Oregon joins other states allowing roadkill for food

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – A new law that goes into effect Tuesday means people in Oregon will be able to harvest and eat some roadkill.

Lawmakers approved the measure in 2017, which states that “salvaging deer and elk struck by vehicles is legal in Oregon.” About 20 other states allow people to take meat from animals killed by vehicles.

In Oregon, people must complete and submit an application for a permit within 24 hours of salvaging the elk or deer. The application cannot be submitted beforehand, because it requires specific information about location and time of the salvage.

Also, the antlers must be handed over to the state’s wildlife agency.

Intentionally hitting a deer or elk in order to take the meat remains illegal in Oregon.

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Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife news release:

Salvage roadkilled deer and elk with free online permit beginning Jan. 1, 2019

SALEM, Ore .–Beginning Jan. 1, 2019, deer and elk struck by vehicles can be legally salvaged in Oregon using a free online permit that will be available at www.odfw.com/roadkill

The change in law was required after the passage of Senate Bill 372 during the 2017 Oregon State Legislative session.

Following are the key regulations to follow to legally salvage a roadkilled deer or elk:

· The free online permit application found at www.odfw.com/roadkill must be submitted within 24 hours of salvaging a deer or elk. (Note that completing an online permit is not allowed until the animal is actually salvaged as specific information about location, date and time of salvage is required.)

· Only deer and elk accidently struck by a vehicle may be salvaged and for human consumption of the meat only. Intentionally hitting a deer or elk remains unlawful.

· White-tailed deer may only be salvaged from Douglas County and east of the crest of the Cascade Mountains because of the protected status for white-tailed deer in most of western Oregon.

· The entire carcass of the animal including gut piles must be removed from the road and road right of way during the salvage.

· Any person (not just the driver who struck the animal) may salvage a deer or elk killed by a vehicle.

· Only the driver of the vehicle that struck the animal may salvage an animal in cases where a deer or elk is injured and then humanely dispatched to alleviate suffering; law enforcement must also be immediately notified as required by state Statute (ORS 498.016).

· Antlers and head of all salvaged animals must be surrendered to an ODFW office within five business days of taking possession of the carcass; see office location list at www.odfw.com/roadkill and call ahead to schedule an appointment. (Tissue samples from the head will be tested as part of the state’s surveillance program for Chronic Wasting Disease .)

· While antlers and heads must be surrendered, other parts such as the hide may be kept by the roadkill salvage permit holder.

· Any person who salvages a deer or elk will consume the meat at their own risk. ODFW/OSP will not perform game meat inspections for any deer or elk salvaged under the roadkill permit program.

· The state of Oregon is also not liable for any loss or damage arising from the recovery, possession, use, transport or consumption of deer or elk salvaged.

· Sale of any part of the salvaged animal is prohibited, but transfer to another person will be allowed with a written record similar to transferring game meat.

The new rules apply only to deer and elk. It remains unlawful to salvage other game mammals, including pronghorn antelope, bears and cougars. Find out more at www.odfw.com/roadkill.