SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet Friday, Oct. 10 to adopt the 2009 Big Game Regulations and consider proposed changes to the state’s Landowner Preference program.

The meeting is scheduled to take place beginning at 8 a.m. at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission Room, located at 3406 Cherry Ave., N.E., Salem. The agenda for the meeting is posted on ODFW’s website at: www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/commission/minutes.

The Commission will receive a draft copy of the 2009 Oregon Big Game Regulations, which spells out next year’s season dates, bag limits, open areas, youth hunting opportunities and other regulations. The draft rules were developed by ODFW staff and presented at 23 public meetings around the state last spring. Additional public testimony about the proposed hunting regulations will be accepted at the upcoming Commission meeting.

Commission members will also consider a staff proposal recommending the minimum acreage for participation in the Landowner Preference program be raised to 640 acres from the current 160-acre minimum. Under a state law implemented by the Oregon Legislature in 1982 to mitigate big game depredation on private property, landowners with parcels of 160 acres or more are eligible to receive deer and elk tags. Staff has recommended raising the limit to 640 acres to discourage the practice of dividing large blocks into multiple 160-acre parcels and other abuses. Staff has also recommended increasing the maximum number of tags available to landowners with 20,000 or more acres.

The Commission will address several other topics at the Oct. 10 meeting, including the following:

• Proposed management plans for the E.E. Wilson and Columbia Basin wildlife areas

• A request for a fish passage waiver at Smith River Dam submitted by the Eugene Water and Electric Board

• Eight proposed fisheries restoration and enhancement projects costing a total of $228,352

• New proof of residency procedures ODFW license agents must follow before issuing resident hunting and fishing licenses

• Rules related to the sale of licenses and tags over the Internet and via fax and mail order

• A planning update from the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area

The Commission is the policy-making body for fish and wildlife issues in the state. The seven-member panel meets monthly. Agenda item exhibits may be accessed on-line through the ODFW website at www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/commission/minutes or by calling the ODFW Director’s Office at 800-720-6339 or 503-947-6044.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided as needed for individuals requesting assistive hearing devices, sign language, interpreters or large-print materials. Individuals needing these types of accommodations may call the ODFW Director’s Office at 800-720-6339 or 503-947-6044 at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting.

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