John Martinez of Brownsville, Ore. will get to hunt deer statewide for four months later this year, after winning the grand prize of a statewide deer tag in ODFW’s 2018 Take a Friend Hunting Contest.

Twenty-two other hunters also won prizes in this contest, which encouraged adult hunters to take out other adult friends and family members who had never hunted before or hadn’t gone in several years.;

A total of 740 people signed up for the contest (370 entries of two hunters, the mentor and the mentee).

Outdoor businesses Bi-Mart, Cabela’s, Kershaw Knives, Nosler, Sitka Gear, Sportsman’s Warehouse and Vista Outdoors all donated prizes. Sportsmen conservation groups Boone and Crockett, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, Mule Deer Foundation, Oregon Hunters Association, Oregon Sportsmen’s Caucus, Pheasants Forever, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Wild Sheep Foundation also donated prizes. (More details on prize donations below.)

The contest is part of larger ODFW efforts to recruit, retain and reactivate hunters, particularly adult hunters. While ODFW has a variety of programs encouraging hunters to mentor youth in the sport, the contest was a way to incentivize mentoring among adult hunters.

“We thank all the hunters, old and new, who participated, and all the vendors and sportsman groups that donated a prize,” said Chris Williard, ODFW Recruitment and Retention Coordinator. “We hope all participants had a great outdoor experience and will continue hunting in Oregon.”

A list of prizes and winners of the 2018 Take a Friend Hunting Contest follows. Winners have already been notified and prizes will be delivered in the upcoming weeks.

Bi-Mart
Monarch 5 10x42 Binocular – Jason Muller, Canby

Boone and Crockett Club
Legendary Hunts of Theodore Roosevelt by John Seerey-Lester – John Walmer, Portland

Cabela’s 
$500 Gift Card – Nikolay Prantsevish, Portland

Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation
Otis Technology Gun Cleaning System (for Pistols, Rifles, and Shotguns) and Halo XL 450 Rangefinder - Robert Middaugh, Cottage Grove

Ducks Unlimited
Landing Zone in Realtree Max5 camo – Lark Mansuetti, Lebanon

Kershaw Knives
Ultimate Knife Package – Joshua Hindman, Irrigon

Mule Deer Foundation
MDF Orca Green 40-Quart Cooler – Joseph Carter, Portland

Nosler
$100 Gift Card – Gideon LaPointe, Saint Helens
$100 Gift Card – Logan Heisler, Springfield
$100 Gift Card – Tim Armitage, Grants Pass
$100 Gift Card – Kenneth Purnell, Dallas
$100 Gift Card – James Burke, Rancho Mission Viejo, Calif.

ODFW/Oregon Hunters Association
ODFW Statewide Deer Tag with season Aug. 1-Nov. 30 (OHA to purchase tag for winner) – John Martinez, Brownsville

Oregon Sportsmen’s Caucus 
Wild Game Innovations Vision 8 Lightsout Trail Camera – Randy Vicker, Hillsboro

Pheasants Forever 
Tenzing Upland Vest – Benjamyn Boyer, Lebanon 
Tenzing Shooter’s Bag – Ryan Webb, Bly
Behring Pintail Knife – Robert Heilman, Grants Pass

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation 
Eberlestock Me Team Elk Pack – Michael Jarvis, Yamhill

Sitka
Big Game Subalpine (Core Heavyweight Hoody, Jetstream Jacket, Timberline Pant, and SITKA Cap) – Jason Johnson, West Linn

Sportsman’s Warehouse;
$250 Gift Card – Dustin Dear, Concord, Calif.
$250 Gift Card – Gary Short, Central Point

Vista Outdoors
Camp Chef Stove, Cast Iron Set and Chef Utensils Set – Tanner Krewson, La Grande

Wild Sheep Foundation
Sitka Pants and Jacket – Scott Cooper, Roseburg