Flight’s End open for hunting

Waterfowl hunters have a new area to hunt as of Jan. 1, when the 100-acre former duck hunting club Flight’s End on Sauvie Island opened to hunting.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife acquired the property in September 2013 through the ODFW Willamette Wildlife Mitigation Program, and it became part of the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area. The acquisition was funded by the Bonneville Power Administration as part of its agreement to settle federal wildlife habitat mitigation obligations in the Willamette Valley.

Flight’s End will be managed through Sauvie Island’s Westside Hunt Area. Three groups of hunters (maximum party size four) will be allowed in to hunt at one time. The area will be a “roam unit” with no designated shooting areas or blinds.

Flight’s End is 1.5 miles from a parking area and accessible by foot, but the easiest access is by boat via the Gilbert River Boat Ramp and Crane Slough off the Multnomah Channel.

Only those with a valid daily hunting permit may enter Flight’s End or other Westside hunting units until April 14. But wildlife viewers, hikers and others are welcome from April 16 through Sept. 30 every year.

New Columbia River Basin endorsement

As of Jan. 1, anglers fishing for salmon, steelhead or sturgeon in the Columbia River and its tributaries are required to have a Columbia River Basin endorsement. See a map of the Basin to get more information.

Report your tags

Hunters are required to report on every deer, elk, cougar, bear, pronghorn and turkey tag purchased. Hunters who fail to report their 2013 deer and elk tags by the deadline (Jan. 31 for most hunts) will have to pay a $25 penalty fee to purchase a 2015 hunting license. Report online or call 866-947-6339.

— Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife