Outdoor Digest.

Byline: The Register-Guard

WILDERNESS MEDICINE WORKSHOP OFFERED: The River House Outdoor Program is sponsoring a "Wilderness First Responder" first-aid training course March 21-30 at the Hilyard Center in Eugene. The 80-hour first-aid workshop, conducted by trainers from the National Outdoor Leadership School's Wilderness Medicine Institute, is designed to teach people how to cope with medical emergencies in remote areas or anywhere professional help is not readily available. WFR certification has become the standard for guides and other outdoor professionals, and the techniques taught in the course are valuable to anyone who spends considerable time in the outdoors. WFR certification is good for two years. In addition to the full course, a three-day "recertification" course will be taught April 4-6 at the Obsidian Lodge in Eugene. Proceeds from the event will be used to help support the River House's adult recreation program. For registration details, call 682-5329.

GROUNDFISH TOPIC OF MEETING: Possible reductions in the allowable sport and commercial harvest of nearshore harvest of rockfish, Cabezon and greenling will be the subject of a public meeting to be held tonight in Port Orford. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife scheduled the meeting to take public comments on a possible 20 percent reduction in the harvest caps for 2003. The session begins at 7 p.m. in the Port Orford City Hall. The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission is expected to act on the potential cuts at a meeting to be held Feb. 7 in Portland. Details: [phone].

VOTE SET ON DEER, ELK PLANS: The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission next week is expected to adopt new statewide management plans for elk and mule deer. The vote will come during the commission's Feb. 7 meeting, which will be held at the Portland Expo Center in conjunction with the Pacific Northwest Sportsmen's Show. The final vote on the elk and mule deer management plans culminates a scientific review and public input process that began last year. The commission also will hear a report on black-tailed deer management strategies that may be employed.

BIGHORN SHEEP TAGS BRING BIG BIDS: A Pennsylvania man last week bid $78,000 at an auction in Reno for the opportunity to hunt an Oregon bighorn sheep in any of the state's sheep hunt units during an expanded season. Don Snyder of Canton, Pa., was high bidder for the right to hunt for either a Rocky Mountain or California bighorn. The auction was held at the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep's annual banquet. In 2002, the successful bidder paid $74,000 for the Oregon tag. Since 1987, the bighorn auction tag has generated $986,600 for Oregon's bighorn sheep management program. Bid prices last week ranged from $31,000 for a Navajo Nation desert bighorn sheep to $200,000 for a Rocky Mountain bighorn in Alberta. Idaho's tag went for $90,000, and Washington's for $50,000. The auction took in more than $1.7 million for 21 sheep tags.

STEELHEAD CLINIC SATURDAY: The Northwest Steelheaders and G.I. Joe's are co-sponsoring a pair of free steelhead fishing clinics Saturday in Eugene. Clinics will begin at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at G.I. Joe's, 1030 Green Acres Road. Featured speaker will be Scott Haugen, author of "Egg Cures: Proven Recipes & Techniques." There will also be discussions of steelhead lure-making, fly-fishing for steelhead and where to find steelhead.

SANDY RIVER SMELT ARRIVE EARLY: A school of smelt returned to the Sandy River for a few precious hours last week, the earliest run there since 1974. The previous earliest run on record was Feb. 28, 1974, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. For 15 years or so, smelt have been scarce in the Sandy, disappearing entirely between 1998 and 2001. The arrival of a "pilot run" last week caused a run on dip nets as dippers quickly hauled in their 25-pound limits for a few hours until the smelt turned around and went back into the Columbia River. Locals say the smelt should return in late February or early March.