2023 fishing, big game hunting regulations

Remember new regulations are highlighted in yellow throughout the 2023 regulation booklets. Don’t forget to review the regulations before you go hunting or fishing this year.

FISHING

(see permanent regulations and remember to always check the Fishing Report for your zone and click Regulation Updates for in-season changes)

Rogue-South Coast winter steelhead regulations

New this year, a separate validation is required to fish for all winter (both hatchery and wild) steelhead in the Rogue-South Coast region. A separate wild steelhead harvest tag is also needed to keep wild winter steelhead.

So be sure to purchase your Rogue-South Coast Steelhead Validation ($2 for residents) if you plan to fish for winter steelhead from Dec. 1-April 30 in this region and your Rogue-South Coast Wild Steelhead Harvest Tag ($10 for residents) if you plan to keep a wild steelhead. Record any wild steelhead from this region on this tag, not the combined angling tag. More info at https://myodfw.com/articles/rogue-south-coast-steelhead-validation

STATEWIDE: Bass fishing in streams

No bag limit or size limits when fishing for for bass fishing in streams. (except for Snake Zone)

NORTHWEST ZONE

Lost Lake: All landlocked salmon are now considered trout.

SOUTHWEST ZONE

North Umpqua fishing areas have been clarified in section of the river from marker below Soda Springs Dam to Slide Creek Dam, see regs.

New validation and harvest tag for winter steelhead in Rogue-South Coast region, see above.

WILLAMETTE ZONE

Little North Fork, Santiam River: Open for coho salmon Jan. 1 – Aug. 31 and Oct. 15 –Dec. 31. Note access to the Santiam River is still restricted due to 2020 wildfires. 

CENTRAL ZONE

Fall River: Anglers must release wild rainbow trout. The river below Fall River Falls is open for fishing May 22-Sept. 30 (remains open all year above the falls).

Metolius Pond: Open May 1-Oct. 31.

NORTHEAST ZONE

John Day River: From mainline railroad bridge to North Fork, now open all year for bass, catfish and other warmwater fish (even when steelhead fishing is closed).

BIG GAME HUNTING

(see regulations)

Deer season opener is October 7, 2023

Hunters may not have noticed till this year, but back in 2020 the framework to set the deer season opener changed from the Saturday closest to October 1 (meaning the season could start in late September) to the first Saturday in October, period.

This date is important because the rest of big game hunting seasons are built around the opening date of the deer opener, or the start date of any legal weapon buck deer season. Archery season is always 30 days long and ends the Sunday prior to the deer opener.

A guaranteed October start means both archery and rifle hunters may face fewer days of hot, dry weather and fire-related access restrictions.

So, mark your calendar (and request your vacation time) for the first Saturday of October.

Controlled hunt results available June 12

Hunters’ most anticipated day of the year is now eight days earlier. Controlled hunt draw results will be available on June 12 rather than June 20. The deadline to apply remains the same (May 15) but efficiencies from the new electronic licensing system (including not having to process paper applications) means results can be available sooner.

The deadline to change controlled hunt applications will also shift to May 25 (from June 1).

TMA date changes

Check the regulations because dates have changes for several Travel Management Areas (TMAs). A few that started prior to rifle season now start before archery season while other areas are permanently closed. Many now include a specific date (e.g. Aug. 20 rather than 3 days prior to archery season) so dates are consistent and easily understood by all visitors.

The purpose of TMAs is to protect wildlife habitat, reduce disturbance of wildlife from motorized vehicles and help keep big game from shifting to private land during hunting seasons.

A few TMAs (including Chesnimnus and Grouse-Lick-Canal Creek) likely won’t take effect this year as the U.S. Forest Service needs to approve any TMAs on their lands through a separate public process and that is not yet complete. Look for an announcement about revised TMA regulations closer to hunting season.