OAR 635-065-0772: Tags for Terminally Ill Children and Disabled Veterans

(1) “Disabled veteran” means a veteran who has a disability rating from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, a veteran whose discharge or release from active duty was for a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty or a veteran who was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in combat. ORS 408.225. (2) "Organization" means a non-profit organization qualified under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) with the principal purpose of granting hunting and fishing adventures for children that have been diagnosed with a terminal illness by a licensed physician or; (b) providing hunting and outdoor experiences for disabled veterans . (3) "Qualified child" means a terminally ill child sponsored by an organization who provides to the Department supporting documentation demonstrating compliance with the prerequisites provided in this rule. (4) “Qualified veteran” means a disabled veteran who is sponsored by an organization and who provides to the Department supporting documentation demonstrating that the veteran is a disabled veteran. (5 ) Annually upon approval by the Director, the Department may issue no more than 35 big game tags free of charge to organizations for use by qualified children or qualified veterans . The 35 tags will be distributed across black bear, deer, elk, and pronghorn antelope with no more than 10 tags to hunt black bear, no more than 10 tags to hunt either-sex deer, no more than 10 tags to hunt either-sex elk, and no more than five tags to hunt either-sex pronghorn antelope. Additionally, one bighorn sheep tag may be made available each year to a qualified child. (a) From January 1-June 30 each year, 20 tags will be available to qualified veterans (six deer tags, six elk tags, five black bear tags, and three pronghorn tags) and 15 tags will be available to qualified children (four deer tags, four elk tags, two pronghorn tags, no more than five black bear tags and no more than one bighorn sheep tag.) Each organization is limited to two tags of any one species. After June 30, remaining unrequested tags, except for bighorn sheep tag, may be made available to either qualified veterans or qualified children. (b) Each organization is limited to five tags total for all species except black bear per year. (c) Each organization is limited to two tags for black bear per year. (d) An individual tag entitles the holder to only one black bear, or one deer, or one elk, or one pronghorn antelope, or one bighorn sheep as specified on each tag. (e) A qualified child may obtain only one tag pursuant to this rule in a calendar year. (f) A qualified disabled veteran may obtain only one tag pursuant to this rule in their lifetime. (g) Tags for deer, elk, bear and pronghorn issued under this rule may be used to hunt within any Oregon Wildlife Management Unit (as defined in OAR chapter 635 division 080), except specific area closures as identified in the current Oregon Big Game Regulations, Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge, or Starkey Experimental Forest enclosure. (h) Tags for bighorn sheep issued under this rule may be used to hunt only in a specified geographic area which is outside of any other authorized bighorn sheep hunt area or opportunity and where there are issues of access or location that are not compatible with normal season and tag opportunity. (i) A member or representative of the organization must accompany the tag holder during the hunt. (j) Board members and employees of the organizations are not eligible for tags pursuant to this rule. (6) A qualified child must be between 12 and 21 years of age at the time of the hunt. (7) A qualified child under the age of 18 must hunt in the company of an adult 21 years of age or older. (8) A qualified child or qualified veteran may be either resident or non-resident and must comply with all requirements concerning: (a) Minimum hunting age (ORS 497.350); (b) Hunter education (ORS 497.360); (c) Hunting hours (OAR 635-065-0730); (d) Holding a valid Oregon hunting license, and (e) Using legal weapon for hunting the species for which the tag is issued. (9) For tags issued under this rule, open seasons are as follows: (a) For deer, elk, and pronghorn antelope: August 1 through November 30 of the year the tag is issued. (b) For spring black bear: April 1 through May 31 of the year the tag is issued. (c) For fall black bear: August 1 through December 31 of the year the tag is issued. (d) For bighorn sheep: August 1 through November 30 of the year the tag is issued.