Hunt by Reservation Program

Reserve your hunt

Summary

The Hunt by Reservation (HbR) Program simply strives to connect landowners with hunters to benefit both. Landowners benefit from flexible managed access and a potential reduction in wildlife damage; hunters gain access to quality private land that is otherwise unavailable. As the program has grown over the past few years, so has its utility in bridging the gap between private lands and hunters, providing hunting opportunities for many game species throughout Oregon.

About this program

The program was created in 2019 using joint funding from Pheasants Forever and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). The original purpose was to develop a tool to reduce turkey damage near Western Oregon's metropolitan and sensitive agricultural areas using hunters and established seasons. A reservation style software was utilized to electronically manage hunter access and communications via email for pre-established hunt dates at enrolled properties. Hunt opportunities were offered on a first-come-first-serve basis with reservations becoming available at midnight approximately 2 weeks in advance. Hunter interest grew quickly, which necessitated a more equitable solution for hunt distribution, thus the HbR lottery was made. After trialing different methods for the lottery, the program was able to utilize ODFW's Electronic Licensing System (ELS) which the state uses for a multitude of recreation needs, including hunting and fishing licenses and tags.

Along the way, staff realized the program was poised to offer more than just turkey hunts; deer, elk, upland birds, and waterfowl were added to increase opportunities for access and address the needs and wants of more landowners. While providing a tool for reduced damage is at the core of the HbR Program, we now offer program services to Oregon landowners wanting to manage no-cost hunting access to any game species.

In 2025 the Oregon legislature approved funding for the HbR Program and coordinator to be solely housed and funded through ODFW.

Program Rules & Guidelines

How it works

Hunters must agree to follow all program rules and guidelines including site specific rules established by ODFW and participating landowners. Hunters who make the reservation are responsible for communicating these rules and guidelines to all hunters in their party.

Landowners voluntarily participate in this program and allow access for little in return. Hunters must show the upmost respect for them and their properties; one poor decision could imperil future opportunities for all.

1.  Participants will report any unethical, unsafe (for people or property), or illegal activity to the HbR Program Coordinator and/or Oregon State Police (Dial *677) if necessary.
2. Reservations are for hunting only. There will be no reservations for other uses such as wildlife photography, scouting, or making a reservation to block others from hunting. No commercial guiding or activities yielding a profit is allowed through any Hunt by Reservation permit.
3. To participate in the HbR Program lotteries, applicants must have a current or upcoming Oregon Hunting License. For permits requiring specific controlled hunt tags, those tags must already be available to the applicant.
4. Each hunter can have a maximum of two active reservations for separate days. A hunt reservation is "active" if it is happening that day or in the future. This limit includes hunts where one hunter is part of a group reservation created by another hunter. There is no limit to past reservations and no seasonal or annual limit. In short, you get TWO reservations at a time if they are not concurrent.
5. By creating a reservation, hunters agree to share their contact information with the participating landowner.
6. Hunters must secure a valid Oregon Hunting License, any species-specific tags, permits and/or validations 10 days in advance of the permit date, or within 24 hours when reservation is made with less than 10 days prior to the permit date. Permit will be cancelled if found in non-compliance.
7. Hunts occur only on scheduled days throughout legal seasons. Do not contact landowners to set up hunting arrangements outside of the program hunt dates.
8. Hunters are required to complete the "ODFW HbR Program Survey" provided by email after each hunt. Failure to complete the survey may result in program suspension.
9. Every person entering a participating property must be listed on the reservation permit, including non-hunting guests.
10. Always know your target and what lies in front and beyond. Follow all other firearm safety rules. Hunters are responsible for taking safe and legal shots.
11. Leave no trace; pick up all trash, including spent shells. Decoys, blinds, and other personal property must be removed daily; game cameras and minerals are prohibited on enrolled private properties.
12. Vehicles are allowed in designated parking areas only. No overnight camping, parking, or open fires.
13. Possession of alcohol and illegal drugs by any person while on an enrolled property is prohibited.
14. Study your hunt maps carefully so that you know safety zones, hunt zones, building location, roads and parking spots.
15. Hunt times, scouting rules, weapon restrictions, and age limits vary by property and are clearly written in each hunt description; follow these guidelines.
16. Hunters must contact landowners by 12 p.m. the day before a hunt begins to confirm hunt plans (when landowner contact is required). Earlier contact is okay. If the landowner is slow to respond, keep trying. If you cannot reach the landowner, please email the HbR Program Coordinator.

Hunters and guests that do not comply with the listed rules and guidelines will be suspended from program use.

How to Reserve a Hunt

What you need to do

Hunt by Reservation permits are available first by random lottery and then on a first-come-first-serve basis. Keep reading for information on both options.

Random Lottery
Access permits for hunts are drawn prior to big game seasons, and monthly for upland and waterfowl seasons through a random lottery. Hunters can apply to the lottery through the ODFW Electronic Licensing System (the same place you can buy hunting licenses and apply for big game controlled hunts). The application can be found in the product catalog by searching for "Hunt by Reservation Lottery", making sure to select your desired hunt month. Once that product is added to your cart, proceed to the checkout. You will then be asked to complete a survey for the product in your cart prior to checking out, which is the process of selecting the specific hunt/dates you are applying for. Choose a first choice and if applicable a second and third choice. Keep in mind that your draw choices are final, so make sure you choose the property and date you want when submitting. After completing the survey, be sure to save your response and complete the transaction by pressing the "Pay Now" button; you should receive an email receipt confirming the "purchase". You can also check your "Order History" in your account to confirm the transaction was made.

To award hunts, we randomize hunter names and move down the list through all applicant's first choices and award selections if available. Then move back to the top of the list to award second choices if available and repeat the process for third choices if any remain. If none of your choices are available when we get to your name, you won't draw for that hunt period. After the draw, we will notify all hunters whether they were successful or not. Successful hunters will receive their permit and hunt instructions automatically by email. At this time, your results will not show up in ELS like they do for big game tags. 

Watch this video: How to submit your monthly Hunt by Reservation draw choices in ELS

Leftover Permits, Recent Cancellations, and First-Come-First-Serve
The second way to get a permit is to make a reservation. Permits can be reserved on a first-come-first-serve basis and appear at three times:

1.  Hunts not reserved in the random draw are available in the blue table online starting at 10am on the day listed, which is typically the day after the lottery results are available.
2.  Anytime a hunter cancels their reservation, that hunt day automatically frees up and can be booked on this website (see calendar grid on the Reserve-Your-Hunt page)
3.  Anytime we add a property or extra hunt days in the middle of a draw period or as a first-come-first-serve opportunity, which provides more flexibility for landowners.

 

Notes and Tips

• Check here regularly for program updates, newly available reservations, and other opportunities and information
• Apply early! Issues can be fixed if notified prior to the application deadline; not much can be done after the deadline.
• Before applying for hunts, know the details- such as huntable species, weapon, and youth-only guidelines.
• All draw submissions are final, so double check your choices.
• Draw results will not be available in the "Controlled Hunt Wins" section of ELS (electronic license system).
• Enter a valid email in your ODFW account. If it's not, we can't send your hunt permit!
• Applying for the same hunt twice does not improve your odds. Your top choice should be the hunt you want most.

After Making a Reservation

Reservation Confirmed

After making or drawing a reservation you will receive an email with "Reservation Confirmed" as the subject. This email contains important information about how to prepare for your hunt, usually including: your hunt permit, parking pass, a PDF map of the property, a link to an OnX version of the map, next steps and reminders, landowner information, specific hunt rules, and links to modify or cancel your reservation. Cancelling your reservation in a timely manner allows others a chance to utilize the permit.

After you familiarize yourself with the maps and rules, and gather your documents, licenses, and tags, head out and enjoy your hunt at the specified location and date.

Don't forget to fill out the short "ODFW HbR Program Survey" which will be sent after your hunt date. Two additional reminders will be sent, please disregard if you already filled one out for that permit!

Landowners

Building a Partnership

Landowners are the heart of the HbR Program; we work closely with each one to create a hunting opportunity that aligns with the landowner's schedule, property size and features, and wildlife management goals. There are no long-term agreements affording landowners the flexibility to test out the program temporarily; it also allows the landowner to pause or revoke access to their property.

Our landowners are a diverse bunch. They range from large land trusts to small rural homesteads. Some landowners are seeking relief from wildlife damage to crops and property, and others just like to provide hunting access but don't have the time, personnel, or tools to manage the complexities, burdens, or responsibilities involved with public access. Some of our landowners get very involved in the planning process, and access management, while others prefer to sit back and let us do the work. Despite any differences, HbR landowners share two qualities: They want to provide hunting access because they understand that hunting is a sound wildlife management tool and a valuable American tradition, and they want precise control over when, where, how, and how much hunters can access their property. 

Our current property roster can be found here; feel free to view hunt pages and get an idea of the properties that we currently have enrolled. This list changes from spring to fall as hunting seasons fluctuate, properties are enrolled, and some become inactive from reducing wildlife damage. Property recruitment is year-round, and the enrollment process can be expedited to meet specific hunt deadlines and damage needs or even set up over a period of months to accommodate busy schedules.

We are confident the program can provide landowners with a flexible solution for limited hunter access utilizing program tools and services that can be applied to any situation to maintain a safe, efficient, and rewarding experience. If you have any questions, or are interested in participating, please contact the HbR Program Coordinator.

Landowner Tools and Services

Program benefits

The HbR Program can offer landowners a multitude of tools, services, and benefits to set up and maintain a limited access hunting opportunity on their property. The enrollment process begins with an email, phone call, or face-to-face meeting with the coordinator to answer any questions or address concerns an interested landowner may have. Time is taken to learn about the landowner's goals, schedule, lifestyle, and property specifics, then discuss what the HbR Program can offer:

• No long-term agreements- Allows the property owner to test the program, modify, pause, or restrict access at any time for any reason.
• Liability Protection- Landowners who provide free-of-charge access for recreational purposes, including hunting, are protected by Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) from all liability by users (except when harm by the landowner to the user is intentional). Public Use of Lands statutes, specifically 105.688-105.700 can be found here.
• Dedicated staff time- The HbR Program Coordinator is your main contact who provides all program services and communications while striving to return correspondence in a quick and friendly manner.
• Online reservation platform- This hotel-booking style software allows for simple, flexible, and efficient management of hunter access. The coordinator will handle all aspects of the software with landowners having the ability to view, modify, or cancel reservations if they wish.
  • Scheduling- The software takes the brunt of the work, issuing access permits and taking registration information through the online system. Pre-established values, coming from landowner and coordinator discussions, dictate how many permits are available and when. Program coordinator and landowners reserve the right to modify or cancel current or future permits.
  • Access permits and parking passes- The software creates a hunt permit and parking pass from the registration process, this is shared with the hunter (to be kept on person, or on vehicle dash while on an enrolled property); allows landowner or law enforcement to make sure access is approved. Examples can be found here.
  • Automated communications- The coordinator is notified when reservations are made, modified, or cancelled in real-time. Landowners can also receive these notifications if they would like.
  • Property and hunt webpage- A short description, property and hunt details, dates, rules, and a redacted map, can be viewed by prospective hunters for each individual property and hunt. Look at the bottom of the this webpage for example.
• Map development- The coordinator will create a PDF map of your property using available aerial imagery and landowner input. Common elements are safety zones, no entry zones, hunt areas, property boundaries, designated parking, houses and out-buildings, and points of interest. An OnX version of the map will also be created since the app is widely used by hunters.

• Signage- A selection of signs can be provided and displayed on-site to ensure safety and efficiency. Available signs include hunting by reservation only with contact info, parking, please close gate, safety zone, leaving access area, turn in poachers, and more.
• Typical rules and restrictions used on enrolled properties to improve safety and fit the landowner's goals and needs:
  • Hunt schedule and blackout dates- Pre-established seasons and tags are identified, within those, we find out your preference of when you would like hunters to access; could be daily, certain days of the week, or set on a "to be determined" basis. Going on vacation, do you have family in town, or friends wanting to hunt? We can blackout dates to accommodate your life and needs.
  • Hunt time- Generally one hour before sunrise to sunset but can shift to whatever works best for you; we can adjust for no loud bangs before 9am or stop hunting at 1pm so you can work on your property, for example.
  • Weapon and hunter type restrictions- You can choose what types of weapons can be used on your property such as a bow, shotgun, muzzleloader, or rifle (while still following ODFW regulations), or only provide the opportunity to youth, veterans, and/or disabled hunters.
  • Party size- How many guests can a permittee bring? Up to 3 additional people. All hunting and non-hunting guests must be listed on the reservation.
  • Hunter contact prior to hunt day- This is optional; many of our landowners prefer to be contacted by 12pm the day before a scheduled hunt to talk to the hunter and discuss their hunt plan and any other pertinent information.
• Reduced damage- Landowners looking for relief from damage often benefit directly from a harvest of the offending wildlife, and indirectly by increased hunting pressure or human presence.
• Increased vigilance- Permit holders are on the lookout for illegal activity such as trespass, vandalism, and poaching. They are required to notify the coordinator, and potentially law enforcement of such activities benefiting the landowner, especially remote properties.
• Volunteer workdays- The HbR Program can offer an organized volunteer workday to say thank you. Ideal projects will benefit the landowner while also improving access, habitat conditions, or the movement of wildlife on the property. We try to coordinate 2-4 volunteer workdays per year.

Testimonials

Landowner and hunter reviews

"Those are great user metrics! On my end the online reservation system was a breeze and definitely reduced the number of phone calls I got about access. I would strongly recommend it to any other private landowner who enrolls their property in UCAP."- Mik McKee, Stewardship Director, Western Rivers Conservancy

"The online portal is very straightforward with viewing/changing reservations, editing availability, etc… Everyone has been very friendly that I have spoken with, and many are interested in being contacted when the turkeys return."- Landowner

"Applying for the hunt was very easy, and when I reached out for assistance on a question I had after my daughter drew the hunt, ODFW responded very quickly. It was really a wonderful hunt opportunity for her- she got her first turkey ever, and within 30 minutes. We really appreciate this program and OSU's willingness to allow the hunt on the Soap Creek property."- HbR permit holder

"The system is easy to use and it is a great opportunity for people to get private land access. This program has allowed me to get my disabled son out to hunt. I am very thankful for that."- HbR permit holder

"It allows everyone an opportunity to put in for the property of their choosing. It provided us with opportunities for a place to hunt. If it was not for this system, we would mostly likely not have hunted turkeys."- HbR permit holder

"Easy to use. It is great to get access to private land. The landowners were so happy to have me there and they were very happy when I got one."- HbR permit holder

"Very easy to use - both for making reservations and learning about the available properties before making a selection. Love that this is an opportunity because as a new hunter I don't know of many places to hunt yet."- HbR permit holder

"I really appreciate the opportunity to go on a high quality hunt without having to pay hundreds of dollars. While we didn't harvest any turkeys this time, we got close."- HbR permit holder

Contact the HBR Program Coordinator if you have questions or need more information.