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. 2002 Oregon Archery Season Begins.
 By Dave Miller / Oregon Field Editor

The 2002 archery opener for Oregon is upon us, and the opportunity to harvest a nice Columbian blacktail buck is there for the hunters willing to work for them. While Southern Oregon continues to produce the most Pope and Young bucks, hunters in the northern part of the state also have a great chance to bag a real whopper if they happen to be in the right place at the right time. The Santiam unit, the McKenzie unit, and the Alsea unit also turn out their fair share of book bucks to those who are willing to do their homework.

 Again this year, bowhunters will have double the chance to fill their deer tag. The general Oregon bow season is set for August 24 through September 22 for both the East and West side of the Cascades. Hunters on the West side of the state can look forward to a bonus late season hunt, that begins November 18 through December 8 in the Alsea, Mckenzie, Santiam, Siuslaw,Stott mt, and  Willamette units. Hunters in the Evans Creek, Melrose, Rogue and Sixes units get started a week earlier, November 9 through December 1. This is the time of the year when the truly large buck are being seen, as this season coincides with the rut. Hunters that use rattling and calling this time of the year should see bucks responding. Treestands are gaining popularity, and are very effective method of harvesting blacktails. Just remember your safety harness and use it! As with most methods, the key to treestand hunting is putting in the seat time, and be in your stand well before daylight. Take a snack and something to drink , and something to dispose of your waste, and you will find you can stay up there all day if you don’t get too cold. Dress according to weather.

  Coast rifle hunters will have their chance to pursue blacktails beginning September 28, with the season running through October 6th , with the exception of the Wilson and Trask Units.  See the 2002 Oregon Big Game Regulations for information regarding these two units. The Cascade buck portion of the rifle season closes for 5 days, on October 19th and resumes on the 23rd to allow for the Cascade Bull Elk center fire season. Consult Regulations for hunt boundaries. As trends show, look for the best success to come in the last part of the season, as late October storms clear the trees of their leaves, and deer become more visible to hunters who put in the time. The early part of the rut is also beginning to affect deer movement, causing bucks to become more active in the daylight hours. Scouting is a big help and will probably improve your odds of taking a mature blacktail. As with the bowhunters, rifle hunters using treestands will see the benefits of getting above the vegetation, increasing the area you can watch. As well as reducing scent and getting you above and out of the sight-line of the deer.

 Weather conditions can make or break a great season, and for 2002 , Mother Nature has already dealt us a blow with the fires that have been ravaging Southern , and Central Oregon. Private timber companies are closing their lands to public access statewide, and if the fire danger remains high, expect other agencies to follow suit. Be sure of the rules in your area regarding fires, and please be careful!

 The other problem that has been seen is Westside deer herds, is the rapid spread of hair loss syndrome. It is affecting a substantial amount of the blacktail population, and is taking its toll on herd numbers. It has been confirmed in Washington state as well as California, and it seems to be showing up in some of the mule deer herds as well. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife are working other agencies to come up with a solution to the problem. Drastic decreases in antlerless tag numbers have been seen in 2002, and with the syndrome not showing any signs of slowing down, hunters will see tag numbers continue to decline. Hardest hit so far is the Southern and Central Oregon Coast where a significant portion of the blacktail herd is affected. 

 Remember to be safe, and have fun! Enjoy the beauty Oregon has to offer, and try to get something out of every trip outdoors.  Take your kids if you have them, if not borrow one,  and teach them about ethics. Teach them what we as hunters do to conserve wildlife. Make it fun for them too! Let them bring a camera and get away with making a little noise. Let them take a roll of film of whatever they want. You will be amazed at the outdoors through a child's view.  Bundle them up so they wont get cold! And quit when they are ready. If you do this a few times a season, and especially if you harvest a deer, you are building a foundation for their future.

 Take care, and good hunting!

BTC Note: Dave Millers articles and information on Blacktail hunting in his home state of Oregon will begin appearing regularly on BTC.Com. Starting this month with Dave's involvement in the site we will now be able to supply you with more blacktail hunting information specifically pertaining to Oregon and its fantastic Blacktail hunting. Look for a more detailed write-up on BTC's New Oregon Field Editor in the near future.