Following are some of the recent fishing and hunting tips released by the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife.

HUNTING

GRANT DISTRICT

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

BAKER DISTRICT

General Conditions: Colder winter temperatures have subsided. Dry weather persists across the district with little snow cover. Green up has begun at lower elevations.

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. Tracking conditions will improve with snows forecast for the end of November and December.

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: Cougar 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.

Road Conditions: Many roads at elevations above 4500 feet may not be accessible with standard vehicles due to deep snow. 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.

VIEWING

Bald eagles can be seen along the South Columbia River basin wildlife management areas.

WALLOWA DISTRICT: Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, elk, and mule deer can be observed at the Wenaha Wildlife Area, Troy, Oregon. Eden Bench provides a good opportunity to view deer and elk, while bighorn sheep are often observed in rim rocks above the Grande Ronde River. Bald eagles are common along the Grande Ronde River near Troy, and along the Wallowa River from Minam to Joseph.

BRIDGE CREEK WILDLIFE AREA: Good elk viewing opportunities at the Bridge Creek Wildlife Area in Pendleton.

SOUTHEAST ZONE

FISHING

Contact Klamath Watershed Office (541) 883-5732 for more information on fishing opportunities.

ANA RESERVOIR: Hybrid bass fishing has been good. Trout fishing has been fair.

BEULAH RESERVOIR: The reservoir was 65 percent full on March 4, and inflow was 55 cfs. The reservoir is ice free. Fishing is slow.

BIG ROCK RESERVOIR: Access to this reservoir is difficult due to muddy roads.

BLITZEN RIVER: Warm weather mixed with rain and snow has led to variable river conditions. Flow fluctuated between 50 and approximately 230 cfs from February 28 to March 4.

BULLY CREEK RESERVOIR: The reservoir was 72 percent full on March 4. The reservoir is ice free. Angling for warmwater fish is slow.

BURNS POND: Fair angling for 12 to 16 inch rainbow trout.

CHICKAHOMINY RESERVOIR: Angling is fair to good for 10 to 18 inch rainbow trout.

Chewaucan River: the river is closed to angling below Paisley until May 28. Angling is fair for redband trout above Paisley.

DUNCAN RESERVOIR: Reservoir is frozen although warm weather has made the ice soft.

DELINTMENT LAKE: Access up the Forest Service 41 road was only possible by snowmobile in mid February.

FISH LAKE (Steens Mountain): The north loop road is closed at Page Springs.

Fourmile Lake: Access is blocked by snow. The lake is frozen.