ODFW: Portions Of East Lane TMA Reopening; Tag Exchange Available For Fire-impacted Elk Archers

THE FOLLOWING ARE PRESS RELEASES FROM THE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE

Portions of East Lane TMA to open Oct. 10

Portions of the East Lane Travel Management Area (TMA) will on Saturday, Oct. 10 after a delay due to hazardous fire conditions.

Some areas of this 62-square mile TMA in the McKenzie and Indigo units will remain closed because of fire damage or ongoing fire and restoration activities due to the Holiday Farm Fire.

Open areas include the Fall Creek/Lookout Point Reservoir and Lost Creek blocks. These areas are located on East Lane TMA maps from townships 18s – 21s and ranges 1e – 2w.

All other blocks included in the TMA will remain closed this hunting season because of fire damage or use in staging ongoing fire and restoration activities.

“We ask hunters to please respect these closures and follow TMA regulations in open areas, and thank them for their cooperation and understanding during these unusual times,” said Chris Yee, ODFW district biologist.

TMA maps are available at access point kiosks, outside of the gated ODFW compound in Springfield, and geo-pdfs for download athttps://www.dfw.state.or.us/maps/#Travel

For more information on East Lane and other TMAs, see the Big Game Regulations http://www.eregulations.com/oregon/big-game-hunting/cooperative-travel-management-areas/

Tag exchange option available for archery elk hunters personally impacted by wildfire

General Season Archery Elk hunters who were unable to hunt because they were displaced or personally impacted by wildfires may exchange their tag for a general season any legal weapon elk tag.

The exchange option is available only to general season archery hunters who never had a chance to hunt during the 2020 season. “Personally impacted” means living in an area that was evacuated due to wildfires or being a first responder, law enforcement, firefighter or utility worker who was unable to hunt. Having family and friends that were impacted or not being able to hunt a specific area does not qualify for a tag exchange. 

To exchange an unused tag, fill out the following form: https://odfw.wufoo.com/forms/archery-elk-tag-exchange-form/ Hunters will be required to attest that they did not hunt during the archery season.

Archery Elk hunters exchanging their tag will need to choose a tag for one of the following seasons instead (see the Big Game Regulations for more details about these seasons).

• West Cascade elk, Oct. 17-23 (Bag limit: One bull elk)
• Rocky Mountain elk second season, Nov. 7-15 in some NE Oregon units (Bag limit: One spike elk)
• Coast elk first season, Nov. 14-17 (Bag limit: One bull elk)
• Coast elk second season, Nov. 21-27 (Bag limit: Bull or spike, see regulations)

Hunters are advised to begin this process as soon as possible and no later than Wednesday at 5 p.m. the week before the season begins. The form has deadlines for each of the tag exchange choices because the process will take at least a day and hunters need to pick up their new tag before the hunt begins. E-taggers will simply need to sync their app once the process is completed. Paper taggers can print the new tag from their online account or visit a license sale agent.

Other hunters personally impacted by the wildfires who were unable to hunt the 2020 season due to personal circumstances from the wildfires may be eligible for a refund of their tag. More information on when ODFW refunds for tag and preference points is available at https://myodfw.com/articles/2020-wildfires-impact-hunting-fishing-wildlife

“It was a very tough September for Oregonians, and the direct human impacts have been dramatic,” said Linda Lytle, ODFW License Services Manager. “We wanted to offer this option to general season archery hunters who had their plans upended due to wildfires.”