SALEM — Hunters who bought a tag for deer, elk, cougar, bear, pronghorn or turkey in 2024 could be fined $25 if they fail to report on their deer or elk tags, whether or not they hunted or were successful, by Jan. 31.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife started requiring hunters to report in 2007. After just 41% of tags were reported on by the deadline in 2011, the agency imposed the $25 penalty, for deer and elk tags only, in 2012. Since then, reporting rates have risen to an average of 80% to 85% for deer and elk tags.

The information helps the agency’s biologists estimate hunting success rates and decide how many tags to issue in the future.

The $25 penalty is assessed when hunters buy a hunting license two years from now. It is a single penalty — hunters are fined $25 even if they fail to report on multiple tags. ODFW doesn’t assess the penalty for hunters who fail to report on pronghorn, cougar, bear and turkey tags (the penalty only applies to deer and elk tags), but that could change in the future, according to the agency.

Hunters who bought a SportsPac don’t have to report on tags they didn’t receive.

ODFW recommends hunters report online, which takes just a couple of minutes.

Hunters will need to verify their account on the MyODFW.com licensing page. Once you have completed steps to verify your account, choose “Submit a Hunting and Fishing Outcome Report” or “Outcome Reporting/Mandatory Reporting” to complete your report.

Information you need to report:

• Hunter/angler ID number.

• Two-digit wildlife management unit where you hunted most (if your hunt included more than one unit).

• Total number of days hunted, including mentoring youth, and the number of days in the unit where you hunted most.

Hunters can also submit reports at an ODFW license agent or ODFW office.

Reporting deadlines

Jan. 31 is the deadline to report on big game and turkey hunts that ended between April 1 and Dec. 31, 2024. For hunts that end between Jan. 1 and March 31, 2025, the deadline to report is April 15, 2025.

Hunters who report on time are entered in a contest for a special big game tag with hunting privileges similar to auction and raffle tags. ODFW draws three winners each year, and they can choose to hunt deer, elk or pronghorn in an expanded hunt area with a longer-than-usual season. The drawing takes place each June.

According to ODFW, money collected from hunters who fail to report on time is used to increase Oregon State Police patrol and enforcement of winter range closures. These closures help deer, elk and other wildlife survive the winter by limiting disturbances from people.