Commission makes hunter orange mandatory for youth

BEND, Ore. – The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission today made wearing hunter orange mandatory for youth 17 years of age and younger. The rule will take effect August 1, 2011.

The rule will require the wearing of a hunter orange upper garment OR hat for youth hunters while hunting game mammals and upland birds (except turkey) with any firearm.

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission also set the 2011 Oregon Big Game Regulations which include season dates, bag limits and open areas, statewide youth hunts, and other information.

There were several additions to the 2011 big game regulations including allowing the use of any legal weapon during “rifle” pronghorn, deer and elk hunts; and allow hunters who bought a Sport Pac to use the deer voucher for 600 series hunts.

Changes for 2011 include:

• Allowing any legal weapon during “rifle” pronghorn, deer and elk hunts (already legal for other species).
• Allowing Sport Pac hunters to use the deer voucher for 600 series hunts.
• Allowing limited tags sales after deadlines.
• Implementing a winter range closure at Phillip W. Schneider Wildlife Area.
• Extend Murderers Creek-Flagtail TMA so it begins 3 days prior to archery season (currently begins 3 days prior to buck deer rifle season).
• Replacing general late season archery cow hunts with controlled hunts in Santiam, Stott Mt, Alsea, McKenzie and N. Indigo (due to declining elk populations and to better distribute hunters).
• Allow additional deer hunting on William Finley National Wildlife Refuge
• New “Wendling” Travel Management Area in a portion of McKenzie Unit on private timberland (north of Hwy 126, east of Marcola Road, south of Mohawk River Mainline).
• Bridge Creek Wildlife Area to open for public access April 15 (not May 1) to coincide with spring turkey season and opening of PW Schneider WA.

The Commission decided to continue current regulations and not allow archery hunters to use lighted nocks or cameras. It also decided not to begin a pilot program that would have allowed crossbows for some hunters with disabilities.

The Commission meeting continues this afternoon and tomorrow, when the Commission is expected to take action on the Updated 2010 Oregon Wolf Conservation and Management Plan and hear an informational briefing on the Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation Assessment and Strategy for Oregon, a recovery plan for the species. If the meeting continues tomorrow, which is likely, it will begin at 8 a.m. at the Deschutes County Services Building, 1300 NW Wall Street, Suite 200, Bend.

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