John Day ODFW reminds bear hunters of mandatory check-ins
By Logan Bagett on Thursday, September 21st, 2023 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
JOHN DAY – The ODFW reminds hunters who may be hoping to bag a bear while hunting this fall, that Friday, Oct. 6th is the last day to buy a fall bear tag. ODFW John Day District Assistant Wildlife Biologist Ryan Platte asks hunters who harvest a bear here locally to bring in the skull, and if you can, the reproductive tract if the bear is a sow:
“It’s still a mandatory check-in, however, you’re only required to bring the skull in. With a cougar, you have to bring the skull, hide, and reproductive tract.
Bears—we do ask hunters do bring in the reproductive tract, because that goes into our model and helps us track the population.”
Also, District Wildlife Biologist Ryan Torland reminds listeners to keep fruit and other smelly attractants away from your house this time of year:
“One thing I would probably toss out there…this is the time of year where you get bears coming in, like, Canyon City, is always kind of a problem. They like coming in to fruit trees. Gotta get that fruit picked and get rid of those attractants.”
Hunters can buy their bear tags at huntfishoregon.com.
