SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, SALMON AND WATER

March 07, 2001 Hearing Room B

8:00 A.M. Tapes 51 - 53

MEMBERS PRESENT: Sen. Ken Messerle, Chair

Sen. Frank Shields, Vice-Chair

Sen. Jason Atkinson

Sen. Roger Beyer

Sen. Ginny Burdick

Sen. Ryan Deckert

Sen. Bill Fisher

MEMBER EXCUSED:

STAFF PRESENT: Jennifer Solomon, Committee Administrator

Cheryl Young, Committee Assistant

MEASURE/ISSUES HEARD: SB 716 Public Hearing

These minutes are in compliance with Senate and House Rules. Only text enclosed in quotation marks reports a speaker’s exact words. For complete contents, please refer to the tapes.

TAPE/#		Speaker	Comments
TAPE 51, A
006		Chair Messerle	Opens Meeting at 8:03 am. Opens Public Hearing on SB 716
SB 716, Public Hearing
009		Staff	Summarizes SB 716.
027		Rod Harder	Executive Director of the Oregon Sportsmens Defense Fund. Summarizes the bill. Testifies in favor of this bill. Submits written testimony. (EXHIBITS A, B & C).
055		Rep. Wayne Krieger	State Representative. Gives historical background on cougars. Speaks of two events that happened with the increase in the cougar and bear population. States that cougars have lost fear of humans. Speaks in favor of SB 716.
119		Rep. Greg Smith	States Representative of District 59. Speaks in favor of SB 716. Relates an incident regarding cougars walking near the high school in Heppner.
150		Harder	Relates that Speaker Simmons extends his regrets to the committee, as he had a prior commitment, and extends his support for this bill.
161		Roy Elicker	Legislative Coordinator for ODFW. Speaks from prepared statement. Submits written testimony. (EXHIBITS D & E).
198		Vic Coggins	District Wildlife Biologist from Enterprise. Describes slide presentation regarding the decrease in the elk population caused by cougars.
327		Sen. Deckert	Asks Mr. Elicker to clarify his graphs from exhibit.
310		Roy Elicker	Clarifies information regarding the graphs.
364		Sen. Deckert	Questions it effects to overall population.
367		Coggins	Responds.
385		Sen. Deckert	Asks for comments regarding the Ag & Forestry Act moving predators around.
393		Coggins	Responds to request.
403		Sen. Burdick	Asks what the barriers are toward hunting in the more settled areas, and has any thought been given to matching up the hunting population with the problem.
414		Coggins	Responds to questions.
427		Sen. Burdick	Rephrases question. Asks if there is some way to match the people who are getting these tags and direct them to where the biggest problem is.
433		Elicker	Responds to question.
462		Sen. Beyer	Asks what calf ratio is needed to maintain the herd.
467		Coggins	Responds to question.
480		Sen. Beyer	Asks how it is determined what the cougar quota should be in a specific area when you don’t know how many there are, and the effect they are having on the deer, elk and other species.
481		Elicker	Responds and describes how the quotas are set.
Tape 52, A
039		Sen. Beyer	Asks what the quotas are now as compared to 1994.
042		Elicker	Responds to question.
052		Sen. Beyer	Asks for clarification regarding quotas prior to 1994 with the number of tags issued for each area, and do today’s quotas reflect the same as the tag numbers pre- ‘94 or are they the same.
056		Coggins	Clarifies.
065		Sen. Beyer	Reflects on the fact that the black bear issue was not discussed.
071		Coggins	Briefly discusses the issue.
081		Sen. Beyer	Asks who harvests the cougar when there are damage complaints.
083		Coggins	Responds.
090		Sen. Beyer	Asks why the reduction of cougars in Mr. Coggins area has not been done yet, as stated in the ’99 budget note.
095		Elicker	States that federal money was needed to have a study regarding an environmental analysis.
107		Sen. Beyer	Asks who told them an environmental analysis was needed.
108		Elicker	States he is not sure but will get the committee that information.
113		Sen. Beyer	Asks if it was going to be Pitman-Robert Funds to help fund this study.
116		Elicker	Yes.
118		Sen. Beyer	States the purposes of the Pitman-Robert Funds and reads the regulations. Requests a response regarding the fact that the study seems to hit all four of the ideas listed in the regulations.
131		Elicker	States that he will prepare a detailed response for the committee.
134		Sen. Fisher	Referring to Mr. Elicker’s earlier testimony that they had 588 cougars which has increased to 14564, asks what was the allowed hunting and take when they were at 588.
142		Elicker	Responds they are the number of tags they currently sell.
150		Sen. Fisher	Asks what the population of cougars now.
154		Elicker	Gives and estimate and will provide exact numbers in a report to the committee.
162		Sen. Fisher	Comments that it is logically concluded that if you manifold more animals, you would manifold more opportunities for hunting and taking of those animals. Comments on the reduction of elk.
172		Elicker	Responds.
185		Sen. Fisher	Asks if they would agree that there would be an increase in the sale of tags, with the increase in the take of a controlled situation.
192		Elicker	Yes, we do issue more tags now.
194		Sen. Fisher	States that it’s not on the same basis and expands on comments.
201		Elicker	Agrees with the statement.
202		Chair Messerle	Asks for clarification regarding the quota of how many cougar tags can be issued.
204		Elicker	Responds.
228		Amber Applegate	Citizen. Testifies in favor of SB 716. Submits photos. EXHIBIT F).
301		Dave Briggs	Citizen. Testifies in favor of this bill. Submits written testimony. (EXHIBIT G).
368		Jeff Mornarich	Citizen. Speaks in favor of bill. Submits written testimony. (EXHIBIT H).
427		Chris Solomon	Field Administrator for the Oregon Hunters Association. Speaks in favor of SB 716. Submits written testimony. (EXHIBIT I).
Tape 51, B
018	Sen. Fisher		Comments about the different terrain that this witness spoke about.
025	James Workman		Oregon Guides and Packers Association. Speaks of the economic effects this is having on his county. Speaks in favor of SB 716.
051	Sen. Deckert		Asks if there are any practices that we can do, other than over-turning two ballet measures.
054	Mornarich		Responds to question.
069	Zip Fendrich		Citizen. Testifies in favor of SB 716.
103	Cheryle York		Citizen. Speaks in favor of bill. Submits written testimony. (EXHIBIT J).
179	Duane Bernard		President, Safari Club International. Speaks strongly in favor of passing of SB 716.
232	Laurena Miller		Rancher and citizen. Speaks in support of SB 716. Submits written testimony. (EXHIBIT K).
264	Sen. Burdick		Asks what a guard llama is.
266	Miller		Responds.
279	Sen. Deckert		Asks why fencing doesn’t work well as a deterrent.
281	Miller		Responds.
297	Steve Phipps		Resident. Speaks in support of SB 716. Submits written testimony. (EXHIBIT L).
331	Sally Mackler		Resident. Speaks in opposition of this bill. Submits written testimony. (EXHIBIT M).
409	Steve Mathers		Oregon Guides and Packers. Speaks in favor of SB 716.
430	Mike Crawford		Citizen. Speaks in favor of this bill.
451	Dr. Sharon Methvin		Speaks in opposition to this bill. Submits written testimony. (EXHIBIT N).
476	Sen. Deckert		Asks for clarification regarding innovative techniques and habitat density.
482	Methvin		Responds.
Tape 52,B
035	Jerry Ray		Citizen. Testifies in support of bill. Submits written testimony. (EXHIBIT O).
054	Jerald Myra		Citizen. Speaks in favor of bill. Submits written testimony. (EXHIBIT P).
081	Paul Katen		Citizen. Speaks in opposition of this bill.
104	Tim O’Leary		Citizen. Speaks in favor of bill.
144	Sen. Fisher		Makes comment regarding a bear and blackberry bushes.
149	Jerry Hatlon		Citizen. Speaks in favor of bill.
202	Susan Watkins		Citizen. Speaks in opposition of this bill.
243	Dave Walker		Citizen. Speaks in support of bill.
256	Dave Staigle		Citizen. Speaks in support of bill. Reads a letter. Submits written testimony. (EXHIBIT Q).
318	John Berggram		Representing Oregon Fur Takers. Speaks in favor of this bill.
334	Emily Ahyou		Citizen. Speaks in opposition of this bill.
366	Deborah Shimkas		Citizen. Speaks in opposition of this bill.
409	Jacob Shimkas		Student at Westridge Elementary School. Speaks in opposition of this bill.
427	Jarod Broadfoot		Speaks in support of this bill.
468	Sen. Fisher		Comments about an attack on a man who had to use a shovel to beat off a cougar.
495	Kelly Peterson		Humane Society of the United States. Opposes SB 716.
Tape 53,A
042	William Montgomery		Citizen. Speaks in opposition of this bill.
066	David Wiley		Retired Forester. Speaks in support of SB 716.
092	Sen. Fisher		Refers to Humane Society lying in advertising used to support Measure 18, and ask why they should be believed now.
099	Wyatt Baker		Citizen. Speaks in favor of this bill.
104	Robert Botta		Citizen. Speaks in favor of this bill.
112	Kathryn Koehn		Citizen. Speaks in opposition of this bill.
153	Chair Messerle		Adds to record list of persons unable to testify, Jim Welsh, in favor; Rod Klawitter, in favor; Terry Clearwater, in favor. Asks for witnesses to Submits written testimony. (EXHIBITS R – W). Meeting adjourned at 10:08 a.m.

Submitted By, Reviewed By,

Cheryl Young, Jennifer Solomon,

Committee Assistant Administrator

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A – SB 716, written testimony, Rod Harder, 1p.

B – SB 716, written testimony, Rod Harder for James & Brenda Sealund 3pp.

C – SB 716, written testimony, Rod Harder, 2pp.

D – SB 716, written testimony, Roy Elicker, 2pp.

E – SB 716, written testimony, Roy Elicker, 14pp.

F – SB 716, written testimony, Amber Applegate, 1p.

G – SB 716, written testimony, David Briggs, 1p.

H – SB 716, written testimony, Jeff Mornarich, 2pp.

I – SB 716, written testimony, Chris Solomon, 2pp.

J – SB 716, written testimony, Cheryle York, 4pp.

K – SB 716, written testimony, Laurena Miller, 2pp.

L – SB 716, written testimony, Steve Phipps, 8pp.

M – SB 716, written testimony, Sally Mackler, 6pp.

N – SB 716, written testimony, Dr. Sharon Methvin, 1p.

O – SB 716, written testimony, Jerry Ray, 1p.

P – SB 716, written testimony, Jerald Myra, 2pp.

Q – SB 716, written testimony, Linda Lawrence, 1p.

R – SB 716, written testimony, Rod Klawitter, 4pp.

S – SB 716, written testimony, Susan Watkins, 35pp.

T – SB 716, written testimony, Susan Watkins, 1p.

U – SB 716, written testimony, Jim Soares, 2pp.

V – SB 716, written testimony, Susan Koger, 1p.

W – SB 716, submitted by Chair Messerle, list of witnesses unable to testify 1p.

X – SB 716, list of individuals in favor of bill who did not wish to testify, 2pp.

Y – SB 716, written testimony, Stephen Otto, 1 p.

Z – SB 716, written testimony, Catherine Koehn, 1p.

AA- SB 716, written testimony, William Montgomery, 1p.