Report fall big game, turkey hunts by Jan. 31
Chance to win special deer, elk or pronghorn tag

SALEM, Ore.—The deadline for hunters to report results for their 2009 fall big game and turkey tags is Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Hunters need to report on each deer, elk, pronghorn, bear, cougar and turkey tag purchased—even if they did not harvest an animal or go hunting and even if they were contacted by ODFW during a telephone harvest survey. ODFW uses the information to assess harvest rates and set hunting seasons.

For 2009 big game hunts with seasons ending between Jan. 1 and March 31, 2010, the deadline to report is April 15, 2010.

Hunters that report by the deadlines of Jan. 31 and April 15 will be entered into a drawing to win a big game tag of their choice (deer, elk or pronghorn). Winners of the tags will be required to pay the standard tag fee but entitled to hunt during an extended season and in an expanded hunt area, similar to big game auction and raffle tag privileges. The drawing will occur in May and winners will be notified by mail before June 1, 2010.

There will be one entry per hunter and ODFW will award three tags. Winners can purchase these tags in addition to a general season or controlled deer, elk or pronghorn tag. 

Hunters can report either by telephone or online. Call 1-866-947-ODFW (6339) for the automated phone system, or access the hunting report form through the Hunting Resources section of the website.

Before calling the phone line or logging into the online system, hunters should have the following information ready:

• Hunter/Angler ID (ODFW ID) number located on licenses, tags and applications
• If the hunt area included more than one WMU, hunters will need to know the two-digit Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) number of the unit hunted in the most. Online map of WMUs
• The total number of days hunted—including mentoring youth.
• The number of days hunted in the WMU they hunted most often.

Since 2008, hunters have been required to report the results of their hunt. As of Jan. 15, 2010, 28 percent of 2009 tags had been reported, or 129,702 out of 469,640 total tags sold. Last year, reporting rates averaged less than 20 percent. Currently, hunters face no penalty for not reporting, but this may change in the future if hunters continue to fail to report.

The online and phone reporting systems will remain usable so even hunters that miss the deadlines are encouraged to report as soon as possible.

June 30, 2010 will be the deadline for reporting 2010 spring bear and spring turkey hunts.

###