2022 fishing, big game hunting regulations

Remember new regulations are highlighted in yellow throughout the 2022 regulation booklets. Don’t forget to review the regulations before you go hunting or fishing this year.

Updates to sport fishing regulations

Southwest Zone

Rogue River - Hatchery hole below Cole Rivers Dam closed to fishing April 1-Oct. 31 and to Chinook salmon fishing all year to protect returning broodstock.

Illinois River - Section between 8 Dollar Bridge and Pomeroy Dam closed to fishing Oct. 1 - Nov. 30 to protect fall Chinook.

Willamette Zone

Bag limits for walleye in the Willamette and Gilbert rivers have been lifted to better protect native species.

Southeast Zone

Removed regulation exceptions for Blitzen River, Kiger Creek, Krumbo Creek, Little Blitzen River, Riddle Creek and tributaries and moved them to current zone regulations (two trout per day with artificial flies and lures only). In some cases, the change is for simplification and in others (where new limit is a reduction) for conservation.

Northeast Zone

Clarification of fishing areas in the Grande Ronde River to better reflect fishing opportunities. It’s now divided into two sections: 1) From state line to Clark Creek Rd. and 2) Clark Creek Rd. to Hilgard State Park.

Snake River Zone

Bag limit is now 3 adult spring Chinook per day from the Washington state line to Hells Canyon Dam from Aug. 18-Oct. 31 (allowed under temporary rule since 2008 and consistent with Idaho regulations).

Updates to big game hunting regulations
 

Emergency reductions to deer tag numbers for some Heppner, Interstate, Starkey hunts

• Archery elk hunting in 13 units and three subunits in eastern Oregon has changed from general season to controlled archery elk hunting only (see the map on this page). These changes were made to help wildlife managers meet elk plan objectives in areas with low bull ratios and in areas with a high percentage of branch antlered bull harvest occurring within the general archery season.
• Eastern Oregon and the Powers Unit controlled archery elk tags are not valid in general season areas. These tags are valid only in the unit identified for each hunt (see page 52 of the regulations).
• Youth antlerless elk hunts will begin Aug. 15 (not Aug. 1).
• Muzzleloaders do not require an open ignition.
• Parts ban regulation language was changed to allow entire skulls or European style skull mounts to be brought in if all meat and brain tissue has been removed.

New hunts:

• Five new Youth Buck Deer hunts in southeast Oregon (see page 36 of the regulation booklet). Note the date change for the 174T Warner Unit Youth and 175T Interstate Unit Youth hunts to create a consistent time period with the youth hunts.  
• New Mt. Emily – Walla Walla Youth Controlled Bear Hunt.
• New Wenaha Rocky Mtn Bighorn Sheep Hunt.
• 175M Interstate Unit Muzzleloader – Bag limit change to one buck with visible antler (from one deer) due to deer population being below management objective in unit.

See yellow highlights for other hunt changes and please review the regulations for your hunt before applying.

Changes to hunting areas:

• Heppner Regulated Hunt Area: Part of the property has changed ownership and the new owner does not wish to continue participation in the program so the boundaries for this hunt area have been adjusted from 66 to 22 square miles. The change takes effect Feb. 1, 2022, see map of new area
• New Umatilla National Forest Travel Management Area in Fossil, Heppner, Ukiah, Desolation, Mt Emily, Walla Walla and Wenaha with motorized travel allowed only on open roads as designated by the Umatilla NF Motor Vehicle Use Map.
• Coos Mountain Access Area date change: Now open Aug. 1-Dec. 31 and off-road traffic prohibited at all times.
• Coquille Valley Wildlife Area – Winter Tract only open Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays only from Sept. 1-Jan. 31.
• Lower Deschutes and Riverside wildlife areas – Use of pack goats prohibited.