Why is Oregon feeding the elk and deer in the Wenaha herd?

[huntnnw]

I was down last weekend fishing the Ronde..we took a drive up to Troy,OR and right by the Wenaha field office and on the Wenaha wildlife area they were feeding the elk..230+ elk. Maybe someone knows more about this and why they are doing it..because alot of us cannot figure out why they are doing this..it cannot be cheap to be feeding 500+ animals falfa. Winters do not exist down there..there are miles and miles of open hill sides till u get up to the little snow up high..even the grass is growing down there 2 weeks ago. These animals in this area have it easy compared to most.

[bobcat]

Objective 2.2: Provide a supplemental winter food source for up to 1,400 elk to reduce damage.
Rationale
Reducing agricultural damage due to wintering big game was one of the initial purposes for which the WWA was established in 1953. The strategies identified below have been selected based on winter feeding results from other state operated wildlife areas which have been proven to minimize damage to neighboring private lands. Although area staff targets elk for its supplemental feed operations, deer benefit from these operations as they forage opportunistically at feed sites.
While predators are a normal occurrence in natural ecosystems, harassment due to predation can disrupt the operation of the feed sites, causing big game to disperse to surrounding private properties, and thus defeat Goal 2 of the WWA. In addition, because the feed sites are located near human habitation and cattle operations, predators attracted to the feed sites can pose a threat to humans and livestock.
Strategy 1. Provide supplemental feed for elk at five feed sites. These sites are approximately 10 acres in size and are located along elk and deer migration routes. Four of the sites are located on Eden Bench and one site is located on Bartlett Bench.
Strategy 2. Sharecrop or purchase hay to provide winter food for up to 1,400 elk.
24.
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

http://www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/management_plans/wildlife_areas/docs/Wenaha.pdf

[huntnnw]

thanks..Id understand that if I actually saw crops growing down there 

[KopperBuck]

Pasture land is a crop as far as I'm concerned. And this time of year what little is left won't last long pushing them towards more productive ground. Like all the elk running around in this valley right now, tearing it up.

I don't like feeding operations. But given population and development creep, it can be an effective distraction.

[boneaddict]

Once the dispicable lawyers made it possible for a payout for damage to crops from the elk, the downward cycle started. 

[huntnnw]

 

[KopperBuck]

Maybe if they were a little more selective in which fences they knocked down, which ground they tore up, which ground they pastured on... Don't see why I need to pay for their feed, keep 'em on the USFS like everyone here wants. Let the public pay for them. No hair off my ass.