Please Note: The deadline to apply for the two landowner positions has been extended to Nov. 2, 2007.

SALEM – More than 45 percent of land in Oregon is privately-owned, making private landowners essential to keeping hunters hunting and wildlife habitat healthy in Oregon. Help increase hunting access and improve wildlife habitat on private lands by serving on the board of ODFW’s ccess and Habitat program.

Applications are now being accepted for two landowner representatives on the statewide board. Oregonians with an interest in hunting and wildlife—especially those that own rural land and understand landowners’ concerns—are encouraged to apply by the Oct. 19 deadline.

Responsibilities of the position include attendance at quarterly meetings held at locations statewide, where board members review A&H project proposals. The individuals appointed will serve the term of Jan. 1, 2008 - Dec. 31, 2011.

Applicants for the two positions will initially be considered by state Department of Forestry and Department of Agriculture staff, who will forward their recommendations to the Fish and Wildlife Commission. The Commission will make the final appointments of the two statewide landowner representative positions during their Dec. 7 meeting in Salem.

Visit the Access and Habitat web page below for an application or contact Eric Rickerson at (503) 947-6082.

http://www.dfw.state.or.us/AH/get_involved.asp

About the Access and Habitat Board

The Oregon Legislature created the A&H Program in 1993 to bring hunters and private landowners together to improve wildlife habitat and increase hunting access on private lands by awarding grants for projects that accomplish these goals. Funded by a $2 surcharge on hunting licenses and the annual auction and raffle of tags, the A&H program receives about $1.6 million in revenues biennially.

The A&H statewide board and regional advisory councils are made up of seven citizen volunteers — three landowner representatives, three hunter representatives and one public-at-large representative who serves as chair— who review and recommend wildlife habitat improvement and hunter access projects for funding to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission.

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission appoints members who serve on the statewide A&H board to four-year terms. Regional advisory council members are appointed by the state board and can serve up to four years. Both the board and councils meet four times each year to review project funding applications, hear public testimony and act as liaisons between the program and the public.