The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) reduced the number of elk tags by 670 and deer tags by 3,953 available to hunters in the eastern part of the state for the 2020 season.
Specifically, ODFW reduced the number of antlerless elk tags in the Imnaha and Chesnimus units because populations are at or close to management objective levels. Fewer elk tags are also available in the Maury unit because the population is lagging.
Wildlife officials reduced the number of deer tags across 12 units because biologists saw fewer deer during fall surveys. They believe disease caused the decline.
“While not as severe as the EHD outbreak that caused a significant die-off of white-tails, we have continued to see AHD-caused mortalities of mule deer in central and south central Oregon for the last several years,” said Kevin Blakely, ODFW assistant wildlife division administrator. “Fewer mule deer were observed during population surveys in these units so we need to reduce tags. While cutting buck tags will not result in a population increase, as populations decline fewer bucks are available, so tags need to be reduced to maintain buck ratios.”
Go here to see a detailed breakdown of available elk and deer tags.
(Photo source: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife)