[ODFW-News] Fishing and hunting licenses for 2003 go on sale Dec. 1

[ODFW News]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife =09
Contact: 	Anne Pressentin Young (503) 872-5264 x5356=09
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us  Fax: (503) 872-5700
=09
For Immediate Release	Wednesday, November 27, 2002

Fishing and hunting licenses for 2003 go on sale Dec. 1

PORTLAND - Oregon's anglers and hunters can start preparing for 2003 =
beginning Sunday, Dec. 1, when agents throughout the state begin selling =
next year's hunting and fishing licenses.=20

Prices for 2003 are the same as the past two years, according to the =
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. However, sportsmen and women will =
notice two changes for 2003 that are the result of requests from hunters =
and anglers.=20

First, hatchery harvest tags may be purchased at any license agent through =
the Point-of-Sale licensing system. In the past, these tags were sold =
separately from the computerized system and many agents chose not to sell =
them. The hatchery harvest tag allows the harvest of 10 adipose fin-clipped=
 hatchery salmon or steelhead. Anglers must hold a fishing or combination =
license and a combined angling tag to purchase the hatchery harvest tag. =
The price is $12 for both residents and non-residents.=20

Second, hunters and anglers who purchase a SportsPac may choose to hunt =
either the controlled spring bear season or the fall general bear season. =
In previous years, SportsPac holders did not have the option of obtaining =
a spring bear controlled hunt tag with their SportsPac. The SportsPac, =
which costs $105 for Oregon residents, provides the holder with a =
combination hunting and angling license and tags to hunt bear, cougar, =
elk, deer, upland birds, waterfowl and spring turkey, and to fish for =
salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and halibut.=20

Also on Dec. 1, hunters may begin purchasing chances to win a deer or elk =
tag for a long hunting season over multiple hunting units. Tickets for the =
Access and Habitat Deer and Elk Raffle Hunts go on sale Sunday at license =
agents and ODFW offices. The following raffle hunts are offered: statewide =
deer, statewide combination deer and elk, northeast Oregon deer, southeast =
Oregon deer, central Oregon deer, northeast Oregon elk, high desert elk, =
western Oregon elk and statewide elk. Winners have from Sept. 1 - Nov. 30, =
2003, to fill a tag. =20

Revenue raised through the sale of the Access and Habitat raffle tags is =
distributed as grants to individuals or organizations that complete =
projects to improve hunting access or wildlife habitat.=20

Hunters and anglers are reminded to bring a copy of their 2002 license =
with them to buy their new license and tags. While not required, this =
simple step speeds service at agent counters because all the information =
necessary to issue a new license is located on the old license. ODFW also =
reminds Oregon resident license buyers to bring a picture identification =
with them prove residency.=20

The 2003 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations should arrive at license agents =
this week, while the 2003 Oregon Big Game Regulations are expected to =
arrive Dec. 16, 2002.=20

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Information and Education Section
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
(503) 872-5264 ext 5528