Following is the recent fishing and hunting report from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

GRANT DISTRICT

COUGAR: Harvested cougars are required to be checked into an ODFW field office within 10 days of the hunt.

BAKER DISTRICT

SQUIRRELS: Excellent squirrel hunting can be found this time of year in the agricultural valleys. Many private landowners are happy to grant access to hunters who ask permission.

TURKEYS: Time to start scouting for spring turkey season which starts April 15.

COUGARS: Cougar numbers remain at high levels. With the absence of fresh snow cougar hunting is best accomplished with the use of calls and patience.

COYOTES: Coyote numbers remain relatively high and calling and trapping should be good. Be sure to ask permission to hunt or trap on private properties.

UMATILLA/PENDLETON DISTRICT

COUGAR: Cougars are well distributed in forested areas of the Walla Walla, Mt. Emily, and Ukiah units. Hunters will have best success by finding a fresh naturally made kill and sitting on it, or by using predator calls. Some success has come from following tracks until the cougar is located.

COYOTE: Coyotes are numerous throughout the District and hunters should have good success calling. Remember to ask permission before hunting on private lands.

WALLOWA DISTRICT

COUGAR: Cougars are abundant throughout Wallowa County, but can be difficult to observe during winter months. Locating fresh cougar sign and patiently calling, attempting to imitate a fawn or calf in distress, can sometimes be an effective technique.

COYOTE: Good numbers of coyotes can be found throughout Wallowa County. Calling is most successful in areas of reduced human activity.

SQUIRRELS: Excellent time for hunting ground squirrels. Many private landowners are happy to grant permission.

ROAD CONDITIONS: Areas above 4,000 feet still have snow while lower elevations are soft and muddy, making off-roading difficult. Roads plowed for logging still provide some access, but will have log truck traffic. Noregaard, Whiskey Creek, and Shamrock travel management areas are in effect through May 31.

UNION DISTRICT

COUGAR – Locating fresh cougar tracks in the snow continues to be a good starting point on where to hunt. More hunters are starting to use remotely activated calls with good results. Finding a fresh deer or elk kill that a cougar has fed on is an excellent place to set up a blind down wind of the carcass.