Hunting in Oregon: 7 Things to Know Before Applying for a Hunting Permit for Your Kids

People who love hunting love to hunt with their kids, and Oregon, along with most other states, accommodates younger hunters. Oregon in particular is a deeply rural state, with Portland in the far northwest its only major city.

The terrain is varied, and includes wild beaches, coastal rain forests, temperate hills, verdant mountain ranges, snow-clad volcanoes, extensive wetlands, rivers large and small, and the eastern high deserts – which are all dotted with small towns, farms, lumber tracts, and even sand dunes.

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There is also a national park and numerous state parks, beaches, and accessible private land in Oregon, including vast holdings by Weyerhaeuser, which has its own permit system that it requires for those wishing to hunt in its tree farms.

In Oregon, requirements vary a bit by age bracket and the game your young ones intend to target. And, naturally, prices for licenses, tags, and permits are higher for visitors than for state residents.

Here are a seven things to keep in mind when readying your son or daughter for their first hunt:

1. Juvenile Hunting License
Anyone between the ages of 12 and 17 may purchase a "juvenile hunting license." Eleven-year-olds may purchase this license provided they will turn 12 before they hunt.

2. Hunter Education Certificate
Hunters under 17 must have a Hunter Education Certificate or a hunting license showing their HEC number in their possession while hunting, unless they're on land owned by their parents or a guardian.

3. Big Game Age Requirement
No one under 12 may hunt big game in Oregon. An exception is made for participants in the Mentored Youth Hunter Program, who may be as young as 9.

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4. Free Licenses
Kids 13 and under may obtain a free license to hunt turkey, sage grouse, and waterfowl.

5. Accompaniment Requirement
Hunters 13 and under must be accompanied by someone over 21, unless they are on land owned by a parent or guardian.

6. Clothing Color Requirement
Any hunter under 17 must wear a hunter orange shirt, jacket, coat, vest, sweater, or hat while hunting. This does not apply to turkey hunters.

7. Point Save Program
Kids between nine and 12 must buy a license to participate in the state's Point Saver Program. This allows them to apply for and save up points applicable to game tags in the future.

This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before hunting.

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