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To give hunters more time to report their hunts in the new electronic licensing system, the deadline to report 2018 hunts has been extended to April 15, 2019.
Big Game Hunting
Central Area
This area extends from the eastern flanks of the Cascade Range through the Ochoco Mountains to the
beginning of the Great Basin, making it a great place to explore.
National forest and BLM lands stretch throughout Central Oregon covering a myriad of habitats. The eastern flanks of the Cascades Range offers Douglas-fir forests transitioning to ponderosa pine in lower elevations. While the surrounding areas of Bend and Redmond are private agricultural lands, a short distance away is sage steppe and pine forests of the Crooked River National Grasslands and Ochoco National Forest. The edge of the Great Basin marks the beginning of this vast sage steppe habitat.
Species in Central Area
Black bears can be found throughout Oregon. Both fall and spring hunting opportunities are available.
Tag Sale Deadline (General):
Black bear: Sept. 28
Bear (SW Additional): No deadline - general season tag must be purchased prior to deadline to be eligible for additional tag.
Tag Sale Deadline (Controlled):
Day before earliest hunt period opens
For hunt details and controlled hunt information, visit eRegulations
This smaller of Oregon's two elk subspecies can be found in the East Cascades, Blue Mountains, Klamath Mountains and Basin, and the Columbia Plateau. Elk...
Rocky Mountain mule deer are native to eastern Oregon. Explorers in the early 1800s reported a scarcity of big game, but 20 years later gold...
Oregon has about 6,000 cougars statewide, up from an estimated 200 in the late 1960s. Cougars are found in all suitable habitat in Oregon and...
Tag Sale Deadline (General):
Cougar: Sept 28
Cougar (Additional): No Deadline - General season tag must be purchased prior to deadline to be eligible for additional tag.
For hunt details and regulations, visit eregulations
CONTROLLED
Pronghorn antelope are the fastest ungulates in North America, capable of reaching speeds of more than 50 miles per hour. Oregon is home to about...
Tag Sale Deadline:
Day before the earliest hunt period opens
For hunt details and controlled hunt information, visit eRegulations
The Western gray squirrel is the largest native tree squirrel in the state. Requiring only a hunting license, it's a good introductory game species.
For hunt details and regulations, visit eregulations
Explore Related Articles
Buying a license or permit
Pioneer and other licenses are available for senior hunters and anglers at a reduced cost.
how to hunt
Oregon offers some great opportunities for the first-time hunter -- from deer and elk, to geese and ducks, to chukar...
How to hunt big game
This example will show you how to read a point summary report.
Where to hunt big game
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 hunt big game
Regulated Hunt Areas (RHAs) are cooperative programs between Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and private landowners that offer regulated...
Where to hunt big game
Private lands accounts for just over half of Oregon’s land base and include farms, range lands, wetlands, forests and stream...
Current conditions and opportunities to fish, hunt and view wildlife. Updated weekly by fish and wildlife biologists throughout the state.