Michelle Dennehy (503) 947-6022
Fax: (503) 947-6009

Salem, Ore. – The cancellation of the Access and Habitat contract for the Coombs Canyon Regulated Hunt Area (RHA) in Umatilla County will cancel one youth hunt and reduce access for other hunts.

No tags will be offered for the controlled youth deer hunt 144T. Also, hunters will no longer be able to use the area known as the Coombs Canyon RHA for the 644C antlerless deer hunt, game bird, and predator hunting without permission from the landowner.

ODFW is notifying youth hunters that applied for 144T as their first choice about their options and needs to hear from these hunters by June 1. If applicants that made 144T their first choice do not notify ODFW by June 1, their second choice hunt will automatically become their first choice.

Hunters with a 644C, South Columbia Basin antlerless deer tag need to gain permission to hunt on other parcels of private land. ODFW will be contacting hunters who apply for the 644C hunt about the changes. Hunters can request changes to their application until June 1. 

The Coombs Canyon RHA represented 12,500 acres in Umatilla County. Until canceling the contract, the landowner provided open public hunting access under a grant from ODFW’s Access and Habitat Program, which is funded by a $2 surcharge on hunting licenses and from auction and raffle deer and elk tag sales.