ORS 496.705
Damage suits for unlawful killing of wildlife

  • exception
  • jurisdiction of courts

(1)

The State Fish and Wildlife Commission may institute suit for the recovery of damages for the unlawful taking or killing of any of the wildlife referred to in subsection (2) of this section that are the property of the state.

(2)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

The damages referred to in subsection (1) of this section are as follows:

(A)

Each game mammal other than moose, mountain sheep, mountain goat, elk, gray wolf, black bear, cougar or silver gray squirrel, or deer or antelope described in subparagraphs (D) and (E) of this paragraph, $1,000.

(B)

Each moose, mountain sheep or mountain goat, other than those described in subparagraphs (F), (G) and (H) of this paragraph, $10,000.

(C)

Each elk, other than those described in subparagraph (I) of this paragraph, $5,000.

(D)

Each deer with at least four points on one antler, gray wolf, black bear or cougar, $7,500.

(E)

Each antelope with at least one horn equal to or greater than 14 inches, $7,500.

(F)

Each moose with antlers, $50,000.

(G)

Each mountain sheep that has at least one horn equal to or greater than one half curl, $50,000.

(H)

Each mountain goat that has at least one horn equal to or greater than six inches, $50,000.

(I)

Each elk with at least six points on one antler, $15,000.

(J)

Each silver gray squirrel, $100.

(K)

Each game bird other than wild turkey or sage grouse, $20.

(L)

Each wild turkey or sage grouse, $1,000.

(M)

Each game fish other than salmon, steelhead trout, halibut or sturgeon, $25.

(N)

Each sturgeon other than those specified in subparagraph (O) of this paragraph, salmon, steelhead trout or halibut, $750.

(O)

Each oversized sturgeon, as specified by the commission by rule, $5,000.

(P)

Each fur-bearing mammal other than bobcat or fisher, $100.

(Q)

Each bobcat or fisher, $700.

(R)

Each specimen of any wildlife species whose survival is specified by the wildlife laws or the laws of the United States as threatened or endangered, $2,500.

(S)

Each specimen of any wildlife species otherwise protected by the wildlife laws or the laws of the United States, but not otherwise referred to in this subsection, $50.

(T)

Each bald eagle, golden eagle, goshawk, osprey, peregrine falcon or any other raptor listed as a threatened species or an endangered species by the commission by rule, $5,000.

(U)

Each raptor except those specified in subparagraph (T) of this paragraph, $2,000.

(b)

For purposes of this subsection:

(A)

A point must be at least one inch, measured from the main beam of the antler to the tip of the point.

(B)

Horn length must be measured from the base of the hairline to the tip of the horn.

(3)

In any such action, the court shall award to the prevailing party, in addition to costs and disbursements, reasonable attorney fees.

(4)

Such civil damages shall be in addition to other penalties prescribed by the wildlife laws for the unlawful taking or killing of wildlife.

(5)

Any circuit or justice court has jurisdiction to try any case for the recovery of damages for the unlawful taking or killing of any of the wildlife as provided by this section.

(6)

Each taking or killing of a single animal referred to in subsection (2) of this section constitutes a separate unlawful taking or killing for purposes of this section.

(7)

Subject to ORS 496.690 (Possession of wildlife as evidence of illegal taking), this section does not apply to the unintentional taking or killing of wildlife incident to an otherwise lawful activity. [Amended by 1961 c.343 §4; 1969 c.302 §1; 1973 c.723 §32; 1981 c.108 §1; 1995 c.658 §106; 2003 c.98 §1; 2009 c.778 §3; 2011 c.363 §1; 2016 c.37 §1]

Source: Section 496.705 — Damage suits for unlawful killing of wildlife; exception; jurisdiction of courts, https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors496.­html.

Notes of Decisions

The phrase “knowingly unlawful killing” in this statute imports a standard of intent to cause a killing of fish and does not establish a standard of negligence. State ex rel State Game Comm. v. Gold Hill Irr. Dist., 18 Or App 99, 523 P2d 1287 (1974), Sup Ct review denied

Where defendant was charged with unlawful possession of raptor under ORS 498.002 for having dead red-tailed hawk in freezer, trial court erred in ordering defendant to pay restitution based on damages under this section, which does not supply values of wildlife for purposes of assessing restitution under ORS 137.106. State v. Shockey, 285 Or App 718, 398 P3d 444 (2017)

496.002
Short title
496.004
Definitions
496.007
“Game bird” defined
496.009
“Game fish” defined
496.012
Wildlife policy
496.016
Applicability of wildlife laws to commercial fishing laws
496.018
Person with disability under wildlife laws
496.080
State Department of Fish and Wildlife
496.085
Fish Screening Task Force
496.090
State Fish and Wildlife Commission
496.108
Commission officers
496.112
State Fish and Wildlife Director
496.116
Delegation of rulemaking authority to director
496.118
Duties and powers of director
496.121
Authority of department to require fingerprints
496.124
Fish Division
496.128
Reports by commission
496.138
Commission policies and programs
496.141
Fish screening program report
496.146
Additional powers of commission
496.148
Payment by credit card
496.151
Allocation of nonresident tags for outfitters and guides
496.154
Limitation on authority to condemn certain farm use property
496.156
Expenditure priority for anadromous fish management
496.158
Oregon Landowner Damage Program
496.162
Establishing seasons, amounts and manner of taking wildlife
496.164
Cooperation with public and private agencies for fish and wildlife management
496.167
Department recompensable assistance to agencies
496.168
Estimated expenses for recompensable assistance
496.169
Citizen involvement for wildlife management on private lands
496.171
Definitions for ORS 496.171 to 496.182
496.172
Commission management authority for threatened or endangered species
496.176
Listing species
496.182
Protection and conservation programs
496.192
Effect of law on commercial forestland or other private land
496.201
Department to furnish salmon for ceremonies
496.206
Written request for salmon
496.211
Limitation on amount and use
496.216
Disposition of salmon remaining after ceremony
496.221
ORS 496.201 to 496.221 not intended to extend Indian legal or political rights
496.228
Access and Habitat Board
496.232
Board to make program recommendations
496.236
Advisory councils to board
496.242
Access and habitat program funds
496.246
Use of public lands for hunting
496.252
Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund
496.254
Oregon Conservation and Recreation Advisory Committee
496.264
Findings
496.266
Environmental restoration weirs
496.270
Immunity from liability for damages resulting from habitat or water quality improvement project
496.272
Wildlife Corridor Action Plan
496.273
Agency assistance and advice regarding plan
496.275
Salmon resource protection and restoration
496.280
Findings
496.283
Use of certain moneys
496.286
Restoration and Enhancement Board
496.289
Duties of board
496.291
Advisory councils
496.300
State Wildlife Fund
496.303
Fish and Wildlife Account
496.306
Compensation for damage done by bear and cougar not to be paid from State Wildlife Fund
496.311
Limitation on size of revolving fund
496.340
Payments to counties in lieu of taxes
496.350
Willamette River Basin Bonneville Power Administration Stewardship Fund
496.375
“Nongame wildlife” defined
496.385
Nongame Wildlife Fund
496.390
Control over fund by department
496.430
Definitions for ORS 496.430 and 496.435 to 496.455
496.435
Policy to recover and sustain native stocks
496.440
Enhancement program to be conducted by commission
496.445
Duties of commission
496.450
Application for project
496.455
Use of native stocks for projects
496.458
Remote hatchbox program
496.460
Salmon and Trout Enhancement Program Advisory Committee
496.465
Interference with project prohibited
496.470
Natural production of anadromous fish
496.475
Adoption of basin plans
496.480
Reports on basin plans
496.490
Fishing tackle program
496.510
Assent to federal wildlife-restoration statute
496.525
Federal fish restoration and management aid
496.550
Migratory waterfowl stamps
496.555
Contract on migratory waterfowl stamp matters
496.558
“Upland bird” defined
496.562
Policy
496.566
Contest for stamp design
496.571
Habitat conservation stamp
496.605
Enforcement of wildlife laws by State Fish and Wildlife Director, deputies and peace officers
496.610
State police to enforce wildlife laws
496.615
Commission employees to supplement state police
496.620
Nonliability of law enforcement officers
496.630
District attorneys to prosecute criminal cases
496.640
Service of process by law enforcement personnel
496.645
Arrest without warrant of violators
496.650
Issuance of citation to violator
496.665
Issuance of search warrants
496.670
Arrests made on Sunday
496.675
Seizure without warrant by law enforcement personnel
496.680
Seizure of unlawful devices and unlawfully taken wildlife
496.690
Possession of wildlife as evidence of illegal taking
496.695
Counseling, aiding or sharing in violation
496.700
Investigating violations
496.705
Damage suits for unlawful killing of wildlife
496.710
Compelling testimony in enforcement proceedings
496.716
Wildlife inspection stations
496.730
Legislative intent
496.731
Written notification requiring removal of attractant for potentially habituated wildlife
496.750
Wildlife Law Violator Compact
496.815
Definitions for ORS 496.815 to 496.825
496.820
Permit or license fee
496.825
Application fee
496.830
Penalty fee
496.835
Oregon Fish and Wildlife Hydroelectric Fund
496.850
Community outreach and education regarding recreational harvesting of shellfish
496.992
Penalties
496.994
Obstructing the taking of wildlife prohibited
496.996
Attempts to take wildlife decoy as unlawful wildlife taking
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