Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 498 § 498.022 — Purchase, sale, exchange or possession of wildlife or wildlife parts or
Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 498 ·
Oregon Code § 498.022·Enacted ·Last updated March 01, 2026
Statute Text
Purchase, sale, exchange or possession of wildlife or wildlife parts or
products; rules; penalty.
(1) Except as the State Fish and Wildlife Commission by rule may provide
otherwise, but subject to subsection (2) of this section, a person may not
purchase, sell or exchange, or offer to purchase, sell or exchange any
wildlife, or any part of any wildlife.
(2)(a) Except as
provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this subsection, and notwithstanding any
other provision of law, or rule enacted pursuant to subsection (1) of this
section, a person may not purchase, sell, offer for sale or possess with intent
to sell any item that the person knows or should know is a covered animal
species part or product.
(b) This
subsection does not apply:
(A) To employees
or agents of the federal or state government undertaking any law enforcement
activities pursuant to federal or state law or any mandatory duties required by
federal or state law;
(B) When the
activity is expressly authorized by federal law;
(C) When the
activity involves a species that is subject to a federal management plan under
Title III of P.L. 94-265 (16 U.S.C. 1851 to 1869), as amended;
(D) When the
activity is exempt under ORS 498.257 (3) or 509.160 (3);
(E) When the
covered animal species part or product is a fixed component of an antique that
is not made wholly or primarily of the covered animal species part or product,
provided that the antique status is established by the owner or seller of the
antique with documentation evidencing provenance and showing the covered animal
species part or product to be not less than 100 years old and provided that the
total weight of the covered animal species part or product is less than 200
grams;
(F) When the
covered animal species part or product is a fixed component of a musical
instrument, including, but not limited to, string instruments and bows, wind
and percussion instruments and pianos, provided that the covered animal species
part or product was legally acquired and provided that the total weight of the
covered animal species part or product is less than 200 grams;
(G) To the
noncommercial transfer of ownership of a covered animal species part or product
to a legal beneficiary of an estate, trust or other inheritance;
(H) To the
possession of a covered animal species part or product by any enrolled member
of a federally recognized Indian tribe; or
(I) To the sale
of a covered animal species part or product by or to a bona fide scientific or
educational institution when the sale is made pursuant to a written gift
agreement or similar instrument entered into before July 1, 2017.
(c)(A) Unless
otherwise prohibited by federal law, the State Department of Fish and Wildlife
may permit the purchase, sale or donation of a lawfully acquired covered animal
species part or product by or to a bona fide scientific or educational
institution for scientific or educational purposes on or after July 1, 2017.
(B) For each
covered animal species part or product that is purchased, sold or donated under
this paragraph, the bona fide scientific or educational institution shall:
(i) Keep
documentation from the transaction detailing the type of part or product
acquired and the source of the part or product; and
(ii) Provide the
department with a copy of the documentation described in sub-subparagraph (i)
of this subparagraph.
(d) There is a
presumption of possession with intent to sell a covered animal species part or
product when the part or product is possessed by a retail or wholesale
establishment or other forum engaged in the business of buying or selling of
similar items. This rebuttable presumption does not preclude a finding of
intent to sell based on any other evidence that may serve to independently
establish such intent.
(e) Each
violation of this subsection is punishable by a civil penalty not to exceed
$6,500 or an amount equal to two times the total value of the covered animal
species part or product that is the subject of the violation, whichever is
higher. The civil penalty authorized by this paragraph shall be imposed in the
manner provided by ORS 183.745.
(f) Any covered
animal species part or product that is subject to seizure by or forfeiture to
the department may not be sold by the department.
(g) The
commission may adopt rules necessary for the implementation of this subsection,
including rules restricting the purchase, sale, offer for sale or possession
with intent to sell of parts or products of any animal species that so closely
resemble in appearance parts or products of a covered animal species that law
enforcement personnel would have substantial difficulty in attempting to
differentiate between the species.
(h) As used in
this subsection:
(A) Bona fide
scientific or educational institution means:
(i) A career
school granted authority to operate under ORS 345.010 to 345.340;
(ii) A community
college established under ORS chapter 341;
Plain English Explanation
This Oregon statute addresses Purchase, sale, exchange or possession of wildlife or wildlife parts or
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Key Points
01Part of Oregon statutory law
02Referenced as Oregon Code § 498.022
03Subject to legislative amendments
04Consult a licensed attorney for application to specific cases
Frequently Asked Questions
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