Recreation Report
West Area
Recreation Report
WESTERN OREGON
October 1, 2026
Current season:
Crow, ruffed and blue grouse, quail, turkey (select WMU's)
- South Coast Canada, White Fronted and White Goose opens October 3
Announcements, resources
Beardless turkey permit hunts begin Oct 1 – obtain permission prior to hunting private lands, view details in Game Bird Regulations.
Western Oregon fee pheasant hunts offered at Wildlife Area locations for additional hunting opportunity – Check for dates and locations in October.
View the 2026 Game Bird Hunting Forecast to plan this season's hunts, information provided by ODFW field staff.
Check ODFW Wildlife Areas game bird harvest summaries for the latest population and harvest stats.
Buy your 2026-27 bird stamp(s) and validations - upland, waterfowl, or non-resident bird validations, federal duck stamp and don't skip the HIP survey. Reminder to activate your sports-pac validations before the hunt.
ODFW's Hunt by Reservation Program connects bird hunters with private landowners. By making a reservation online, hunters receive a permit to hunt select private lands on dates that landowners select ahead of time.
Turn in wings and tails - Grouse and mountain quail hunters, please turn in your bird's wings and tails – our biologists collect them to help assess bird populations and set seasons. Use this map to find blue collection barrels where you hunt.
Permits required for band-tailed pigeons and sea ducks. For more information on permits.
Hunting in drought and wildfire season - actions you can take to protect wildlife.
For the most current fire closures and restrictions--KNOW BEFORE YOU GO.
ALL DISTRICTS
Eurasian collared doves have no protection in Oregon, so there are no closed seasons and no limits to their harvest. Target Eurasian collared doves around agricultural areas where food sources are abundant. Be sure of your identification before you hunt these birds which are larger and lighter than mourning doves with a distinctive band around the back of the neck. Identify this species and its habitat.
All birds except European starling, house sparrow, Eurasian collared-dove, and rock pigeon are protected by federal and/or state laws and may not be taken without authorization. Contact the law enforcement branch of the USFWS for Federal regulations regarding take at (503) 682-6131.
NORTH AND MID-COAST DISTRICTS
Reminder that only non-toxic shot is allowed in the Wildlife Area. Hunters must carry with them and complete a daily hunting permit. Permits are free and available at most Wildlife Area access points.
The fee pheasant hunt in Eastside Unit, permit required, began Sept 21 and runs through Oct 4. Hunter numbers will be limited at any one time to 75.
Reminder that only non-toxic shot is allowed in the Wildlife Area. Hunters must carry with them and complete a daily hunting permit. Permits are free and available at most Wildlife Area access points.
Forest grouse season on the north coast opened Sept 1 and includes sooty (blue) and ruffed grouse. While both species are associated with conifer forests, sooty grouse occupy the higher elevations of the coast range, especially ridge tops, while ruffed grouse are most seen at mid to lower elevations of forest habitats, including riparian areas. We anticipate a productive hunt season as we saw mild weather during the clutch rearing period, as well as good forage production this year for the birds.
Mountain quail season runs concurrently with the forest grouse season on the north coast. Quail hunting should be productive this year with a mild Spring and Summer meaning successful brood production for the species. These birds are most found in roadway openings, and brushy clear-cuts, especially those with a south-facing aspect.
Eurasian collared doves are non-native birds found in developed portions of the north coast. There is no closed season or bag limit for them, but hunters need to get permission to hunt them on private land. Although similar in markings and appearance to the native mourning dove, they are larger (similar to a rock dove) and with a more squared-off tail.
WILLAMETTE DISTRICT
Reminder that only non-toxic shot is allowed in the Wildlife Area. Hunters must carry with them and complete a daily hunting permit. Permits are free and available at most wildlife area access points.
Don't miss the fee pheasant hunt, permit required, began Sept 28 and runs through Oct 31. Hunter numbers will be limited at any one time to 150.
All units at FRWA and Fern Ridge Lake are open to public use daily.
Reminder that only non-toxic shot is allowed in the Wildlife Area. Hunters must carry with them and complete a daily hunting permit. Permits are free and available at most wildlife area access points.
Don't miss the fee pheasant hunt, permit required, started Sept 14 and runs through Oct 11.
Contact Fern Ridge Wildlife Area for more information at (541) 935-2591.
JACKSON, JOSEPHINE, CURRY COUNTIES
The fee pheasant hunt, permit required, began Sept 21 and runs through Oct 9.
Contact Ken Denman Wildlife Area for more information at (541) 826-8774.
Habitat conditions: Jackson and Josephine counties remain dry with fire danger levels still high on National Forest lands and moderate everywhere else while Curry County fire danger levels are considered low. With fire danger levels being elevated as well as end of summer temperatures, it would be a great idea to carry a fire extinguisher and/or container of water in your vehicle. Some of the roads will have tall brush down the center of the road and hot vehicles parking over them can cause a fire to ignite. Current fire danger levels can be found here.
Throughout fall birds can be more easily located in the early morning hours or in the early evening hours near water sources, as the temperatures are considerably cooler. Finding a great water source with habitat that is conducive to the species' eating habits would be the most advantageous way to harvest at the moment.
Always watch local weather reports and prepare for possible weather changing conditions over the extension of your hunt.
Grouse: Season opened Sept 1 statewide with a daily bag limit of three birds of each species (blue and ruffed). Driving less used dirt roads in the late evening can be an effective method in finding grouse to harvest. During our spring and summer inventory routes we documented good numbers of both ruffed and sooty grouse. Hunting should be productive this fall and winter.
Quail: Season opened Sept 1 in western Oregon. The daily bag limit is 10 quail (in aggregate with both Mountain and California quail). Driving on old dirt roads in the late afternoon and evening is usually a good way to locate groups. California quail are typically found at lower elevations in open fields and brushy patches, where mountain quail are found at higher elevations. While they like brushy areas as well, they are also found in heavily forested areas.
Our summer brood routes indicated good numbers of quail in all three counties. For more information refer to the Oregon Game Bird Regulations.
Fall turkey: Season opened Sept 1 in western Oregon with a season bag limit of 2 wild turkeys of either sex. Turkey numbers are extremely high in southern Oregon which should make for a good fall hunting season. Successful hunters can purchase an additional fall turkey tag for a second opportunity. Additional beardless turkey permit hunts begin Oct 1 – obtain permission prior to hunting private lands, this is a great opportunity to bag extra birds.