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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
House Bill 2970
Sponsored by Representative GOMBERG (Presession filed.)
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject
to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the
measure as introduced.The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability
standards.
Digest: The Act prohibits people from using dogs to hunt or chase lynx or bobcats. The Act
provides penalties for a violation.(Flesch Readability Score: 67.2).
Prohibits a person from using dogs to hunt or pursue lynx or bobcats.
Provides that a violation is subject to a maximum of 364 days’ imprisonment, $6,250 fine, or both,
and suspension of the privilege to apply for a hunting license.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to the use of dogs to hunt wild cats; amending ORS 498.164.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. ORS 498.164 is amended to read:
498.164. (1) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section, a person may not use
bait to attract or take black bears or use one or more dogs to hunt or pursue black bears or
[cougars] wild cats.
(2) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section prohibits the use of bait or one or more dogs by
employees or agents of county, state or federal agencies while acting in their official capacities.
(3) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section prohibits the use of bait or dogs by persons for the
taking of black bears or [cougars] wild cats in accordance with the provisions of ORS 498.012 re-
lating to taking wildlife that is causing damage.
(4) Any person who violates subsection (1) of this section commits a Class A misdemeanor and,
upon conviction, shall in addition to appropriate criminal penalties have the person’s privilege to
apply for any hunting license suspended for a period of five years for a first offense and permanently
suspended for any subsequent offense.
(5) [For the purposes of this section,] As used in this section:
(a) “Bait” means any material placed for the purpose of attracting or attempting to attract
bears.
(b) “Wild cats” means cougars, lynx and bobcats.
NOTE:Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted.
New sections are in boldfaced type.
LC 1502