Unfortunately, I have an appointment that day and won't be able to attend. I'll check out the online thing and see about testifying there however. I may not actually set a trap in Oregon most years, but I buy license every year so I can run over and cat hunt, and I have thrown traps in the truck at times and set a few beaver and otter sets when I plan on being there a few days. The fact I've bought an Oregon nonresident license every year since 97 should throw a little weight behind my testimony.

Anyone can comment trough email on the odfw web site. I'm not sure but I think some of the stuff needs to be in by tomorrow it tells you on the web site. I sent in a hand written letter that is supposed to be hand delivered to the commissioners as I won't be able to attend the meeting.

Thanks Darren! Good deal. And he's right, on-line comments by Wednesday. I've heard that it's running about 90% in favor of antis right now.

If anybody can possibly attend you will help shift the balance. We need a good showing Friday morning.

Good luck with ANY politician saying anything about intent on one day and saying the same thing the next or even at 2 different meetings the same day.

Dumb outsider looking in....where are the timber companies on this legislation and... for that matter the fishing industry folks?

What fishing industry? Other than the ocean (which isn't affected by this) the fishing industry is pretty much dead. I don't know about this particular time, but in the past some of the large timber companies have been known to sit in with the antis when they are writing up bills, and as long as they write in loopholes so the timber companies can continue to control the wildlife on their land, they will not fight them on the issues.

There was al

Big timber (holdings of 5000 acres or more) are already closed off to beaver trapping except for ADC and you can't keep the pelt. Deal with the devil arranged by our governor. Timber caved because the antis agreed not to protest timber sales in return.

Anybody else going to do their part to keep the antis from dictating furbearer policy in Oregon? We need you there...

I've written and sent e-mail. Couldn't get the regular form to work. Plan on being there.

It will be good to see you John...Thanks!

See you guys tomorrow.

I will be signing up to testify. The following is my rough draft:

Greetings commissioners. My name is Carl Berg and I have held an Oregon trappers license since 1973.

Oregon trappers have a long history of collaboration with the Game Commission and ODFW. From live trapping beaver in the 30's and 40's for restoring beaver to areas of the state where they were no longer present, to live trapping otters for wildlife swaps with other states for bighorn sheep, trappers have been lending a hand. More than any other outdoors user group, trappers have provided important wildlife data. From volunteer marten carcass donation to ODFW, to turning in jawbones from bobcats and otter to analyze population dynamics. And much much more.

I personally have supplied beaver carcasses for ODFW bear, and marten & fisher studies. In fact ,(ironically), I (and other trappers) supplied male otter carcasses in the late 90's for necropsy studies by the DEQ to help determine the health of Oregon's waterways.

Which brings me to HB3932. The silliest piece of public policy I've ever seen. So, we now have areas of the Willamette river that are being closed off to beaver trapping so that beaver can restore the waters through their dam building? Give me a break!

I have a favor to ask of the Commission: Please do not exacerbate the harm done to me and other trappers by HB3932 to include otter as well. Richard Green from the ODFW Wildlife lab and Brian Wolfer, former biologist with the Springfield district ODFW office will tell you I know a thing or two about otter.

So Im telling you that while I may catch an otter from time to time in beaver sets, I never catch beaver in sets for the former. Because my sets are exclusively on otter toilets I know they will not catch beaver. We don't need otter harvest closure to ensure beaver are not caught.

I was told at the Senate hearings that HB3932 would not apply to otters when I asked that very question. Please, let that be true. Now is the time where we trappers would really appreciate appropriate reciprocation for all we have done.

Thank you!

I might make it , ifn you want the extra support to fight communism

I'm not a water trapper but that's obviously not the point here .

I'm always busy but also willing to help support my fellow trapper

I'm not fond of the odfw and their horrible management practices of our mule deer , but I'll refrain.....

It's rediculous that you have to make the case that you won't catch a beaver in an otter set, when an occasional incidental would have no population level effect on beaver, but that is the level of understanding you are dealing with. Sad really.

On June 23rd ODFW staff changed the proposed Otter regulations to "Open Statewide" After much testimony today the Regulations were approved by the ODFW commission.

So Otter will now be open Statewide even in Beaver Closure Areas.

It will be illegal to take beaver in closed areas even as incidental when trapping otter, so trappers will need to avoid certain types of sets where beaver are present.

Otter Toilet sets will be the only really safe bet to avoid beavers. Not the optimal solution but at least we did not lose otter trapping too.

Thanks to all the people who showed up today.

It's a big deal. We managed to get staff's proposal of closing otter trapping (all areas that would be closed to beaver trapping), to flipping the script completely. Therefore opening areas of the state that have been closed to otter trapping for the past 60 years! Huge victory for our side.

Further, we had 30 trappers there in attendance to testify or otherwise be there in support. The antis maybe had 4-5 and a couple of on-line testimonies.

Hurrah for the trappers..today we celebrate!!!

One more thought:

I want to especially laud our Furbearer Coordinator Samantha Fino, and ODFW Deputy Administrator Brian Wolfer. Those guys stepped up to the plate today and knocked it out of the park with their testimony defending us trappers. They capably answered commissioners questions and concerns resulting in a unanimous vote to adopt ODFW staff's recommendation of open season statewide for otter.

Nice work to All that participated!
Now another question....what happens when a beaver is caught accidentally (or other furbearers?) in those areas?
And was there any legitimate discussion WHY beaver were prohibited to be trapped in those areas?

Well done, folks! Chalk one up for the good guys.

Incidental take is not illegal in Oregon. Intent is the issue. If the game warden thinks you intentionally caught beaver in the closed areas you will be cited. If he thinks it was just an accidental catch you'll probably get off with a warning. DOJ is being called in on this to clarify for Oregon State Police what should happen.

As far as the beaver closure; that is out of the Game Commission's hands as it was passed through legislative action.