Access & Habitat seeks Volunteers for Regional Councils, Dec. 11

Help open land to hunting and improve wildlife habitat. Volunteer to serve as a Hunter or Landowner Representative on the Access and Habitat Program’s North Willamette or Southwest Oregon Advisory Councils. Applications are available online (http://www.dfw.state.or.us/lands/AH/get_involved.asp). Individuals living in the region with an interest and experience in hunting and/or wildlife conservation are encouraged to apply. The following volunteer positions are open: North Willamette: One hunter representative and one landowner position open; application deadline Dec. 31, 2014. For more information, contact David Nuzum at 503-842-2741. Southwest Oregon: Two landowner representative positions open; application deadline Jan. 31, 2015. For more information, contact Vince Oredson, (541) 826-8778. Position duties include participation in up to four public meetings per year to review A and H project proposals and conduct other council business. Meetings may require some travel to various northwest or southwest Oregon communities. Applicants should be willing and able to work collaboratively with landowners, sports groups, ODFW staff, and representatives of other government agencies to facilitate the A and H Program. Created by the Oregon Legislature in 1993, the A and H Program is funded primarily by a $4 surcharge on hunting licenses. Funds raised by the program are distributed through grants awarded to individual and corporate landowners, conservation organizations, and others to cooperatively fund wildlife habitat improvement and hunter access projects in the state. There are six regional A and H advisory councils within Oregon that serve as the initial review body for A and H grant proposals submitted within their region. The state A and H Board provides the next level of review, taking into account the advisory council’s recommendations. Approved projects are then forwarded to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission for final review and funding approval. Each advisory council is composed of seven members, including three Landowner Representatives, three Hunter Representatives and one public-at-large representative, who also serves as the council Chair. For additional information on the A and H Program visit the program website (http://www.dfw.state.or.us/lands/AH/) or contact Keith Kohl at (503) 947-6038.