Manulife to end participation in Access and Habitat Program on May 31: Hunter access to be impacted in northeast, southwest Oregon

SALEM, Ore.—Manulife will not renew its cooperative agreement with ODFW's Access and Habitat program, the company informed ODFW late last week.

This means Manulife properties in northeast Oregon and Jackson County that are currently open to hunter access through the Access and Habitat "Welcome to Hunt" program will no longer be open for hunting through the program after May 31, 2026. Hunters applying for fall controlled hunts need to be aware of these changes as lands where they plan to hunt may require separate fees or be closed.

Hunters will need permission from Manulife to enter their property as of June 1, 2026. Manulife has informed ODFW that they intend to launch a fee permit program where hunters or other recreationists can purchase a permit to access their lands. More information about the program should be available from Manulife in coming weeks, prior to the May 15 controlled hunt application deadline.

The decision will impact about 270,000 acres in northeast Oregon and a little over 12,400 acres in southwest Oregon. The list of impacted areas includes:

Northeast Oregon:

• Catherine Creek, Mount Emily, Sled Springs (Manulife properties make up about 33% of this unit), Starkey, Sumpter, Ukiah, Walla Walla and Wenaha wildlife management units
• TMAs: Little Catherine Creek, Meachem, Noregaard, Shamrock/Whiskey Creek
• Deer Hunt Areas: NB-01, NE-02, NE-03, NE-04, NE-05, NE-06, SW-02

Southwest Oregon:

• Jackson Cooperative TMA in the Rogue and Dixon wildlife management units

"We are saddened to see Manulife leave the program," said Amy Patrick, Access and Habitat Board Chair. "We want hunters to know that our board worked tirelessly and negotiated in good faith to keep Manulife in the program, including offering the highest per year payment of any A&H property due to the large amount of property enrolled in the program, and negotiating on their concerns over state insurance requirements.

"Ultimately, this was their business decision," added Patrick.

Manulife's lands have been open to public access under the A&H program for several decades, including under different owners (the lands were managed by Hancock Forest Management and Forest Capitol Partners prior to 2017).

Manulife's exit from the program will free up approximately $1.1 million in program funds over three years, which the A&H Board will consider for use to open new properties, improve habitat, or maintain current agreements.

The A&H program is funded by a $4 surcharge on hunting licenses and the auction/raffle of special deer and elk hunts. It currently provides hunter access to 2.2 million acres statewide.

For more information on A&H properties open to hunting, visit https://myodfw.com/articles/hunting-private-lands-access-habitat-program