Hunting on private lands: Oregon Open Fields Program

February 10, 2021

Oregon Open Fields is a grant that the A&H Program has been awarded from the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) through the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program. First awarded in 2008 and renewed in the 2014 and 2020 Farm Bills, this program provides block grants to state agencies and tribes to increase public hunting access to private land and improve wildlife habitat on enrolled lands.

Willamette Valley goose hunter access Open Fields Program

Open Fields funding is used to pay landowners on a per-acre basis to allow public hunting on private land in the Willamette Valley. Properties that experience goose damage are given priority. Landowners may choose to enroll on a “Welcome to Hunt” or a “By-Permission” basis. All By-Permission hunting reservations are coordinated through ODFW Staff.

Interested landowners should contact the Willamette Valley Open Fields Coordinator, David Stroppel, 541-757-5237.

Google-based driving directions, interactive property maps, and search functions are available at www.OregonHuntingMap.com.

A daily hunting permit is required on all Open Fields Access Areas. Permits are available from self-serve permit boxes located on each property. Hunters should reference the Detail Map for location of permit boxes/parking areas.

Property Name	Detail Map (pdfs)	Access Type	Size (acres)	WMU	Open Period
Manning Access Area	Manning	Welcome to Hunt	2,137	McKenzie	Sep 11 – Mar 10
Galen Kropf Farms Access Area	Galen Kropf	Welcome to Hunt	913	McKenzie	Oct. 23 - Mar. 10
Calvin Farms Access Area	Clear Lake	Welcome to Hunt	84	Willamette	Oct. 23 - Mar. 10
Tenbusch Farms Access Area	Tenbusch Farms	Welcome to Hunt	298	McKenzie	Oct. 23 - Mar. 10

Columbia Basin access Open Fields Program

The Columbia Basin Access Program operates similarly to the Willamette Valley Goose Hunter Access Program, but focuses on upland hunting opportunities on private lands in the Columbia Basin. Landowners may choose to enroll on a “Welcome to Hunt” or a “By-Permission” basis. All By-Permission hunting reservations are coordinated through ODFW Staff.

Interested landowners and hunters should contact the Columbia Basin Open Fields Coordinator, Gabe McNassar, at 541-676-5230 Hunting Opportunities.

Note: for By-Permission properties, you must call 541-676-5230 to make a reservation.

Google-based driving directions, interactive property maps, and search functions are available at www.OregonHuntingMap.com.

A daily hunting permit is required on all Open Fields Access Areas. Permits are available from self-serve permit boxes located on each property. Hunters should reference the Detail Map for location of permit boxes.

Property Name	Detail Map (pdf)	Access Type	Acres	WMU	Open Period
Social Ridge Access Area	Social Ridge	Welcome to Hunt	7,039	Columbia Basin	Year Round
Bunker Hill Access Area	Bunker Hill	By-Permission	1,345	Columbia Basin	Day after Deer rifle season to Jan. 31
Four Mile Access Area	Four Mile	Welcome to Hunt	1,506	Columbia Basin	Year Round

New River Aleutian Goose Project

This project began in 2007 in response to severe goose damage. In addition to providing fertilizer to landowners, it allows “By-Permission” waterfowl hunting on 3,540 acres owned by five landowners, plus improved access to 500 acres of BLM land, near Bandon, Oregon.

The property will be open to waterfowl hunting during general waterfowl seasons (consult current Game Bird Regulations for season dates) and from late February through March 10 for geese.

All lands will be open every day during the spring goose season (consult current Game Bird Regulations for season dates). Knapp and Kamph lands will allow approximately 6 hunters per day on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. McKenzie lands will allow 10 hunters per day, and Haga and Azevedo will allow approximately 6 hunters per day on Saturdays and Sundays. More hunters may be allowed when large numbers of geese are present.

Note: Hunters must obtain permission prior to hunting and accessing the property. Permission can be obtained by contacting the landowner by phone at the following numbers. Reservations will be booked on a first come, first served basis. Landowners reserve the right to refuse permission and close areas due to normal ranch operations.

Property Owner	Zone	Contact	Acres	Map
Jamey Knapp	A1	541-290-7818	3,440. Greatly improves access to 500 acres of BLM land.	New River Access Area
Jim Kamph	A2	541-290-0270
Rick McKenzie	B1	541-404-8040
John Swenson	B2	541-217-1711
Gabe Azevedo	B3	209-604-3315

Access and Habitat Program online hunt reservation system

Oregon’s Access and Habitat Program provides public hunting access to private lands throughout Oregon. Many of these properties do not require permission to hunt. These “Welcome to Hunt” properties are all posted on our interactive Oregon Hunting Map, click on the green flags for information. "By Permission" properties are indicated with a yellow flag and require permission or advance registration. The yellow "By Permission" flags are located at the nearest District office to the property and have information on how to acquire access.

The following two A&H Access Areas require reservations via internet. Please select the area you would like to hunt to begin the reservation process. Note that all hunters must have the appropriate tag for the hunting area.

Property	WMU	Acres	Tag Required
Aspen Valley	Maury - 36	8,480	136, 236X, 236Y, 236A, 136R, 236R, 236T, or General Season Cougar
Dixie Meadows	Ochoco - 37	5,384	137, 237B, 237C1, 237C2, 237X, 237Y, 237T1, 237T2, or 437

Program contacts

Travis Schultz
Access and Habitat Program Coordinator
4034 Fairview Industrial Dr. SE
Salem, OR 97302
Tel: 503-947-6087
Fax: 503-947-6330
Travis.R.Schultz@State.or.us

Gabe McNassar
Columbia Basin Open Fields Coordinator
Heppner District
Tel. 541-676-5230
Fax. 541-676-9075
Gabriel.J.McNassar@state.or.us.

David Stroppel
Willamette Valley Open Fields Coordinator
S. Willamette District
Tel. 541-757-5237
David.J.Stroppel@state.or.us

Dylan Edwards
Southwest Open Fields Coordinator
Rogue Watershed District Office
Tel. 541-857-2408
Jack.D.Edwards@state.or.us