TILLAMOOK STATE FOREST ROAD RESTRICTIONS HELP WITH DEER AND ELK MANAGEMENT DURING HUNTING SEASONS

TILLAMOOK, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) will resume road restrictions this fall in the western part of the Tillamook State Forest to improve deer and elk escapement during hunting season.

Some roads will be closed to motorized use during the general archery and rifle hunting seasons in September, October and November. Selected roads in the Trask, Wilson and Nehalem River areas will be gated and signed. Controlled access during the three-month period is designed to reduce hunting pressure in these areas.

Hunters and other recreational users are welcome to access the gated areas by foot, mountain bike, horse, or other non-motorized means.

ODF partners with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and Tillamook Chapter of the Oregon Hunters Association in this program. The partnership has been in place for 20 years and the location of gates changes year to year based on access needs, stand conditions and operations.

The Oregon Department of Forestry and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife work together on many projects to better manage fish and wildlife—like the black-tailed deer. One project that has been on-going for more than 20 years is the closing of some Tillamook State Forest roads to motorized vehicles to help with deer and elk escapement during hunting season. The restrictions start Sept. 1 and run through Nov. 30.

Motorized access by ODF staff or contractors working in those areas may occur on occasion. Maps of the road management areas are available at the Tillamook ODF office located at 5005 Third St., Tillamook and at the department’s website. Scroll down the page to “Tillamook State Forest Road Report” to find the maps.

If you have questions about the road management program, contact Harold Stevens at the Tillamook ODF office, (503) 842-2545, or Paul Atwood at the Tillamook ODFW office, (503) 842-2741.