The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Only the shaded areas are closed. Everything else is open range.

A couple of cattle were wandering along Camp Polk road again on Sunday, and after a few calls, 911 again alerted Deschutes County Sheriff's office. This time, though, something different happened.

Nothing.

The area is part of the open range, and the owner of the cattle reportedly gets upset if deputies put the cattle back inside the fenced area.

A map of the open range shows the boundary going right to the Sisters Urban Area boundary. It extends north and takes in all of the subdivisions out Camp Polk Road, including Indian Ford, the Wilt Road area, and the "back way" to Panoramic Estates or Black Butte.

A map of the area open to livestock in this area can be seen at http://www.co.deschutes.or.us/Road/images/GIS/Livestock/district5.pdf

That means if a driver hits a black cow at night not far past the Sisters Airport, the driver pays the rancher for the cow.

Despite the fact that the cattle are penned, sort of, on Indian Ford Creek south of Camp Polk Road, if they get out, they have more of a right to be on the road than you do. Deer are one thing -- hitting a cow at speed has a whole different set of consequences.

Former Deschutes County Deputy Todd Williver hit a black cow one night several years ago on a call. He nearly died, spent 10 days in the hospital and still suffers the consequences.

Deschutes County Sheriff's Deputies get numerous calls each day complaining that cattle are out and on the road. They have told 911 about the open range designation, and 911 operators are telling the public that there is nothing law enforcement can do.

Actually, an area of open range can be closed, or turned into a "livestock district," if property owners in the affected area present a properly documented petition to the board of county commissioners under ORS 607.010 Petition for Creation of District.