House OKs McLane bill for new anti-poaching program

The Oregon House approved bipartisan legislation Monday establishing a new program to combat poaching in Oregon.

Chief sponsored by House Republican Leader Mike McLane (R-Powell Butte), and fellow Reps. Sal Esquivel (R-Medford) and Brad Witt (D-Clatskanie), HB 3158 would award hunting “preference points” to Oregonians who report information that leads to the successful prosecution of a poaching crime in Oregon.

“Poaching crimes require a significant amount of time and resources to prosecute,” said McLane. “With HB 3158, we have an opportunity to strengthen our efforts to combat these crimes by encouraging law-abiding Oregonians to partner with our law enforcement officers by reporting potentially unlawful activity when they see it.

“This legislation is based on a successful Utah program, and I am optimistic that it will produce positive results here in Oregon as well,” McLane added

The original version of the bill provided guaranteed free controlled hunting tags to Oregonians who reported information that led to the successful prosecution of a crime.

But after receiving feedback from members of the hunting community, the bill was amended to offer preference points, instead of guaranteed tags. The preference points for prosecution program would be administered by the Oregon State Fish and Wildlife Commission.

HB 3158 passed the House by a vote of 56-0 and now moves to the Senate.