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Youth licenses, mentored hunting, youth-only hunts, and licenses for veterans and service members
Oregon Youth and Veteran Hunting
Young Oregon hunters from 12 to 17 hunt on a $10 combination license, children 9 to 15 can start in the Mentored Youth Hunter Program without a safety card, and youth have their own controlled hunts, a general buck extension, a waterfowl weekend and a spring turkey weekend. Disabled veterans with a 25 percent rating get a free combination license, service members stationed in Oregon count as residents, and veterans and active military have their own waterfowl day.
Photo: Charles Gates (CC BY 2.0)
Youth licenses and age rules for Oregon hunters
An Oregon child of 11 or under needs no license for birds and small game and gets a free youth game bird license. Big game starts at 12 with the combination license, or earlier inside the Mentored Youth Hunter Program, where a licensed adult of 21 or more carries the one weapon and the tag.
Licenses by age
Youth 12-17 need a Combination License ($10) or Youth Sports Pac ($75) to hunt big game, enter the draw or buy preference points; 11 and under need no license for game birds, small game or unprotected wildlife (free Youth Game Bird Hunting License available) and may not hunt big game except in the Mentored Youth Hunter Program.
Youth fees
Combination License ages 12-17 $10 (hunting, angling, shellfish, Columbia River Basin Endorsement); Youth Sports Pac $75; free Youth Game Bird Hunting License for 11 and under; youth upland and waterfowl validations $4; youth turkey tag $10.50.
Hunter safety card
Youth 17 and under must complete a hunter safety education course (any US state, Canada or Mexico) and carry the certificate or an ODFW document with the certificate number to hunt anywhere except land owned by their parent or legal guardian (Mentored Youth Hunter Program exception). No hunter education requirement for adults 18+ in the regulations.
Mentored Youth Hunter Program
Youth 9-15 may hunt without hunter education in the Mentored Youth Hunter Program (free annual registration in their ODFW account; supervising hunter 21+ with license and tags; one weapon between them; harvest counts against the supervisor’s bag).
Mentored youth points
Mentored Youth Hunter Program ages 9-15 (registration now in the hunter’s ODFW account); mentored youth earn a banked preference point each year registered.
Adult along
Youth 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult 21+ when hunting off land owned by their parent or guardian.
Orange for mentored youth
Mentored youth hunters must wear hunter orange (360 degrees) when hunting game mammals or upland birds (except turkey) with a firearm.
First-time youth tags
Resident youth 12-17 who applied but did not draw (and have never drawn in that series) can request one buck deer (100), one antlerless deer (600) and one antlerless elk (200) "First Time" tag in hunts with at least 201/51/51 tags; from July 1.
Sources: ODFW youth hunting page (eRegulations); ODFW license requirements (eRegulations); ODFW game bird mentored youth hunting program (eRegulations); ODFW general regulations (eRegulations); ODFW controlled hunt applications (eRegulations). Checked: rows compared with the source November 8, 2026.
Youth fees, Oregon 2026-27
Youth prices are the same for residents and nonresidents on most rows. The $10 combination license replaces the adult license, and youth upland and waterfowl validations are $4 each against $11 and $15 for adults.
| License or tag | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Combination License (12-17 years old), resident or nonresident | $10.00 | Comes with Hunting, Angling, Shellfish and Columbia River Basin Endorsement |
| Youth Sports Pac, residents only | $75.00 | Comes with Combination Hunting, Angling, Shellfish License, Combined Angling Harvest Tag, Upland Game Bird and Waterfowl Validations, plus a General or Controlled Deer, General or Controlled Elk, Cougar, General or Controlled Bear, and Spring or Fall Turkey tag. A Youth Sports Pac also includes the Columbia River Basin Endorsement. |
| Youth Game Bird Hunting License for age 11 and younger, resident or nonresident | Free | |
| Youth Upland Game Bird Validation (age 12-17), resident or nonresident | $4.00 | Valid July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 |
| Youth Waterfowl Validation (age 12-17), resident or nonresident | $4.00 | Valid July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 |
| Youth Western Oregon Fee Pheasant Permit, resident or nonresident | $10.00 | |
| Youth Beardless Turkey Permit, resident or nonresident | $10.50 | |
| Youth Turkey (Spring or Fall), resident or nonresident | $10.50 |
Sources: 2026-27 Game Bird Regulations, PDF p. 6; 2026 Big Game Regulations, PDF p. 10. Checked: rows compared with the source November 8, 2026.
Oregon youth-only hunts: 109 hunt numbers
109 controlled hunt numbers carry a T or youth label and are open only to hunters 12 to 17 at the time of the hunt, with 3,811 tags in 2026. The unit pages list each one with its dates.
| Game | Series | Youth hunts | Tags (2026) | Earliest | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | 100 series buck deer | 15 | 344 | Sep 28, 2026 | Nov 25, 2026 |
| Elk | 200 series elk | 53 | 1,724 | Aug 15, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 |
| Pronghorn | 400 series pronghorn antelope | 4 | 37 | Aug 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2026 |
| Deer | 600 series antlerless deer | 32 | 1,433 | Aug 1, 2026 | Jan 5, 2027 |
| Black bear | 700 series spring black bear | 5 | 273 | Apr 1, 2026 | May 31, 2026 |
Youth seasons outside the draw (3)
| Game | Season | Opens | Closes | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ducks | Youth waterfowl hunt (ducks, mergansers, coots, geese) | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | Statewide |
| Deer | Youth extension – Western Oregon general buck deer | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | Western Oregon |
| Wild Turkey | Spring 2027: youth spring wild turkey hunt | Apr 10, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | Statewide |
Sources: ODFW youth hunting page (eRegulations); ODFW game bird youth hunting opportunities (eRegulations); 2026 Oregon Big Game Hunting Regulations; 2026-27 Oregon Game Bird Hunting Regulations. Checked: rows compared with the source November 8, 2026.
Veterans, service members and disability permits in the Beaver State
Resident veterans rated 25 percent disabled or more hunt on a free Disabled Veteran Combination license and pay $29 for an elk tag. Oregon residents stationed out of state can get controlled deer, elk and spring bear tags while on leave, and the Disabilities Permit lets a qualifying hunter shoot from a parked vehicle off public roads.
Uniformed services
Resident status for service members stationed in Oregon; reduced-fee Uniformed Services hunting license ($19 resident, $39 nonresident) and tags; Oregon residents stationed out of state can get controlled deer, elk or spring bear tags while on leave (first come, first served from March 1 / July 1; up to 10% extra tags per hunt).
Disabled veterans
Free resident Disabled Veteran Combination license with at least a 25% disability rating; reduced-fee Disabled Veteran elk tag ($29); 65%+ rating qualifies for the Oregon Disabilities Hunting and Fishing Permit.
Veterans waterfowl day
Veterans and active military waterfowl hunt February 6, 2027 (statewide; most ODFW wildlife areas open).
Disabilities permit
Oregon Disabilities Hunting and Fishing Permit (free; 5 years): hunt from a parked vehicle off public roads and outside CTMAs, companion may finish a wounded animal; visually impaired hunters may have a sighted assistant.
Pioneer and senior
Pioneer Combination license $10 (age 65 and 50 years residency) and Pioneer elk tag $29; Senior hunting license $25 and senior combination $56 (age 70, 5 years residency).
Residency while serving
Physically reside in Oregon at least six consecutive months immediately before applying; owning property or paying property tax is not enough; claiming residency elsewhere disqualifies; false application is a crime. Waived for uniformed service members stationed in Oregon (and spouse/dependents).
| License or tag | Price |
|---|---|
| Uniformed Services Hunting, residents only | $19.00 |
| Uniformed Services Hunting, nonresidents | $39.00 |
| Disabled Veteran Combination, residents only | FREE |
| Uniformed Service Cougar, resident or nonresident | $16.50 |
| Uniformed Service Black Bear, resident or nonresident | $16.50 |
| Uniformed Service Deer – General Season, resident or nonresident | $33.00 |
| Uniformed Service Deer – Controlled Season, residents only | $33.00 |
| Uniformed Service Deer – Controlled Season, nonresidents | $500.00 |
| Uniformed Service Elk – General Season, resident or nonresident | $56.00 |
| Uniformed Service Elk – Controlled Season, residents only | $56.00 |
| Uniformed Service Elk – Controlled Season, nonresidents | $660.00 |
| Uniformed Service Pronghorn Antelope, residents only | $58.00 |
| Uniformed Service Pronghorn Antelope, nonresidents | $443.00 |
| Disabled Veteran Elk, residents only | $29.00 |
| Uniformed Services Turkey, resident or nonresident | $26.50 |
Sources: ODFW uniformed services page (eRegulations); ODFW disabilities permit page (eRegulations); ODFW game bird veterans active military personnel waterfowl hunt (eRegulations); ODFW youth hunting page (eRegulations); ODFW license requirements (eRegulations). Checked: rows compared with the source November 8, 2026.
Next Oregon youth hunts and courses
11 hunter education classes and youth hunts are dated from November 8, 2026 on; the events page lists each with its organiser and sign-up link.
| Date | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 8, 2026 | Hunter Safety Field Day (Roseburg) · class | Roseburg, Douglas County |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Waterfowl Hunting Workshop for Adults (Northwest OR) (Gervais) · class | Gervais, Marion County |
| Nov 19, 2026 | Intro to Hunting in Oregon for Adults (Tualatin) · class | Tualatin, Washington County |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Hunter Safety Field Day (Central Point) · class | Central Point, Jackson County |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Hunter Safety Field Day (Creswell) · class | Creswell, Lane County |
| Nov 22, 2026 | Hunter Safety Field Day (Roseburg) · class | Roseburg, Douglas County |
| Dec 5, 2026 | Hunter Safety Field Day (Creswell) · class | Creswell, Lane County |
| Dec 5, 2026 | Southern OR Waterfowl Hunting Workshop (Adults) (Myrtle Point) · class | Myrtle Point, Coos County |
| Dec 6, 2026 | Hunter Safety Field Day (Roseburg) · class | Roseburg, Douglas County |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Hunter Safety Field Day (Monmouth) · class | Monmouth, Benton County |
| Dec 17, 2026 | Intro to Hunting in Oregon for Adults (Tualatin) · class | Tualatin, Washington County |
Oregon youth and veteran questions
At what age can an Oregon child carry a big game tag?
Twelve, with a combination license and a hunter safety card. Children from 9 to 15 can hunt big game earlier inside the Mentored Youth Hunter Program, with the adult carrying the tag.
When is the Oregon veterans waterfowl hunt?
Veterans and active military waterfowl hunt February 6, 2027 (statewide; most ODFW wildlife areas open).
What does the Oregon youth combination license cost?
$10 for the combination license for ages 12 to 17, resident or nonresident; the youth Sports Pac with tags is $75.
Which young Oregon hunters must pass hunter safety?
Youth 17 and under must complete a hunter safety education course (any US state, Canada or Mexico) and carry the certificate or an ODFW document with the certificate number to hunt anywhere except land owned by their parent or legal guardian (Mentored Youth Hunter Program exception). No hunter education requirement for adults 18+ in the regulations.
Which weekend do Oregon youth get the ducks to themselves?
September 26 to 27, 2026.
How does the Oregon mentored hunting program for kids work?
Youth 9-15 may hunt without hunter education in the Mentored Youth Hunter Program (free annual registration in their ODFW account; supervising hunter 21+ with license and tags; one weapon between them; harvest counts against the supervisor’s bag).
What do Oregon disabled veterans pay to hunt?
Free resident Disabled Veteran Combination license with at least a 25% disability rating; reduced-fee Disabled Veteran elk tag ($29); 65%+ rating qualifies for the Oregon Disabilities Hunting and Fishing Permit.
Do Oregon youth get extra days for general buck deer?
Yes. A two-day youth extension of the Western Oregon general buck season runs November 7 and 8, 2026 in Units 10 to 30.
Are military members residents for Oregon licenses?
Resident status for service members stationed in Oregon; reduced-fee Uniformed Services hunting license ($19 resident, $39 nonresident) and tags; Oregon residents stationed out of state can get controlled deer, elk or spring bear tags while on leave (first come, first served from March 1 / July 1; up to 10% extra tags per hunt).
The source text
Fees, dates and counts on this page were read from ODFW booklets, ODFW harvest summaries or oregonlegislature.gov and gone over again on November 8, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (CC BY-SA 2.0); Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (CC BY-SA 2.0); James St. John (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Region (Public domain); Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan (CC BY-SA 2.0).