Editor's note: Tony Pranger is a professional forester with Forest Resource Management, Inc.

Landowners who improve wildlife habitat can receive additional landowner preference tags. Many landowners in Oregon take advantage of the Landowner Preference Tag (LOP) system offered by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). This process provides tags for deer, elk, and pronghorn antelope (with horns shorter than the ears) to landowners and their immediate family members who were unsuccessful in the controlled hunt drawing but wish to hunt on their deeded lands. The number of tags a landowner may receive is based upon the amount of acreage owned.

In western Oregon, forty contiguous acres qualifies a landowner for a minimum of two LOP tags for western Oregon buck deer, antlerless deer, and elk. In eastern Oregon, 160 contiguous acres is the minimum acreage required to receive two LOP tags for all eligible hunts, which include buck deer, antlerless deer, elk, and pronghorn antelope with horns shorter than the ears. As the amount of acreage owned increases, so does the number of LOP tags for which a landowner and his/her immediate family may qualify, up to 10 tags for 160,000 acres or more.

In the past, if a landowner wanted to increase their LOP tag allocation they needed to acquire more property, lots of it. For example, if you own 1,200 acres you are eligible for 3 LOP tags for each eligible hunt series. To be eligible for 4 tags for each hunt series you must own at least 2,500 acres, and so on. Now there is a program that enables landowners to receive additional tags for the property which they already own, at a minute fraction of the cost as compared to buying more land. In 1993 the Oregon Legislature created the Access and Habitat (A&H) Program, an incentive-based program designed to encourage private landowner participation in habitat enhancement and hunter access projects on their lands. As one incentive tool, the program offers a provision whereby the A&H Board may award up to two additional LOP tags to landowners who conduct beneficial wildlife habitat improvement projects on their lands. If a landowner is also willing to provide increased public hunting access they may receive two more additional LOP tags, for a total of four additional tags for each eligible hunt series.

What this means to a landowner who owns 500 acres and likes to hunt elk for example, is that the 2 LOP elk tags which they currently have, can increase to 4 if they conduct habitat improvement only, or it can increase to 6 LOP elk tags if they improve habitat and allow more public hunting access. The same would apply to any other eligible deer and "horns shorter than the ears" antelope hunts which may occur on the landowner's property.

How much habitat improvement is done, or how much public access is allowed, and the terms under which these activities are done, is proposed by the landowner. Landowners simply state their plans in their application, describing how their project benefits wildlife and/or provides for increased public hunting access. The application receives three levels of review: by a regional A&H Advisory Council, the state A&H Board, with the final approval granted by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission.

For landowners who are interested in obtaining more LOP tags and improving habitat, one of the best ways to get started is by having a natural resource professional develop a Land Stewardship Plan. This type of plan will identify how, when, and where habitat improvement projects will occur. Having a well prepared plan will also show a certain degree of dedication when submitted with an application for more LOP tags, which should help increase the chances of an application being approved.

Another benefit of a Stewardship Plan is that it may enable a landowner to obtain financial assistance from various incentive programs when conducting habitat improvement projects. Incentive programs and financial assistance are available through various federal and state governments, and private conservation groups. Some of the programs require that a Stewardship Plan be in place before they will consider offering assistance. Available funds in many of these programs fluctuates widely from year to year, so it is important to research which ones might be available at any given time. Through these programs, a landowner can apply for financial assistance with such things as tree planting, brush control, tree thinning, pruning, grass seeding, erosion control, shrub planting, water development, fencing, etc.

In summary, landowners now have the opportunity to receive more LOP tags by planning for, and implementing, wildlife habitat improvement projects. And, they may be able to utilize a variety of cost share programs to help pay for the cost of carrying out the projects. Not a bad deal.

This type of program should appeal to a broad spectrum of Oregon landowners. For those interested in the increased recreational hunting opportunities, this will enable them to have more friends and family hunt with them. For landowners and outfitters who operate fee hunting operations, the additional LOP tags could mean increased revenue. This is due to LOP regulations which allow a landowner to transfer all of their deer and elk tags to non-family members for the taking of antlerless animals. Also, essentially one-third of a landowner's "antlered" deer and elk LOP tags, can be transferred to a non-family member.

For Oregonians who do not own land, the program may offer more access to private lands, less hunting pressure on public lands, and more wildlife to enjoy due to the acres and acres of habitat which will be improved. Truly, a winning combination for Oregon landowners, hunters, and wildlife.