Commission agenda: January 16, 2026

Friday, January 16, 2026

The Fish and Wildlife Commission has moved to hybrid meetings, meaning that you have the option to attend in-person or virtually. Those who would like to provide virtual testimony on an Exhibit scheduled on this agenda must REGISTRATION no less than 48 hours (Wednesday January 14 at 8:00 AM) in advance to receive a testimony link to the meeting. To provide testimony on an agenda item in-person, registration will also be available at the meeting.

To provide testimony virtually during PUBLIC FORUM you must contact the Director's office no less than 48 hours (Wednesday January 14 at 8:00 AM) in advance of the meeting for approval.

Download January 2026 Meeting Agenda

Information about Accessibility and Accommodations

DIRECTOR'S REPORT

Field Report – in written form only

Meeting Materials

• Field Reports (pdf)

Commission Financial Report

Ken Loffink, Chief Operating Officer

Meeting Materials

• Commission Financial Report

Climate & Ocean Change Policy Report

"SMURFing along the Oregon Coast--understanding the impacts of a changing climate on rockfish recruitment"

Dr. Kirsten Grorud-Colvert
Moritz Schmid, Research Project Lead

• Presentation

Meeting Materials

• TBA

ADOPT TEMPORARY RULES

Commission Action: Rule Ratification

Debbie Colbert, Director

Meeting Materials (pdf)

• TEMP RULES Report
   

1. 635-005-0465

2025-2026 Commercial Dungeness Crab Season Opening North of Cape Falcon

Adopted 12/19/2025: effective 12/19/2025 through 3/31/2026

This amended rule sets the opening date for the Oregon 2025-2026 ocean commercial Dungeness crab fishery from Cape Falcon to the Oregon-Washington border.

2. 635-041-0063

Modify Season Structure and Allow Sales of Sturgeon Caught in Columbia River Treaty Setline Fisheries

Adopted 12/23/2025: effective 1/1/2026 through 1/31/2026

This amended rule modifies the season structure in permanent rule for the treaty sturgeon setline fishery and provides state authorization of sales of white sturgeon caught in the winter Treaty setline fisheries in Bonneville Pool, The Dalles Pool, and The John Day Pool to reflect recent tribal action to modify these fisheries.

3. 635-023-0101

Modify Recreational Retention Fishery for Sturgeon in John Day Pool and Adjacent Tributaries

Adopted 12/23/2025: effective 1/1/2026 through 4/30/2026

This amended rule modifies the recreational retention fishery regulations for white sturgeon in the John Day Pool (John Day Dam upstream to McNary Dam) of the mainstem Columbia River and all adjacent tributaries. Retention will be allowed in the John Day Pool from January 1 through April 30, 2026. Modifications are consistent with actions taken by the Departments of Fish & Wildlife for the States of Oregon and Washington at a Columbia River Joint State hearing on November 13, 2025

4. 635-023-0101

Close Retention of Sturgeon in Recreational Fisheries in the John Day Pool and Adjacent Tributaries

Adopted 1/9/2026: effective 1/10/2026 through 4/30/2026

This amended rule closes the retention season for white sturgeon on the mainstem Columbia River in the John Day Pool (John Day Dam upstream to McNary Dam) and all adjacent tributaries.

Modifications are consistent with actions taken by the Departments of Fish & Wildlife for the States of Oregon and Washington at a Columbia River Joint State hearing on January 8, 2026.

5. 635-042-0130

Adopt Non-Treaty Columbia River Mainstem Commercial Smelt Fishery

Adopted 1/9/2026: effective 1/12/2026 through 3/19/2026

This amended rule will implement the 2026 non-treaty commercial smelt fishery in Zones 1-3 of the lower Columbia River on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. from January 12 through February 19, 2026 and from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays from February 23 through March 19, 2026. Modifications are consistent with actions taken by the Departments of Fish and Wildlife for the States of Oregon and Washington at the Columbia River Compact hearing held on January 8, 2026.

6. 635-016-0510

Allow Bait on the Coquille River and Tributaries

Adopted 1/12/2026: effective 1/12/2026 through 7/10/2026

This rule will correct language that inadvertently removed the allowance of bait in the Coquille River basin from January 1^st through May 31^st and November 1^st through December 31^st.

7. 635-067-0000

Amend Rules to Reduce 2026 Oregon Hunting Tags for Rocky Mountain Goats

Adopted: 01/12/2026: effective date: 01/12/2026 through 07/10/2026

Oregon Administrative Rules establishing tag numbers for 2026 Rocky Mountain goat hunts were adopted by the Fish and Wildlife Commission on September 12, 2025 meeting. Tag numbers adopted at that time did not account for low number of Rocky Mountain goats observed in the Snake River Wildlife Management Unit during the most recent population surveys.

COMMISSION UPDATES

No Commission Action: Informational Only

OTHER BUSINESS

 

PUBLIC FORUM

This part of the agenda is for comments on any topic except those related to exhibits involving rulemaking or Commission approval listed elsewhere on this agenda.

Please Registration with the ODFW Director's Office before 8:00 AM, Wednesday, January 14 (at least 48 hours prior to the meeting) to be included in the public forum.

Wallowa County Wolves

Commissioner John Hillock, Wallowa County

Wallowa County Commissioner Resolution on Wolf Management Policy

Alicia Zinni

Chris Cunningham

Rawley Bigsby

Online License Ordering

Quentin LeRoy Beagley

Black Bear Trap Check Times

Kelly Peterson, Oregon State Director for Humane World

Revenue And Expenses

David Blessman

Sauvie Island Online Parking Permits

Kristen Cook, Sauvie Island Cove Market

Predation Impacts on Mule Deer and Big Horn Sheep

Paul Davis

EXHIBIT A: COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES

The Commission will be asked to approve draft Commission meeting minutes from December 12, 2025

Commission Action: Approval of Minutes

Meeting Materials (pdf)

• December 2025 Minutes DRAFT

EXHIBIT B: UPDATING CEREMONIAL AND SUBSISTENCE HUNTING TAG NUMBERS FOR BURNS PAIUTE TRIBE

The Commission will be asked to update the number of hunting tags available to the Burns Paiute Tribe to support their member's interests in ceremonial and subsistence hunting opportunities. The amendments also align the rules to recently adopted mule deer hunt areas and slightly expand the geographic scope of those opportunities.

Commission Action: Rulemaking

Philip Milburn, Malheur/Klamath Watershed Manager

Submit written comments on this agenda item Here

Public Testimony: 48-hour Advance REGISTRATION required for virtual participation.

Meeting Materials (pdf)

• Cover
• Attachment 1_Agenda Item Summary
• Attachment 2_Notice of Proposed Rulemaking-FIS_ODFW and BPT_Filed 11-25-25
• Attachment 3_Draft Oregon Administrative Rules
• Attachment 4_Map_BPT
• Attachment 5_Public Correspondence
• Presentation

EXHIBIT C: LANDOWNER PREFERENCE PROGRAM FORMULA FOR SETTING MULE DEER TAGS

The Commission will be asked to amend rules to modify the formula for setting landowner preference program tags for mule deer hunts and to modify the names of some mule deer herd ranges.

Commission Action: Rulemaking

Brian Wolfer, Wildlife Division Deputy Administrator

Lee Foster, District Wildlife Biologist.

Submit written comments on this agenda item Here

Public Testimony: 48-hour Advance REGISTRATION required for virtual participation.

Meeting Materials (pdf)

• Cover
• Attachment 1_Agenda Item Summary
• Attachment 2 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Hearing and FIS_Filed 11-25-25
• Attachment 3_Draft Revised 2024 Mule Deer Management Objective Tables
• Attachment 4_Draft Oregon Administrative Rules
• Attachment 5_Public Correspondence
• Attachment 5_Public Correspondence as of 1-12-26
• Presentation

EXHIBIT D: COQUILLE RIVER FALL CHINOOK CONSERVATION HATCHERY PROGRAM MODIFICATION

The Commission will be asked to approve a modification to the Coquille River conservation hatchery program.

Commission Action: Approval

Greg Huchko, Umpqua Watershed District Manager

John Ogan, Coquille Indian Tribe

Submit written comments on this agenda item Here

Public Testimony: 48-hour Advance REGISTRATION required for virtual participation.

Meeting Materials (pdf)

• Cover
• Attachment 1_Agenda Item Summary
• Attachment 2_Public Correspondence
• Attachment 3_Supplemental Public Correspondence
• Presentation Coquille River Fall Chinook Conservation Hatchery Program Modification

EXECUTIVE SESSION

This Executive Session is held pursuant to ORS 192.660 (2)(f) to consider information or records that are exempt by law from public inspection, as well as to consult with legal counsel concerning 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)(h).

ADJOURN