Chapter 161 Oregon Laws 2001

AN ACT

HB 2224

Relating to private hunting preserves; amending ORS 497.248.

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

SECTION 1. ORS 497.248 is amended to read:

497.248. (1) No person shall engage in the business of operating a private hunting preserve for the hunting of privately owned or propagated game birds unless the person first obtains from the State Fish and Wildlife Commission a private hunting preserve license.

(2) The commission shall issue a private hunting preserve license to an applicant therefor if the commission finds that the operation of the preserve will meet the following requirements:

(a) The preserve is on one continuous tract of land owned by the applicant or leased by the applicant [for a period of at least five years] and contains:

(A) Not more than 640 acres, if the preserve is located in the area west of the summit of the Cascade Mountains; or

(B) Not more than 1,280 acres, if the preserve is located in the area east of the summit of the Cascade Mountains.

(b) The preserve is located at least three miles from any other licensed private hunting preserve.

(c) No portion of the preserve is located closer than one-half mile to any park, wilderness area, refuge or wildlife management area operated by any agency of the state or federal government.

(d) The exterior boundaries of the preserve are clearly defined and posted with signs erected around the extremity at intervals of 1,320 feet or less. The signs shall comply with requirements prescribed by the State Department of Fish and Wildlife.

(e) The preserve has facilities to propagate or hold not less than 500 of each wildlife species to be released for hunting.

(f) The applicant will not prevent or attempt to prevent public hunting on lands adjacent to the preserve.

(3) The commission, by rule, shall prescribe the time, manner and place of hunting on private preserves, the wildlife species to be hunted, requirements for the care and marking of wildlife raised on the preserve, the release of wildlife received from another state, the procedures for marking indigenous wildlife incidentally taken on the preserve and the fees therefor, and record keeping and reporting procedures.

(4) No person shall hunt on a private hunting preserve unless the person first obtains from the commission a hunting license or a private hunting preserve permit.

Approved by the Governor May 21, 2001

Filed in the office of Secretary of State May 21, 2001

Effective date January 1, 2002

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