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North
Slope
Ranch
is
near
the
base
of
the
Elk
Horn
range
in
Union
County.
Elevations
run
from
3,500
to
4,300
feet,
providing
a
wide
range
of
habitats.
While
they
have
harvested
around
1.2
million
board
feet
and
also
produce
cattle
and
hay,
Chris
will
tell
you
that
stewarding
wildlife
resources
is
an
essential
part
of
the
bigger
picture.
"Wildlife
enhancements
and
financial
stability
in
timber
and
cattle
go
hand
in
hand."
In
1996,
the
Heffernans
started
working
with
a
number
of
stakeholder
groups
that
also
value
wildlife,
including
the
Oregon
Department
of
Fish
and
Wildlife
and
Department
of
Forestry,
Pheasants
Forever,
Oregon
Hunters
Association,
National
Turkey
Federation,
Rocky
Mountain
Elk
Foundation
and
the
Oregon
Watershed
Enhancement
Board.
The
relationship
between
outside
stakeholder
groups,
the
Heffernans
and
the
wildlife
has
been
a
good
one
ever
since.
The
Heffernans
take
advantage
of
the
groups'
financial
and
technical
assistance;
they
often
match
grants
with
their
own
money
to
pay
for
wildlife
enhancement
projects.
Elk,
mule
deer
and
white-tailed
deer
and
turkey
are
some
of
the
species
that
flourish
on
the
ranch.
Waterfowl
use
streamside
riparian
areas
and
ponds
during
all
times
of
the
year,
but
particularly
in
nesting
season.
Working
with
the
Rocky
Mountain
Elk
Foundation
and
Oregon
Department
of
Fish
and
Wildlife,
the
Heffernans
have
decided
not
to
log
at
all
in
some
areas
that
elk
use.
In
other
areas,
thinning
overstocked
stands
has
really
improved
conditions
for
big
game.
In
a
riparian
project,
the
Oregon
Watershed
Enhancement
Board
provided
a
grant
to
install
fencing
around
three
stock
ponds.
"Now
you
don't
have
cattle
going
down
to
the
water's
edge
during
waterfowl
nesting
periods."
The
fencing
benefited
the
fish
and
waterfowl
but
also
the
cattle.
Cleaner
water
is
now
sent
down
hill
from
the
pond
to
a
floated
trough
that
also
accommodates
stand
pipe
for
fire
protection.
The
Heffernan's
land
management
approach
is
also
a
boon
for
hunters
and
wildlife
enthusiasts.
They
do
not
charge
a
fee
for
hunting
(the
ranch
would
not
be
eligible
for
some
of
the
financial
assistance
they
get
from
agencies
or
foundations
if
they
did).
Instead
they
allow
hunting
by
permission
and
donate
use
of
their
land
for
young
people
to
learn
how
to
hunt.
"It's
a
privilege
to
have
a
grandpa
and
grandson
taking
their
first
elk
together,
to
be
able
to
promote
that
kind
of
heritage."
The
Heffernan's
innovative
approach
to
land
management
has
gotten
the
attention
of
national
organizations.
They
were
awarded
the
National
Big
Game
Farmer
of
the
Year
award
by
Progressive
Farmer
magazine,
and
the
National
Turkey
Federation
gave
them
the
Western
States
Award,
both
in
2002.
The
awards
honor
the
whole
family.
Sheldon,
15,
and
Justin,
18,
help
Chris
and
Donna
by
planting
trees
and
thinning.
Both
sons
want
to
continue
working
on
the
land.
"It
is
a
huge
honor
and
a
blessing
to
provide
for
my
wife
and
kids
in
this
way,
with
wildlife,
cattle
and
providing
fire
protection
with
good
forest
management."
Chris
feels
they
are
truly
living
the
American
western
way
of
life.
"It's
hard
to
put
a
price
on
that.
We
recognize
how
fortunate
we
really
are."
The
Heffernan
family
will
start
a
new
venture
soon,
North
Slope
Natural
Resources,
a
forest,
wildlife
and
natural
resources
management
consulting
service.
The
North
Slope
Ranch
will
be
an
example.
"There
are
lots
of
things
you
can
do
through
grazing
land
and
timber
land
management."
When
asked
for
his
advice
for
other
forest
landowners
Chris
says
"Take
advantage
of
the
incentive
programs.
It
still
will
cost
you
a
little
bit
but
the
long
term
benefits
are
incredible."
"Ultimately,"
he
says,
"we
want
to
pass
along
a
diverse
and
profitable
ranch
to
the
next
generation."
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