Oregon Code § 496.004·Enacted ·Last updated March 01, 2026
Statute Text
Definitions.
As
used in the wildlife laws, unless the context requires otherwise:
(1) Angle means
to take or attempt to take a fish for personal use by means involving hook and
line.
(2) Commission
means the State Fish and Wildlife Commission created by ORS 496.090.
(3) Compatible
means capable of existing in harmony so as to minimize conflict.
(4) Department
means the State Department of Fish and Wildlife created by ORS 496.080.
(5) Director
means the State Fish and Wildlife Director appointed pursuant to ORS 496.112.
(6) Endangered
species means:
(a) Any native
wildlife species determined by the commission to be in danger of extinction
throughout any significant portion of its range within this state.
(b) Any native
wildlife species listed as an endangered species pursuant to the federal
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-205, 16 U.S.C. 1531), as amended.
(7) Fund means
the State Wildlife Fund created by ORS 496.300.
(8) Fur-bearing
mammal means beaver, bobcat, fisher, marten, mink, muskrat, otter, raccoon,
red fox and gray fox.
(9) Game mammal
means antelope, black bear, cougar, deer, elk, moose, mountain goat, mountain
sheep, silver gray squirrel and gray wolf as a special status mammal defined by
commission rule.
(10) Hunt means
to take or attempt to take any wildlife by means involving the use of a weapon
or with the assistance of any mammal or bird.
(11) Manage
means to protect, preserve, propagate, promote, utilize and control wildlife.
(12) Optimum
level means wildlife population levels that provide self-sustaining species as
well as taking, nonconsumptive and recreational opportunities.
(13) Person with
a disability means a person who complies with the requirement of ORS 496.018.
(14) Shellfish
has the meaning given that term in ORS 506.011.
(15) Species
means any species or subspecies of wildlife.
(16) Take means
to kill or obtain possession or control of any wildlife.
(17) Threatened
species means:
(a) Any native
wildlife species the commission determines is likely to become an endangered
species within the foreseeable future throughout any significant portion of its
range within this state.
(b) Any native
wildlife species listed as a threatened species pursuant to the federal
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-205, 16 U.S.C. 1531), as amended.
(18) Trap means
to take or attempt to take any wildlife by means involving the use of a trap,
net, snare or other device used for the purpose of capture.
(19) Wildlife
means fish, shellfish, amphibians and reptiles, feral swine as defined by State
Department of Agriculture rule, wild birds as defined by commission rule and
other wild mammals as defined by commission rule. [1973 c.723 §3; 1975 c.253 §5;
1977 c.136 §1; 1979 c.399 §1; 1979 c.615 §1a; 1985 c.60 §7; 1987 c.686 §1; 1991
c.67 §148; 1993 c.659 §1; 1999 c.25 §3; 2001 c.125 §1; 2003 c.656 §1; 2007
c.523 §1; 2009 c.778 §1]
Plain English Explanation
This Oregon statute addresses Definitions. AI-powered analysis coming soon.
Key Points
01Part of Oregon statutory law
02Referenced as Oregon Code § 496.004
03Subject to legislative amendments
04Consult a licensed attorney for application to specific cases
Frequently Asked Questions
This section of Oregon law addresses Definitions. Read the full statute text above for details.
This page reflects the current text as of our last update. Always verify with the official Oregon legislature website for the most current version.
The formal citation is Oregon Code § 496.004. Use this format in legal documents and court filings.
Browse related sections using the links below, or search all Oregon statutes on FlawFinder.