Elk NetworkHunting Participation Booms in Oregon

General | May 13, 2017

Twenty-two percent more people purchased hunting licenses in 2016 than the year before. That’s significant! It’s also downright surprising when you consider Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) thought participation would drop after increasing the cost of hunting licenses and fees.20162015More hunters in the field equates into more revenue raised to benefit conservation and wildlife management work.

“Increasing participation is very important as hunters and anglers account for a full 50 percent of our budget,” Chris Willard, ODFW recruitment and retention coordinator, told the Statesman Journal. “Without hunters and anglers, our agency could not meet its conservation mission.”

Hunters purchased 334,405 licenses in 2016 compared to 264,000 in 2015.