(a) "Disabled veteran" and "veteran" have the meanings given those terms in ORS 408.225.
(b) "Organization" means a nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and has the principal purpose of granting hunting and fishing adventures for disabled veterans.
(c) "Qualified veteran" means a disabled veteran who is sponsored by an organization and who provides the State Department of Fish and Wildlife with documentation demonstrating that the veteran is a disabled veteran.
(2) Annually upon approval by the State Fish and Wildlife Director, notwithstanding ORS 497.112, the department may issue big game tags free of charge to organizations for use by qualified veterans. Tags issued under this section must be for black bear, deer, elk or pronghorn antelope.
(3)(a) Except as provided in subsection (4)(a) of this section, the department may not issue more than 20 tags annually under this section.
(b) The department may not issue an organization a total of more than five tags annually under this section. However, tags for black bear do not count toward the annual tag limit for an organization. An organization is limited to two tags for black bear annually.
(4)(a) If any tags made available under ORS 496.146 (19) to sponsors of hunting trips for terminally ill children have not been requested by a sponsor 30 days prior to the relevant open season, the department may make the unrequested tags available for issuance under this section. If any tags made available under this section have not been requested by an organization 30 days prior to the relevant open season, the department may make the unrequested tags available to sponsors described in ORS 496.146 (19).
(b) Not more than 10 of the total tags issued under this section and ORS 496.146 (19) in a year may be for hunting black bear. Not more than 10 of the total tags issued under this section and ORS 496.146 (19) in a year may be for hunting deer. Not more than 10 of the total tags issued under this section and ORS 496.146 (19) in a year may be for hunting elk. Not more than five of the total tags issued under this section and ORS 496.146 (19) in a year may be for hunting pronghorn antelope.
(5) A qualified veteran may obtain only one tag under this section annually. A tag issued under this section authorizes the taking of a single animal. A qualified veteran need not be a resident of this state.
(6) A qualified veteran may use a tag issued under this section to hunt within any wildlife management unit except specific area closures identified in department rules regulating the hunting of big game animals, Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge and the Starkey Experimental Forest enclosure.
(7) A tag issued under this section does not exempt a qualified veteran from any requirement to:
(a) Comply with department rules regarding hunting hours;
(b) Hold a valid Oregon hunting license; and
(c) Use a lawful weapon to hunt the species for which the tag is issued. [2018 c.100 §2]
Note: 497.116 was added to and made a part of the wildlife laws by legislative action but was not added to ORS chapter 497 or any series therein. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.