SALEM — Due to effects from wildfires in the summer of 2024, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has reduced the number of tags for two mule deer hunts in the Murderers Creek Unit in Grant County.

The cuts in tags for hunts 146 (any legal weapon) and 146R1 (archery) amount to 20% of the tags for the unit.

“A hot summer and multiple 2024 wildfires impacted habitat in the unit on a large scale, and researchers have observed a notable decrease in mule deer survival,” according to an ODFW press release.

The agency also has cancelled two mule deer bow hunts, and one mule deer muzzleloader hunts, in the Hart Mountain area in Lake County due to the Warner Peak Fire, which burned 90% of the mule deer summer range in the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge.

ODFW has notified hunters who applied for these hunts by email and reminds all hunters to have a valid email address in their account profile.

Hunters can visit myodfw.com/articles/how-apply-controlled-hunt for instructions at the bottom of the page on how to edit their controlled hunt applications. The deadline to edit applications is May 25.

For assistance with editing an application, visit a local license agent, call your local ODFW office or ODFW Licensing at 503-947-6101.