Any hunter who purchased 2016 big game or turkey tags needs to report their hunt results by the deadline, which is Jan. 31, 2016 for most tags.
Hunters are required to report on each deer, elk, cougar, bear, pronghorn and turkey tag purchased—even if they were not successful or did not hunt. Sports Pac license holders need to report on each big game or turkey tag issued.
Hunters have two ways to report:
- Online via the Oregon Fish & Wildlife website.
- By telephone: Call 1-866-947-6339 to talk to a customer service representative. Hours: 6 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Pacific Time, seven days a week.
Reporting deadlines are:
- Jan. 31, 2017 for all 2016 hunts that end by Dec. 31, 2016
- April 15, 2017 for all 2015 hunts that end between Jan. 1- March 31, 2017
Hunters who fail to report 2016 deer or elk tags on time will be penalized $25 when they purchase a 2018 hunting license. This penalty is assessed once, regardless of the number of unreported tags.
As of Jan. 10, 2017, about 53 percent of elk tags and 51 percent of deer tags have been reported for hunts with a Jan 31 reporting deadline. ODFW will be sending reminder postcards to hunters who haven’t reported yet later this month.
“The information hunters provide is used when setting controlled hunt tag numbers and hunting seasons,” said ODFW Gvame Program Manager Tom Thornton. “We really appreciate hunters taking a few minutes of their time to complete the report.”
ODFW used to get this data through phone surveys but these became more difficult and expensive as hunters moved or screened their calls. The mandatory reporting program was put in place in 2007 so these calls could be phased out.
A penalty of $25 was added three years ago because even after several years promoting the program and providing incentives to report, only about 40 percent of tags were being reported on time. This rate was too low to for ODFW to even use the data.
After the penalty was implemented for 2012 tags, rates jumped to 80 percent or more. This has allowed ODFW to phase out its big game survey calls; the agency no longer makes these calls.
Chance to win special big game tag
Hunters that report on time are entered into a drawing to win a special big game tag. ODFW selects three names each year and the winners can choose a deer, elk or pronghorn tag. Hunters who win may hunt in an expanded hunt area and during an extended season, similar to auction and raffle tags that hunters can pay thousands for.
One of this year’s winners, Brent Quick of Springfield, chose an elk tag and took a beautiful bull in Wenaha Unit [see photo]. “It was one of my top five best days, to kill my first elk with good friends,” he said. “I now have 330 pounds of elk in my freezer to feed a family of five, pretty cool.”
