ODFW Newsroom

SALEM, Ore. – The Private Forest Accord Advisory Committee will not hold its regularly scheduled public meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 12. The next meeting will take place in September. The meeting schedule is available on ODFW's website. The Private Forest Accord Mitigation Fund was established in the…

CLACKAMAS, Ore.— Anglers with the two-rod validation will be able to use two rods in areas of the upper Willamette River open to coho retention through the end of the year, under a temporary rule adopted by ODFW. Effective Aug. 1 through Dec. 31 for anglers with the validation, two rods can be used…

Events in Coquille, Central Point, Monmouth, Eugene, Irrigon, John Day, Klamath Falls, La Grande, Madras, Portland, Tygh Valley SALEM, Ore.—Youth hunters (age 17 and under) who will have completed hunter education by the time of the event can sign up now for ODFW's free pheasant hunts happening…

LA GRANDE, Ore. – Effective Aug. 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 (Southeast Zone) located in Union County. Harvest will be allowed by hand, dip net, or angling. A…

ODFW Director Debbie Colbert (at podium) and Coquille Tribe Chairwoman Brenda Meade (to the right in black jacket) on July 31, 2025 in Bandon, Ore. to announce a major step forward in their combined management effort on salmon recovery in the Coquille River. The first fall Chinook fishery since 2021…

CLACKAMAS, Ore.— Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington extended hatchery steelhead retention for recreational anglers on the mainstem Columbia River downstream of The Dalles Dam using joint state action yesterday. Steelhead retention was initially planned to be closed in this area beginning…

SALEM, Ore.—ODFW will be proposing several changes to next year's Sport Fishing Regulations. The Commission will adopt 2026 regulations at their Sept. 12 meeting in Ontario. Major staff proposals for changes include: Allowing spearfishing for bass and walleye in more rivers and streams: Spearfishing…

SALEM, Ore.—Head to a participating Jamba location for a new limited edition Wildlife Conservation tumbler that benefits wildlife. The colorful tumbler features five species: Sierra Nevada red fox, Northern red-legged frog, Western snowy plover, Northwestern pond turtle and Pygmy rabbit. All are…

SALEM, Ore – Mussel harvesting is now closed from Cape Blanco to the California border due to levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning above the safety threshold, the Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today. On the mid-coast, marine biotoxin…

SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Conservation and Recreation Advisory Committee will meet on Monday, July 28, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesday, July 29, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The Conservation and Recreation Advisory Committee will meet in Sisters on July 28th for a tour of area projects. On Tuesday…

SALEM, Ore. – Bowhunters can warm up for the archery season at a free 3D shoot in La Pine on Saturday, Aug. 2 at Three Rivers Archers Park located at the intersection of Coach Rd. and Memorial Lane. This unique course offers hunting scenarios and learning opportunities to help you prepare for the…

SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking a new member to represent the South Willamette District on the Salmon and Trout Advisory Committee (STAC). Interested individuals are encouraged to apply by 5:00 p. m. on Aug. 4. ODFW is seeking interest from Oregonians who can…

NEWPORT, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is hosting a public meeting on July 29 from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. to get input on the 2026 recreational Pacific halibut season. The meeting is being held in the conference room of the ODFW office, 2040 SE Marine Science Dr. in Newport with a…

SALEM, Ore. – ODFW's 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…

SALEM, Ore. – ODFW completed a final draft of the 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP), now available online for public review. A virtual public meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 16 at 6 p.m., where ODFW staff will present highlights from the plan and answer questions. The public can view…

CENTRAL POINT, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is hosting a family-friendly 3D archery event Aug. 2-3 at the Military Slough tract on Denman Wildlife Area. For just $10 (cash only, pay at entrance), archers can take shots at 40 3D animal targets on a two-mile course along…

CENTRAL POINT, Ore. – Learn how to spot and identify animal tracks, splash around in a stream to check out aquatic bugs, and play "survival of the fish-est." Join the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Jackson County Parks, and Rogue River Watershed Council for Wildlife Wisdom every Saturday…

SALEM, Ore. – The Private Forest Accord Mitigation Advisory Committee will hold its regularly occurring meeting, virtually on Tuesday, July 15, 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…

SALEM, Ore. – ODFW staff will host a webinar on July 17 at 2 p.m., to introduce the public to the updated ODFW sage-grouse management plan. The Oregon Greater Sage-grouse Conservation Assessment and Strategy was last updated in 2011. The public is invited to learn about proposed changes to the plan…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…