Deer hunters

ODFW Articles

Need to figure out controlled hunts, find a place to clam, learn how to fish or get directions to a wildlife area? We've got information on all that and more, straight from ODFW biologists and other accomplished hunters, anglers and wildlife watchers. 

Header image by Dave Budeau

Spawned salmon

It's an iconic part of life in the Pacific Northwest—salmon returning to their natal rivers after years at sea to...

Brown/white spaniel posing with an open shotgun and three small snipe
How to hunt game birds

The outlook for 2024-25 looks strong for Oregon game bird hunters. 

First buck
Special instructions and hunt maps
Zumwalt elk hunt
Where to hunt big game
A quick guide for early season hunters

ODFW wildlife biologists offer a look at the habitat conditions and hunting outlook for the upcoming season.

Where to fish

Fall salmon fishing seasons in rivers along Oregon’s coast from Necanicum River to the Winchuck River depend on the outlook...

a herd of elk
How to hunt big game

See the latest and historic data on big game population surveys from 2012 to present.

bird hunters
Where to hunt game birds

Legal shooting hours for game bird and Northwest Permit Goose during the 2024-25 hunting seasons.

volunteer holds a small turtle to face the camera
ODFW at work
A new way to connect with ODFW

The new Volunteer Event Management (VEM) System will make it easier for you to join ODFW in the great outdoors...

volunteers walking in stream looking for reds
Find the perfect fit

Here are the current volunteer opportunities at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Find the one that's right for...

Shooter lines up a shot while instructor looks on from behind
how to hunt
Through the new Volunteer and Event Management System

Beginning June 24, 2024, ODFW will launch a new, more streamlined process for getting Hunting and Bowhunting Education certifications –...

ODFW's Volunteer and Event Management (VEM) System makes it easier to find and register for volunteer and educational opportunities.

How to hunt game birds
Our biologist share their take on the upcoming season

ODFW biologists share the latest updates for wild turkey hunting in their local district, as well as tips and tactics...

Spring hunter holds up the claw of a large, recently harvested bear.
How to hunt big game
An area-by-area look at the upcoming season

Spring bear is the first big game hunt of the season. Here's a look at what hunters can expect in...

Mountain quail
How to hunt game birds

Historic harvest statistics can guide you to areas with good habitat that support healthy bird populations. 

photo of a copper rockfish
How to fish

This newsletter provides a summary of Oregon's 2023 sport bottomfish fishery.

And we need your help

We're looking for ways to make our Recreation Report even more useful. Take a six-minute survey to tell us what...

Halibut
How to fish

This newsletter provides a summary of Oregon’s 2023 sport halibut fishery.

photo of three smiling women each holding a Dungeness crab
How to clam and crab

Oregon has over 360 miles of coastline -- that's a big sandbox in which to take the family clamming and...

image of two spaniel dogs (one a pup) retrieving a duck
How to hunt game birds
Download the Game Bird Release Permit

Rules for permits and releasing birds, pursuit seasons and competitive dog trials. Download Game Bird Release Permit.

Regulation changes you should know about

Check out the fishing, clamming, crabbing and hunting regulation updates for 2024. These new regulations are highlighted in yellow in...

Several Rogue River fishing boats pulled up on shore
Where to fish
Required for steelhead anglers; season begins Dec. 1

The Rogue-South Coast Steelhead Validation is required for all winter steelhead anglers fishing in the Rogue Basin or on the...

Herman the Sturgeon
ODFW at work

He is an Oregon icon – Herman, the sturgeon, the state's most famous fish. At 10 ft. long and nearly 500...

Young hunter standing with his turkey in an oak scrub landscape
Where to hunt game birds
How you can benefit

Hunt by Reservation landowners are diverse. They range from small rural farms to large land trusts. Some need help reducing...

Where to fish

Includes lakes in the Eagle Cap Wilderness Area.