WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - Letter of the Law: The Spooky Place You Can't Hunt in Oregon

Episode Date: October 18, 2025

This week on Letter of the Law, host Megan Pidcock discusses why you are not allowed to hunt in cemeteries in Oregon (and elsewhere). File: in the Letter of the Law folder titled "Letter of the Law Oregon No Hunting in Cemeteries"

Court is in session with Letter of the Law on Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM. Tis the season for ghost schools and general spookiness in the lead-up to Halloween. It's also hunting season. This intersects in an interesting way in Oregon, or it is illegal to hunt in cemeteries. Oregon is not the only states have rules about this particular activity. Right here in Michigan, it is illegal to use firearms on public grounds, including cemeteries. This works in tandem with laws about illegally entering a cemetery by climbing walls or jumping fences, activities which may be especially appealing in October. However, you may

want to think twice before doing so, as there are serious consequences. You could face a fine and up to three months in jail. Other cities and towns may have similar laws in order to keep grounds peaceful for their eternal residence, or any visitors of the living variety. The ownership of a cemetery, private or public, also impacts activity. In some cases, a private owner may grant specific permissions, but that's not a guarantee. This may seem obvious so as not to disturb the rest in relaxation of the dead, but hunting may be allowed in special circumstances. This can include if the grounds of a cemetery are forested or if they are overrun by deer, geese, or other woodland creatures. That doesn't matter in Oregon, however, where the whole state bans the practice no matter who owns the cemetery.

You may be wondering if that applies differently to graveyards, or even if there's a difference between the two. The difference is actually quite simple. Graveyards are typically associated with a church, and cemeteries are not. The law does apply to both. So if you want to take a stroll through a cemetery this October season, be on the lookout for skeletons or ghosts all you want, but don't worry about hunters, especially in Oregon. You're listening to Letter of the Law on Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM. Thank you.