South Central Area

SOUTH CENTRAL BIG GAME HUNTING

September 10, 2026

Currently open

Controlled archery deer and elk, bear, cougar (check current harvest numbers), coyote, controlled youth antlerless elk

Season openings beginning in September

Western gray squirrel, controlled muzzleloader pronghorn

*Check Big Game regulations for hunt details and purchase your license and required species tag before hunting.

Announcements and resources

Gear up for this year's Big Game Hunting Forecast and get ahead of the game!

Big game statistics - You'll find links to population, harvest and maps that can help you decide where to hunt this season.

Check the Leftover Tag List for an opportunity to hunt this year.

Youth can register for the Mentored Youth Hunter Program free of charge online, find more youth hunting opportunities here.

Point Savers available for purchase until November 30, 2026.

Please report elk with hoof disease - If you see elk showing signs of elk hoof disease, including lame or limping elk or elk with damaged, injured, missing or deformed hooves, please report it using this online form.

Coyote and wolf ID - Coyote hunters need to take extra care to identify their target as wolves can look like coyotes, especially wolf pups in the mid-summer and fall. Test your ID skills. Please report any wolf sightings or wolf sign to ODFW using the online reporting system.

For the most current fire closures and restrictions--KNOW BEFORE YOU GO.  

District updates

Habitat conditions:

Watch local weather reports and prepare for possible weather changing conditions over the extension of your hunt. Areas are showing cooler than normal temperatures, please be mindful when recreating outdoors, fire season is still active. ATV and vehicles need to have a long-handled shovel and a 2.5# fire extinguisher, or 1 gallon of water while in the field.

KLAMATH COUNTY

Archery Deer: Archery deer began August 29. Some new boundary changes for mule deer only will take place this season, primarily for the KB02 (formerly Klamath Falls), and DG04 (formerly Silver Lake). Sprague WMU was dissolved into these 2 new deer hunt areas. Conditions are currently hot and dry with Extreme fire danger across the district. Most areas are still open to hunting except for the Wright Springs fire in the KB02 hunt area. All archery deer hunting requires a controlled archery deer tag for the hunt area you are hunting in. Expect deer activity to increase during the cooler morning and evening timeframes.

Archery Elk: Archery Elk began August 29. Hunters must have a general archery season tag to hunt anywhere in Klamath County. Extreme fire danger conditions are currently across the Klamath district. The Wright Springs fire vicinity is closed to public access. There is a youth antlerless elk hunt that coincides with archery season for Keno, Sprague, and Interstate WMU. There are elk throughout the district with Keno and Interstate having higher concentrations. Expect rutting behavior to begin mid-late September as the season progresses.

Pronghorn: Gerber Muzzleloader ends Sept. 13. Hunters should identify water sources in the landscape to increase likelihood of encountering a pronghorn. Be sure to secure permission for hunting on private lands.

Black bear: Fall bear season is currently open. Bear populations are increasing in Klamath County. Many berries and fruits were not produced this year due to drought conditions. Bears will be looking for alternative food sources and may be found in areas they typically do not frequent. Looking for a patch of berries that produced a good crop would be a great place to harvest a bear. Hunters should focus on areas with water sources in the early season.

Cougar: Cougar season is open year-round, and populations are healthy and distributed throughout the district in any area with a big game prey base. Most harvests occur while hunters are pursuing deer and elk.

Predator calling or locating a fresh cougar kill can increase chances of success. Oregon does offer an additional cougar tag valid all year throughout the state.

Coyote: Populations are currently low but distributed throughout the county. Currently young pups are very mobile and often more susceptible to predator calls. Public lands adjacent to cattle operations may increase opportunities in February and March when calving often takes place. Be sure to secure permission for any private land.

LAKE COUNTY

Archery Deer: Archery deer opened August 29. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the new Deer Hunt Area boundaries particularly for D0-01 and PB-01.

Archery Elk: Archery elk opened August 29. Elk densities in Lake County are very low compared to other areas of the state. Most successful elk hunters have scouted and located elk throughout the summer. Portions of the Silver Lake and Fort Rock units where you can get away from roads and find some north-facing slopes would be a good place to start

Black bear: Fall bear opened Aug. 1. While Lake County has a lower population of bears than other forested parts of the state, the population is on the rise and provides ample opportunity for hunters. Look for ripe berries and wild plums along old logging roadbeds. Predator calls can work as well, just be prepared to be patient as bears can take longer than other predators to move into a call.

Cougar: Cougar populations are healthy throughout the district. Predator calls can be an effective cougar hunting method though bobcats and bears may respond to predator calls, and separate licensing and season limitations exist for these species. Hunters should be prepared for predators other than cougar to respond.

Coyote populations are generally low, but some hunting is available throughout the district. Be aware that bobcats and cougars may respond to predator calls, and separate licensing and season limitations exist for these species.