Got there late on Friday pitched camp. Hit the water at about 7:00 a.m. when the first light was making it's way into the gorge.

Fished all day the first day. Had one on and lost it after just a couple of seconds. Rats!! It was a very long wet first day, snow and rain mix all day. I only witnessed three fish landed all day, the water muddied up a little later in the day. The fish averaged about 6-7lbs that I saw, I have a couple pics. of the fish that were caught that I will post as soon as possible.

The second day was much more productive saw several fish landed including the real nice 10lb hatchery hen that I caught. I will post a picture of that as soon as I can. Not all was happy about the trip however, it had been another really wet day and I had my dogs with me so I zipped them up in my tent to keep them dry and headed over the bank to do some fishing.

Apparently at some point my dogs somehow got the zipper opened on the back of the tent and got out. According to some other fishermen down there my dogs were running around playing when the farmer that owns the land down there pulled up and asked them if the dogs or the camp site were his.

The fishermen told him no and he said good and I guess he was angry and had a pistol, he picked my dogs up and shot and killed them both. He said my dogs were chasing his cattle, but the fishermen that were down there said my dogs never were in his field that he had my dogs in his truck.

He never apologized to me and my kids for shooting our dogs. Like I'm sorry I was put into a position where I had no other alternative, my cattle were in danger. Instead he told me I should have taken better care of my dogs and told me to get my liberal ass off of his property, when I showed emotion over my dogs and questioned him why he did it.

Please everyone if you are taking your dogs to the grande ronde make sure they are leashed even though there are no rules down there stating you must. I would hate to see anyone else have to suffer what my kids and I went through this weekend, because there dog happened to wonder off.

I want everyone to know that the farmer that owns the land down there absolutely hates fishermen and was very rude to all of us down there, including the two fishermen that called him on his lie. It saddens me to see the ODFW cooperate with such an individual, he does not deserve the grant they give him. He treats all fishermen badly and when the shefiff was down there he said this was not the first time he had done something like this.

He will kill your animals if they are unattended, because he owns all of the land between the hatchery and Bogans. So if you are by the river and your dog was to run up to the road he would shoot and kill your dog and then claim they were chasing his cattle, because then it is legal for him to do it. He does not like us coming down there at all and made it very clear to all of us down there.

So the Moral is please, please, please be careful. He is a dangerous man and his wife will hold a pistol on you if you try to confront him. Just stay away from him and his property. Stick to the hatchery and by Bogans.

RAE

Contact the Sherriff again and insist that you want to press charges. That bastard had better watch himself.

Thanks Pasco_Steelheader. I am most definately pressing charges, I am waiting on the Sheriff's report and I am filing a civil suit against him.

The one positive I think I have going on my side is that the fisherman that witnessed what happened gave me his card. He is a Dr. at Washington State University. His title is the Associate professor- Wildlife Ecology, Director-Large Carnivore Conservation Lab Department of Natural Resource Sciences. So I beleive he will be a pretty good character witness for me.

I just want to make sure this never happens to anyone again doen there. Does anyone know how I might get in touch with someone from the OFDW so I might inform them about what happened and the treatment the fishermen are getting in that area.

RAE

I can only imagine how upsetting that must have been.

ODFW

3406 Cherry Avenue N.E.
Salem, OR 97303
Main Phone (503) 947-6000
or (800) 720-ODFW

Here is a link to Oregon State Laws so you can do some research.

Oregon State Laws

Thanks Glock! It has been very tough on the family. It may sound stupid to some, but they were like my kids to me. I loved my dogs very much. They never deserved to go like that!!!! I am going to do everything I can to make sure this does not happen again.

Everytime I read that post it makes me mad I sure hope this guy gets what he deserves, and he definitely should not be receiving any grant money. Sorry this happened and let us know the outcome when the dust settles.

Dev88T

Thanks Dev88t. It is conforting to know that there are people out there who care. I just didn't know there were people that heartless out there. I come from a really good upbringing. We are friendly and kind to everybody and I find that I am very angry with myself, because I have thoughts of really wanting to physically hurt this individual. I would usually tell myself that there was a greater plan here. So I have been taking this more as I was chosen to fix a situation so other fishermen do not have to suffer the agony that I am going through. I will work my hardest to make sure that the area has to be officially posted, giving fishermen warnings.

I am contacting the OFDW today to see what can be done. We need to feel safe as fishermen when we are on someone's property. I hope all of you have continued safe trips this year as we are in natures back yard and multiple things can and will go wrong. We just need to make sure we are equipped and prepared to handle these situations. Blessings and safe trips to you and yours!!!

RAE

RAE, I am so sorry. Dogs are family members almost as much as kids. What a terrible experience.

While it won't bring your dogs back, go forward with your civil and criminal complaints. Perhaps your actions will discourage this sonofabitch (I really wanted to say "farmer" but couldn't bring myself to dignify him with that) from arbitrarily killing other people's pets. Good luck.

Dan

Unless I am seriously missing something (like where you are describing), the strech between bogans the aclimation pond at cottonwood creek is in WA. ODFW and WDFW work together, but that is definitely still in WA. 7 or 8 miles (I think) above the aclimation pond is the OR border.

Drag his cracker ass into court.

What kind of truck does the fellow drive? I've fished up there for a long time (specifically between bogans and the OR border) and I've never seen any gun toters. I'd like to keep it that way if possible.

RAE, I am so sorry about your dogs. My prayers are with you and your family. What a terrible loss.
JimmyD

I should be heading to the Ronde a time or two this month. Would you mind posting, or PMing, his description?

RAE, I am terribly sorry for your loss. I am sure that it feels you lost a member of your family. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Go get that SOB!

Thank you all! You all have reminded me that their is some good in the world. He has an orange truck seems you asked! He owns the cattle fields right after you cross the cattle guards if you were to take your first right at the base of rattlesnake grade and drive towards the fish hatchery! His house is the only one on the right as you are driving. He is kinda scary looking his eyes are kinda coming out on the bottom and are red. He stands about 6'2, you can't mistake him he is truly your backwoods farmer. My family also wishes to extend their gratitude to you all for all of your sympathy and prayers I am moved to tears as I post this. Thank you all again you do not know how much your words of comfort mean to us right now. If there are no objections I would like to post a couple pictures of Melody and Harmony for you all.

You showed more restraint than I would. If the SOB would have shot my dogs I don't think I would have been able to control myself. My dogs too are part of the family but they are also expensive hunting dogs. I am sorry for your loss.

Man...that really sucks. If you need any help locking this guy up contact peta and let them unleash their rath.

Seriously though, he will get what he diserves, just stay pursitent. Every time i hear another story like this it reminds me Eastern Washington has a long way to go.