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Protecting and enhancing Oregon’s fish and wildlife, and the habitats they use, for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations is at the heart of what we do.

This newsletter provides a summary of Oregon’s 2023 sport halibut fishery.

A Waterway Access Permit is required for non-motorized boats 10 feet and longer. The Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Permit is included in Waterway Access Permits are required for paddlecraft 10 feet and longer, and an out-of-state aquatic invasive species permit is required for motorized boats operating in Oregon waterways.

Oak Springs Hatchery was constructed in several phases beginning in 1922 with the last major construction in 1996. The facility is currently used for egg production, incubation and rearing of rainbow trout, incubation and rearing of summer and winter steelhead, and maintains one resident rainbow trout and one resident cutthroat broodstock.

All anglers fishing for salmon, steelhead or sturgeon (catch-and-release and retention) on all rivers and tributaries in the Columbia River Basin need to have a Columbia River Basin Endorsement (CRBE).

Oregon’s Bowhunter Education Program teaches bowhunters the fundamentals of safe, responsible archery hunting and an appreciation and respect for the environment in which they hunt.

The Rogue-South Coast Steelhead Validation is required for all winter steelhead anglers fishing in the Rogue Basin or on the south coast from Dec. 1 to April 30. In addition, a harvest tag is required to keep wild winter steelhead in this area.‌ Visit e-regulations

Binoculars? Check. Field guide? Check. Now what? Learn the basics for bird watching.

The purpose of this project is to help us understand the impacts roads have on Oregon's wildlife, and to identify roadkill hot spots and vulnerabilities among different wildlife species. This information can help make roadways safer and reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions.

The North Nehalem Fish Hatchery was originally constructed in 1966. The hatchery replaced the Foley Creek Hatchery which was constructed in 1926. The facility is used for adult collection, spawning, egg incubation and rearing of fall Chinook, coho, winter steelhead and rainbow trout.

Round Butte Hatchery was constructed in 1972 to mitigate for the fishery losses caused by Pelton/Round Butte (PRB) Hydroelectric Complex. Round Butte and its satellite, Pelton Ladder, are used for adult collection, egg incubation and rearing of spring Chinook, summer steelhead, and sockeye salmon.

Archery is experiencing a surge in popularity, and rightly so. It provides both a physical and mental challenge; can be enjoyed year-round, and it’s an individual event that takes place in a fun social setting.

Wizard Falls Hatchery was constructed in 1947. Many improvements have been made to the facility since original construction. The hatchery has a rainbow trout broodstock which supply rainbow trout to the Deschutes sub-basin and southeast Oregon. The hatchery is used for incubation and rearing of kokanee salmon and rainbow trout to provide for recreational fishing program objectives, and the incubation and rearing of spring Chinook and summer steelhead as part of a reintroduction program in the upper Deschutes Basin. Brook trout and cutthroat trout fingerlings are reared for the air stocking program on odd years. Kokanee salmon are spawned remotely.

Fishing isn’t hard, but it can be confusing to know how to begin. Here’s a step-by-step approach to get from thinking about it to doing it.

Each year over 9 million Oregonians and visitors head to hills – and the desert, and the beach – to enjoy the outdoor beauty Oregon offers. But with that many people actively appreciating the hills (and the desert and the beach) it’s becoming even more important that we learn to enjoy our fragile ecosystems today while also protecting them for tomorrow’s visitors.