Most hunting in Oregon occurs on public lands, but some of the best game and conditions are found on private property.
To enhance public access to private lands, Oregon operates a program that encourages landowners to allow hunting within their property lines. The program, called Access and Habitat, works with landowners to set hours, days, permit requirements, and boundaries where regulated
hunting can occur, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
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Some landowners allow open access, while others opt for more restricted use. Before stepping foot on private land, hunters need to consider some of the rules set by landowners and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Knowing the rules is the hunter’s responsibility. Here are four things for hunters to consider.
1. About 4.7 million acres of private land in Oregon are accessible to hunters. The land includes private ranches and large forest areas where timber companies operate,
according to the 2015 AH report to the Oregon legislature. Some private lands require hunters to make reservations in advance or obtain a permit for designated times. The AH website lists contact numbers and private lands with hunting access.
2. To help tech-savvy hunters figure out the rules, AH developed an online tool –
OregonHuntingMap.com – that provides maps with information about hunting areas including ownership, size, type of game, open seasons and regulations.
AH recommends a free smartphone app called
PDF Maps for use out in the wilds. The app lets users download the state’s hunting maps for future viewing in areas where cellular service is unavailable. The app by Avenza also provides a compass, real-time GPS tracking and altitude measures.
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3. For those hunting Oregon’s upland game birds, access to about 10,000 acres in the Columbia Basin is allowed by four landowners. Some areas require a reservation while others are open. Specific hours are set for certain dates within the season, which usually lasts from September to January. Interested hunters can find bird hunting guides, seasons, dog and raptor rules, and a game bird
hunting application on the state’s website.
4. Access to private lands is a moving target. During fire season, for instance, landowners often restrict access until extreme conditions change. With drought conditions in the west continuing, closures have risen in number and duration of time.
Illegal activities also prompt unanticipated closures of once-open private lands. Rural lands are common sites for meth labs, marijuana groves, target shooting, timber theft and illegal dumping,
according to the Oregon Department of Forestry.
This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before hunting.
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