Overcrowding could be a short-term problem if trend continues.

Byline: INSIDE THE OUTDOORS By Mike Stahlberg The Register-Guard

Crowding of recreational venues becomes more common as Oregon's population grows.

You know the drill: Take a number if you want to float the Wild & Scenic Rogue River Canyon. Take tranquilizers if you plan to fish at Buoy 10, where 2,000 boats jockey near the mouth of the Columbia River when the salmon are running.

But don't worry about crowding if you're preparing to go deer or elk hunting this fall.

Even though Oregon's population has doubled over the past couple of generations, hunters this season will have as much "elbow room" as their grandfathers did.

That's because deer and elk hunting in Oregon is in the midst of a precipitous decline, judging from reports compiled by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Last year, a total of 177,628 people hunted deer in Oregon, the fewest since 1952 when 188,250 deer hunters took the field.

Deer populations, of course, have been depleted by disease and habitat loss. But ODFW surveys indicate that the number of elk hunters dropped nearly 20 percent between 2003 and 2004, and elk are far more numerous now than they ever were in great-grandpa's day.

The drop in hunter numbers is striking enough in absolute terms. In relative terms, it's stunning. Thirty years ago, one out of every five Oregonians had a hunting license. Now, fewer than one in 10 does.

This trend may be bad news for the long-term vitality of the sport, But it's not all that bad for serious hunters looking to have a quality, uncrowded hunting experience in the woods.

Of course, not all hunters perceive the woods to be uncrowded.

The number of deer and elk archery tags, for example, nearly doubled between 1980 and 2000, the result of more rifle hunters opting for the longer seasons and wider choice of hunting areas afforded by a bow tag.

Citing a need to reduce bow season overcrowding, the ODFW's Archery Review Committee recently proposed a "choose your weapon" rule that would require all Oregon hunters to decide by May 15 of each year whether they were going to hunt with rifle or bow.

Currently, the committee said, many hunters apply for a controlled hunt rifle tag in May, then - if unsuccessful in the drawing - purchase an archery tag. This approach generally allows individuals to hunt in their favorite area during one season or the other.

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission declined to consider adopting a "choose your weapon" regulation for the 2006 season, but it did instruct its staff to do more research on the idea for possible consideration in 2007.

I suspect forcing hunters to declare themselves as rifle or bow hunters each year before the controlled hunt application deadline would do little to alleviate crowding during the archery season. Would not most hunters be inclined to choose a sure-thing archery tag over a mere chance to draw a desirable rifle tag?

If crowding is truly a serious problem for bowhunters, the same "controlled hunt" approach that has been used to limit access to popular units during rifle seasons would be an appropriate remedy.

Or, just wait a few years. Natural attrition in the ever-shrinking ranks of big game hunters may solve the problem.

Wasting disease checks planned

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking the help of deer and elk hunters in checking for chronic wasting disease in Oregon.

"We are asking hunters to bring their deer and elk carcasses to biological check stations or their nearest ODFW office to be sampled for chronic wasting disease (CWD)," said Colin Gillin, ODFW state wildlife veterinarian.

Voluntary check stations will be set up this weekend alongside main highways near Brothers, Prineville and La Grande.

Deer season opens statewide Saturday.

ODFW district wildlife biologists statewide also will be collecting samples during their field checks of hunters, Gillin said.

CWD is an untreatable, fatal neurological disease of deer and elk.

Natural hosts of CWD include mule deer, white-tailed deer and Rocky Mountain elk; however, biologists suspect black-tailed deer and Roosevelt elk could also contract the disease.

Sheep and cattle have not been found to be naturally susceptible to CWD, and the disease is not transmissible to humans, Gillin said.

Wasting disease has not been found in Oregon wildlife to date, but Gillin noted that it infects deer and elk in 14 states and two Canadian provinces, and is still spreading.

Montana and Wyoming are the states closest to Oregon where CWD has been confirmed.

In an attempt to prevent the disease from spreading here, Oregon has adopted a ban on importing deer and elk carcass parts containing central nervous system tissue from animals killed in states or provinces with a documented case of CWD.

Meat that has been boned out, or cut and wrapped, may be imported, as may quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached.

Hunters traveling to other states or Canada are advised to thoroughly read local hunting regulations to be sure they comply with that state or province's requirements for evidence of sex, transport and tagging. For more details about CWD, log on to: www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/diseases/chronic_wasting/.

Mike Stahlberg can be reached at [e-mail].