Recreation Report

Includes updates to fishing

Spring hunting forecasts

Bear hunting opened on April 1, turkey opened on April 15

The 2025 spring black bear and wild turkey hunting forecasts are now online. See what our local wildlife biologists are saying about the upcoming seasons.

Turkey hunting workshop available in Southern Oregon!

Southern Oregon Turkey Hunting Workshop - Central Point

Oregon Department Fish and Wildlife - 1495 E Gregory Rd, Central Point, OR 97502
April 26, 2025
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
$40.00

Mule deer hunts cancelled in Hart Mtn

 Due to wildfire impacts, ODFW has cancelled the Hart Mtn bow hunts 170R1, 170R2 and muzzleloader hunt 170M. Hunters will not be able to apply for or draw a tag to hunt mule deer for those hunts during the fall 2025 season.

Tags reduced in Murderers Creek

ODFW reduced tags for Murderers Creek mule deer hunts 146 (ALW) and 146R1 (archery), by 20 percent following drought and wildlife in 2024 that has impacted habitat in the unit on a large scale. Researchers note a decrease in mule deer survival.

Hunters can visit https://myodfw.com/articles/how-apply-controlled-hunt for instructions at the bottom of the page on how to edit their controlled hunt applications. The deadline to edit applications is May 25, 2025.

Phillip W. Schneider Wildlife Area closure extended

The annual winter range closure on Phillip W. Schneider Wildlife Area will be extended an additional two weeks, through April 30, to provide additional protection to wintering big game as the region recovers from summer and fall wildfires.

Let baby wildlife stay wild

Young animals are rarely orphaned, so leave them where you find them. Chances are, mom is nearby watching and waiting for you to go away before she rejoins her young. Learn more.

Enjoy shed hunting responsibly

Late winter/early spring is a popular time for deer and elk shed hunting. It's also a critical time for big game animals still recovering from winter. Follow these rules and guidelines to help protect these animals.

We'll stock millions of trout this year

And some will be for you! Each year, ODFW stocks millions of trout in the state's ponds, lakes and reservoirs for anglers to catch and keep. Check the trout stocking schedule and maps for locations near you.

Best bets for weekend fishing

With high water, steelhead fishing this weekend might be tough. But early spring trout fishing for holdover or stocked fish could be excellent.

• Be sure to check the regulations before heading out for Winter Steelhead. The runs are winding down and in several coastal locations, no fishing is allowed, however on May 22 fishing will open again for trout. The closure happens every year, to allow native steelhead spawning and out-migrating smolts to navigate the rivers.
• The ice has continued to melt on several SE Zone reservoirs – like Beulah, Chickahominy, Malheur and Pole Creek – and fishing the open water for holdover trout should be very good. However late season snow and ice means some lakes are still frozen and roads impassable. Call a local biologist to find out if you can access your favorite fishing hole.
• There's also plenty of open water on Howard Prairie, Hyatt Lake and Fish Lake, where early spring fishing for holdover trout can be good.
• Haystack Reservoir continues to yield trophy-sized and brood trout in the 16-17-inch range!
• Boats can now launch on Wallowa Lake – good news for trout and kokanee anglers.
• Redband trout fishing from bank and boat is fair on Upper Klamath and Agency lakes.
• Anglers are catching spring Chinook on the Columbia, Willamette and Lower Rogue rivers.
• Kokanee fishing continues to be excellent on Lake Billy Chinook with fish averaging 13 inches. Tips for catching more kokanee

These examples are for demonstration purposes only. Refer to the zone reports for more details and possibilities.