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September 22, 2025

2025-26 Game Bird Hunting Forecast

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NEW THIS YEAR: The daily pintail bag limit has been increased to three (from one in past years), thanks to a new federal harvest strategy allowing more harvest opportunity for duck hunters. Learn more at this Ducks Unlimited article which features ODFW's Migratory Bird Coordinator Brandon Reishus.

See the Game Bird Hunting Regulations for additional changes this year, including:

Adjusted the season dates and bag limit in the Northwest Goose Permit Zone.
Combined the Western and Eastern Oregon Fall Turkey tags.
Expanded the boundary of the fall turkey hunt.
Expanded the boundary and dates of the Beardless Turkey Permit hunt.

Upland game bird statewide overview

After a couple years of some of the best hunting in recent memory, upland game bird populations in Oregon are coming down from their peak. Hunters will still find abundant populations across the state but should expect to find fewer juveniles per adult than last year. Upland bird populations can vary greatly from year to year depending on weather and habitat conditions. Summer surveys indicate lower chick production for most species from the previous year. Forest grouse populations are generally strong with some local exceptions.

Another year of good precipitation in the High Desert region has contributed to great habitat conditions in the driest part of the state. Moisture had a positive effect on forage, insect production, cover and available water. Winter was mild and conditions were good for overwinter survival, meaning there would still be plenty of adults in the landscape. Either nesting effort was down or hatching conditions were less than optimal for our upland bird species.

The 2025 fire year was much improved from the record-breaking year of 2024. Habitats can take a long time to recover, which can make birds can be vulnerable to various stressors, such as disease, predation, and poor nutrition. Hunters should focus on hunting intact habitats where there should still be plenty of birds to go around. Remember to check for access closures related to fires.

The Columbia Basin, the heart of Oregon's upland bird hunting, also saw declines in chukar and pheasant this year, but quail populations are holding steady. Hunters should still find pheasants in pockets throughout the Columbia Basin, Grande Ronde valley, Harney County and northeastern Malheur County.

Western Oregon had some cold and wet hatch conditions in places, which could affect forest grouse and mountain quail recruitment. Mountain quail in general continues to thrive throughout the Coast and Cascade mountain ranges this year, from south to north where past disturbance events have created ideal habitat.

Here's what our surveys found for upland bird species:

Pheasants

Eastern Oregon pheasant populations had a couple of improved years, but it looks like production is down for 2025. Hunters can find birds in the Heppner, Umatilla, Mid-Columbia, Harney and Union districts of the Columbia Basin. The Malheur District also continues to be on an improved track.

Western Oregon pheasants remain in certain margins of agricultural land but are generally hard to find. In Oregon, hunters can most often find pheasants in the remaining permanent cover associated with the edge of agricultural fields, irrigation ditches, fencerows or seasonal wetlands.

California quail

A valley quail. It is bluish=gray on the body with a scaled green pattern on the belly. The chin is black surrounded by a white outline. It has a black top knot drooping forward from the top of the head

California (valley) quail populations have been steady to increasing in recent years. This year the hatch seems on par, with local variability. We should see healthy and abundant quail populations, particularly in the Baker and Malheur districts, which are reporting a strong increase in quail production and population density this year. While Harney is down from a strong showing last year, there will still be excellent opportunities in this district.

California quail are most abundant in Harney, Malheur, Grant, Heppner and the Mid-Columbia districts. Hunters will find California quail at lower elevations of eastern Oregon typically associated with a permanent water source and early successional, brushy habitat.

Chukar

Chukar, known for their large annual population fluctuations, are benefitting from the improved moisture in their typically dry habitat, and last year was likely the peak of this population cycle. While chukar numbers may not match what we've seen lately, there will still be lots of birds to be had in eastern Oregon. Best bets for this year are the Baker District and Malheur District. Hunters should look for chukar in the large drainages and unforested rimrock country of eastern Oregon.

Forest grouse

Forest grouse populations are difficult to survey, so we primarily consider nesting and habitat conditions in the forecast. Forest grouse populations in the Coast Range are in a fairly steady pattern for both ruffed and blue (sooty) grouse. Hatching conditions were possibly a little wet and cold, which could affect chick recruitment. The Cascades continue to be a stronghold for western Oregon grouse.

Eastern Oregon has been enjoying strong forest grouse populations, and fire conditions were much improved in the Blue Mountains this year. Time will tell if the chick recruitment was better than expected this year.

Migratory game bird statewide outlook

Ducks & Geese

Population surveys in Oregon and across the continent showed a mixed bag for ducks this spring. Locally, populations were generally stable or improved from the past several years. This was especially true in eastern Oregon, as nesting waterfowl continued to rebound from the severe drought conditions in 2021 & 2022.

In southeast Oregon, habitat conditions are better than last year, especially large basins which are holding more water than they did last summer. In the rest of Oregon, a dry spring and summer have resulted in dry fall conditions, which is normal. We will need fall and winter precipitation to help flood our seasonal wetland habitats many of our wintering birds rely on.

In Alaska and northwest Canada, some duck species, such as mallards and green-winged teal saw lower breeding populations than the previous year, while others like wigeon and pintail were up. Conditions were much improved in southern Alberta, and nearly all duck species recorded increases over 2024.

Some goose populations that had been doing very well in past decades have continued to decline in recent years. This is especially true for cacklers and Taverner's cackling geese and their declining population status has resulted in major harvest restrictions in the northwest permit goose zone for this season. Additionally, white-fronted geese, while still very abundant, have been showing signs of a declining population in recent years. Locally, our resident Canada goose flocks remain robust, though flocks in southeast Oregon are continuing to rebuild after drought in recent years.

As usual, hunting success will be dependent on bird numbers and local habitat conditions this fall and winter. Early in the season, those areas with good habitat conditions should provide excellent hunting opportunities for locally produced birds and early migrants like wigeon, green-winged teal and pintails.

Coastal estuaries and the lower Columbia River are always good western Oregon bets for early season. East of the Cascades, hunters should find better conditions than last year as many large wetland basins have more water than they have had for some time. Good bets are the Klamath and Harney basins. Hunters who plan on traveling should check with the appropriate land manager to get the specifics on their favorite area.

Waterfowl hunters should be aware that Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (avian flu) was prevalent in Oregon and across the continent last fall and winter in wild waterfowl. While this disease does not present a significant health concern for humans, hunters should practice some routine hygiene precautions whenever handling wildlife.

These measures also will help protect you from avian flu or any other disease the bird could be carrying:
Wear rubber or latex gloves when handling and cleaning game birds.
Do not eat, drink, smoke or touch your face when handling birds.
Keep the uncooked game bird and any fluid material associated with it away from other foods.
Thoroughly clean knives and any other equipment or surfaces that come in contact with uncooked birds. A good cleanser and sanitizer is a commercial chlorine-based cleaning solution or mix one third cup of chlorine bleach per one gallon of water.
Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after handling birds (or with alcohol-based hand products if your hands are not visibly soiled).
Cook all game meat thoroughly (up to at least 165° F) to kill disease organisms and parasites. Use a food thermometer to ensure the breast or thigh meat has reached at least 165° F. Please visit the ODFW website for more information and updates throughout the season.

Pintail ducks and Canada geese on Ladd Marsh

Get HIP in 2025-26
Remember, you must have a free HIP validation to hunt any migratory game bird including mourning doves, band-tailed pigeons and waterfowl. If you bought a Sports Pac, you must redeem current season upland and/or waterfowl vouchers before you hunt.