Image: oregon_mulie

Oregon is decreasing its available mule deer tags and modifying hunting areas to address the declining mule deer population. (Photo by Tom Reichner)

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is reducing mule deer tags and shifting hunting units to new areas due to a sharp decline of the mule deer population in Eastern Oregon.

According to Central Oregon Daily, the Eastern Oregon deer wildlife management units are being replaced by deer hunt areas aligned with herd ranges.

"When those things were drawn up in the 50s, they were for deer. They were for elk. That really just didn't account for biology. They were a way to distribute hunters to the landscape,” ODFW Mule Deer Coordinator Josh Smith said.

Smith said ODFW has collected enough data to show a more accurate portrayal of mule deer population and herd ranges. And it’s been working on the switch from units to herd areas since 2005.

"The herd ranges were designed to capture that year-round movement of animals, really just taking into account the biology of the species instead of political boundaries that were drawn up in the 50s,” Smith said.

The original 47 units are now converted into 43 areas and there is a 9% reduction in available deer tags to reflect current buck ratios and population estimates.

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"Some of that was also related to just habitat conditions and potential escapement for mule deer, especially our bucks,” Smith said. “We just didn't want to have a huge impact and be able to control some of that harvest and hunter distribution on the landscape."

As the May 15 controlled hunt deadline approaches, ODFW wants hunters to be aware of these new areas and the names that come with them.

Smith explained that there is a new naming structure and says hunters shouldn’t look for their old hunt number or unit name, because they no longer exist.

“So, you need to really take that into account before you apply, apply early, and do some research," he said.

Check out ODFW’s interactive map for a more in-depth look at the new hunting areas.

There will be not any changes to preference points for hunters who have them. OnX Hunt has already been updated with the changes to represent the new hunting areas.