Proposed rules for wildlife food plots
Public comments on draft rules to allow wildlife food plots in Oregon forestlands are closed.
View notice of proposed rulemaking.
Background
Oregon House Bill 3013, which took effect in January 2016, allows forest landowners to have wildlife food plots. The statute that arose from the bill is Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 527.678. This statute requires the Board of Forestry to adopt rules to allow wildlife food plots to be an approved activity under the Forest Practices Act (FPA).
A wildlife food plot is defined as a small area of forestland that, instead of being used to grow and harvest forest trees, is planted in vegetation for wildlife nutrition. Small forestland is defined as ownerships greater than 10 acres and less than 5,000. Maximum food plot sizes on those ownerships range from a quarter acre to 50 acres.
Draft rules were developed with input from the Committee for Family Forestlands, the Tribal Cultural Resources Cluster and the three Regional Forest Practices Committees. Staff also consulted with Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Input from these groups has been consolidated in the draft rule language.
Next steps
- Review and summarize public comment in a report to the Committee for Family Forestlands in the spring 2020
- Present final proposed rules to Board of Forestry for adoption in summer 2020
- Rules effective fall 2020
Resources