Oregon State Police and Idaho Fish and Game
conducting a joint patrol of Hells Canyon
section of the Snake River.

Regional Roundup
Clearwater

September 2009 — As reported by District Conservation Officer George R. Fischer.

Senior Conservation Officer Barry Cummings assisted Officer Julie McKarley in an elk poaching case that started with a phone caller who heard of a bull elk being shot with a firearm during the archery-only season. They were able to locate the suspect camp, and one of the hunters in that camp produced a six-point bull elk that he harvested in the area the caller said an elk was unlawfully taken. Officers McKarley and Cummings located the elk carcass and cemented their suspicions that the bull had been taken with a firearm. Officer Cummings confronted the shooter who admitted that in fact he shot the elk with his .357 pistol.

A wasted bull elk was reported on the Craig Mountain Wildlife Management Area on September 25. SCO Dave Beaver is working with the Oregon State Police to identify the suspect based on an Oregon plated vehicle seen at the kill site. The bull was taken on Idaho Fish and Game property, and only the hams and back-straps were taken, along with the head. The wildlife management area is well known as a high quality elk hunt opportunity and poaching activity such as this often involves trophy class bulls.

As part of a cooperative enforcement effort in Hell's Canyon National Recreation Area, Senior Conservation Officer Rick Cooper and Oregon State Police Sr. Trooper Mark Knapp patrolled the opening of the 2009 chukar season. The opening weekend is traditionally the busiest for chukar hunting in the canyon, and mid September also sees a lot of use from rafters, bass fishermen, and steelhead and salmon anglers. The emphasis of this patrol was to monitor pre-season chukar shooting and also illegal harvest of chukar on the Oregon side of the river. The three day patrol, September 17-19 yielded nine outfitter contacts, 35 chukar hunter checks, 46 steelhead anglers checked, and 40 general fishing license checks. These contacts resulted in three citations being issued.

Suspect vehicle near remote cabin site.

On Saturday, September 10, a concerned citizen reported a deer being killed during a closed season in the Red Fir area. DCO George Fischer responded to the call, but was unable to locate the vehicle. On Sunday, September 11, SCO Roger Westfall located the kill site and Officer Roy Kinner provided back up when Westfall found the truck at a remote cabin on Tinker Creek.

Evidence was collected, but they were unable to find Ryan Doll or the deer. On Tuesday, Idaho County dispatch located felony warrants and escape charges on a Patrick Ryan Doll out of Olympia, Washington. Grangeville Police arrested Doll on the Washington warrant and SCO Westfall cited him as a principle to taking a deer is a closed season, obstructing, and failure to produce wildlife. Doll first said the deer was a tribal harvest, but within a few minutes the tribal member was not backing that story anymore. Evidence and witness statements showed that Doll possessed multiple firearms in the last month, a clear violation due to his felony record. Officers Fischer and Westfall worked with the Idaho County prosecutor to get felony charges filed on Doll, in addition to his three misdemeanor charges.

Grangeville Team Jakes participants.

DCO George Fischer is making sure that the youth in the Grangeville area are getting full use out of a 20 gauge Remington model 1187 shotgun that was donated to Idaho Department of Fish and Game by the Remington Firearms Corp. Idaho County youths have been enjoying the Rem 1187. Almost 100 children now have fired the gun in a turkey shoot and at clays. The 1187 has been a dream-come-true for the 9- and 10-year-olds. In the past many would leave the firing lines with tears in their eyes because of recoil. Tears have been replaced with smiles as the gun has little to no recoil.

Sarah Fischer was the first to take the gun out on a hunt. Before going afield, she shot a perfect score with the gun on targets. She had a lot of confidence when I called a jake in to 21 yards. In one shot she brought home the family Thanksgiving dinner.