![image of hunter placing a pot call in a turkey hunting vest](/sites/default/files/styles/380x228/public/2020-09/Packs-vests.jpg?itok=wH0px4tr)
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The Columbia Basin Wildlife Areas are a composition of four Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife managed wildlife areas located along the Columbia River in the Columbia Basin. The four wildlife areas (Power City, Irrigon, Coyote Springs, and Willow Creek) are within the Columbia Plateau ecoregion. Management agreements for these areas were initially established between 1971 and 1977 between the department and Federal agencies which own the lands. The Columbia Basin Wildlife Areas, which total approximately 1,885 acres, provides an important landbase for the conservation and recreation of fish and wildlife within a highly privatized and altered landscape and play
The original Riverside Tract is adjacent to the Malheur River near the former railroad community of Riverside. It was purchased from the Blaylock family in 1976 and has been administered by ODFW as Riverside Wildlife Area since that time. The purpose of this initial acquisition was to provide public fishing and hunting access to a previously privately held portion of the Malheur River canyon. In addition, this purchase provided the opportunity for the department to emphasize fish and wildlife habitat management in the river canyon. Additional acres were added to this tract in 1977. In 1972, the department purchased a
The Oregon Health Authority has issued an advisory for recreationally harvested softshell and gaper clams along the Oregon coast due to arsenic contamination. Visit healthoregon.ogr/fishadv to lean more, including shellfish cleaning guidelines that reduce your exposure.
![clam_digging_netarts_meow_cat_flickr.jpg Thumbnail](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/2018-03/clam_digging_netarts_meow_cat_flickr.jpg?itok=YjnrYk3T)
Coquille Valley Wildlife Area was initially established in 2013 with two equally important primary objectives; (1) To protect, enhance, and restore fish and wildlife habitats located on the WA, and (2) to provide a wide variety of wildlife-oriented recreational and educational opportunities to the public.
Oregon offers spring and fall bear hunting seasons. Fall bear is an entirely general season hunt, while spring season is now all controlled hunt. There are no longer first-come, first-served SW Oregon bear tags.
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Leaburg Hatchery was built in 1953 to mitigate for lost fishing opportunity because of the many dams on Willamette Basin rivers. These dams include Cougar, Blue River, Carmen-Smith, Lookout, Dexter, and others. The hatchery rears rainbow trout, summer steelhead and Chinook salmon, and has a staff of four employees. Come visit our show pond and see huge white sturgeon and rainbow trout. There’s a viewing platform built by the McLaren School for Boys in 1993 to allow visitors to get a close up look at spring Chinook salmon spawning in the creek below. Leaburg Hatchery is temporarily closed to comply
It's easy to check your results, and purchase your tag, on the ODFW electronic licensing system. NOTE: Once the draw results begin loading into the system, they will load one series at a time. If you want to see all of your results at once, wait until the end of the day when all the series have been loaded. Controlled hunt draw results are announced by June 12 each year.
Some of ODFW's smaller field offices are not staffed to sell licenses to the public. However, staff at our larger offices will be happy to help you buy your licenses, tags and other documents. Here is a list of those offices.
The northwest zone provides many opportunities for crabbing and clamming. This zone encompasses Clatsop beaches, Nehalem Bay, Tillamook Bay, Netarts Bay, Nestucca Bay, Siletz Bay, Yaquina Bay, Alsea Bay and Siuslaw River.
The southwest zone includes Umpqua River, Coos Bay, Coquille River, Port Orford, Rogue River and Chetco River - all of which offer shellfishing.
Salvaging deer and elk struck by vehicles is legal in Oregon. However, you must fill out a permit (after the fact) and surrender the antlers and head to ODFW. Roadkill Salvage Permits: Now a free product in the Electronic Licensing System (ELS) Catalog (see how-to for getting permit). Salvagers can complete an application through guest checkout or through your ELS profile by accessing the ODFW product catalog. All other aspects of the program remain unchanged. Remember that you must submit your permit application within 24 hours of taking possession of the carcass. Antlers and head of all salvaged animals must
Cougar season and hunting information, including information about cougar conflict target areas. Resuming in 2022, successful cougar hunters must appear in-person at an ODFW office to check in their cougar.
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In late September, deer and elk begin their annual migration to wintering grounds, and often have to cross roads and highways to get there. Here are 7 tips to help avoid a collision.
![image of two bicyclists stopping to allow a herd of elk to cross the road](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/2019-09/Elk%20crossing%20road.jpg?itok=c9OBpVVt)
Dedicated fly-anglers don’t stop fishing in the winter, instead they adjust their tactics to the colder conditions.
![photo of two anglers, dressed for winter, each holding a nice trout](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/2019-12/winter%20trout%20fishing.jpg?itok=VAm-5ZL3)
All first time Oregon trappers of any age must complete trapper education.
You’ll need a way to carry your shells, turkey calls, first aid kit, extra gloves, lunch, water and other gear into the field. The most popular choices are a daypack or a specialized turkey hunting vest. Daypacks are simple and affordable A daypack is a simple and affordable option. It will hold a lot of stuff, most have some pockets to help you organize your gear, and some are hydration bladder compatible to help you stay hydrated during hot, dry hunts. Keep these things in mind when packing a daypack: Make sure the things in your daypack are secure and
![image of hunter placing a pot call in a turkey hunting vest](/sites/default/files/styles/380x228/public/2020-09/Packs-vests.jpg?itok=wH0px4tr)
Wild turkeys can be eaten either fresh or aged. It all comes down to personal preference, and there are adherents on both sides. Why and how to age a turkey Aging is a process by which changes in muscle enzymes tenderize the meat, and concentrate the flavor. Many hunters prefer to age their meat – both big game and game birds. Others adhere to the motto “fresh birds are the best birds.” Aging is particularly helpful in tenderizing the meat of older toms. If you choose to age your bird, here are some tips: Wild turkey can be aged right
![image of a cook in the kitchen preparing turkey meat](/sites/default/files/styles/380x228/public/2020-09/Caring%20for%20the%20meat_NWTF.jpg?itok=EoiaPWrc)
In the spring of 2019, several clients chartered an ocean fishing trip out of Coos Bay. They were promised trophy-size lingcod. They got a demonstration in illegal fishing practices.
![image of an ocean charter boat leaving Newport](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/2020-09/0373%20ocean%20charter%20leaving%20port.jpg?itok=NG5n3rIm)
Following droughts in the 1930s that affected most of North America, major conservation efforts, both private and governmental, were enacted to reverse trends of degrading and disappearing wetlands. During this time period there was a major creation and expansion of Federal refuges and State wildlife areas. As the concept of waterfowl flyway management was endorsed and developed, wildlife areas were acquired and managed as part of a larger plan focused on migratory waterfowl needs. Klamath Wildlife Area was one of several wetland-focused wildlife areas established in Oregon. KWA was established in 1958, with primary objectives of protecting and improving waterfowl
Lower Deschutes Wildlife Area was established in 1983, with the initial donation of land by the Oregon Wildlife Foundation (OWF) of 2,758 acres. In 1986 OWHF donated an additional 5,158 acres of land to the department. The Lower Deschutes Wildlife Area was initially established to provide permanent public angler access. However, especially with the 1986 acquisition, the wildlife area has grown to provide enhanced wildlife and fish habitat (i.e. through removal of livestock, riparian vegetation improvements, etc.) and more wildlife-oriented recreational activities such as hunting, boating, hiking and biking. In 2015, ODFW partnered with the Trust for Public Land to