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Greetings all, <br />This is an update on the current status of the Dog Training Rules revision. <br />First, although we were scheduled to bring the draft rules before the Fish and Wildlife Commission for rule <br />adoption on August 6, 2010 our exhibit has been postponed until the December 3, 2010 meeting which <br />is scheduled to be held in Portland. Please spread this announcement and help me reach everyone who <br />may have been planning on attending the Commission meeting in August. <br />Second, thank you to everyone who submitted comments on the revised rules. I must apologize for not <br />removing the word "Final" from the header in the draft rules you received. The term final referred to the <br />final internal draft of that revision. We fully intended to solicit public comment and then incorporate those <br />comments into later revisions, which we are now in the process of doing. <br />Third, Division staff has met and using the comments received from the public, is producing a new draft <br />revision. That revision will undergo internal review and once completed it will again be released to the <br />public for comment. Major items being addressed include the permitting process, disease testing and <br />waste of birds used for training, among others. We are also proposing bring together a small working <br />group to help us work on the next revision. We anticipate the group meeting in late August or late <br />September and we will be inviting representatives to that group in the coming weeks. <br />Additionally, I would like to address several of the major topics /questions which came up in the comments <br />we received from you. Please note: statutes are state law and can only be modified by the Oregon <br />Legislature. <br />• Are domestically raised game birds considered wildlife? <br />o Yes, state statue defines game birds by taxonomic family and the term wildlife includes <br />all game birds. There is no distinction between captive raised birds and wild born birds. <br />• Why is a permit needed to release wildlife for dog training? <br />• State statute requires a permit be obtained from the department prior to the release of <br />any domestically raised or imported wildlife. Because this is state statue the Department <br />does not have the authority to modify or waive the requirement. <br />• Note: This requirement has been in effect for many years and the current release of <br />domestically raised wildlife without a permit from the Department is unlawful. <br />• Why is a permit needed to shoot domestically raised wildlife for dog training? <br />• Since domestically raised game birds are considered wildlife they can only be taken as <br />authorized by the Department. Currently, the Department only authorizes game birds to <br />be taken during authorized seasons (regular and preserve) and during permitted <br />competitive field dog trials. <br />• Note: There currently is no lawful way to take a domestically raised game bird which has <br />been released, even if the release is permitted, unless it the take occurs during an <br />authorized hunting season or as part of a permitted competitive trial. <br />• Why does someone need to be licensed to shoot released game birds? <br />• State statute requires persons taking or attempting to take wildlife to meet the hunting <br />license requirements prescribed by the Department for that species. <br />• Note: This is not a new requirement and currently anyone taking released, domestically <br />raised game birds must meet the hunting license requirements, including gunners at <br />competitive trials. <br />• Why must I mark birds I intend to release? <br />o Unmarked birds would be indistinguishable from wild born birds and take of wild born <br />birds outside of a season is not, and would not be permitted. <br />