Hunters Can Now Donate to Predatory Animal Control: Program Created by Oregon State Legislature
OutdoorHub 12.28.11
Salem, OR—Hunters may now donate to predatory animal control, with proceeds going to Oregon counties to help fund their local predator control programs.
The Oregon State Legislature created this new program with the passage of HB3636 earlier this year.
Hunters purchasing a license, tag or permit at a license sales agent or online will be asked if they would like to make a predatory animal control donation through a $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, or $100 contribution.
Any donation received will be split among counties with a predatory animal control program where the license, tag or permit is valid. For example, if the donation is made with the purchase of a general hunting license, it would be evenly distributed among all counties with predatory animal control programs because these licenses are valid statewide. If the donation is made with the purchase of a controlled big game tag for a particular wildlife management unit, the donation would go to the county (or counties) where that unit is based, provided the county has a predatory animal control program.
Customers may also choose to donate to the program without actually purchasing a license, tag or permit. To designate a specific county for a donation, the purchase must be made at an ODFW office that sells licenses.
ODFW will track all donations and provide monies to the appropriate counties on a quarterly basis.
The following counties work with USDA Wildlife Services to control predators and are eligible for the program: Baker, Benton, Clackamas, Coos, Crook, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Gilliam, Jackson, Jefferson, Harney, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Malheur, Marion, Morrow, Polk, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco and Washington. Other counties may have their own predator control programs and could also qualify, or become eligible for funds once they start their own program.
HB3636 designated the following animals to be covered by the fund, “to the extent allowable under state and federal law.” Most current predator control programs target coyotes, cougars and bears.
- “Predatory animals” or feral swine, coyotes, rabbits, rodents, and some birds which are or may be destructive to agricultural crops.
- “Fur-bearing mammals” or beaver, bobcat, fisher, marten, mink, muskrat, otter, raccoon, red fox and gray fox.
- Black bears, cougars, and gray wolves. Special rules guide any take of gray wolves, which are a special status game mammal and are currently considered endangered throughout the state of Oregon.
