![image of an archer practicing, showing good form](/sites/default/files/styles/380x228/public/2020-09/Practical-practice.jpg?itok=Y4hNtKmG)
Search myodfw.com
Shooting a target while standing up at the range is a lot different from shooting a turkey while sitting in a ground blind. When practicing for a hunting trip, recreate your shooting scenario. Whether it will be standing, sitting, kneeling, and in or out of a ground blind. Shooting a turkey There ’s no substitute for practicing in conditions that closely resemble those you’ll be hunting in, and this is especially true for bowhunters looking to bag a turkey. Turkeys are nervous birds with very small kill zones, so accurate shot placement is critical for getting a quick, clean kill
![image of an archer practicing, showing good form](/sites/default/files/styles/380x228/public/2020-09/Practical-practice.jpg?itok=Y4hNtKmG)
![0185_Foster_Reservoir_Swart_ODFW.jpg Thumbnail](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/2018-03/0185_Foster_Reservoir_Swart_ODFW.jpg?itok=qb78EsSp)
This is one of the most widespread and familiar waterbirds in Oregon. It is the largest heron in North America, standing approximately four feet tall. It is slate gray with a white crown, cheeks, and throat, rusty thighs and a uniformly yellow bill. Adults develop long gray-white plumes on chest, neck, and back during breeding. Juveniles have similar plumage but may be distinguished by absence of breeding plumes, a dark crown, and dark upper bill. Great blue herons frequent many habitats from shallow areas of marshes, lakes, streams, and oceans, where they feed on fish, amphibians, and aquatic invertebrates; to
![Great-Blue-Heron_Newport-Bay_Nick-Myatt-08.jpg Great blue heron](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/2023-05/Great%20Blue%20Heron_Newport%20Bay_Nick%20Myatt%2008.jpg?itok=21wNnEKT)
![0182_bird_watchers_munsel_odfw_hero.jpg Thumbnail](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/2018-03/0182_bird_watchers_munsel_odfw_hero.jpg?itok=cUy7TC-y)
You don’t need a lot of gear to hunt turkey – that’s one reason for its growing popularity. However, the more you hunt – in different seasons and in different parts of the state – the more you’ll discover there are some things that can make you a more comfortable and successful hunter. Here are some essential pieces of gear beginning turkey hunters will want to consider: A face mask or camouflage face paint. Turkeys have keen eyesight so you’ll want to cover your entire face and neck with something camouflage that’s comfortable to wear. Bowhunters often prefer camo face
![image of turkey hunter with binoculars, camo gloves, and other gear](/sites/default/files/styles/380x228/public/2020-09/Essential-gear.jpg?itok=2BmpbbK-)
Oregon hosted the first successful introduction of the ring-necked pheasant in North America. This exotic game bird, released for sport hunting from China is now widely introduced and distributed throughout North America. Although more likely to run than fly, the ring-necked pheasant will explode into the air if startled, producing a distinctive sound from rapid wing-beats. It inhabits open areas such as grasslands, agricultural fields, and brushy areas, and avoids forested habitats. Hear the call of the ring-necked pheasant Photo by Charlotte Ganskopp
![pheasant_ganskopp.jpg Ring-necked pheasant](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/2023-05/pheasant_ganskopp.jpg?itok=iz5PIVvo)
![F_I_C_17_herman_the_sturgeon_miller_odfw.jpg Thumbnail](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/2017-11/F_I_C_17_herman_the_sturgeon_miller_odfw.jpg?itok=RpiWPJIq)
There are two steps in patterning your gun: Verify your point of impact. Confirm the pellets are hitting where you’re aiming. Often called sighting in. Check the pattern of the pellets to see what loads shoot most accurately. Often called patterning. Sight in scopes and fiber optic sites If you’re shooting a shotgun with a single bead on top of the barrel, you can go right to patterning. If you’re shooting a shotgun mounted with a scope or reflex sight, or a fiber optic front and rear site, you’ll need to sight in the gun before you pattern it. Start
![photo of two paper turkey targets showing shot patterns from shotgun](/sites/default/files/styles/380x228/public/2020-09/Sight%20in-pattern.jpg?itok=RKkNNoqh)
Bonneville Hatchery was constructed in 1909. In 1957, the facility was remodeled and expanded as part of the Columbia River Fisheries Development Program (Mitchell Act)—a program to enhance declining fish runs in the Columbia River Basin. The hatchery underwent another renovation in 1974 as part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' (USACE) mitigation of fish losses from the construction of the John Day Dam. In 1998, construction was completed on the Captive Broodstock Facility for the Grande Ronde Basin spring Chinook supplementation program.
Willamette Trout Hatchery and the adjacent Oakridge Salmon Hatchery were combined in 1983 and operate today as Willamette Hatchery. The trout hatchery was constructed in 1922 and the salmon hatchery in 1911. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) rebuilt the salmon hatchery in 1952 to mitigate for fishery losses caused by Hills Creek, Lookout Point and the Dexter hydroelectric/flood control projects. The trout side was rebuilt between 1950 and ‘56. Today, Willamette Hatchery is used for adult holding/spawning, egg incubation and rearing of spring chinook and rainbow trout. In addition, both summer and winter steelhead are reared at this
Summer Lake Wildlife Area was established in 1944, with primary objectives of protecting and improving waterfowl habitat and providing a public hunting area. It is now a popular destination for hunting, wildlife viewing and environmental education due to its geographic setting, the abundance of wildlife present and species diversity.
![two kayak anglers on the ocean beach](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/2019-07/Ocean%20kayak%20fishing.jpg?itok=mHxzwWaA)
The Columbia Basin Wildlife Areas are a composition of four Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (department) 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, provide an important landbase for the conservation and recreation of fish and wildlife within a highly privatized and altered landscape and
![Catalpa Lake Thumbnail](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/2018-06/Catalpa_Lake_Hero.jpg?itok=Aus4qhde)
Whether you ’re turkey hunting with a bow or shotgun, you’ll need to know when to take the shot. If you’re using a shotgun, the best shot will be at the head, preferably when it’s outstretched away from the bird’s body. Bowhunters will want to know something about turkey anatomy so they’ll recognize when they have a clear kill shot to a vital organ. Make sure it’s safe to shoot In addition to having a good shot at a bird, you’ll want to make sure there are no other hunters, livestock or other turkeys nearby that you could hit by
![image of turkey hunter taking aim at a turkey](/sites/default/files/styles/380x228/public/2020-09/Timing-your-shot-NWTF.jpg?itok=xB-oaruG)
Aug. 28, 2024 If there’s not a photo, it didn’t happen Submit your fishing photo to ODFW and we might use it here or elsewhere on MyODFW.com. Best bets for weekend fishing Anglers are reporting excellent fishing for pre-spawn kokanee and lake trout at Odell Lake. The Metolius River continues be excellent for mountain whitefish, redband trout and bull trout. Now that flows have settled, anglers and guides have been reporting good nymphing for trout and whitefish on the Crooked River below Bowman Dam. Fly-fishers are reporting success from many of the Cascade Lakes including Hosmer, East, and Crane Prairie
![image of angler holding up a small smallmouth bass on the John Day R](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/2020-10/Angler-JohnDay-bass.jpg?itok=R24YvgiJ)