Commission meets Sept. 11-12 in Ontario to consider 2026 big game hunting and sport fishing regulations

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 hours in advance (by Wednesday, Sept. 10 at 8 a.m.). To testify in person, sign up at the meeting. Instructions for registering to provided testimony and links for submitting written testimony are provided on the meeting agenda.

To testify during the public forum section about an issue that is not on the agenda, use the form on the agenda page, at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting. To submit comments, use the link provided with each agenda item (see "Submit written comments on this agenda item Here").

Thursday's tour begins at 8 a.m. MT on Sept. 11 at the Holiday Inn Express, 212 SE 10^th Street, Ontario, Ore. Members of the public may join the tour but must provide their own transportation and lunch. See the tour agenda.

On Friday, the Commission meeting starts at 8 a.m. MT at Four Rivers Cultural Center, 676 SW 5^th Ave., Ontario, Ore.

At Friday's meeting, the Commission will be consider the following business:

Sage-Grouse: Approve the updated "Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation Assessment and Strategy for Oregon" and amend associated rules. The plan provides greater clarity on ODFW's approach to sage-grouse management. It emphasizes the biggest threats to sage-grouse in Oregon (fire, invasive annual grasses, and conifer encroachment) and includes an improved population model to help track population abundance and trends and updated Core and Low-Density Habitat maps.

Recreational Sport Fishing Regulations: Changes to fishing regulations are considered every other year and several are proposed for 2026, see myodfw.com for more information on proposals. Starting Jan. 1, 2026, anglers will need an Ocean Endorsement ($9 annual/$4 daily) to fish for all marine fish species (except for ocean salmon and shellfish) in ocean waters. The 2025 Oregon State Legislature approved this endorsement to specifically fund fish population surveys and research in Oregon's state waters. More nearshore fish population surveys are important because they give scientists assessing populations more confidence in their models, so there is better data informing management decisions. During this agenda item, the Commission will also be asked to set a hatchery Chinook salmon season in the Coquille River from Sept. 13-Oct. 15, 2025, the first since 2021.

Big Game Regulations: Adopt 2026 Big Game Hunting Regulations which would include changes to Eastern Oregon deer hunts under the staff proposal, an outcome of the new Mule Deer Management Plan adopted in 2024. Deer hunts in the region will be structured based on Deer Herd Ranges, not WMUs, to reflect mule deer biology and allow for more accurate monitoring and management. This change will align hunting effort and associated harvest with Oregon's mule deer populations and management goals, improve monitoring of population trends, and allow for quicker management responses/accurate evaluation of management actions. More information about these proposed changes can be found online.

Oregon Conservation and Recreation Funding: Approve projects for grant funding from OCRF's Spring 2025 Grant solicitation. Projects support a broad range of conservation and outdoor recreation efforts throughout the state, increase the Department's capacity to protect and enhance the species and habitats identified in the State Wildlife Action Plan and create new opportunities for wildlife watching, urban conservation, community science, and other wildlife-associated recreation.

A&H Board and Funding: Review and approve the Access & Habitat Board's recommendations for project funding to support opening hunting access and improving wildlife habitat on private land. Appoint a Landowner Representative and a Hunter Representative to the A&H Board.

The Commission will also hear staff presentations on the Climate & Ocean Change Policy and the Beaver Action Plan.

The Commission may meet in executive session to consider information or records that are exempt by law from public inspection, and to consult with legal counsel concerning the legal rights and duties of a public body with regard to current litigation or litigation likely to be filed as authorized by ORS 192.660 (2)(f) and (2)(h). Members of the media can attend the Executive Session but may not report on anything heard during that session. Media wishing to attend should contact the Director's office at (503) 947-6044.

Reasonable accommodation, such as assistive hearing devices, sign language interpreters, and materials in large print or audiotape, will be provided as needed. To ensure availability, please contact the Director's Office at (503) 947-6044 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting to make your request. TTY users can reach ODFW by using the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service. Please dial 711 and ask to connect to 503-947-6044.

Visit the ODFW Newsroom.