Big game rules change

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission at its regular monthly meeting Friday in Salem approved big game hunting regulations for 2006.

According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, major changes include a five percent increase in spring bear hunting tags statewide, to 6,778 tags. A new spring bear hunt in the Hood Unit has also been added.

The statewide cougar harvest quota was increased, from 580 to 668, while the check-in requirement is now expanded from 72 hours to 10 days, recognizing the needs of hunters in remote areas and those on extended hunting trips.

Bighorn sheep hunters will see five new hunts throughout existing units, while Rocky Mountain goat hunters will have an additional four days in their hunts. A second hunt for pronghorn antelope was also added in the Whitehorse Unit, with 80 tags estimated for 2006.

Archery elk bag limits will be changed for 2006. The standard bag limit will be a legal bull, except in units where herd levels allow antlerless harvest.

Biologists will propose units for antlerless animals to be included in the bag limit, following herd surveys each spring. A list of proposed "antlerless or legal bull" units will be available by May 1.

The Ochoco Management Unit, east of Prineville, will become a controlled archery hunt for elk in 2006. Bow hunters will need an Ochoco archery elk tag to hunt deer in the unit. The tag also will be good in general season areas.

Details soon will be available on ODFW's Web site, www.dfw.state.or.us.