The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission made wearing hunter orange mandatory for youth 17 years of age and younger in their annual meeting on Thursday. The rule will take effect August 1, 2011.

The rule will require the wearing of a hunter orange upper garment OR hat for youth hunters while hunting game mammals and upland birds (except turkey) with any firearm.

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission also set the 2011 Oregon Big Game Regulations which include season dates, bag limits and open areas, statewide youth hunts, and other information.

There were several additions to the 2011 big game regulations including allowing the use of any legal weapon during rifle pronghorn, deer and elk hunts; and allow hunters who bought a Sport Pac to use the deer voucher for 600 series hunts.

Changes for 2011 include:

* Allowing any legal weapon during rifle pronghorn, deer and elk hunts (already legal for other species).

* Allowing Sport Pac hunters to use the deer voucher for 600 series hunts.

* Allowing limited tags sales after deadlines.

* Implementing a winter range closure at Phillip W. Schneider Wildlife Area.

* Extend Murderers Creek-Flagtail TMA so it begins 3 days prior to archery season (currently begins 3 days prior to buck deer rifle season).

* Replacing general late season archery cow hunts with controlled hunts in Santiam, Stott Mt, Alsea, McKenzie and N. Indigo (due to declining elk populations and to better distribute hunters).

* Allow additional deer hunting on William Finley National Wildlife Refuge

* New Wendling Travel Management Area in a portion of McKenzie Unit on private timberland (north of Hwy 126, east of Marcola Road, south of Mohawk River Mainline).

* Bridge Creek Wildlife Area to open for public access April 15 (not May 1) to coincide with spring turkey season and opening of PW Schneider WA.

The Commission decided to continue current regulations and not allow archery hunters to use lighted nocks or cameras. It also decided not to begin a pilot program that would have allowed crossbows for some hunters with disabilities.

The commissions meeting will carry into the weekend in Bend.