Is It Illegal to Feed Deer in Oregon? What the Law Actually Says

Oregon is home to black-tailed deer along its rainy coastal forests, mule deer across the high desert, and white-tailed deer in the northeast corner of the state. With deer moving through backyards, rural properties, and urban greenbelts on a daily basis, the question of whether you can legally offer them food comes up often — and the answer depends on where you live, what you are feeding, and why.

Oregon’s rules on deer feeding operate on two levels: state wildlife law and local municipal ordinances. Understanding both is important before you scatter corn in your backyard or set up a mineral lick on your property. This article breaks down what Oregon law says, where restrictions apply, and why wildlife managers strongly discourage supplemental feeding even when it is not outright illegal.

Is It Illegal to Feed Deer in Oregon?

At the state level, Oregon does not have a blanket statewide ban on feeding deer for non-hunting purposes. According to CWD-Info.org, there is no state-level baiting ban and no state-level feeding ban in Oregon at this time. That means a homeowner in a rural area without a local ordinance is not automatically breaking state law by putting out deer feed in their yard.

However, the picture changes significantly depending on your city or county. Feeding deer is illegal under Ashland Municipal Code 9.08.280, and feeding bears is illegal under ORS 496.730. Ashland is not alone — several Oregon cities have adopted their own wildlife feeding prohibitions, and those local rules carry real legal weight.

For hunters, the rules are stricter. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) strictly prohibits the use of bait to attract deer during any hunting season. According to ODFW’s hunting regulations, the use of any substance designed to attract wild animals is unlawful, including feed, salt licks, or agricultural products placed for the purpose of attracting deer for hunting.

Key Insight: Oregon splits deer feeding into two separate legal questions: feeding as a residential or wildlife-watching activity (governed mostly by local ordinances) and feeding or baiting in connection with hunting (governed by ODFW statewide regulations). Make sure you know which rules apply to your situation.

Oregon also has a statewide framework under ORS 496.731, which addresses feeding of potentially habituated wildlife. The State Fish and Wildlife Director may authorize feeding as part of a research or management program. Zoos, wildlife refuges, and persons holding a permit to keep wildlife in captivity for rehabilitation or other purposes are also exempt under ORS 497.228, 497.298, or 497.308. Outside of those specific exemptions, feeding habituated wildlife can trigger enforcement action.

If you live in another state and are curious how those rules compare, see our guides on feeding deer in Washington and feeding deer in California, both of which border Oregon and have their own distinct regulations.

Where and When Deer Feeding Is Restricted in Oregon

Even without a statewide residential ban, many Oregon communities have taken matters into their own hands. The city of Ashland in the Rogue Valley is the most prominent example. The intentional feeding of deer within the city limits of Ashland is a violation of city ordinance. The ordinance states that it is a violation when a person knowingly places, deposits, distributes, stores, or scatters food, garbage, or any other attractant so as to knowingly constitute a lure, attraction, or enticement for deer, raccoon, or potentially habituated wildlife.

The City of Dundee has a similar prohibition. The attracting or feeding of wild animals within the Dundee city limits is declared to be a public nuisance and is prohibited at all times. This prohibition includes a person placing feeders or knowingly allowing food or other attractants to be placed on their property or public property with the intent of attracting or feeding wild animals.

For hunters, geographic restrictions also apply. The use of bait for hunting game mammals is prohibited on the North Bank Habitat Management Area. “Bait” for hunting game mammals means any substance placed to attract an animal by its sense of smell or taste, including, but not limited to, food items or minerals such as salt.

Timing matters for hunters as well. It is unlawful to hunt in or around any area where artificial or natural bait, food, hay, grain, fruit, nuts, salt, chemicals, or minerals — including their residues — are used or have been used within the past 30 days as an enticement to lure game. Even if you stop feeding before the season opens, that 30-day window still applies.

Important Note: Local ordinances vary widely across Oregon. Before feeding deer on your property, check with your city or county government to confirm whether a local wildlife feeding ban is in effect. What is permitted in a rural area may be prohibited in your municipality.

If you want to compare how neighboring states handle location-based restrictions, our article on deer feeding laws in Colorado covers a similarly patchwork regulatory landscape.

What You Can and Cannot Feed Deer in Oregon

Oregon’s black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) have digestive systems adapted to native forage — grasses, forbs, shrubs, and browse — and introducing supplemental foods can cause serious harm even when offered with the best intentions.

Well-intentioned people often feed deer, elk, and other wildlife without realizing the problems feeding creates. Artificial feeding concentrates wildlife, which leads to the easier spread of disease and parasites, and deliberately feeding deer or elk may inhibit digestion and lead to death. This is particularly true in winter when deer switch to a low-energy metabolic state and their gut bacteria are not prepared for high-starch foods like corn or bread.

Under Oregon’s big game regulations, the following are explicitly prohibited in connection with hunting:

• Any feed, grain, or food items placed to attract deer to a hunting area
• Salt licks and mineral blocks used as attractants for hunting purposes
• Possession or use of a commercial cervid attractant that contains or is derived from cervid urine
• Bait of any kind within the North Bank Habitat Management Area

For residential or non-hunting purposes in areas where local ordinances permit feeding, ODFW still strongly advises against placing out corn, hay, bread, or processed foods. Feeding should start early in the season so deer and elk’s digestive systems do not have to quickly readjust to new food types, and it must continue every day, no matter what, until forage conditions improve — a level of commitment most homeowners cannot realistically maintain, and one that creates dependency in local deer populations.

Bird feeders are treated differently in some jurisdictions. Feeding of birds is permitted provided that the food is contained in a feeder reasonably designed to avoid access by wild animals and placed in a manner to avoid access by wild animals. If your bird feeder is accessible to deer, it may still be considered an attractant under local ordinances.

For a look at how another western state draws the line on what can and cannot be offered to deer, see our guide on deer feeding rules in Arizona.

Deer Feeding and CWD Regulations in Oregon

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is one of the primary reasons wildlife agencies across the country are tightening deer feeding rules, and Oregon is paying close attention. CWD is a fatal disease infecting deer, elk, and moose across North America. While CWD has not yet been detected in Oregon, it has been found in three bordering states — Idaho, California, and Washington.

The disease’s proximity to Oregon’s borders is a serious concern. There are documented infected free-ranging deer in Idaho along where the Snake River forms the boundary between the two states, as well as multiple documented cases in Washington and California. ODFW has been conducting active surveillance for years. To date, 4,480 black-tailed deer, 8,005 mule deer, 452 white-tailed deer, 4,190 Roosevelt elk, and 6,183 Rocky Mountain elk have been tested, and all 23,310 samples were negative for CWD.

The infectious proteins that cause CWD — called prions — are shed by infected animals and can stay in the soil for years, potentially infecting other animals. The disease can also be spread by nose-to-nose contact between animals and through urine, feces, blood, and saliva. Feeding stations concentrate deer in a small area and dramatically increase the chance of this kind of transmission.

Oregon has already taken proactive steps tied to CWD risk. In 2019, the Oregon State Legislature passed HB 2294, banning all commercially produced deer and elk urine scents that contain or are derived from naturally occurring urine to reduce the threat of CWD. If CWD is ever detected within Oregon’s borders, a statewide feeding and baiting ban would likely follow quickly, as has happened in other states.

CWD Measure	Oregon Status
CWD detected in wild deer/elk	Not detected as of 2026
Statewide feeding ban tied to CWD	None at this time
Statewide baiting ban tied to CWD	None at this time
Cervid urine scent ban	Yes — HB 2294 (2019)
Carcass importation restrictions	Yes — CNS tissue prohibited from CWD states
Active CWD surveillance program	Yes — 23,310+ animals tested

If you harvest a member of the deer/elk family in any other state or Canadian province, it is illegal to bring any parts of the animal containing central nervous system tissue back into Oregon. Hunters who bring illegal parts into Oregon will have those parts and potentially their entire harvested animal confiscated and may be liable for the cost of disposal. ODFW biologists and veterinarians recommend that hunters dispose of waste parts near the site of harvest, directly in a landfill, or via routine garbage disposal.

For comparison on how a state with confirmed CWD handles feeding regulations, read our article on deer feeding laws in Minnesota, where CWD has been present for years and restrictions are considerably stricter.

Penalties for Illegally Feeding Deer in Oregon

The penalties you face for illegally feeding deer in Oregon depend on whether you are violating a local ordinance, a state wildlife regulation, or both. The consequences range from civil fines to criminal charges depending on the severity and context of the violation.

At the local level, fines can be substantial. If found in violation of Ashland’s ordinance, fines can exceed $500. Other cities with similar wildlife feeding prohibitions apply comparable penalty structures. Repeat violations or cases involving habituated deer that cause property damage or public safety incidents can result in escalating fines.

At the state level, violations of ODFW wildlife regulations are classified as Class A violations or misdemeanors depending on the specific statute involved. The operator of a vehicle transporting wildlife or wildlife parts is subject to administrative inspection at a wildlife inspection station. The operator of a vehicle transporting wildlife or wildlife parts that fails to stop for inspection may be issued a citation for a Class A violation. Baiting deer in connection with hunting can result in loss of hunting privileges in addition to fines.

If you bring prohibited deer or elk parts into Oregon from a CWD-positive state, hunters who bring illegal parts into Oregon will have those parts and potentially their entire harvested animal confiscated and may be liable for the cost of disposal.

• Local ordinance violation (e.g., Ashland, Dundee): Fines exceeding $500 per violation
• Hunting over bait: Class A violation, potential loss of hunting license and tags
• Importing prohibited cervid parts: Confiscation of animal and parts, plus disposal costs
• Feeding habituated wildlife without authorization: Subject to enforcement under ORS 496.731

To see how Oregon’s penalty structure compares to states with stricter statewide bans, check our guides on deer feeding laws in Michigan and deer feeding laws in Wisconsin, where statewide prohibitions carry significant fines and license revocations.

Why Feeding Deer Is Discouraged Even Where It’s Legal in Oregon

Even in parts of Oregon where no local ordinance prohibits backyard deer feeding, ODFW consistently advises against the practice. The ecological and safety problems that come with supplemental feeding are well documented, and they affect both the deer and the people living near them.

The most immediate concern is digestive harm. Deer have a specialized rumen that shifts its microbial composition based on seasonal diet. Introducing corn, bread, apples, or other high-carbohydrate foods suddenly — especially in winter — can cause acidosis and enterotoxemia, both of which can be fatal. Artificial feeding concentrates wildlife, which leads to the easier spread of disease and parasites, and deer’s nutritional needs are best met by native forage.

Congregation at feeding sites also creates behavioral problems. Deer that associate humans with food lose their natural wariness, which increases the likelihood of vehicle collisions, property damage, and aggressive encounters — particularly during fawning season. From May through July, the most common deer in Ashland — black-tailed deer — are in fawning season. Does are highly protective and can become aggressive toward people and pets, particularly dogs, which deer may perceive as predators.

Pro Tip: If deer are regularly visiting your yard, the most wildlife-friendly response is to remove attractants rather than add them. Secure compost bins, pick up fallen fruit, and avoid leaving pet food outdoors. These steps help deer stay wild and reduce conflict near your home.

The disease transmission risk at feeding sites is also significant in the context of Oregon’s CWD prevention efforts. If ODFW does not get ahead of CWD now, it could potentially cause a major decline in deer, elk, and moose populations in Oregon. Feeding stations that draw multiple deer together in a concentrated area are precisely the kind of environment where prion transmission accelerates.

Finally, there is the problem of dependency. Once deer begin relying on supplemental feed, they may reduce their natural foraging range and struggle to survive if feeding stops abruptly — whether due to a change in the law, a homeowner moving away, or a winter storm that makes access impossible. Feeding should start early in the season so deer and elk’s digestive systems do not have to quickly readjust to new food types, and feeding areas are located away from human-populated areas to decrease conflicts — conditions that a typical backyard feeder simply cannot replicate.

If you want to support local deer, the most effective approach is habitat-friendly landscaping: planting native shrubs and grasses that provide natural browse, maintaining water sources, and keeping dogs leashed during fawning season. These actions benefit deer without the legal, health, or safety risks that come with supplemental feeding.

For more context on how other states balance deer welfare with public safety, explore our articles on deer feeding in Virginia, deer feeding in Pennsylvania, deer feeding in Georgia, and deer feeding in Texas. Each state takes a different approach, and understanding the range of policies can help you make a more informed decision about your own property.