ODFW decided to open the offices during the unusual hours because it is the first opportunity that hunters will have to purchase this type of tag. The Point-of-Sale licensing system goes "on line" each day with new information at 4 a.m., Pacific Time. Officials expect all the "leftover" tags available will be purchased within the first several hours of July 1.

"We have asked staff to open the offices in an effort to give everyone a fair chance to purchase these tags," said Lindsay Ball, ODFW director.

ODFW offices will be open from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. in the following cities and towns: Bend, Central Point, Charleston, Clackamas, Corvallis, Hines, La Grande, Newport, Ontario, Portland, Roseburg, Salem, Sauvie Island, Springfield and Tillamook.

Leftover tags are those that were not applied for by the May 15 controlled-hunt application deadline. The hunts are often less desirable because they require landowner permission, access is difficult or supply exceeded the demand. Tags from unlimited tag hunts and some hunts where access is limited may be excluded from the first-come, first-serve process. The complete list of hunts with leftover tags will be posted on the ODFW website and available at license agents and ODFW offices the last week of June.

This is the first year that leftover controlled hunt tags have been sold using this method. In the past, there was a "second chance draw." Hunters who were unsuccessful in the June drawing for controlled hunts could apply again for the August drawing. This new process allows any Oregon hunter to purchase a leftover tag, regardless of whether they have already purchased another tag for the same type of hunt. The Oregon Legislature directed ODFW to sell the leftover tags on a first-come, first-served basis.

Oregon has both general season and controlled big game hunts. There are a limited number of controlled-hunt tags, and hunters had to apply for them by May 15. There is no limit on the number of general season hunt tags sold.

More information about the leftover tag sale can be found on page 15 of the 2001 Oregon Big Game Regulations.

In addition to ODFW offices, many other agents are open in the early morning hours of July 1.