OAR 635-049-0001: Policy

These rules govern holding and propagation of cervids in Oregon. Oregon’s wildlife policy (ORS 496.012) requires the Fish and Wildlife Commission to prevent “serious depletion of any indigenous wildlife species.” More specifically, ORS 497.228 requires the Commission to ensure that cervid propagation operations are conducted “in such manner as will not be harmful to existing wildlife populations.” Accordingly, these rules regulate the private holding and propagation of cervids to protect the public’s native wildlife. In particular, the Commission is concerned that unregulated holding of captive cervids would put the public’s native wildlife at risk in terms of genetic pollution and disease.