Area.
124 N Clark St, CC
$450,000
RMLS #19696315
Inventory Included!
S199045-1 S199041-1
Bare Bones Seneca Timbers Inn & RV Park
• Infused Redbulls & Sodas with 25 different flavors Timbers Inn & RV is located
• Scratch Lottery & Keno. in the heart of four of the best
• Many Types of Cigars* like Black and Mild, Brick House, Twyst, hunting units: North Malheur,
Garcia Vega, Archtype, Everyday & Cuban Rounds. East Murderer’s Creek, West
671 W. Main Street, John Day • 541-575-2857
Murderer’s Creek, and Silvies.
Monday - Saturday 7am -7pm • Sunday 8am -7pm
The Inn offers three rustic
cabins for your stay or twelve
(12) full service RV hook-ups.
To make reservations,
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s S199065-128 // Grant County Hunting Journal 2020 // MyEagleNews.com
MEET BUCK
Oregon’s only anti-poaching K-9
Blue Mountain Eagle return with a fou four-wheeler, they would load up the animal and
F
be gone. He suspected
susp they would try to get away with the ani-
resh snow had just melted and the scent trail was mal without taggtagging it because either they didn’t have tags and
more than a day old when a yellow low Labrador were poaching from the start, or they had tags, but would high-
retriever named Buck went in search of evidence grade. High grading, also called trading up, is when some-
linked to an elk that had been poached ached on one kills ana animal, but delays tagging it in hopes of get-
March 19 near Cottage Grove. Time — and larger one later. In those cases, the smaller animal
ting a la
snow — work against tracking dogs. Still, Buckk was is often
ofte hidden and left to waste.
hot on the scent of gunpowder and shell casings. ings. When
W Trooper Wolcott saw the man leave the
He found casings, also known as brass, among ong site in a hurry, he knew the race was on. He got
grass and twigs, invisible to the human eye. ye. in hhis pickup, started the engine and looked for
Three times Buck signaled his handler, Oregon on a rroad that would take him nearest the kill site.
State Police Fish and Wildlife Senior Trooper per But
Bu he was unfamiliar with the territory and
Josh Wolcott. had to loop around, then hike in to where he
)LQGLQJWKUHHFDVLQJVFRQ¿UPHGWKHVWRU\263 63 thought it was. When he got there, 30 minutes
tho
F&W Senior Trooper Martin Maher had heard ard had passed, and there was no sign of the men,
from two suspected poachers, according to a press ress the antelope or a four-wheeler. He thought he
release. Five shots had been reported throughh the had llost them, and was going to give up, but Buck
7XUQ ,Q 3RDFKHUV /LQH ¿YH EXOOHWV UHFRYHUHG
G WZR started signaling that he was on a scent. Wolcott
elk were down. During his interview with members mbers of followed Buck more than a mile across two ridges
the hunting party, the deceptions of that morning ning came DQRWKHU FDQ\RQ HYHQWXDOO\ ¿QGLQJ WKH NLOO VLWH
DQG DQRWK
out. First, the teenager claimed he had shot both elk. He Both men w were loading the antelope onto a four-wheeler.
had a tag for one, and the other he had shot accidentally.
identally. How- It had been ove over an hour, and the antelope still had not been
ever, his tag was for a different unit so it was invalid.
valid. Both kills tagged. When th the men saw Wolcott and Buck, they placed a
were poaching. The penalties would be severe.. tag on the antelope.
antelo Wolcott cited them for failure to immedi-
Then another member of the group confessed. fessed. He had ately tag their an animal.
poached the second elk in two shots, then picked ked up his brass Contributed photo Buck and Trooper
Tro Wolcott will continue as a team, barring
to conceal evidence of the crime. They had not anticipated the Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Senior Trooper Josh the unexpected, until Buck reaches retirement age, which is
shots would be reported. Or that they would be approached Wolcott and anti-poaching K-9 Buck pose after patrolling about 9 years old. Part of Buck’s assignment, along with all
by Senior Trooper Maher, who would spot the second carcass during pronghorn antelope season. Oregon State Troopers, is community development and rela-
nearby. And they certainly hadn’t anticipated that Buck, Ore- tionship-building. A larger part is paws-on-the-ground nose
gon’s only anti-poaching K-9 unit, would be able to track the They were right. When Wolcott gave Buck the “show me,” com- work to detect poaching.
VFHQHRIWKHFULPHWRFRQ¿UPWKHQXPEHURIEUDVVFDVLQJVIRO- mand, the dog surveyed the area by scent and found remnants ,WFDQEHGLI¿FXOWWR¿QGWKHVFHQHRIDFULPHZLWKQRYLV-
lowing an overnight snowfall. RIDEXUQHGWXUNH\FDUFDVVDQGIHDWKHUVLQD¿UHSLW7KH\IRXQG ible evidence. For Buck, it is a game.
Buck is just one resource in Oregon’s anti-poaching arse- deer bones in burn barrels. They thought they were done, but “He has the best job a dog can have,” says Trooper Wol-
nal. The culture of poaching is pervasive and entrenched, as %XFNVLJQDOHGD¿QGWR7URRSHU:ROFRWWLQIURQWRIDQROGRYHU- cott, “He’s doing what comes naturally to a dog like him and
demonstrated by the young elk hunter’s inauguration into the turned boat. then he gets to play.”
deceptive practice of hiding a wildlife crime. “We could smell something bad,” Trooper Wolcott said. “It :KHQ %XFN FDWFKHV WKH VFHQW LW ORRNV OLNH D ¿VK RQ WKH
The Oregon Hunters Association and Defenders of Wild- smelled like old rotten insulation.” Buck gave the signal that he end of a line. His grace changes to chaos as he whips his nose
life, a national conservation group, both lobbied for stron- had found what he was looking for. Trooper Wolcott and OSP high in the air, holding it in place to catch the scent. His body
ger legislation and prosecution against poachers. In January, F&W Trooper Jason Stone started looking. They found a par- ÀDLOVEHKLQGFKDQJLQJGLUHFWLRQLQPLGDLU7KHQLWVJDPHRQ
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife launched a new tially decomposed buck deer under a blue tarp under the tran- He plunges to the ground and runs his nostrils along the turf
anti-poaching education and awareness campaign to teach som of the boat. like a vacuum, sucking up every morsel of scent. He is thor-
Oregonians how to recognize and report poaching. Because of Buck started his career with OSP F&W and Senior Trooper ough if not methodical, sampling grass here, ground there,
Oregon’s vast land and water areas, assistance from the pub- Wolcott in 2018. They completed training in Indiana at the DQGWKHZLQGFRQVWDQWO\:KHQKH¿QGVWKHVFHQWKHVLJQDOV
lic is the only hope for unearthing crimes that are all too easy Canine Resource Protection School and began working as a by stopping, sitting and then looking over his shoulder expec-
to bury. team in May of 2019. Buck proved his worth immediately. tantly at Trooper Wolcott.
That’s where Buck comes in. Buck locates gunpowder res- 7KHLU¿UVWDVVLJQPHQWDVDQDQWLSRDFKLQJWHDPZDVDVDWX- For Buck, the payoff for a job well done is straightforward:
idue, human scent and evidence trails that troopers would not ration patrol during pronghorn antelope season on Hart Moun- play time with Trooper Wolcott. Buck switches from working
¿QGYLVXDOO\6RPHWLPHVWKDWVFHQWOHDGVWRDGGLWLRQDOHYLGHQFH tain in Eastern Oregon. Trooper Wolcott positioned himself on the case to retrieving a ball in an instant. Watching Buck switch
6RPHWLPHVWKHVFHQWLWVHOIPDUNVDVSHFL¿FORFDWLRQ a high plateau and glassed the ridges and valleys around him. from working dog to playing dog is a transformation exemplary
Earlier this year, OSP F&W troopers served a search war- He saw a pair of hunters aim for and kill an antelope buck. He of perfect work-life balance. He has mastered the art of com-
rant on a residence in Roseburg. Residents were suspected of continued watching, waiting for them to tag the animal. They partmentalization. When he runs fast after the ball, every ounce
poaching various bird and game species in the area. Troopers didn’t. He watched as one of the pair started hiking out of the of his purpose dedicated to the chase, he demonstrates what it
suspected the evidence had been burned or buried. Or both. kill zone. Wolcott knew what would come next: The man would means to live in the moment.You can also read
