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
How to hunt big game
Choose a conventional or online course
Hunters younger than 18 must take hunter education before they can hunt in Oregon. We also recommend hunter education for...
Most of the wildlife in Oregon evolved with wildfire. And even though fires are intensifying, they are nothing new to...
Where to fish
The John Day – Umatilla area includes the John Day River and Umatilla River basins, and Oregon’s upper reaches of...
How to fish
Crappie are scrappy, hard-fighting fish, and with a two-rod validation you can double the excitement of reeling in these delicious...
How to fish
Surf fishing is one of Oregon’s most underutilized fisheries. There are hundreds of places to fish along Oregon’s sandy beaches...
How to fish
Begun in 2014, the Tag Team Program helps ODFW fish biologists better understand the effectiveness of stocking efforts.
It’s also a...
Where to fish
The southwest area follows Interstate 5 from Drain south to the Oregon-California border and includes the communities of Grants Pass...
How to fish
As temperatures heat up during spring and summer, be on the watch for harmful algae blooms when recreating in Oregon...
Where to fish
Abundant rainfall feeds the massive Willamette River watershed, tamed by a system of reservoirs stocked annually with hundreds of thousands...
How to hunt game birds
Spring turkey hunting is all about attracting a tom to your position by mimicking a hen -- making for a...
Buying a license or permit
All anglers fishing for salmon, steelhead or sturgeon (catch-and-release and retention) on all rivers and tributaries in the Columbia River...
How to fish
Ice fishing is becoming increasingly popular in Oregon as anglers look for new ways to enjoy fishing year-round. Here are some...
How to hunt big game
Hunters know how easy it is to get focused on taking “the shot.” But a lot of planning and preparation...
wildlife viewing
Tips for avoiding human/bear encounters
Black bears are part of the natural ecosystem but conflict can occur when they enter our space, or we enter...
Where to fish
The granite peaks of Oregon’s Blue and Wallowa Mountains form the backdrop for many of this zone’s glacier-carved lakes and...
wildlife viewing
Share your wildlife sightings through the Oregon Wildlife Conservation project
Join the community scientists who have shared their wildlife observations in Oregon throughout the iNaturalist app. Record your sightings of mammals, birds...
How to fish
Más personas en Oregon pescan truchas que cualquier otro tipo de pez. Los pescadores pueden experimentar una vida de aventuras...
How to hunt big game
Where-to and how-to go big game hunting in Oregon
Whether it’s spending more time outdoors or harvesting food for the freezer, there are lots reasons to become a hunter...
How to fish
Two commonly caught species of salmon are coho and Chinook. Fishing regulations require anglers to correctly identify salmon species as restrictions...
How to hunt big game
Rabbit hunting is the third most popular type of hunting activity in the U.S., behind wild turkey and deer hunting...
How to hunt big game
This step-by-step guide will show you how to purchase leftover tags from the controlled hunt drawing. Leftover tags are available online beginning...
Where to hunt game birds
Learning where hunters have been successful in the past may help
increase your chances of being successful in the future.
How to clam and crab
The Oregon Health Authority has issued an advisory for recreationally harvested softshell and gaper clams along the Oregon coast due...
Opportunity for kids
Fishing with your kids or grandkids can be a lot of fun for all. Check out ODFW's fishing opportunities for...