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Article

Rockfish recompression

Rockfish must be released when retention is prohibited or when an angler has reached the daily bag limit, but continues to fish for other species. However, releasing rockfish isn’t as simple as just dropping them back into the water. Some rockfish need help to get back down to deeper water to recover from a condition called barotrauma.

Recreation Report

Wildlife Viewing - Northeast Zone

NE WILDLIFE VIEWING April 30, 2026 Baker County Bighorn sheep can be seen in the Burnt River Canyon west of Durkee or along the Snake River Road south of Richland. The best viewing is in the early morning and late in the evening. Take the Snake River Road between Richland and Huntington to see bald and golden eagles along the Snake River. There are deer throughout the valley. Early in the morning and late in the afternoon are good times to view wildlife. A drive through the foothills of the Baker valley and through the Keating valley can turn up…

September 05, 2017

Educational Moment

Proper archery shooting stance

Shooting accurately starts with the proper form, and that begins with a good stance. From your feet up through your hips and torso, a solid foundation in your lower body will improve your shooting. Start with an open stance The “open” stance is a good one for beginners. It’s easy to master and to practice consistently. An open stance positions yours hips and shoulders in-line with the direction you ’re shooting. This perpendicular setup to the target is simple to do. First, place one foot on each side of the shooting line. Most ranges will have these lines. If not…

May 19, 2020

image of how to place feet when bow shooting

Article

Kokanee fishing in Oregon

Kokanee are fun to catch, delicious to eat , and found in lakes and reservoirs throughout the state.

Article

Commission agenda: March 20, 2026

Commission materials have moved to MyODFW.com: Commission materials have a new look. ODFW is working to transition its older odfw.com site to a new web platform. Some Commission pages that used to be on the older site have been moved over to MyODFW.com during this transition period. View the agenda Tour: Thursday March 19, 2026 – 8:00 AM Hampton Inn Medford 1122 Morrow Rd Medford, OR 97504 Meeting: Friday, March 20, 2026 - 8:00 AM Roxy Ann Grange 1850 Spring St, Medford, OR 97504

March 20, 2026

Article

Fishing opportunities for youth and disabled anglers

A few waterbodies in Oregon are set aside just for younger anglers and those with disabilities—offering everything from warmwater and stocked trout to salmon and steelhead fishing.

Article

How to hunt upland game birds

Oregon offers some of the best upland game bird hunting in the West. The state’s diverse habitats support nine species of upland game birds— pheasants, chukar, Hungarian partridge, valley (California) quail, mountain quail, ruffed grouse, blue grouse, sage-grouse and wild turkey. There are upland hunting opportunities in every corner of the state, and one upland bird season or another is open continuously from September 1 through January 31. Throw in a six-week spring turkey season and you can hunt upland game birds in Oregon for more than half of the year! Also, since many of the species share similar habitat…

August 18, 2025

Article

Eastern Oregon Deer Hunts

Starting in 2026, deer hunts in Eastern Oregon will be organized by Deer Hunt Areas instead of traditional Wildlife Management Units (WMUs). This transition is based on new research showing that deer move across multiple WMUs throughout the year, making old systems less effective for population monitoring and harvest management. Learn more below. Use this map to compare new Deer Herd Ranges vs Wildlife Management Units. Zoom in to see WMU boundaries which are in white. View the interactive map View Individual Hunt Areas 2026 Hunt Transition Guide

November 21, 2025

Landing page

Accessibility Feedback

Accessibility Statement for Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife The Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife is committed to providing a website experience that functions for all users regardless of ability, network speed, or device. We are continually improving the user experience for everyone, and applying the relevant accessibility standards. We invite feedback if you have issues accessing any part of https://myodfw.com/ Site features Each page on the site has a “Skip to Main Content” that’s visible on focus, giving visitors the option of jumping past navigation and into main content. A link to our Accessibility Statement and feedback form…

November 08, 2022

Species and Subspecies

Gray whale

The most common whale off the Oregon coast is the gray whale. In addition to the approximately 200 resident gray whales that live nearly year-round off Oregon, a winter and spring migration brings about 18,000 more past our coast. Gray whales are baleen whales (mysticetes). They grow to 50 feet in length and will weigh up to 80,000 pounds; adult females are larger than males, which is common in all baleen whales. They do not have a dorsal fin on their back but instead have a series of knuckles. These whales are mottled gray and are covered with barnacles and…

Article

Easy angling in the Southwest Zone

Salmon, steelhead and smallmouth bass offer world-class fishing here year-round. Rainbow trout are stocked in the upper Rogue and in lakes nestled in settings as varied as fir forest and wind-swept dune. Big reservoirs provide fishing for trout and for thriving populations of largemouth bass, catfish, perch and crappie. Coastal bays serve as gateways to rich offshore reef fisheries, and miles of public beach welcome anglers to fish for surfperch against a backdrop of rugged capes.

Article

Oregon's trout species

Trout are Oregon's most popular game fish but there are several species and not all are open to fishing. Learn how to identify them correctly, and find some tips for catching them too.

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Big Creek Hatchery Visitors' Guide

Big Creek Hatchery began operation in 1941. It was refurbished in 1957 under the Mitchell Act as part of the Columbia River Fisheries Development Program – a program to enhance declining fish runs in the Columbia River Basin. The facility is used for adult collection, egg incubation and rearing of winter steelhead, fall Chinook, and coho.

November 01, 2017

Educational Moment

Bow shooting safety

Before shooting a bow, you’ll want to make sure it's safe to fire. Bow/arrow safety check list Check that the string and cable are in good condition and aren ’t rubbing or fraying at any point. Use bowstring wax regularly to keep your string in good condition and safe to shoot. Check that the cams, limbs and riser are all in good shape. Look for cracks, dents, breaks, delaminations, peeling fiberglass, and any mechanical parts that may be defective. If any part of the bow is suspect, don’t shoot it. Fix it or take it to an archery shop to…

May 19, 2020

image of a bow cam, to be inspected before shooting

Article

All about smelt

Eulachon smelt are a small but culturally and ecologically significant fish found in the Pacific Northwest. Listed for protection under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 2010, the southern Distinct Population Segment of eulachon (which includes Columbia River eulachon) was classified as federally threatened due to a decline in abundance. Since then, improved ocean conditions have helped boost their numbers; however, poor ocean conditions are likely to occur again in the future. See the 2017 recovery plan from the National Marine Fisheries Service for more information. In 2023, ODFW and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife finalized the…

March 9, 2026

2I9A1480_Sandy_River_Smelt_Opener_2023_Swingle_ODFW.jpg

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Licenses, Permits, Applications and Forms

February 17, 2026

Article

Commission agenda: January 16, 2026

Commission materials have moved to MyODFW.com: Commission materials have a new look. ODFW is working to transition its older odfw.com site to a new web platform. Some Commission pages that used to be on the older site have been moved over to MyODFW.com during this transition period. View the agenda Meeting : Friday, January 16, 2026 - 8:00 AM Oregon Dept of Fish and Wildlife Virtual Meeting Viewing Room: Classroom 4034 Fairview Industrial Dr SE Salem, OR 97302

January 16, 2026

Article

How to hunt waterfowl

Oregon supports diverse waterfowl populations, from sea ducks in coastal saltwater to puddle ducks in the alkali basins of southeast Oregon. You might think you need lots of gear (decoys, boats, a trained dog) to hunt ducks and geese, but you don’t. All of these things are nice but not necessary. All you really need is a hunting license/tag, shotgun, shells and some basic identification skills.

A hunter dressed in camo and a black dog walk down a snowy road

Article

Fishing Oregon's hike-in lakes

Fishing Oregon’s high elevation lakes is not just for dedicated anglers. It also appeals to hikers and backpackers who head to the backcountry with a sense of adventure and a yearning for quietude.

Article

Warmwater fishing in Oregon: An introduction

Whether it's a 6-inch bluegill or a trophy-size bass, Oregon's warmwater fish offer anglers of all ages a variety of fishing opportunities. Check out some basic tips here, then head to the article that details places to go looking for warmwater fish species within the area of the state you're interested in.