ODFW Details ‘Significantly Expanded’ Jackson TMA In Southern Oregon

THE FOLLOWING IS A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE

Hunters and recreationists who plan to use the Jackson Cooperative Travel Management Area (TMA) should download the newest version of the georeferenced .pdf map. updated on Oct. 14. There have been major changes this year, so users should double check where they plan to access.

These maps can be easily read using your smart phone and a free mapping software called Avenza – the free version allows up to three georeferenced maps to be loaded onto the app.

Paper maps are still available at the ODFW Rogue Watershed District Office (1495 E Gregory Rd., Central Point) and at sign kiosks at arterial roads that enter the TMA throughout the hunting season. Other georeferenced maps can be found here on MyODFW.com

The Jackson TMA is in effect every year from Oct. 15 – Apr. 30 with seasonal road closures and arterial travel roads, known as the “green dot” roads open to travel by motor vehicle.

The TMA was significantly expanded with new landowners allowing public access to their lands for hunting and other recreation through an Access & Habitat Program agreement. The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission approved the new agreement that runs through June 2028 at their June 13 meeting.

O&C lands can make for difficult access to public land

In recent years, some industrial timber lands have become more restrictive to public access with gates and no trespassing signs posted on private roads.

Many hunters and recreationists may not know that most Bureau of Land Management public lands are classified as “O&C lands” in western Oregon. This designation can make access difficult because the roads often pass through private timberlands. Some roads have easements, some do not. “O&C lands” refer to the Oregon & California Railroad Revested Lands with history dating back to 1866.

“What may have been perceived as a public easement for years has never actually been that because many of those roads were always privately held and maintained. Some private landowners are now choosing to exercise their property rights by installing gates and posting no trespassing signage,” said Ryan Battleson, ODFW wildlife habitat biologist and SW Regional Access & Habitat Coordinator.

“Some of this is due to changes in land ownership, but much of it is due to higher fire season risks, rising timber insurance costs, illegal dumping, and vandalism all working against continued public access on private lands and through them, even to gain access to public land,” Battleson said.

New Jackson TMA agreement opens more lands to public use

“But there is some good news – the 2025-2028 Access & Habitat Program agreement brought in 13,000 private acres to the Jackson TMA. It safeguarded or improved access to thousands of acres of public land through the program,” Battleson said.

The updated Jackson TMA includes willing timber companies and their private road systems to protect access to public lands surrounded by private property and allows regulated hunter access to these industrial forestry lands.

“We are fortunate to add BTG Pactual as a new cooperator for this next access agreement,” says Mathew Vargas, ODFW District Wildlife Biologist for the Rogue Watershed. “Silver Butte Timber Company, Lone Rock Resources (that also manage Juniper Properties), and Manulife Investment Management (which owns Hancock and System Global Timberlands LLC) have returned as cooperating partners and added even more acreage,” Vargas said.

Landowners are compensated for participating in the Access & Habitat Program through ODFW’s Access & Habitat fund. There is no camping or fires allowed on any of the private lands participating in the Jackson TMA, and access can be restricted by landowners during fire season. Hunters should visit the Oregon Forestry Industry Council for the most up to date information on fire season restrictions for any private forestlands.

In total, the Jackson Cooperative TMA encompasses 33,771 acres of private land and over 62,000 acres of public land near the towns of Butte Falls, Shady Cove, and Lost Creek Lake.

It was established in 1995 to protect private timberlands to reduce road damage, silt runoff to streams, vandalism, timber theft, and illegal garbage dumping. It also aims limit disturbance to wintering black-tailed deer, while allowing public access to the area. The seasonal road closures help protect black-tailed deer winter range habitat and enhance the hunting experience for those that wish to walk closed roads systems.