Recreation Report
Northwest Area
Recreation Report
April 10, 2024
If there’s not a photo, it didn’t happen
Submit your hunting photo to ODFW and we might use it here or elsewhere on MyODFW.com.
Currently open
Cougar (check current harvest numbers), coyote, controlled spring bear
Announcements, resources
Big game harvest statistics
You'll find links to population, harvest and point summary reports that can help you decide what hunts to apply for.
Shed hunt responsibly
Deer and elk shed their antlers at a time when they're not finding a lot of nutritious food and need to be conserving energy so they can migrate to summer ranges a bit later in the year. Follow these tips to help protect vulnerable animals.
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.
District updates
NORTH AND MID-COAST (Saddle Mt., Wilson, western Trask, western Stott Mt., western Alsea, north Siuslaw wildlife management units)
Black bear: Black bear season is open through May 31. Damage information shows bears are distributed throughout Saddle Mt Unit, with higher densities in the western half of the unit.
The late February and early March snows are still lingering in the higher elevations limiting access. There are some warm sunny days in forecast that should provide some productive conditions and may help melt snow to open up more area. As in most years, general bear activity should improve as weather patterns move away from freezing snaps and become more stable.
Cougar: The most productive way to hunt cougar on the north coast is to use a predator call. By mimicking the sound of a cougar's prey (elk, deer, etc.), a cougar can be enticed into entering an area. They are normally very cautious when approaching, so keep an eye out and bring a buddy to help.
Also, watching deer and elk in clearcuts is another productive way to hunt cougars as they are often seen hunting these game species.
WILLAMETTE UNITS (Scappoose, eastern Trask, Willamette, Santiam, McKenzie, N. Indigo wildlife management units)
Black bear: Black bear season continues through May 31. The snowpack is variable this year in the Willamette Basin, so hunters may have some difficulty accessing certain locations until early to mid-May, especially on north facing roads and slopes.
If you want to get out early, start along riparian corridors at lower elevations and focus on south and southwest facing slopes. The key to early success is to target days with some sun and mild weather.
Cougar: A productive hunting technique is to use predator calls to mimic a distressed prey species, but don't be afraid to switch up your sound and experiment with something different. Cougar vocalizations have been known to entice other cougars into range as well. Approaching cougars can be difficult to see when you are predator calling so hunting with a partner is advised.