REDMOND, Ore. — Anglers have a lot to look forward to this fall: many coastal basins will see expanded opportunity for wild fall Chinook harvest compared to last year, and wild coho fisheries will continue across much of the coast, offering a strong season ahead. For fall Chinook, wild Chinook…
SALEM, Ore. – ODFW is accepting public comments on potential rule changes to commercial Dungeness crab fishing and trap check times for bear and cougar. Comment using the links provided on ODFW's rulemaking page. The deadline to comment is July 24 at 8 a.m. These policy proposals will be considered…
SALEM, Ore.— ODFW will host a series of online public meetings in July where district wildlife biologists will present proposed changes to the 2027 big game regulations and gather public feedback. Modifications to the Elk General Western Oregon Coast seasons are being considered; otherwise, no major…
PRINEVILLE, Ore. – A single dead adult quagga mussel was found out of water on the shoreline at Prineville Reservoir on June 6 during a routine survey for aquatic invasive species. This marks the first time that this highly invasive freshwater mussel species has been found in or near an Oregon…
SALEM, Ore. — Oregon's Fish and Wildlife Commission meets June 25-26 in Redmond. View the agenda online. On Thursday, Commissioners will visit projects showcasing the landscape scale work underway with partners to protect and restore sagebrush habitat for mule deer in central Oregon. To join the…
CLACKAMAS, Ore.—Fishery managers are delaying the sockeye retention opener on the Columbia River until at least June 27 as the run is returning lower than forecasted. The season is now scheduled for June 27-July 5, but anglers should keep a close eye on action notices and the in-season regulations…
SALEM, Ore. – ODFW was notified today that the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) is terminating its share of funding for the Select Area Fisheries Enhancement (SAFE) Program in the Lower Columbia River effective September 30, 2026—providing barely three months' notice for a decision that carries…
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – ODFW is taking steps to protect native redband trout by requiring catch-and-release fishing for them and flies and artificial lures only (no bait) for all species from June 15 to Oct. 31 on Upper Klamath Lake and spring-fed creeks that feed into it. The waterbodies impacted are…
SALEM, Ore. – Last week in a Corvallis neighborhood, residents worked together to ensure a newborn fawn spotted on a grass strip between a sidewalk and road was left alone. By early evening, its mother returned for her fawn. ODFW biologists praised the residents for recognizing that does often leave…
Enterprise, Ore. – Spring Chinook fishing in Hells Canyon will be closed starting June 4, after harvest quotas for the season were reached earlier than anticipated due to a run size downgrade. Spring Chinook fishing on the Snake River is open April 22 to Aug. 17 under permanent regulations but…
CLACKAMAS, Ore.—Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington added more recreational spring Chinook fishing days on the mainstem Columbia during a joint state hearing today. Eleven additional fishing days for the area from the Tongue Point/Rocky Point line in the estuary upstream to the Oregon…
Chiloquin, Ore. – After more than five years of recovery, redesign, archaeological review, and complex engineering, ODFW proudly announces the reopening of the Klamath Hatchery to the public on June 1. The facility's restoration marks the end of a long and complicated rebuild following the…
CLACKAMAS, Ore.—Oregon and Washington fishery managers have finalized preseason planning for 2026 Columbia River summer and fall recreational salmon and steelhead fisheries. Forecasts for summer steelhead, sockeye, fall Chinook, and coho returns will allow opportunity for anglers to target these…
CLACKAMAS, Ore.— Anglers will be able to use their two-rod validation in the Willamette River for hatchery spring Chinook and all other fish except sturgeon from June 3-July 31. Two rods were not originally authorized on the Willamette River this year because the forecasted return of hatchery-origin…
SALEM, Ore.— Visitors to Sauvie Island's Walton, Collins, and North Unit beaches will need a new Sauvie Island Beaches Parking Permit on weekends and holidays from June 15 through Labor Day. This new permit applies only to these three beach areas during peak summer dates. It replaces the need for a…
ROSEBURG, Ore. – The Umpqua Fish District is hosting an informational update on local fisheries on June 11, 6-8 p.m. at the ODFW conference room, 4192 N. Umpqua Highway, Roseburg with a virtual option. Space is limited so those who want to attend in person are encouraged to reserve a seat by calling…
NEWPORT, Ore. – ODFW is holding a June 16 public meeting to evaluate the commercial market squid fishery. Oregon commercial squid fishers, producers and interested public are encouraged to attend. The meeting is held from 1 – 3 p.m. at Hatfield Marine Science Center in the Guin Library Seminar Room…
PENDLETON, Ore. – ODFW will close recreational spring Chinook retention in the Umatilla River Basin from May 30 through June 30, 2026. The closure will be in effect from the mouth of the Umatilla River, near Highway 730 bridge, to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR)…
SALEM, Ore. – Effective June 1 through Sep. 30, minimum and maximum size limits as well as the daily and possession bag limits for rainbow trout and bass are suspended for Thief Valley Reservoir, Pilcher Creek Reservoir, and Wolf Creek Reservoir which are all located within the Southeast Zone in…
SALEM, Ore.—ODFW is seeking to fill three vacant positions on the Salmon and Trout Advisory Committee (STAC). One position will represent the Mid-Coast District, the second will represent the Upper Rogue District, and the third will represent the Umpqua District. Interested individuals are…
SALEM, Ore..— Everyone can fish, clam and crab for free in Oregon on Saturday and Sunday, June 6-7, 2026. No fishing/shellfish licenses or tags/validations are required on these days (meaning you do not need a Combined Angling Tag, Columbia River Basin Endorsement, Ocean Endorsement or two-rod…
CLACKAMAS, Ore.—Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington added several days of recreational spring Chinook fishing on the mainstem Columbia River during a joint state hearing today. With these additional days, and the action taken last week, the Columbia River will be open for spring Chinook for…
SALEM, Ore. – Join ODFW and partners for the third annual Coyote-palooza: a day of discovery and learning dedicated to one of nature's most adaptable creatures! This free event will be in Portland on Saturday, May 30 from 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. adjacent to the Portland State University Farmers Market…
CLACKAMAS, Ore.—Following an in-season assessment of the upriver spring Chinook return, fishery managers from Oregon and Washington added more recreational spring Chinook fishing days on the mainstem Columbia during a joint state hearing yesterday. Six additional fishing days downstream of…
CENTRAL POINT, Ore. – ODFW is looking for a landowner representative to serve on the Access and Habitat (A&H) Program's Southwest Region Council. This position is voluntary with a four-year term and an option to be reappointed to a second term. Interested applicants can find the regional application…
WALDPORT, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and First Baptist Church of Waldport will host the 27th annual family fishing event at Eckman Lake on Saturday, May 16. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for youth ages 17 and younger. Each participant can catch two rainbow…
LA GRANDE, Ore. – Lookingglass Creek, a tributary to the Grande Ronde River at Palmer Junction, will open to fishing for hatchery spring Chinook on Friday, May 15. The open area is from the mouth upstream to the confluence of Jarboe Creek. Depending on which happens first, the fishing season will…
SALEM, Ore.—The Commission will meet Friday, May 15 from 8:30-10:00 a.m. to hear an informational overview of the 2027-29 budget development process. Following the presentation, Commissioners will have time to ask questions of ODFW staff and discuss next steps in the process. See the agenda online…
SALEM, Ore.— ODFW will host an open house on Tuesday, May 12 from 2-4 p.m. to discuss development of its 2027-29 Agency Request Budget. The meeting will be hosted in ODFW's headquarters classroom (4034 Fairview Industrial Drive, SE, Salem) and will be streamed online via YouTube. In Oregon, state…
ODFW's Oregon Conservation and Recreation Advisory Committee meets May 4 and 5 SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Conservation and Recreation Advisory Committee will meet in Newport on Monday, May 4 at 12 p.m. for a tour of area projects. The Conservation and Recreation Advisory Committee will also meet…
SALEM, Ore. – Oregon's Fish Screening and Fish Passage Task Forces will meet Wednesday, May 6 at 8:00 a.m. The meeting is open to the public and will be held in person at The Dalles Screen Shop at 3561 Klindt Dr, The Dalles and virtually through Teams. The meeting agenda includes ODFW Fish Screens…
This release was updated April 25 to correct two errors (the first name of the OSP Lieutenant who testified on Sauvie Island parking issues and that the Don Lindly property was sold to Lincoln County not Lincoln City.) LINCOLN CITY, Ore.—The Commission adopted a limited entry parking program for…
SALEM, Ore.—With the May 15 deadline approaching, ODFW is reminding hunters to apply early for 2026 controlled deer hunts and to carefully review changes to Eastern Oregon deer hunts. With the transition from Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) to Deer Hunt Areas in eastern Oregon, hunters who wait…
NEWPORT, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is hosting three public meetings along the coast to discuss the state's commercial Dungeness crab fishery. Commercial fishermen, industry representatives and anyone interested in the fishery are encouraged to attend. ODFW staff will give…
SALEM, Ore. – ODFW and the Oregon Hunters Association (OHA) will give away free wildlife forage seed to landowners at E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area near Corvallis on Saturday, May 9. The giveaway coincides with OHA's Youth Field Day (limited spots available). Seed giveaway More than 500 bags of free…
ROSEBURG, Ore. – Illegally introduced common carp were found in Cooper Creek Reservoir near Sutherlin. ODFW verified an angler's report of carp in Cooper Creek last week by electrofishing, removing 14 adult carp, most of which were pregnant females ranging in age from approximately two to eight…
SALEM, Ore.—Oregon's Fish and Wildlife Commission meets April 23-24 in Lincoln City. View the agenda online. Commissioners will visit coastal coho habitat restoration and monitoring projects in the Siletz River Basin during a field tour on Thursday. To join the tour, meet at the Shearwater Inn, 120…
NEWPORT, Ore – The Pacific Fisheries Management Council (PFMC) has finalized the 2026 ocean salmon seasons including ocean waters off Oregon. Recommended salmon seasons are not official until final approval by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce (expected by Saturday, May 16), and after adoption by the…
SALEM, Ore.—ODFW is excited to announce that Oregon's State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) has been officially approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This milestone marks the final step in adopting the 2026 SWAP, a science‑based roadmap to maintain healthy fish and wildlife populations…
CLACKAMAS, Ore.—Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington took joint state action today to add another three days of recreational spring Chinook salmon fishing in the mainstem Columbia River downstream of Bonneville Dam. This fishery had closed on Wednesday, April 8 per the preseason schedule…
SALEM, Ore. – ODFW staff at the Ashland Boat Inspection Station found golden mussels on a watercraft that was being transported to a new owner from the Sacramento River Delta to Oregon on April 4. The watercraft was decontaminated at the inspection station and all golden mussels attached to the boat…
The Dalles, Ore.—The lower Deschutes River will be open for spring Chinook salmon from May 5-20. "This is exciting news for anglers as the last spring Chinook season on the Deschutes was in 2018," said Jason Seals, Deschutes District Fish Biologist. "We're expecting a return of more than 2,000…
SALEM, Ore.— ODFW will host an open house on Tuesday, April 7 from 2-4 pm to discuss development of its 2027-29 Agency Request Budget. The meeting will be hosted in ODFW's headquarters classroom (4034 Fairview Industrial Drive, SE, Salem) and will be streamed online via YouTube. In Oregon, state…
SALEM, Ore. – Oregon's Fish Screening Task Force will meet virtually on Thursday, April 2 at 8:30 a.m. The meeting is open to the public and will be held virtually through Teams. The meeting agenda includes updates on the Fish Screening Program, new task force members, and the development of a…
SALEM, Ore. – ODFW staff at the Ashland Boat Inspection Station found quagga mussels on a motorboat that was being transported from Lake Havasu, Arizona into Oregon on March 21. This was the first instance in 2026 where crews found invasive freshwater mussels on a boat entering Oregon. The…
SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted a management plan for the Minam Wildlife Area, approved a land acquisition for Denman Wildlife Area and heard an update on Oregon's Native Seed Strategy. The plan was the result of extensive engagement with the tribes, community partners…
SALEM, Ore.— White-nose syndrome (WNS) in bats has been detected for the first time in Oregon in Columbia and Benton counties. White-nose syndrome is caused by an infection with the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans that disrupts hibernation, causing early winter emergence, dehydration and…
SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission meets March 19-20 in Medford for a field tour on Thursday and a regular meeting on Friday. The Friday meeting agenda and livestream are available from the Commission page. To virtually testify on an agenda item, register here at least 48 hours in…
SALEM, Ore. – The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) met March 4-9 to develop three alternatives for ocean salmon seasons along the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. PFMC is hosting a hybrid public meeting March 24 from 7-9 p.m. in Newport to receive input on the proposed salmon…
SALEM, Ore. – Recreational harvest of eulachon smelt on the Sandy River will be open from 12-7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11 only. Regulations : Open area: From the mouth of the Sandy River upstream to the Stark Street Bridge. Limit: 10 pounds per dipper. Each dipper must dip smelt for themselves with…
PENDLETON, Ore. – A $1 million federal investment will jump-start critical engineering and design work on fish passage and alternative solutions at McKay Creek Reservoir Dam, laying the technical groundwork to eventually reconnect more than 100 miles of historic salmon and steelhead habitat. Sens…
ROSEBURG, Ore. – ODFW is hosting turkey hunting workshops around the state in April for both youth and adults. If you're a new hunter, or new to turkey hunting, consider joining us for a day of learning more about turkey hunting. Youth workshops April 4 workshops at Denman Wildlife Area and White…
SALEM, Ore.--Oregon's Fish Passage Task Force will meet Wednesday, March 11, from 8:00 a.m. to noon online. The meeting agenda includes numerous ODFW Fish Passage Program updates, Task Force business items, and a round table discussion by Fish Passage Task Force Members and ODFW staff on fish…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) Statement on Qapqápa Wildlife Area Acquisition Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR)…
SALEM, Ore. — ODFW's Fish Restoration and Enhancement Board will meet in person on Thursday, March 5 from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. in the classroom at ODFW Headquarters, 4034 Fairview Industrial Dr. SE. A virtual option is also available. The public can attend in person or virtually on Teams. The agenda and…
SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Conservation and Recreation Advisory Committee will meet online Tuesday March 3, from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Conservation and Recreation Advisory Committee will be hearing project presentations and discussing the Round 10 grant cycle review process. Meetings are open to the…
SPRINGFIELD, Ore.— The Commission voted 6-1 to deny a petition that requested crab fishery rules be modified to further reduce the risk of whale entanglement, while urging the department to continue its planned rulemaking process and engagement with NOAA fisheries to obtain ESA coverage. Whale…
UPDATE FEB. 26, 2026: Fishery managers added another day of sturgeon retention in The Dalles Pool (Tuesday March 3, 2026). The same bag limit and legal size restrictions apply on the days noted below. CLACKAMAS, Ore.—Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington adopted initial recreational spring…
SALEM, Ore. – ODFW staff received a report of an incident involving a coyote biting an adult along Orchard Heights Rd., just outside the city limits of West Salem that occurred on Feb. 11. The Polk County Sherriff's Office (PCSO) initially responded to the area to conduct a site investigation and…
CLACKAMAS, Ore. – Sturgeon retention in Bonneville Pool and The Dalles Pool will open for one day on Monday, Feb. 16. These retention fisheries had not opened on the traditional date of Jan. 1 as in previous years. Due to warmer-than-normal winter water temperatures, increased angling effort, and…
CENTRAL POINT, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is conducting research on fisher, a forest-dwelling carnivore that once occupied forests across the Cascade and Klamath-Siskiyou regions. Today, Oregon's remaining fisher persist as a small, isolated population in the Klamath-Siskiyou…
SALEM, Ore. – The Private Forest Accord Mitigation Advisory Committee will hold its regularly occurring meeting, virtually on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. For a full agenda and virtual login information about the meeting, please visit: https://www.dfw.state.or.us/habitat/PFA/meetings.html The public is…
SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is accepting applications for the Chair position on the state Access & Habitat (A&H) Program Board. The deadline to apply is April 3, 2026. Application forms and additional information are available at: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/lands/AH/get…
SALEM, Ore. – Organizations and partners interested in funding conservation, outdoor access, and recreation projects in Oregon are encouraged to apply soon, as the Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund (OCRF) grant application window is open now but closes Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. The OCRF Advisory…
Public comment period open; comment via online form SALEM, Ore.—Oregon's Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet Feb. 20 at the Lane County Armed Forces Readiness Center, 3106 Pierce Parkway in Springfield. The meeting starts at 8 am and will be livestreamed on the meeting agenda page and at ODFW's…
NEWPORT, Ore. – To reduce the risk of humpback whale entanglements in commercial Dungeness crab gear, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is moving the May 1 "late-season" regulations to April 1 this year. These regulations require commercial crab fishermen to fish in waters less than 40…
SALEM, Ore.—Manulife will not renew its cooperative agreement with ODFW's Access and Habitat program, the company informed ODFW late last week. This means Manulife properties in northeast Oregon and Jackson County that are currently open to hunter access through the Access and Habitat "Welcome to…
NEWPORT, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is hosting a Feb. 2 public meeting beginning at 6 p.m. to get input on the number and timing of fixed and back-up dates for the central Oregon coast spring all-depth Pacific halibut season. The meeting is in the conference room at the ODFW…
SALEM, Ore.—Oregon's Fish and Wildlife Commission today made changes to the formula used to allocate mule deer Landowner Preference (LOP) tags, which was needed due to the new harvest and population management system for mule deer approved in 2024. In a 6-0 vote (one abstention), the Commission…
SALEM, Ore. – Mussel harvesting is now open from Cape Blanco to the California border the Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today. Marine biotoxin levels in this area tested below the alert level. People should always call the Shellfish Safety…
SALEM, Ore.—Oregon's Fish and Wildlife Commission meets online Friday, Jan. 16 to amend the formula for setting Landowner Preference tags for mule deer hunts and modify the Coquille River Fall Chinook conservation hatchery program to allow the use of hatchery origin broodstock. See the full meeting…
CLACKAMAS, Ore.— The last day to retain a white sturgeon in the John Day Pool (mainstem Columbia River from John Day Dam upstream to McNary Dam and adjacent tributaries) is Friday, Jan. 9. Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington made the decision today after determining that the harvest…
NEWPORT, Ore. – ODFW is accepting nominations for a seat on the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council). The three-year term for this Oregon at-large seat begins Aug. 11, 2026. Anyone interested in being considered, or wishing to nominate someone, must contact Jessica Watson at 541-351-1196 or…
NEWPORT, Ore. – The commercial Dungeness crab fishery opens Dec. 31 from Cape Falcon to the Washington border. Fishermen can begin the presoak period – setting baited crab pots in the water – on Dec. 28 in this area. ODFW delayed opening the north coast until crab in Long Beach, WA met the 23…
ROSEBURG, Ore – A temporary rule prohibits wild spring Chinook salmon harvest on the mainstem Umpqua River and keeps the North Umpqua bag limit the same as 2025, ODFW announced today. Feb. 1 – June 30, 2026: Mainstem Umpqua River: only hatchery spring Chinook may be kept. Harvesting wild spring…
ROSEBURG, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is looking for a volunteer site host at its Canyonville winter steelhead acclimation site on lower Canyon Creek. This opportunity to work with hatchery steelhead and help improve Oregon's fisheries is from Jan. 1 – Apr. 30, 2026. The…
CLACKAMAS, Ore. – The two-rod validation will not be available for the Willamette River in 2026 as the forecast for hatchery-origin adult fish does not meet the minimum return threshold. The 2026 Columbia River spring-summer forecast anticipates 43,700 adult Willamette-origin spring Chinook will…
SALEM, Ore.— The Commission set 2026 groundfish regulations during their meeting in Salem today. The daily catch limit for lingcod will increase from 2 to 3 fish next year, since lingcod populations are healthy and bycatch of yelloweye rockfish (a protected species) is still low. The daily limit for…
SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund (OCRF) Advisory Committee is excited to announce that its next grant cycle will begin accepting applications on Monday, Dec. 15, with the application window open through Feb. 9, 2026. Visit the Online Application System and enter access code…
Newport, Ore. – Oregon's commercial Dungeness crab season opens Dec. 16 from Cape Falcon to the California border, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today. Crab will be available in time for the holiday season. Oregon will open the north coast to align with Washington once Long…
SALEM, Ore.—The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet Thursday and Friday, Dec. 11-12 to set 2026 groundfish regulations and hear an informational briefing on the barbless hook requirement for Columbia River recreational fisheries. Both a Dec. 11 workshop and Dec. 12 meeting will be in a…
SALEM, Ore. – People across Oregon are being urged to avoid contact with sick or dead birds as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) continues to impact wild and domestic bird populations across the state. There is currently no effective treatment for wild and domestic birds, and the virus can…
SALEM, Ore. – A Chinese mitten crab, a prohibited species in Oregon, was found in the Willamette River near the Sellwood Bridge and reported to ODFW on Nov. 17. The crab was spotted in shallow water and captured by hand. It was alive and not released back into the river. Mitten crab is a non-native…
SALEM, Ore.—Oregon's Fish Screens Task Force and Fish Passage Task Force will meet jointly Friday, Dec. 5 from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. online. The meeting will be open to the public. Members of the public who are interested in the meeting are encouraged to attend in person or participate virtually. The…
ODFW's Oregon Conservation and Recreation Advisory Committee meets Dec. 2 SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Conservation and Recreation Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday, Dec. 2, from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Conservation and Recreation Advisory Committee will be reviewing application questions ahead of…
CORVALLIS, Ore. — The Oregon Hatchery Research Center Board will meet in Corvallis on Tuesday, December 2 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife South Willamette Watershed District Office (7118 NE Vandenberg Avenue, Corvallis, OR 97330). In addition to the…
Note: Recreational ocean crabbing is closed through Nov 30. SALEM, Ore.- Get outdoors with friends and family and enjoy free fishing, crabbing and clamming on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 28 and 29. Statewide free fishing days are a great chance to take someone new fishing and celebrate Oregon's…
Newport, Ore. – Oregon's commercial Dungeness crab season is delayed coastwide until at least Dec. 16, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today. Oregon Dungeness crab met both meat and safe biotoxin level requirements; however, the season is delayed as Long Beach, WA crabs have not…
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Recreation access sites within the restored Klamath River reach between Keno, Ore., and Hornbrook, Calif., will remain open as winter conditions allow. The five recreation day-use access sites now open until further notice are as follows: Pioneer Park West (Ore.) Moonshine…
SALEM, Ore – Mussel harvesting is now closed from Cape Blanco to the California border the Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today. Recent mussel samples indicate levels of Paralytic Shellfish Toxin – a naturally occurring marine biotoxin that…
NEWPORT, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is helping investigate the entanglement of a young humpback whale stranded earlier this week near Yachats. The whale was entangled in gear attributed by NOAA Fisheries to the Oregon commercial Dungeness crab fishery. Veterinarians from the…
SALEM, Ore. – ODFW's PFA Grant Program began accepting applications on Nov. 14. The grant program is set to offer another $10 million to support innovative projects that drive real change. Applicants can find the PFA Grant Program's Grant Guidelines here and the streamlined application by logging…
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – ODFW is urging waterfowl hunters and other visitors to use extreme caution after laboratory results revealed exceptionally high levels of microcystin in a water sample collected from the Barnes Unit of the Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuge. The sample was taken from an…
CLACKAMAS, Ore. – Sturgeon retention will not open in Bonneville and The Dalles pools on the traditional date of Jan 1. following a joint state hearing held by Oregon and Washington fishery managers today. However, the retention fishery in the John Day pool, where harvest rates have been stable and…
NEWPORT, Ore – Mussel harvesting is now open coastwide from the Washington border to the California border the Oregon Department of Agriculture and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today. Marine biotoxin levels tested below the alert level. People should always call the Shellfish…
Updated statement Friday, Nov. 7, 2025 SALEM, Ore. – A coyote was captured and humanely killed on Oct. 31 and confirmed to be the individual animal that bit a 9-year-old child in the Alameda neighborhood on Oct. 23. ODFW worked with partners at the city, state, and federal levels to capture the…
Veterans invited to grand reopening event set for Nov. 15 MONMOUTH, Ore.—ODFW Hunter Education Coordinator Jered Goodwin used to see a group of disabled Veterans regularly visiting the shotgun shooting range at E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area, a former military base turned wildlife area and popular…
NEWPORT, Ore – Mussel harvesting is now open coastwide from the Washington border to the California border the Oregon Department of Agriculture and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today. Marine biotoxin levels tested below the alert level. People should always call the Shellfish…
SALEM, Ore. – The winning artwork has been selected for the 2026 Oregon Waterfowl, Upland Game Bird, and Habitat Conservation Stamp Art Contests. In the Waterfowl Stamp category, first place went to Richard Clifton of Milford, Del., for his artwork featuring a blue-winged teal. For the Upland Game…
NEWPORT, Ore – Mussel harvesting is now open from Cascade Head to the California border the Oregon Department of Agriculture and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today. Marine biotoxin levels in this area tested below the alert level. People should always call the Shellfish Safety…
PENDLETON, Ore. – From Oct. 18 through Nov. 30, 2025, the adult daily salmon and steelhead bag limit on the Umatilla River from the Hwy 730 bridge upstream to Threemile Dam is three fish total, but retention of Chinook will be closed. The closure of Chinook retention is necessary due to low fall…
SALEM, Ore. – The Private Forest Accord (PFA) Advisory Committee will hold its regular virtual meeting on Tuesday, October 21, 2025. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife staff will present two new funding pathways for the PFA Grants Program, Land Transactions and Water Transactions, followed by…
Image: The circles show monitoring stations in the basin and the green shows detection of a tagged salmon. KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. — Salmon are making exciting progress in their return to the upper Klamath Basin, with fisheries biologists from ODFW and The Klamath Tribes celebrating a series of firsts…
Central Point, Ore. – Hunters and recreationists who plan to use the Jackson Cooperative Travel Management Area (TMA) should download the newest version of the georeferenced .pdf map. updated on Oct. 14. There have been major changes this year, so users should double check where they plan to access…
A black bear tried its best to get into a Neskowin homeowner's bear resistant trash can. The homeowner then built a small shed to enclose the trash can. The persistent bear left its prints and claw marks on the shed but did not succeed in breaking into it. This resident understands the need to be…
SALEM, Ore. - Oregon's Fish Passage Task Force will meet Thursday, October 16 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Red Lion, 1313 N Bayshore Dr, Coos Bay. The meeting will be open to the public. Members of the public who are interested in the meeting are encouraged to attend in person or participate…
NEWPORT, Ore. – New research from Oregon's south coast highlights the positive economic impact of science and tourism within Redfish Rocks Marine Reserve. The study quantifies the number of jobs supported and income generated by these activities, providing important data for the local Port Orford…
SALEM, Ore. – Anglers will have additional chances to fish for wild coho this November as ODFW announces extended fishing opportunities in the Siletz, Yaquina, and Alsea river basins. At the request of the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission, ODFW staff evaluated the potential for additional fishing…
SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Conservation and Recreation Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday, October 7, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The committee will be discussing future grant offerings and strategic communications planning. For more information including an agenda visit: https://www.dfw.state.or…
SALEM, Ore. – ODFW invites the public to view artwork entered in the annual stamp art contest on Tuesday, Nov. 4 from 12:30-5:00 p.m. at ODFW Headquarters in Salem. The event is free and open to the public. Located at 4034 Fairview Industrial Dr SE, Salem, ODFW Headquarters will host the display of…
SALEM, Ore.–The Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet virtually on Friday, Oct. 10 from 8:30 a.m.-noon for a training related to cultural resources, tribal sovereignty, and tribal treaty rights. The meeting will be livestreamed from the Commission page and via ODFW's YouTube channel. Invited…
ENTERPRISE, Ore. – ODFW, in coordination with co-managers, will reopen harvest of wild (adipose-intact) fall Chinook salmon in the Snake River effective Saturday, Oct. 4. The reopening follows a temporary closure implemented in September to ensure fisheries remained within agreed harvest limits…
Salem, Or. — The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's Salmon and Trout Enhancement Program (STEP) Advisory Committee will meet in person Tuesday, Oct. 14 in the Evergreen conference room in Cartwright's Taprock Grill & Restaurant at 971 SE 6 th St. in Grants Pass. The meeting runs from 8 a.m.-4…
HINES, Ore. – ODFW biologists confirmed that a natural mixing event, or "turnover," likely caused the death of stocked rainbow trout recently observed at Burns Gravel Pond on Hwy 78. The pond is located two miles east of Burns, Ore., on Hwy 78 on property owned by ODFW. The pond's two basins are…
ASTORIA, Ore. – Clatsop beaches reopen for razor clam harvesting Oct. 1 following the annual conservation closure that began July 15. Before harvesting razor clams or any shellfish, always call the Shellfish Safety Hotline at 1-800-448-2474 or visit the ODA Recreational Shellfish Biotoxin Webpage…
CLACKAMAS, Ore. – Angling will be closed on the lowest reach of Eagle Creek in the Clackamas basin from Sept. 27 through Oct. 31 to give coho salmon a safe resting area amid ongoing low water flows. The closure is from SE Dowty Road downstream to the Clackamas River confluence. Similar to last year…
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore.—A video camera captured a Chinook salmon ascending the fish ladder at Keno Dam on the upper Klamath River this week (Sept. 24), the first picture of a salmon ascending the upper bays of the ladder since four hydroelectric dams were removed on the Klamath River last year. It's a…
SALEM, Ore – Mussel harvesting is now closed from the Washington border to the north jetty of the Siuslaw River (Florence) the Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today. Recent mussel samples indicate levels of Paralytic Shellfish Toxin – a…
SALEM, Ore. – The Private Forest Accord Advisory Committee will attend an in-person field trip in Coos Bay on Thursday, Oct. 2. The Advisory Committee will tour several project locations previously funded by the PFA Grants Program. The public is welcome to attend in person and are responsible for…
SALEM, Ore.—As 2025 deer and elk hunting seasons begin, ODFW is ramping up its Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) surveillance statewide. Hunters are encouraged to take advantage of streamlined testing options and reminded that CWD check stations are mandatory to stop at when transporting harvested deer…
NEWPORT, Ore. – Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife staff are hosting in person meetings Oct. 6, 7, and 8 to discuss the 2026 recreational bottomfish and Pacific halibut seasons with anglers. The Oct. 8 meeting in Newport also offers a virtual option. Meeting information: Oct. 6, Brookings: 5:30…
SALEM, Ore.—ODFW is seeking qualified applicants to fill one sport fishing position and one commercial salmon industry position on the Restoration and Enhancement (R&E) Program Board. Interested individuals must apply by Oct. 6, 2025, use this form on the R&E Board page. The ideal sport fishing…
ROSEBURG, Ore. – Learn how to hunt waterfowl or sharpen your skills in one of three waterfowl hunting workshops in Southern Oregon offered by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. ODFW hunter education specialists are teaching the workshops: Oct. 3: Klamath Falls, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m., Klamath…
SALEM, Ore.— The fungus that causes white-nose syndrome in bats has been detected in Clatsop County. White-nose syndrome is an infection in bats caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans that disrupts hibernation, causing dehydration and starvation. Samples analyzed by U.S. Geological…
Enterprise, Ore. – Beginning Friday, Sept. 19 through Friday, Oct. 31, harvest of wild adult Chinook salmon (non-adipose clipped, ≥ 24 inches) will be closed in the Snake River from the Oregon/Washington border upstream to Hells Canyon Dam. During this period, anglers may continue to harvest adipose…
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Sept. 30 will be the last day to fish on Spencer Creek this year, as this tributary of the Klamath River will be closed as of Oct. 1 to protect spawning fall Chinook salmon. Spencer Creek has traditionally been closed to fishing from Nov. 1 to May 21 each year, the usual…
SALEM, Ore. – The Private Forest Accord (PFA) Advisory Committee will hold its regular virtual meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. ODFW staff will present two new funding pathways for the PFA Grants Program, Land Transactions and Water Transactions, followed by Advisory Committee discussion of these…
CLACKAMAS, Ore. – Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington added more recreational salmon fishing days in the mainstem Columbia River during a joint-state hearing today. The decision came after fishery managers assessed Chinook harvest in the fall season fisheries and considered the current in…
Cara Rupp with her 5 lb. 11 oz. Black rockfish near Beverly Beach State Park. Photo provided by Dennis J Rupp. NEWPORT, Ore. – The General Marine Species daily bag limit is reduced to three fish beginning Sept. 18 to lower the risk of an early season closure. The one-fish sub-bag limit for cabezon…
CENTRAL POINT, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is giving away free wildlife forage seed to landowners in Central Point, Grants Pass, and Gold Beach on Wed., Oct. 1. Landowners are eligible for two 15-pound bags of seed to cover at least one acre of habitat for wildlife. Seed bags…
SALEM, Ore. — ODFW's Fish Restoration and Enhancement Board will meet in person on Tuesday, Sept. 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., in Redmond at The Lodge at Eagle Crest. The meeting will occur in person and via Teams, and members of the public may attend the meeting in person or virtually. The agenda…
ONTARIO, Ore.–The Fish and Wildlife Commission voted 5-1 to open a hatchery Chinook salmon season in the Coquille River, the first Chinook season since 2021, during their meeting today in Ontario. The Coquille River will be open for fall salmon fishing from Sept. 13-Oct. 15 from the Hwy 101 bridge…
SALEM, Ore.— If you are considering registering for a youth pheasant hunt, it is not too late. More slots have opened for many youth pheasant hunts being held statewide this month after duplicate registrations were removed from the system. "We've heard some parents have been unable to sign up their…
CENTRAL POINT, Ore. – The seventh annual Rogue River Pikeminnow Roundup is set for Sept. 26 - Sept. 28, offering anglers the chance to win prizes while helping protect native fish. Participants can win fishing gear, apparel, gift cards, and more by catching non-native Umpqua pikeminnow in the Rogue…
SALEM, Ore. – ODFW staff will host a webinar on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 6 p.m., about the Minam River Wildlife Area (MRWA) draft management plan. The public can join the webinar on Microsoft Teams: Microsoft Teams Need help? Join the meeting now Meeting ID: 284 045 516 288 4 Passcode: ru9nA33y Dial…
SALEM, Ore.–The Fish and Wildlife Commission meets Sept. 11 and 12 in Ontario for a field tour on Thursday and a regular meeting on Friday. See agenda here. The meeting will also be livestreamed from the Commission page. To testify on an agenda item virtually, register on the agenda page at least 48…
OTIS, Ore.—ODFW's recent legislatively adopted budget did not include funding to continue the operation of Salmon River Hatchery, one of more than 30 hatcheries that ODFW maintains in the State. The cost of operating and maintaining the hatchery exceeded available revenue, but funding is just one of…
SALEM, Ore. – Oregon may soon have a new wildlife area in Union County called the Qapqápa Wildlife Area (pronounced cop-COP-a). The property would be owned by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and co-managed with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR)…
SALEM, Ore.— Hunters are the first line of defense against Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). By getting their animals tested, hunters can help wildlife managers detect the disease early and slow its spread in the state's deer and elk herds. OHA and ODFW are again teaming up to encourage hunters who…
ODFW Marine Resources Program's Alex Copeland monitors scientific fish finders on board the research vessel. ODFW photo. NEWPORT, Ore. – Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's Marine Fisheries Research team is conducting a nearly 10-week at-sea survey to better understand the population status of…
CORVALLIS, Ore . — The Oregon Hatchery Research Center Board will meet virtually via Zoom on Wednesday, Sept. 3 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. In addition to the regularly scheduled items, the agenda includes a review of a proposal for use of the remaining OHRC Research Fund. The meeting is open to…
Pendleton, Ore. – The access road at Bridge Creek Wildlife Area in Umatilla County is closed to vehicles for road and bridge maintenance until further notice. The wildlife area will stay open to the public for walk-in access. Visitors may enter beyond the closed gate on foot but are reminded to park…
NEWPORT, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is holding two public meetings to discuss the commercial black and blue rockfish and nearshore fisheries. The meetings will be held in person with virtual or phone-in options Sept. 9 in Port Orford and Sept. 11 in Tillamook. ODFW commercial…
CENTRAL POINT, Ore. – The Rogue-Siskiyou National Forest is temporarily closing the Huckleberry Mountain area in the High Cascades Ranger District Aug. 22-31 for Tribal ceremonial purposes. Rogue Unit general archery hunters should be aware of the closure over the archery opening weekend, Aug. 30-31…
ROSEBURG, Ore. – The salmon bag limit in the Coos Basin increases today, Aug. 19 from two to three fish in aggregate, one of which must be a hatchery salmon. Anglers can harvest wild Chinook, hatchery Chinook, and hatchery coho. Wild coho cannot be retained until Sept. 13, when only one wild coho…
NEWPORT, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife recommends people avoid harvesting and consuming softshell and bay clams from Alsea Bay estuary after the Oregon Health Authority issued a recreational use advisory for Eckman Lake in Lincoln County. The OHA issued a July 31 advisory due to…
ROSEBURG, Ore. – Fishing for fall Chinook salmon (hatchery and wild) closes at 12:01 a.m., Aug. 19 on the Umpqua, Smith, and North Fork Smith rivers because the quota of 500 wild fall Chinook has been reached. With forecasted low returns of wild fall Chinook salmon in the Umpqua, Smith and North…
NEWPORT, Ore. – Ocean sport salmon fishing closes at 12:01 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 19 in the Columbia River Subarea (Leadbetter Pt., WA to Cape Falcon, OR) and possession of salmon on board a vessel is prohibited. Fishing is allowed on Monday and is closed Tuesday. Projected harvest of marked (fin…
NEWPORT, Ore. – The General Marine Species bag limit returns to a four-fish bag limit beginning Monday, Aug. 18. The one-fish sub-bag limit for cabezon and the one-fish sub-bag limit for canary rockfish remain in place, and retention of quillback rockfish and yelloweye rockfish is prohibited. Great…
SALEM, Ore.—The Commission approved a revised State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) today, a plan that serves as a roadmap for protecting Oregon's at-risk species and their habitats. The Plan incorporates the latest available information on species and presents recommended conservation actions to inform…
Current conditions and opportunities to fish, hunt and see wildlife. Updated weekly by fish and wildlife biologists throughout the state.
