Delta Waterfowl Applauds Defeat of Oregon Senate Bill 697

Delta Waterfowl Applauds Defeat of Oregon Senate Bill 697

Legislation that would have prohibited hunters aged 18 to 20 from hunting alone has been dropped for the current legislative session

Oregon Senate Bill 697, which sought to restrict gun possession for individuals under 21—with exemptions for military and law enforcement personnel—has been officially withdrawn for this legislative session. Delta Waterfowl’s policy team submitted multiple letters of opposition and was prepared to testify against the bill during a committee hearing on April 7, alongside other conservation organizations.

“Our main issue with this bill was its potential harm to the hunting community,” said Christopher Hoon, Delta Waterfowl’s manager of government affairs for the Pacific Flyway. “While the bill’s language suggested it wouldn’t affect hunters, that claim was misleading.”

The bill included a provision allowing individuals under 21 to possess a firearm for hunting only if accompanied by a parent or guardian.

“The problem with this language is that it would prevent anyone aged 18 to 20 from hunting alone,” explained Hoon. “This would result in two years of hunting opportunity lost or significantly reduced. Not only is that an unfair restriction placed on law-abiding sportsmen and women in the state, but that’s a significant setback for the hunting community when we’re already facing challenges with low hunter retention rates.”

Additionally, it would have harmed a variety of programs in Oregon such as Delta’s University Hunting Program, which introduces students pursuing wildlife science degrees to their first waterfowl hunt and broadens their understanding of the critical role hunting plays in wildlife management. Beyond its direct impact on hunters, the bill also posed a broader threat to the outdoor community, exacerbating the already declining participation rates in collegiate shooting sports.

Fortunately, the bill was removed from committee last week and has passed the April 9 reintroduction deadline, effectively ending its progress for this legislative session.

“This is a big win for hunters in Oregon and across the country,” said Hoon. “Delta Waterfowl remains committed to opposing legislation that infringes upon the rights of responsible hunters, and we’ll continue to defend these rights for waterfowlers across the U.S. and Canada.”

For more information about Delta’s work in the Pacific Flyway and beyond, contact Christopher Hoon at choon@deltawaterfowl.org.