ODFW Articles
Need to figure out controlled hunts or find a place to clam -- there are articles on that. Want to hunt or fish for the first time, but aren't sure how -- we've got articles for that. Filter by topic or category, or use the search function to find the information you need to go fishing, crabbing/clamming, hunting or wildlife viewing.
Header image by Dave Budeau
Tips for beginning anglers:
- Trout, bass, bluegill and other panfish are great ways to get started.
- Use the filter by topic function to look for articles on How to fish. (Don’t forget to hit the Apply button.)
- There’s a Where to fish option, as well.
Tips for beginning hunters:
- Ducks, turkey and small game (squirrels and rabbits) are good choices for your first hunts.
- Use the filter by topic function to look for articles on How to hunt for big game, and How to hunt for game birds. (Don’t forget to hit the Apply button.)
- There are Where to hunt options, as well.
How to fish
Piloted in 2014, the Tag Team Program helps ODFW fish biologists better understand the effectiveness of stocking efforts.
It’s also a...
Buying a license or permit
Beginning Jan. 1, 2020, the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Permit required for non-motorized boats 10 feet and longer will be...
Where to fish
Wide open spaces, wild windy places, and extreme temperatures characterize Oregon’s largest, most remote fishing zone. Scarcity makes water especially...
Buying a license or permit
Unlike general season hunts where anyone can buy a tag over-the-counter, controlled hunts are limited entry hunts that require you...
How to hunt game birds
Wild turkey hunting is the fastest growing form of hunting in the U.S. today. In Oregon, turkey hunting has grown...
How to hunt big game
An emergency hunt is an unanticipated hunt held on short notice to address acute agricultural damage. Many damage situations are...
How to hunt game birds
Oregon offers some of the best upland game bird hunting in the West. The state’s diverse habitats support nine species...
How to fish
Rockfish must be released when retention is prohibited or when an angler has reached the daily bag limit, but continues...
Where to clam and crab
Coos Bay is Oregon’s largest bay. The lower bay (areas from the ocean entrance to the airport) is “marine dominated”,...
Where to fish
We've asked our fish biologists throughout the state to pick their favorite family fishing locations. These spots are great for...
Where to clam and crab
You'll find crab areas and softshell clamming opportunities in the southern part of the bay.
Where to hunt game birds
A beginner's guide to waterfowl hunting on Sauvie Island - Hunting in the Eastside Unit. Part 2 of a 5...
Where to clam and crab
The Siuslaw River runs past the city of Florence and then flows for 4 miles to the Pacific ocean. Areas...
Where to fish
Let’s go fishing on Saturday. Not enough time? Think again – if you live in the Roseburg area, there are...
Where to hunt game birds
A beginner's guide to waterfowl hunting on Sauvie Island - hunting for geese. Part 5 of a 5 part series.
Where to hunt big game
All funds raised by deer and elk auction and raffle tags go directly to the Access and Habitat Program....
Where to clam and crab
Lower Yaquina bay is “marine dominated” meaning there is little freshwater influence, and offers many shellfishing oppurtunities.
How to fish
More people in Oregon fish for trout than for any other kind of fish. Anglers can experience a lifetime of...
Where to hunt game birds
Federal wildlife refuges available for bird hunting in the Columbia Basin. Part 3 of a 4 part series of articles.
How to clam and crab
Oregon estuaries are rich with many species of clams, although only a few of these species are commonly harvested. Gaper,...
How to fish
A quick guide to cleaning and storing the fish you catch.
Buying a license or permit
Get your permit to hunt goose in the northwest corner of Oregon- part of the Pacific Flyway for migrating waterfowl.
Where to fish
The north Willamette area includes the Columbia River from Bonneville downstream to St. Helens and the lower Willamette Basin north...