Salem, Ore. – Fall may be months away but it’s time to start thinking about big game hunting. Don’t forget to apply for a controlled hunt or one of Oregon’s new Premium Hunts by May 15, which falls on a Sunday this year.
Apply online, at a license sales agent or ODFW office that sells licenses, or by mail/fax order. The cost is $8 per application and hunters need a 2016 annual hunting license to apply.
Last year, more than half of the 407,402 applications were submitted in the last week before the deadline, including nearly 66,000 on deadline day. Many hunters wait till the last minute to apply, which can cause long lines at license sales stores and ODFW offices.
“The deadline falls on a Sunday this year, which is a good reason to get your application in early,” said Deanna Erickson, ODFW license sales manager. ‘ODFW offices will be closed on May 15 and license sale agents may also be open fewer hours or closed on a Sunday.” Hunters can also apply online until 11:59 p.m. PT on Sunday, May 15.
Erickson also urged hunters to avoid common mistakes on applications. “Double check your hunt number against the 2016 Big Game Regulations, and make sure your party leader number is correct,” she said. “And before you walk out of the store or ODFW office, check your application to be sure it’s correct.”
ODFW limits the number of tags for some hunts (all rifle deer and most rifle elk hunting in eastern Oregon, plus all pronghorn, Rocky Mtn goat and bighorn sheep hunting) to fairly distribute tags and control hunting pressure. Hunters who apply for a controlled deer, elk or pronghorn tag and don’t draw their first choice receive a preference point for that hunt series, which increases their chances the following year.
While the most sought after hunts can take more than 10 years to draw, every hunter has a chance to draw each year. Only 75 percent of tags are awarded based on preference points; the remaining 25 percent are awarded randomly among first choice applicants. Find out more about how the process works on ODFW’s Controlled Hunts page.
Proposed tag numbers will be announced next week and adopted by the Fish and Wildlife Commission at the June 9-10 meeting in Salem, but expect numbers to be very similar to 2015. Generally, deer and elk populations came out of the 2015-16 winter in good condition, with average over-winter survival for most herds. Oregon’s snow pack is in much better shape this year and the improved water supply for the summer months is good news for habitat and wildlife.
Get more information about the fall season and how big game herds and game birds are doing by attending one of ODFW’s public meetings being held around the state in early May, or join us for a live Twitter chat with @MyODFW on Thursday, May 5 from noon-2 p.m. (use #askODFW hashtag). Local district wildlife biologists will present tag information, wildlife survey results, discuss potential changes to the regulations and answer questions during these meetings and the Twitter chat.
2016 Big Game Public Meeting Schedule
Lakeview, May 3, 6 – 8 pm, Eagles Lodge, 27 South “E” Street, Lakeview OR
Redmond, May 3, 6 – 8 pm, Redmond High School, Community Room, 675 SW Rimrock, Redmond OR
Ontario, May 3.6 pm MDT, OSU Extension Office, 710 SW 5th Ave, Ontario OR
Burns, May 4, 7 – 9 pm, Harney County Community Center, 484 N Broadway, Burns OR
Heppner, May 4, 6 – 9 pm, ODFW Heppner District Office, 54173 Highway 74, Heppner OR
Klamath Falls, May 5, 7 pm, Shasta Grange Hall, 5831 Shasta Way, Klamath Falls OR
La Grande, May 5, 6 pm, Cook Memorial Library, 2006 4th St, La Grande OR
The Dalles, May 5, 6 pm, The Dalles Screen Shop, 3561 Klindt Dr, The Dalles OR
John Day, May 10, 5:30 – 7 pm, John Day District State Forestry Office, 415 Patterson Bridge Rd, John Day OR
Roseburg, May 10, 6 – 7:30 pm ODFW Roseburg District Office
Conference Rm, 4192 N Umpqua Hwy, Roseburg OR
Springfield, May 10, 6:30 – 8:30 pm, Oregon Dept. of Forestry, 3150 East Main St, Springfield OR
Seaside, May 10, 4 – 7 pm, Seaside Civic & Convention Center – Seamist Rm, 415 First Ave., Seaside OR
