News Releases

SALEM, Ore. — ODFW is accepting public comment until Nov. 11 on agenda items the Fish and Wildlife Commission will consider at their Dec. 11 meeting in Salem. Proposed 2027 groundfish regulations are on the agenda. While most are similar to those in 2026, one proposal could mark a historic milestone…

SALEM, Ore. – ODFW invites the public to view artwork entered in the annual stamp art contest on Tuesday, Oct. 27 from 12:30-5:00 p.m. at ODFW Headquarters in Salem. The event is free and open to the public. Located at 4034 Fairview Industrial Dr SE, Salem, ODFW Headquarters will host the display of…

SALEM, Ore. – Cooler autumn weather triggers bears to begin their annual fall eat-a-thon, known as hyperphagia, to prepare for winter. During this intense feeding period, bears can forage up to 20 hours a day beginning in late summer when berries and fruits have ripened and peaking when pears and…

CLACKAMAS, Ore.– The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) are seeking applications for membership on the Columbia River Recreational Fisheries Advisory Group and the Columbia River Commercial Fisheries Advisory Group for the 2027…

SALEM, Ore. – ODFW is seeking qualified applicants to fill a Columbia Plateau or Blue Mountains position on the Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund (OCRF) Advisory Committee. Interested individuals must apply by Oct. 30, 2026. Committee members meet four to five times each year both virtually…

SALEM, Ore. – Razor clam harvesting is now closed to all harvest coastwide the Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today. Recent razor clam samples indicate levels of domoic acid (a marine biotoxin) are above the safety threshold. This includes…

CLACKAMAS, Ore. – Angling will be closed on the lowest reach of Eagle Creek in the Clackamas basin from Oct. 2 through Dec. 31 to give coho salmon a safe resting area amid ongoing low water flows. The closure is from the mouth upstream to SE Dowty Rd. bridge. The closure follows drought conditions…

SALEM, Ore. – ODFW is increasing Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) monitoring across Oregon, with new check stations planned as Any Legal Weapon deer seasons start statewide on Oct. 3. All successful deer and elk hunters are asked to turn in a CWD sample, and each sample submitted between Aug. 1, 2026…

SALEM, Ore. – ODFW is seeking qualified applicants to fill an ocean and inland recreational fishing position on the Restoration and Enhancement (R&E) Program Board. Interested individuals must apply by Oct. 16, 2026. Board members meet two to four times each year in various communities throughout…

Central Point, Ore. – With the lifting of some fire restrictions in Southern Oregon, some private lands within the Jackson Cooperative Travel Management Area (JACTMA) have reopened to walk-in only. And within the boundaries of the JACTMA, roads designated as Green Dot roads are currently open for…

SALEM, Ore. – Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington added recreational salmon fishing days in the mainstem Columbia River during a joint state hearing today. Anglers can now retain Chinook over the weekend (Sept. 26-27) from the Buoy 10 line upstream to the Highway 395 bridge at Pasco, WA and…

ENTERPRISE, Ore. – Bag limits for Chinook salmon and hatchery steelhead are changing on the Snake River starting Sept. 23 as fishery managers work to protect a record low steelhead run and lower than average fall Chinook run. For the area of the Snake River from the Oregon Washington state border…

PENDLETON, Ore. – Fall Chinook fishing will be closed from the Hwy 730 bridge upstream to Threemile Dam in the Umatilla River from Sept. 22 through Nov. 30, 2026. The closure reflects forecasts of a low return of fall Chinook and is intended to help fishery managers meet broodstock goals for…

NEWPORT, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is holding four public meetings to receive input on the 2027 Recreational Bottomfish and Pacific Halibut Seasons. ODFW staff will be hosting in person meetings October 5, 6, 7, and 8 to discuss the 2027 recreational bottomfish and Pacific…

John Day, Ore. – The ODFW Restoration and Enhancement Board will meet from 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. on Sept. 29. Topics will include program information and updates, and a Board review of 12 project proposals that were submitted for funding in cycle 4. See the meeting agenda at https://myodfw.com/2026…

SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Conservation and Recreation Advisory Committee will meet from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 15. The committee will vote on funding a wildlife crossing project through the OCRF Wildlife Connectivity Lottery Bond Funds. The meeting will be held virtually through Teams. For more…

SALEM, Ore.—Oregon's Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet Sept. 17-18 in La Grande to adopt 2027 Big Game Regulations. See the meeting agenda at https://myodfw.com/articles/commission-agenda-september-17-18-2026 Meetings are livestreamed and can be viewed on MyODFW.com website or the agency…

SALEM, Ore. – ODFW biologists confirmed that a blue-green algae likely caused the death of stocked rainbow trout recently observed at Burns Gravel Pond on Hwy 78. The pond is located two miles east of Burns, Ore., on Hwy 78 on property owned by ODFW. The pond's two basins are connected when water…

Milton-Freewater, Ore. – Representatives from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and the Walla Walla Basin Watershed Council gathered on Sept. 1 for a field visit to one of the region's most significant ongoing restoration efforts…

THE DALLES, Ore. – Several California bighorn sheep along the John Day River have recently tested positive for Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (M. ovi), the respiratory pathogen associated with pneumonia outbreaks in wild sheep. The detections mark the first known cases of M.ovi in the John Day River herd…

CENTRAL POINT, Ore. – ODFW is giving away free wildlife forage seed to Southwest Oregon area landowners on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. The seed is free to the public from generous donations from the Rogue Valley, Curry, Josephine, and State-level Chapters of the Oregon Hunters Association, matched…

NEWPORT, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife recommends people avoid harvesting and consuming softshell and bay clams from Alsea Bay estuary after the Oregon Health Authority issued a recreational use advisory for Eckman Lake in Lincoln County. The OHA issued an August 28 advisory due…

UPDATE: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) did not authorize a wild coho season in the Alsea Basin for 2026 because escapement is not projected to meet full seeding requirements as required in the Oregon Coast Coho FMEP. Wild coho retention will remain closed in the Alsea Basin for the…

SALEM, Ore.—ODFW is seeking public comment on a fish passage waiver request from the Oregon Department of Transportation at an Unnamed Tributary to Bear Creek in Jackson, County, OR. ODOT is extending a culvert on OR99S which triggers fish passage. In lieu of providing fish passage at the tributary…

ASHLAND, Ore. – Mountain berries, a sought-after food source for bears are scarce or non-existent, so some are plying Ashland neighborhoods looking for food. The sightings of bears in town in late August is due to hunger from lack of forage – it is not the normal bear "eat-a-thon" that begins later…

SALEM, Ore. – Mussel harvesting is now closed from Cape Blanco to the California border the Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today. Recent mussel samples indicate levels of domoic acid (a marine biotoxin) are above the safety threshold. People…

JOHN DAY, Ore- Steelhead fishing will close on the John Day River Sept. 1 to protect wild upriver summer steelhead migration and consistent with ODFW's John Day River Steelhead Framework. The closure will remain in place at least through Dec. 31. 2026 and likely continue into the new year. The…

Update 8/27/26: Northeast Oregon A&H access areas to reopen Aug. 29. LA GRANDE, Ore. – All northeast Oregon Access and Habitat (A&H) access areas will reopen effective Aug. 29. Improved conditions in northeast Oregon including cooler temperatures, higher humidity levels, reduced fire activity, and a…

SALEM, Ore. – Successful Oregon forest grouse and mountain quail hunters are asked to donate a wing and tail from harvested birds to support biological research. Hunters can deposit wings and tails in collection barrels located at major road junctions or highways in hunting areas, select ODFW…

UPDATE: ODFW has reduced closures within White River Wildlife Area, but some areas remained closed. All land within a level 3 GO NOW evacuation perimeter will remain closed. As evacuation levels are downgraded, access will increase. Please refer to the evacuation perimeter map before accessing the…

CLACKAMAS, Ore- After a "lights out" early season for the Buoy 10 fishery at the mouth of the Columbia River, fishery managers from Oregon and Washington are adjusting regulations to manage Chinook harvest in this fishery and to ensure fisheries further upriver can continue as originally planned…

NEWPORT, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is holding two public meetings to discuss the commercial black and blue rockfish and nearshore fisheries. The meetings will be held in person with virtual or phone-in options Sept. 2 in Tillamook and Sept. 3 in Port Orford. ODFW commercial…

ENTERPRISE, Ore. – Anglers may retain only one wild Chinook as part of the three adult daily bag limit for fall Chinook salmon per day when the season opens on the Snake River tomorrow, Aug. 18. All other permanent regulations remain unchanged. ODFW is adjusting regulations for the 2026 fall Chinook…

NEWPORT, Ore.–Chinook salmon fishing closes tonight, Aug. 17 at 11:59 p.m. from Leadbetter Pt., WA to Cape Falcon, OR. Hatchery coho fishing will continue in this area. Projected harvest of Chinook salmon in this area is near the quota allowance. The decision was made to reserve enough Chinook quota…

SALEM, Ore.—Members of the Oregon Hunters Association's Klamath Chapter, the West Cascade Chapter of Back Country Horsemen and Wallowa County landowner Lionel Sauvage were recognized for their contributions to Oregon's fish and wildlife during today's meeting in Salem. Landowner Lionel Sauvage and…

NEWPORT, Ore.— Recreational ocean fishing for hatchery coho between Cape Falcon and the Oregon/California border will close as of Aug. 19 as anglers near the 47,600 mark-selective catch quota. Chinook retention remains open as previously scheduled. The announcement follows an in-season management…

SALEM, Ore. – ODFW is seeking applicants for two vacancies on its Access & Habitat Board, announcing openings for both a Landowner Representative and a Hunter Representative. Applications will be accepted through Oct. 2, 2026. To apply, visit the A&H Program's "Get Involved" page at http://www.dfw…

SALEM, Ore. – The Private Forest Accord Advisory Committee will hold its regularly occurring meeting, virtually on August 11, 2026. 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 welcome to attend…

SALEM, Ore.—The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet Thursday and Friday, Aug. 13-14 in Salem. See the meeting agenda at https://myodfw.com/articles/commission-agenda-august-13-14-2026 On Thursday, Commissioners will visit projects showcasing work underway with partners to recover salmon…

SALEM, Ore.— ODFW will host a series of free upland game bird hunts for youth hunters starting in September. The hunts will take place around the state and youth hunters (age 17 and under) who have completed hunter education by the time of the event can sign up now for a hunt. ODFW and partners…

ROSEBURG, Ore. – North Umpqua River steelhead angling will close at 12:01 a.m., Aug. 10 through Nov. 30, 2026 from the mouth upstream to the marker below Soda Springs Dam. Low numbers of returning wild summer steelhead prompted state fishery managers to enact this targeted angling closure. The…

THE DALLES, Ore.—Steelhead and salmon fishing will close on the Deschutes River Aug. 15, to protect wild upriver summer steelhead and consistent with ODFW's Deschutes River Steelhead Management Framework. The Framework requires protective action when returns fall below established thresholds. Just 7…

CLACKAMAS, Ore.— Anglers can double the odds of catching salmon in the Upper Willamette River this fall as coho again return to areas above Willamette Falls. Effective Aug. 1 through Dec. 31, anglers with the two-rod validation may use two rods in all areas of the Willamette River upstream of…

SALEM, Ore.—ODFW is accepting public comments on the proposed 2027 Big Game Regulations and other agenda items the Commission will consider at their September meeting in La Grande. Comment using the links embedded with each agenda item provided on the September meeting agenda page. The deadline to…

Central Point, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) declared fire season in southwestern Oregon on May 15 this year due to drought conditions, and Industrial Fire Precaution Level 2 (IFPL 2) went into effect on June 17, 2026. The ODF Southwest Oregon District is increasing the public use…

SALEM, Ore. – ODFW staff will be hosting an online public meeting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29 to discuss the 2027 Pacific halibut season. The meeting will be held online only, through Microsoft Teams (information below). ODFW manages Pacific halibut in partnership with the International Pacific…

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…

ASTORIA, Ore. – Razor clamming on Clatsop beaches is closed beginning 12:01 a.m., July 15. The last day to harvest is July 14. The annual closure conserves young razor clams, giving them time to get established on these beaches so they can grow and be harvested in future years. This helps ensure…

SALEM, Ore. – The Private Forest Accord Advisory Committee will meet on July 14 at 12 p.m. The committee will discuss and revise the draft Land Transaction Guidance documents for the PFA Grant Program. The public is welcome to join virtually. Meeting information and documents are available online at…

SALEM, Ore. – ODFW is accepting public comments on potential rule changes to commercial Dungeness crab fishing and trap check times for bear and cougar. Comment using the links provided on ODFW's rulemaking page. The deadline to comment is July 24 at 8 a.m. These policy proposals will be considered…

SALEM, Ore.— ODFW will host a series of online public meetings in July where district wildlife biologists will present proposed changes to the 2027 big game regulations and gather public feedback. Modifications to the Elk General Western Oregon Coast seasons are being considered; otherwise, no major…

PRINEVILLE, Ore. – A single dead adult quagga mussel was found out of water on the shoreline at Prineville Reservoir on June 6 during a routine survey for aquatic invasive species. This marks the first time that this highly invasive freshwater mussel species has been found in or near an Oregon…

SALEM, Ore. — Oregon's Fish and Wildlife Commission meets June 25-26 in Redmond. View the agenda online. On Thursday, Commissioners will visit projects showcasing the landscape scale work underway with partners to protect and restore sagebrush habitat for mule deer in central Oregon. To join the…

CLACKAMAS, Ore.—Fishery managers are delaying the sockeye retention opener on the Columbia River until at least June 27 as the run is returning lower than forecasted. The season is now scheduled for June 27-July 5, but anglers should keep a close eye on action notices and the in-season regulations…

SALEM, Ore. – ODFW was notified today that the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) is terminating its share of funding for the Select Area Fisheries Enhancement (SAFE) Program in the Lower Columbia River effective September 30, 2026—providing barely three months' notice for a decision that carries…

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – ODFW is taking steps to protect native redband trout by requiring catch-and-release fishing for them and flies and artificial lures only (no bait) for all species from June 15 to Oct. 31 on Upper Klamath Lake and spring-fed creeks that feed into it. The waterbodies impacted are…

Enterprise, Ore. – Spring Chinook fishing in Hells Canyon will be closed starting June 4, after harvest quotas for the season were reached earlier than anticipated due to a run size downgrade. Spring Chinook fishing on the Snake River is open April 22 to Aug. 17 under permanent regulations but…

CLACKAMAS, Ore.—Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington added more recreational spring Chinook fishing days on the mainstem Columbia during a joint state hearing today. Eleven additional fishing days for the area from the Tongue Point/Rocky Point line in the estuary upstream to the Oregon…

Chiloquin, Ore. – After more than five years of recovery, redesign, archaeological review, and complex engineering, ODFW proudly announces the reopening of the Klamath Hatchery to the public on June 1. The facility's restoration marks the end of a long and complicated rebuild following the…

CLACKAMAS, Ore.—Oregon and Washington fishery managers have finalized preseason planning for 2026 Columbia River summer and fall recreational salmon and steelhead fisheries. Forecasts for summer steelhead, sockeye, fall Chinook, and coho returns will allow opportunity for anglers to target these…

CLACKAMAS, Ore.— Anglers will be able to use their two-rod validation in the Willamette River for hatchery spring Chinook and all other fish except sturgeon from June 3-July 31. Two rods were not originally authorized on the Willamette River this year because the forecasted return of hatchery-origin…

SALEM, Ore.— Visitors to Sauvie Island's Walton, Collins, and North Unit beaches will need a new Sauvie Island Beaches Parking Permit on weekends and holidays from June 15 through Labor Day. This new permit applies only to these three beach areas during peak summer dates. It replaces the need for a…

ROSEBURG, Ore. – The Umpqua Fish District is hosting an informational update on local fisheries on June 11, 6-8 p.m. at the ODFW conference room, 4192 N. Umpqua Highway, Roseburg with a virtual option. Space is limited so those who want to attend in person are encouraged to reserve a seat by calling…

PENDLETON, Ore. – ODFW will close recreational spring Chinook retention in the Umatilla River Basin from May 30 through June 30, 2026. The closure will be in effect from the mouth of the Umatilla River, near Highway 730 bridge, to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR)…

SALEM, Ore. – Effective June 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, Pilcher Creek Reservoir, and Wolf Creek Reservoir which are all located within the Southeast Zone in…

SALEM, Ore.—ODFW is seeking to fill three vacant positions on the Salmon and Trout Advisory Committee (STAC). One position will represent the Mid-Coast District, the second will represent the Upper Rogue District, and the third will represent the Umpqua District. Interested individuals are…

SALEM, Ore..— Everyone can fish, clam and crab for free in Oregon on Saturday and Sunday, June 6-7, 2026. No fishing/shellfish licenses or tags/validations are required on these days (meaning you do not need a Combined Angling Tag, Columbia River Basin Endorsement, Ocean Endorsement or two-rod…

CLACKAMAS, Ore.—Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington added several days of recreational spring Chinook fishing on the mainstem Columbia River during a joint state hearing today. With these additional days, and the action taken last week, the Columbia River will be open for spring Chinook for…

SALEM, Ore. – Join ODFW and partners for the third annual Coyote-palooza: a day of discovery and learning dedicated to one of nature's most adaptable creatures! This free event will be in Portland on Saturday, May 30 from 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. adjacent to the Portland State University Farmers Market…

CLACKAMAS, Ore.—Following an in-season assessment of the upriver spring Chinook return, fishery managers from Oregon and Washington added more recreational spring Chinook fishing days on the mainstem Columbia during a joint state hearing yesterday. Six additional fishing days downstream of…

CENTRAL POINT, Ore. – ODFW is looking for a landowner representative to serve on the Access and Habitat (A&H) Program's Southwest Region Council. This position is voluntary with a four-year term and an option to be reappointed to a second term. Interested applicants can find the regional application…

WALDPORT, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and First Baptist Church of Waldport will host the 27th annual family fishing event at Eckman Lake on Saturday, May 16. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for youth ages 17 and younger. Each participant can catch two rainbow…

LA GRANDE, Ore. – Lookingglass Creek, a tributary to the Grande Ronde River at Palmer Junction, will open to fishing for hatchery spring Chinook on Friday, May 15. The open area is from the mouth upstream to the confluence of Jarboe Creek. Depending on which happens first, the fishing season will…

SALEM, Ore.—The Commission will meet Friday, May 15 from 8:30-10:00 a.m. to hear an informational overview of the 2027-29 budget development process. Following the presentation, Commissioners will have time to ask questions of ODFW staff and discuss next steps in the process. See the agenda online…

SALEM, Ore.—  ODFW will host an open house on Tuesday, May 12 from 2-4 p.m. to discuss development of its 2027-29 Agency Request Budget. The meeting will be hosted in ODFW's headquarters classroom (4034 Fairview Industrial Drive, SE, Salem) and will be streamed online via YouTube. In Oregon, state…

ODFW's Oregon Conservation and Recreation Advisory Committee meets May 4 and 5 SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Conservation and Recreation Advisory Committee will meet in Newport on Monday, May 4 at 12 p.m. for a tour of area projects. The Conservation and Recreation Advisory Committee will also meet…

SALEM, Ore. – Oregon's Fish Screening and Fish Passage Task Forces will meet Wednesday, May 6 at 8:00 a.m. The meeting is open to the public and will be held in person at The Dalles Screen Shop at 3561 Klindt Dr, The Dalles and virtually through Teams. The meeting agenda includes ODFW Fish Screens…

This release was updated April 25 to correct two errors (the first name of the OSP Lieutenant who testified on Sauvie Island parking issues and that the Don Lindly property was sold to Lincoln County not Lincoln City.) LINCOLN CITY, Ore.—The Commission adopted a limited entry parking program for…

SALEM, Ore.—With the May 15 deadline approaching, ODFW is reminding hunters to apply early for 2026 controlled deer hunts and to carefully review changes to Eastern Oregon deer hunts. With the transition from Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) to Deer Hunt Areas in eastern Oregon, hunters who wait…

NEWPORT, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is hosting three public meetings along the coast to discuss the state's commercial Dungeness crab fishery. Commercial fishermen, industry representatives and anyone interested in the fishery are encouraged to attend. ODFW staff will give…

SALEM, Ore. – ODFW and the Oregon Hunters Association (OHA) will give away free wildlife forage seed to landowners at E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area near Corvallis on Saturday, May 9. The giveaway coincides with OHA's Youth Field Day (limited spots available). Seed giveaway More than 500 bags of free…

SALEM, Ore.—Oregon's Fish and Wildlife Commission meets April 23-24 in Lincoln City. View the agenda online. Commissioners will visit coastal coho habitat restoration and monitoring projects in the Siletz River Basin during a field tour on Thursday. To join the tour, meet at the Shearwater Inn, 120…

NEWPORT, Ore – The Pacific Fisheries Management Council (PFMC) has finalized the 2026 ocean salmon seasons including ocean waters off Oregon. Recommended salmon seasons are not official until final approval by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce (expected by Saturday, May 16), and after adoption by the…

SALEM, Ore.—ODFW is excited to announce that Oregon's State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) has been officially approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This milestone marks the final step in adopting the 2026 SWAP, a science‑based roadmap to maintain healthy fish and wildlife populations…

CLACKAMAS, Ore.—Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington took joint state action today to add another three days of recreational spring Chinook salmon fishing in the mainstem Columbia River downstream of Bonneville Dam. This fishery had closed on Wednesday, April 8 per the preseason schedule…

SALEM, Ore. – ODFW staff at the Ashland Boat Inspection Station found golden mussels on a watercraft that was being transported to a new owner from the Sacramento River Delta to Oregon on April 4. The watercraft was decontaminated at the inspection station and all golden mussels attached to the boat…

The Dalles, Ore.—The lower Deschutes River will be open for spring Chinook salmon from May 5-20. "This is exciting news for anglers as the last spring Chinook season on the Deschutes was in 2018," said Jason Seals, Deschutes District Fish Biologist. "We're expecting a return of more than 2,000…

SALEM, Ore. – Oregon's Fish Screening Task Force will meet virtually on Thursday, April 2 at 8:30 a.m. The meeting is open to the public and will be held virtually through Teams. The meeting agenda includes updates on the Fish Screening Program, new task force members, and the development of a…

SALEM, Ore. – ODFW staff at the Ashland Boat Inspection Station found quagga mussels on a motorboat that was being transported from Lake Havasu, Arizona into Oregon on March 21. This was the first instance in 2026 where crews found invasive freshwater mussels on a boat entering Oregon. The…

SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted a management plan for the Minam Wildlife Area, approved a land acquisition for Denman Wildlife Area and heard an update on Oregon's Native Seed Strategy. The plan was the result of extensive engagement with the tribes, community partners…

SALEM, Ore.— White-nose syndrome (WNS) in bats has been detected for the first time in Oregon in Columbia and Benton counties. White-nose syndrome is caused by an infection with the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans that disrupts hibernation, causing early winter emergence, dehydration and…

SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission meets March 19-20 in Medford for a field tour on Thursday and a regular meeting on Friday. The Friday meeting agenda and livestream are available from the Commission page. To virtually testify on an agenda item, register here at least 48 hours in…

PENDLETON, Ore. – A $1 million federal investment will jump-start critical engineering and design work on fish passage and alternative solutions at McKay Creek Reservoir Dam, laying the technical groundwork to eventually reconnect more than 100 miles of historic salmon and steelhead habitat. Sens…

SALEM, Ore.--Oregon's Fish Passage Task Force will meet Wednesday, March 11, from 8:00 a.m. to noon online. The meeting agenda includes numerous ODFW Fish Passage Program updates, Task Force business items, and a round table discussion by Fish Passage Task Force Members and ODFW staff on fish…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) Statement on Qapqápa Wildlife Area Acquisition Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR)…

SALEM, Ore. — ODFW's Fish Restoration and Enhancement Board will meet in person on Thursday, March 5 from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. in the classroom at ODFW Headquarters, 4034 Fairview Industrial Dr. SE. A virtual option is also available. The public can attend in person or virtually on Teams. The agenda and…

SALEM, Ore. – ODFW staff received a report of an incident involving a coyote biting an adult along Orchard Heights Rd., just outside the city limits of West Salem that occurred on Feb. 11.  The Polk County Sherriff's Office (PCSO) initially responded to the area to conduct a site investigation and…

CLACKAMAS, Ore. – Sturgeon retention in Bonneville Pool and The Dalles Pool will open for one day on Monday, Feb. 16. These retention fisheries had not opened on the traditional date of Jan. 1 as in previous years. Due to warmer-than-normal winter water temperatures, increased angling effort, and…

CENTRAL POINT, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is conducting research on fisher, a forest-dwelling carnivore that once occupied forests across the Cascade and Klamath-Siskiyou regions. Today, Oregon's remaining fisher persist as a small, isolated population in the Klamath-Siskiyou…

SALEM, Ore. – The Private Forest Accord Mitigation Advisory Committee will hold its regularly occurring meeting, virtually on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. 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. – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is accepting applications for the Chair position on the state Access & Habitat (A&H) Program Board. The deadline to apply is April 3, 2026. Application forms and additional information are available at: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/lands/AH/get…

SALEM, Ore. – Organizations and partners interested in funding conservation, outdoor access, and recreation projects in Oregon are encouraged to apply soon, as the Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund (OCRF) grant application window is open now but closes Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. The OCRF Advisory…

NEWPORT, Ore. – To reduce the risk of humpback whale entanglements in commercial Dungeness crab gear, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is moving the May 1 "late-season" regulations to April 1 this year. These regulations require commercial crab fishermen to fish in waters less than 40…

SALEM, Ore.—Manulife will not renew its cooperative agreement with ODFW's Access and Habitat program, the company informed ODFW late last week. This means Manulife properties in northeast Oregon and Jackson County that are currently open to hunter access through the Access and Habitat "Welcome to…

SALEM, Ore.—Oregon's Fish and Wildlife Commission today made changes to the formula used to allocate mule deer Landowner Preference (LOP) tags, which was needed due to the new harvest and population management system for mule deer approved in 2024. In a 6-0 vote (one abstention), the Commission…

SALEM, Ore. – Mussel harvesting is now open from Cape Blanco to the California border the Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today. Marine biotoxin levels in this area tested below the alert level. People should always call the Shellfish Safety…

SALEM, Ore.—Oregon's Fish and Wildlife Commission meets online Friday, Jan. 16 to amend the formula for setting Landowner Preference tags for mule deer hunts and modify the Coquille River Fall Chinook conservation hatchery program to allow the use of hatchery origin broodstock. See the full meeting…

CLACKAMAS, Ore.— The last day to retain a white sturgeon in the John Day Pool (mainstem Columbia River from John Day Dam upstream to McNary Dam and adjacent tributaries) is Friday, Jan. 9. Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington made the decision today after determining that the harvest…

NEWPORT, Ore. – ODFW is accepting nominations for a seat on the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council). The three-year term for this Oregon at-large seat begins Aug. 11, 2026. Anyone interested in being considered, or wishing to nominate someone, must contact Jessica Watson at 541-351-1196 or…

NEWPORT, Ore. – The commercial Dungeness crab fishery opens Dec. 31 from Cape Falcon to the Washington border. Fishermen can begin the presoak period – setting baited crab pots in the water – on Dec. 28 in this area. ODFW delayed opening the north coast until crab in Long Beach, WA met the 23…

ROSEBURG, Ore – A temporary rule prohibits wild spring Chinook salmon harvest on the mainstem Umpqua River and keeps the North Umpqua bag limit the same as 2025, ODFW announced today. Feb. 1 – June 30, 2026: Mainstem Umpqua River: only hatchery spring Chinook may be kept. Harvesting wild spring…

ROSEBURG, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is looking for a volunteer site host at its Canyonville winter steelhead acclimation site on lower Canyon Creek. This opportunity to work with hatchery steelhead and help improve Oregon's fisheries is from Jan. 1 – Apr. 30, 2026. The…

CLACKAMAS, Ore. – The two-rod validation will not be available for the Willamette River in 2026 as the forecast for hatchery-origin adult fish does not meet the minimum return threshold. The 2026 Columbia River spring-summer forecast anticipates 43,700 adult Willamette-origin spring Chinook will…

SALEM, Ore.— The Commission set 2026 groundfish regulations during their meeting in Salem today. The daily catch limit for lingcod will increase from 2 to 3 fish next year, since lingcod populations are healthy and bycatch of yelloweye rockfish (a protected species) is still low. The daily limit for…

SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund (OCRF) Advisory Committee is excited to announce that its next grant cycle will begin accepting applications on Monday, Dec. 15, with the application window open through Feb. 9, 2026. Visit the Online Application System and enter access code…

Newport, Ore. – Oregon's commercial Dungeness crab season opens Dec. 16 from Cape Falcon to the California border, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today. Crab will be available in time for the holiday season. Oregon will open the north coast to align with Washington once Long…

SALEM, Ore.—The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet Thursday and Friday, Dec. 11-12 to set 2026 groundfish regulations and hear an informational briefing on the barbless hook requirement for Columbia River recreational fisheries. Both a Dec. 11 workshop and Dec. 12 meeting will be in a…

SALEM, Ore. – A Chinese mitten crab, a prohibited species in Oregon, was found in the Willamette River near the Sellwood Bridge and reported to ODFW on Nov. 17. The crab was spotted in shallow water and captured by hand. It was alive and not released back into the river. Mitten crab is a non-native…

ODFW's Oregon Conservation and Recreation Advisory Committee meets Dec. 2 SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Conservation and Recreation Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday, Dec. 2, from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Conservation and Recreation Advisory Committee will be reviewing application questions ahead of…

CORVALLIS, Ore. — The Oregon Hatchery Research Center Board will meet in Corvallis on Tuesday, December 2 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife South Willamette Watershed District Office (7118 NE Vandenberg Avenue, Corvallis, OR 97330). In addition to the…

Note: Recreational ocean crabbing is closed through Nov 30. SALEM, Ore.- Get outdoors with friends and family and enjoy free fishing, crabbing and clamming on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 28 and 29. Statewide free fishing days are a great chance to take someone new fishing and celebrate Oregon's…

Newport, Ore. – Oregon's commercial Dungeness crab season is delayed coastwide until at least Dec. 16, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today. Oregon Dungeness crab met both meat and safe biotoxin level requirements; however, the season is delayed as Long Beach, WA crabs have not…

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Recreation access sites within the restored Klamath River reach between Keno, Ore., and Hornbrook, Calif., will remain open as winter conditions allow. The five recreation day-use access sites now open until further notice are as follows: Pioneer Park West (Ore.) Moonshine…

SALEM, Ore – Mussel harvesting is now closed from Cape Blanco to the California border the Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today. Recent mussel samples indicate levels of Paralytic Shellfish Toxin – a naturally occurring marine biotoxin that…

NEWPORT, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is helping investigate the entanglement of a young humpback whale stranded earlier this week near Yachats. The whale was entangled in gear attributed by NOAA Fisheries to the Oregon commercial Dungeness crab fishery. Veterinarians from the…

SALEM, Ore. – ODFW's PFA Grant Program began accepting applications on Nov. 14. The grant program is set to offer another $10 million to support innovative projects that drive real change. Applicants can find the PFA Grant Program's Grant Guidelines here and the streamlined application by logging…

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – ODFW is urging waterfowl hunters and other visitors to use extreme caution after laboratory results revealed exceptionally high levels of microcystin in a water sample collected from the Barnes Unit of the Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuge. The sample was taken from an…

CLACKAMAS, Ore. – Sturgeon retention will not open in Bonneville and The Dalles pools on the traditional date of Jan 1. following a joint state hearing held by Oregon and Washington fishery managers today. However, the retention fishery in the John Day pool, where harvest rates have been stable and…

Updated statement Friday, Nov. 7, 2025 SALEM, Ore. – A coyote was captured and humanely killed on Oct. 31 and confirmed to be the individual animal that bit a 9-year-old child in the Alameda neighborhood on Oct. 23. ODFW worked with partners at the city, state, and federal levels to capture the…

NEWPORT, Ore – Mussel harvesting is now open coastwide from the Washington border to the California border the Oregon Department of Agriculture and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today. Marine biotoxin levels tested below the alert level. People should always call the Shellfish…