The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission has adopted 2009 big game regulations spelling out next year's season dates, bag limits, open areas, youth hunting opportunities and other regulations for big game.

General season dates for 2009 are scheduled as follows:

Coast buck deer season: Oct. 3-Nov. 6

Cascade buck: Oct. 3-16; Oct. 24-Nov. 6

Coast elk: first season Nov. 14-17; second season Nov. 21-27

Cascade elk: Oct. 17-23

Rocky Mountain elk: first season Oct. 28-Nov. 1, second season Nov. 7-15

Columbia Basin elk: Oct. 28-Dec. 4

Archery: Aug. 29-Sept. 27, plus other late season opportunities

Cougar: Jan. 1-May 31 and Aug. 1-Dec. 31, see regulations for extended season area

Black bear: Aug. 1-Nov. 30 in eastern Oregon and through Dec. 31 in western Oregon

In other hunting regulation action, the commission changed proof-of-residency requirements for Oregon residents. People who apply for resident hunting and fishing licenses and tags will no longer have to show identification to establish residency. By signing a license document, the applicant attests the residency information provided is true and correct. The rule will go into effect upon submission to the Secretary of State.

The change was prompted by the agency's new online sales system, said ODFW spokesperson Meg Kenagy. "We changed that so that we can make our residency requirements consistent across all of our sales channels," she said.

People who purchase tags online will check a box to indicate they are residents.

"Therefore, in order that our sales channel be consistent, we have to make that change across our point of sales agents as well," Kenagy said.

The commission also adopted rules to allow a $2 shipping and handling fee to mail order fulfillments related to the sale of licenses and tags over the Internet and via fax and mail order.

New hunts for 2009 are as follows:

Two new Rocky Mountain goat hunts: Elkhorn Mountains No. 2 and West Hurricane Creek

Two new youth elk hunts: Flat Creek (near Dayville) and Sixes, deleting the Lake Creek Youth Hunt

Muzzleloader: New hunt (Elkhorn Ag) and a second period for the Union Ag hunt

The commission changed the McKenzie Unit antlerless deer hunt with the West McKenzie hunt focused on private lands.

Michigan will be added to the list of states where it is illegal to import certain parts of cervid carcasses. The change is due to Chronic Wasting Disease being detected in captive deer in the state.