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Article

How to hunt rabbit

Rabbit hunting is the third most popular type of hunting activity in the U.S., behind wild turkey and deer hunting. Few people take advantage of it in Oregon, but they should—rabbits and hares are abundant and there is no closed season or bag limit. Plus, they taste good!

Article

Roadkills of Oregon

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.

Article

Easy angling in the Northeast Zone

The granite peaks of Oregon’s Blue and Wallowa Mountains form the backdrop for many of this zone’s glacier-carved lakes and crystalline streams. Pack trains are a common sight on steep backcountry trails. Bull trout thrive in this zone’s cold, clear rivers, which also sustain rainbow trout and welcome returning runs of hatchery-reared steelhead. Warmwater fisheries are few, but the John Day River offers world-class fishing for smallmouth bass.

Article

Where to crab & clam in Alsea Bay

Just a few miles south of Newport, the town of Waldport is on the shores of Alsea Bay. It is one of Oregon’s estuaries that does not have jetties at the ocean entrance. Strong outgoing tides and ocean swell can make boating near the mouth of the bay more dangerous. Use caution and be prepared if you crab in this area.

Article

How to crab

Oregon crabbing is a year-round activity that can almost always yield a successful trip. Crabbing trips require minimal gear, often available for rent in coastal towns, and while boat crabbing increases your likelihood for success, dockside crabbing is easy and very accessible. Before crabbing, be aware of crab regulations. Knowledge of where, when, and how to crab will increase your chances for success. Learn where to crab

Article

Wildfires: Impact on hunting, fishing, wildlife

Wildfire season in Oregon and access to the place you like to hunt, fish or recreate may be impacted. So be sure to check for access restrictions before heading out.

August 29, 2025

A large plume of gray smoke billows from a wildlife into the sky

Article

Easy angling in the Willamette Zone

Abundant rainfall feeds the massive Willamette River watershed, tamed by a system of reservoirs stocked annually with hundreds of thousands of rainbow trout. Some of these reservoirs also grow trophy-size largemouth and smallmouth bass, and lots of bluegill, brown bullhead and crappies. Salmon and steelhead navigate the Willamette and its productive tributaries, many of which are also home to rainbow and cutthroat trout.

Press Release

Columbia River sturgeon retention opens for one day on Feb. 16 in Bonneville and The Dalles pools

CLACKAMAS, Ore. – Sturgeon retention in Bonneville Pool and The Dalles Pool will open for one day on Monday, Feb. 16. These retention fisheries had not opened on the traditional date of Jan. 1 as in previous years. Due to warmer-than-normal winter water temperatures, increased angling effort, and high catch…

February 11, 2026

Article

Easy angling in Oregon, Introduction

We've asked our fish biologists throughout the state to pick their favorite family fishing locations. These spots are great for novice and experienced anglers alike.

Article

Warmwater fishing in central Oregon

The central area follows the Deschutes River Basin along the eastern slope of the Cascades, and includes the middle reaches of the Columbia River from Bonneville upstream to the mouth of the John Day River. The warm and dry summer months help to create productive warmwater fisheries in the area's larger reservoirs including Crane Prairie Reservoir, a consistent producer of sizeable largemouth bass, and Prineville Reservoir which is renowned for its crappie. In the Columbia River, outstanding fishing for bass and walleye can be found in Bonneville Pool and The Dalles Pool.

Educational Moment

Ocean Salmon and Columbia River Program February 2025

Tucker Jones, Ocean Salmon and Columbia River Program Manager Summary of 2024 Fisheries and Outlook for 2025 Fisheries The Columbia River Management section of OSCRP has posted a document to the ODFW website with preliminary estimates of 2024 salmon returns and fishery results, 2025 run forecasts for spring Chinook, summer Chinook, and sockeye salmon, as well as a list of currently-known key dates for 2025 fisheries planning milestones. This document is prepared jointly by the ODFW and WDFW Columbia River fishery management staffs each year. This useful document has a table of salmonid returns/forecasts that will be updated on our…

February 25, 2025

Article

10 most common recreationally caught flatfish off Oregon

There are a variety of flatfish species that can be found off the Oregon coast.

December 6, 2024

Article

Easy angling in the Central Zone

Known for its high desert climate, sage-covered canyons, glacial peaks and mountain lakes, this zone is defined by the reach of Oregon’s finest trout stream. The Deschutes River is no bigger than a creek when it passes close by South Twin Lake on its way toward Wickiup and Crane Prairie reservoirs. But it soon gains power enough to grow athletic rainbow trout. The considerably tamer Crooked River offers good practice if you’re just learning how to keep your footing in a slippery freestone stream.

Species and Subspecies

Bats

Fun facts about our bats Oregon's bats eat only insects. An adult bat eats about 1,000 insects every hour! Bats hang upside down because it gives them an ideal position for take-off. Bats can fly 20 to 30 miles an hour and travel more than 100 miles a night. A baby bat is called a pup. Young bats can fly between two and five weeks of age. Bats are the only flying mammal. ODFW's Living with bats page has tips on protecting at-risk populations, and more. Bat Conservation International Batty for Bats: Facts for kids (pdf) Build a bat house…

Recreation Report

Wildlife Viewing Report - Southwest Zone

SW WILDLIFE VIEWING May 7, 2026 Coos and Curry counties Coquille Valley Wildlife Area (CVWA) Coquille Valley Wildlife Area (CVWA) in Coos County is open to public access. Permits for access are required and are available, free of charge, at the kiosk located in the parking lot along North Bank Road. You must access CVWA through this point. Please fill out the upper half ("A" half) of the permit and deposit it in the slot located on the post of the kiosk. Sign and carry the lower half ("B" half) with you while you enjoy CVWA. At the end of…

September 05, 2017

Press Release

Officials urge public to avoid contact with sick or dead birds as avian flu persists across Oregon

SALEM, Ore. – People across Oregon are being urged to avoid contact with sick or dead birds as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) continues to impact wild and domestic bird populations across the state. There is currently no effective treatment for wild and domestic birds, and the virus can spread…

December 3, 2025

Article

Tuna fishing in Oregon

Albacore tuna fishing can offer nonstop action landing fast-moving, hard-fighting fish. Charter trips make tuna fishing accessible to all anglers. In addition, many well-equipped private boat anglers have been making the long trips offshore. If you don't see tuna fishing for yourself, we've even included a brief video on how to buy fresh Oregon tuna from a commercial fisherman at the dock.

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

Press Release

ODFW's Private Forest Accord Advisory Committee will meet on Sept. 30

SALEM, Ore. – The Private Forest Accord (PFA) Advisory Committee will hold its regular virtual meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. ODFW staff will present two new funding pathways for the PFA Grants Program, Land Transactions and Water Transactions, followed by Advisory Committee discussion of these pathways and the accompanying…

September 17, 2025