ODFW News Releases
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All News Releases
Recreational fishing days for adult hatchery Chinook and sockeye added for Columbia River mainstem
CLACKAMAS, Ore.— Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington added recreational fishing days for adult hatchery Chinook and sockeye to the on-going hatchery steelhead and hatchery jack Chinook fishery in the mainstem Columbia River downstream of the Highway 395 Bridge at Pasco, WA during a joint…
Commission meets July 11 in The Dalles
SALEM, Ore. – The Fish and Wildlife Commission meets Friday, July 11 at 10 a.m., at The Dalles Civic Auditorium (323 East 4th St., The Dalles). See the agenda here. The meeting will also be livestreamed from the Commission page. At Friday's meeting, the Commission will be asked to consider whether…
Razor clam conservation closure begins July 15 on Clatsop beaches
ASTORIA, Ore – The annual conservation closure of razor clamming on Clatsop beaches begins 12:01 a.m. July 15. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife encourages clammers to take advantage of the low tide series that begins July 8. However, ODFW reminds clammers that although the low tide series…
ODFW to host online meetings about 2026 Big Game Regulations proposals: New Eastern Oregon deer hunting structure discussed
SALEM, Ore.—ODFW will host a series of online public meetings in July with district wildlife biologists presenting proposed changes to next year's big game regulations and getting feedback. Each meeting will include a presentation on 2026 proposed regulations, a Q&A and opportunity for public…
Regulations to protect summer steelhead in effect on Deschutes, John Day, Eagle Creek
July 2, 2025 THE DALLES, Ore.—With another poor forecast for Columbia Basin summer steelhead runs this year, protective regulations are again in effect on some tributaries (Deschutes, John Day, Eagle Creek). The daily adult salmon and steelhead bag limit may not include more than one hatchery…
E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area shotgun range to close for renovation beginning July
CORVALLIS, Ore. – The shotgun range at E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area near Corvallis will be closed for renovation from July 14 through the end of October. Renovations on the range will include expanding the shooting bays and implementing ADA complaint access to the site. ODFW expects work to be complete…
Mussel harvest closure Tillamook Head to the north Jetty of the Siuslaw River
SALEM, Ore – Mussel harvesting is now closed from Tillamook Head (south of Seaside) 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…
Mussel harvest closure Tillamook Head to the north Jetty of the Siuslaw River
SALEM, Ore – Mussel harvesting is now closed from Tillamook Head (south of Seaside) 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…
New pilot program for limited entry parking at Sauvie Island Beaches Free pass required summer weekends and holidays starting July 4
SAUVIE ISLAND WILDIFE AREA, Ore.— To manage ongoing traffic and parking problems at Sauvie Island Wildlife Area's beaches, ODFW is introducing a new limited-entry parking pilot program. Starting July 4, vehicles will need a free Sauvie Island Beaches Pass in addition to the Wildlife Area Parking…
Mussel harvest closure Tillamook Head to the north Jetty of the Siuslaw River
SALEM, Ore – Mussel harvesting is now closed from Tillamook Head (south of Seaside) 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…
Application deadline extended to July 11 for Landowner Representative position on Access and Habitat State Board
SALEM, Ore. – The deadline for applications has been extended to July 11, 2025, for the Landowner Representative. Application forms are available at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/lands/AH/get_involved.asp. The Landowner Representative position is looking for individuals with experience in forestry or…
New grant opportunity to build wildlife crossings in Oregon; OCRF seeks letters of interest for Wildlife Passage Infrastructure Projects
SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund (OCRF) is now accepting letters of interest for its summer 2025 Wildlife Crossing Infrastructure Grant Opportunity, supporting capital construction projects that reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and restore critical movement and migration…
Give space to elk and deer - calf and fawn season is here
SALEM, Ore. – Oregon's deer and elk give birth from May through July each year. It's natural for mother animals to leave their young alone for extended periods of time while they go off to feed. If you come across a fawn or calf by itself, don't assume it's orphaned. The mother is likely nearby and…
Serial poacher sentenced to jail time, $22,000 fines in Grant County
CANYON CITY, Ore.- A poacher investigated for more than 50 crimes committed in Grant County between 2023 and 2024 was sentenced to 95 days behind bars and more than $22,000 in restitution and fines, according to wildlife officials. In what wildlife enforcement officers refer to as a serial poaching…
ODFW seeks applicants for Fish Screening and Fish Passage Task Forces - apply by August 31
SALEM, Ore. — ODFW is seeking applicants to serve on two public advisory committees that support its Fish Screening and Fish Passage Programs. These programs play a vital role in protecting native fish populations across the state. Through collaboration with landowners, agencies, and conservation…
ODFW holds online public meeting on draft management plan for Southern Resident Orcas
SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is hosting a public meeting to review the agency's draft Endangered Species Management Plan for Southern Resident Orcas (SRO). The online-only meeting is July 9 from 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. ODFW staff will give a brief presentation of SRO life…
Lookingglass Creek open for spring Chinook fishing June 18 to June 29
LA GRANDE, Ore. – Lookingglass Creek, a tributary to the Grande Ronde River at Palmer Junction, will open for spring Chinook fishing Wednesday, June 18 through Sunday, June 29. The open area is from the mouth upstream to the confluence of Jarboe Creek. After early season projections made it appear…
Commission adopts limited Umpqua River fall Chinook season
PENDLETON, Ore. ‐ The Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted a limited fall Chinook fishing and retention season on the mainstem Umpqua, Smith, and North Fork Smith rivers after receiving many public comments and hearing testimony from a Douglas County Commissioner, business owners and local anglers…
OHRC Board to meet in Corvallis on June 17
CORVALLIS, Ore. — The Oregon Hatchery Research Center Board will meet in Corvallis on Tuesday, June 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Oregon State University, Nash Hall Room 032, 2820 SW Campus Way. In addition to the regularly scheduled items, the agenda includes OHRC research updates, an…
Commission meets June 12-13 in Pendleton
SALEM Ore. – The Fish and Wildlife Commission meets June 12-13 for a field tour on Thursday and a regular meeting Friday. See the 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 hours in…
Anglers can keep two Columbia River hatchery Chinook June 6-15
CLACKAMAS, Ore.—Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington expanded recreational spring Chinook days and retention on the mainstem Columbia River during a joint state hearing yesterday. There is remaining harvest allocation available for increased spring Chinook opportunity while staying within…
ODFW seeks applicants for two positions on the State Access and Habitat Program Board
SALEM, Ore.—Do you have a love of hunting and passion for wildlife conservation? Are you knowledgeable about forestry and/or agriculture? If so, there are vacancies for a Landowner Representative and a Hunter Representative on the Access & Habitat (A&H) Board. Applications are being accepted by the…
ODFW's Private Forest Accord Mitigation Advisory Committee will meet June 10
SALEM, Ore. – The Private Forest Accord Mitigation Advisory Committee will hold its regularly occurring meeting, virtually on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. 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…
ODFW and Baker County Parks to host Free Fishing Day event at Holcomb Park June 7
BAKER CITY, Ore. – ODFW along with Baker County Parks will host a Free Fishing Day event at Holcomb Park, Brownlee Reservoir, on Saturday, June 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event is designed to help kids and their families learn fishing basics and enjoy a day outside. ODFW will provide rods and…
Columbia River 2025 summer/fall salmon and steelhead seasons announced
CLACKAMAS, Ore.—Oregon and Washington fishery managers have finalized preseason planning for 2025 Columbia River summer and fall recreational salmon and steelhead fisheries. Forecasts for summer steelhead, sockeye, fall Chinook, and coho will allow opportunity for anglers to target these fish. The…
Area of mid-coast reopens to razor clam harvesting
SALEM, Ore. – Razor clam harvesting is now open from the Washington/Oregon border to Cape Blanco, the Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today. Razor clamming had been closed from Cascade Head to the California border. But marine biotoxin levels…
Free fishing weekend June 7-8 in Oregon, family-friendly fishing events held statewide
SALEM, Ore.—Everyone can fish, clam and crab for free in Oregon on Saturday and Sunday, June 7-8, 2025. No fishing/shellfish licenses or tags (including a Combined Angling Tag or Columbia River Basin Endorsement or Two-Rod Validation) are required on these days. Both Oregon residents and…