Disabilities Hunting & Fishing Permit Info
In order to be considered a person with a disability under the wildlife laws, a person shall provide either:
- Written certification from a licensed physician, physician assistant or certified nurse practitioner, that states that the applicant:
- Is permanently unable to walk without the use of, or assistance from, a brace, cane, crutch, prosthetic device, wheelchair, scooter, or walker;
- Is restricted by lung disease to the extent that the person’s forced expiratory volume for one second, when measured by a spirometer, is less than 35% predicted, or arterial oxygen tension is less than 55 mm/Hg on room air at rest;
- Has a cardiac condition to the extent that the person’s functional limitations are classified in severity as Class III or Class IV, according to standards established by the American Heart Association;
- Has a permanent, physical impairment that prevent the person from holding or shooting a firearm or bow or from holding a fishing rod in hand; or
- Has central visual acuity that permanently does not exceed 20/200 in the better eye with corrective lenses, or the widest diameter of the visual field is no greater than 20 degrees; or
- Written proof that the last official certification of record by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States shows the person to be at least 65% disabled (ORS 496. 018).
The Oregon Disabilities Hunting and Fishing Permit is not a license or tag. Anglers must still obtain an angling license and/or Combined Angling Tag (if angling for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon or Pacific halibut) and clam diggers must obtain a shellfish license. Hunters also must still obtain a hunting license and apply for and/or purchase appropriate tags prior to specified tag sale deadlines to hunt in controlled and general big game seasons. You must be in possession of your “Oregon Disabilities Hunting and Fishing Permit,” license, and tag while you are angling, taking shellfish or hunting (even holders of a Disabled Veteran/Pioneer license and tag). All license and tag fees are at regular rates.
Holder of the “Oregon Disabilities Hunting and Fishing Permit” are allowed to angle from an anchored craft in waters where angling from a floating device is prohibited by ODFW. This allowance does not supersede safety or security regulations enacted by other agencies.
A person may assist a disabled angler provided:
- The person assisting the disabled angler has the appropriate license and tags in possession and a copy of the disabled angler’s Oregon Disabilities Hunting and Fishing Permit while providing assistance.
- The Oregon Disabilities Hunting and Fishing Permit holder is present and participating in the angling activities.
- Fish harvested while providing assistance to the Oregon Disabilities Hunting and Fishing Permit holder become part of the Oregon Disabilities Hunting and Fishing Permit holder’s bag and possession limit.
- The disabled angler and their assistant(s) may only use one fishing rod while being assisted or providing assistance.
- The person(s) assisting the disabled angler may be in possession of their daily bag limit and still assist the disabled angler.
A person may assist a disabled clam digger, provided:
- Both diggers have their own containers for clams; and
- The disabled clam digger is within 100 yards and within line of sight of the assistant while the assistant is digging; and
- The disabled clam digger has their Oregon Disabilities Hunting and Fishing Permit in possession on the clam beds; and
- The person assisting the clam digger holding the Oregon Disabilities Hunting and Fishing Permit has a copy of the said permit in possession on the clam beds.
For additional information on the rules and regulations pertaining to hunting and “Oregon Disabilities Hunting and Fishing Permit” consult the Oregon Hunting Regulations.
Permit Application
For more information or to obtain an “Oregon Disabilities Hunting and Fishing Permit” application packet, please visit our website at odfw.com/resources/hunting/disability. Application packets are also available at any ODFW office that sells licenses or by calling 503-947-6100.