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Article
Cougars currently occupy most of the available cougar habitat in the state and are expanding into lower quality habitats that include human habitation. At the same time, urban areas are expanding into cougar habitat due to population growth and development. Follow these tips to stay safe in cougar country.
Educational Moment
There are many options when it comes to choosing arrows and broadheads for turkey hunting. If you already hunt big game, you can use the same arrow shafts for hunting turkey. If you’re new to bowhunting and buying arrows for the first time, select an arrow shaft made of a lightweight, fast-moving material like carbon fiber. An arrow that weighs about 6 to 8 grains per per pound of draw weight (on a compound bow) is a good guideline. This will maximize kinetic energy, accuracy and penetration. There are three styles of broadheads popular with turkey hunters: Expandable, or mechanical
May 19, 2020
Article
Fishing with your kids or grandkids can be a lot of fun for all. Check out ODFW's fishing opportunities for youth, tips for parents/guardians, and free fishing events across the state.
Article
Steps for getting a duplicate hunter education card.
Article
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
October 25, 2023
Recreation Report
March 5, 2025 Crook County There are red-tailed, rough-legged and ferruginous hawks, northern harriers, American kestrels, prairie falcons and golden eagles throughout Crook County and they're usually associated more closely with open/agricultural areas. Bald eagles and osprey, on the other hand, are more closely associated with water bodies. Look for northern goshawks throughout the Ochoco National Forest, and for ducklings and goslings in rivers and lakes. Prineville Reservoir Wildlife Area The Prineville Reservoir Wildlife Area offers access to view a wide variety of wildlife, including deer, coyotes, otter, beaver, raptors, shorebirds and waterfowl. Maps of the wildlife area are available
September 05, 2017
Article
Small game species provide a variety of hunting experiences throughout the state and are an excellent way to introduce new hunters to hunting. Only the appropriate hunting license is necessary to hunt small game (no tags or permits). There are three major categories of small game in Oregon: western gray squirrel, unprotected mammals and furbearers.
Landing page
The E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area came into existence in 1950 when the U.S. Government gave quitclaim title to the property to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The wildlife area covers approximately 1,788 acres, is located on Highway 99W about 10 miles north of Corvallis and is situated on the Willamette Valley floor. The E.E. Wilson fishing pond parking lot will be closed for three weeks for improvements beginning Wednesday, Dec. 11. The parking lot will reopen after Jan. 4, 2025. Alternative parking options are available at the lot southeast of the fishing pond lot or by the archery
February 07, 2018
Article
All funds raised by deer and elk auction and raffle tags go directly to the Access and Habitat Program. Funds raised by bighorn sheep, pronghorn, and Rocky Mountain goat auction and raffle tags go directly to the management of those species.
Recreation Report
March 5, 2025 Tillamook County Birds Northward migrants should be visible during March as they make their way back towards breeding grounds in Alaska and beyond. Many species of shorebirds and some waterfowl are only likely to be sighted for a few short weeks in the spring and fall as they travel between winter and summer locations. Different species of shorebirds will use rocky and sandy ocean shorelines, upper and lower estuaries, fields and riverbanks/gravel bars as they move through the area. Most will eventually move on to breeding grounds in Alaska and western Canada. Likewise, the large numbers of
September 05, 2017
Article
The white sturgeon is one of Oregon's most iconic and distinctive fish species with a lineage dating back to the age of the dinosaurs. Due to population concerns, the sturgeon fishery is highly regulated in terms of size, seasons and retention. This article outlines what you need to know before planning a sturgeon fishing trip.
November 19, 2024
Article
Learn about private lands granting public access to bird hunting in the Columbia Basin. Part 4 of a 4 part series of articles.
Educational Moment
Mouth calls, also known as diaphragm calls, can seem intimidating but they have some advantages over other kinds of calls. Mouth calls are popular with Oregon turkey hunters because: They're easier to keep dry during wet, spring seasons than are box or slate calls. Since the the call is in your mouth, you can call in a turkey without moving and possible spooking the bird. With practice, they can produce very realistic turkey sounds. Parts of a mouth call There are four parts to a mouth call. Starting at the outside of the call there’s: The tape. The tape stops
May 19, 2020
Educational Moment
The modern compound bow is the most popular choice for turkey hunting, but traditional recurve and longbows also have their fans. Hunting with crossbows is illegal in Oregon. If you already have a bow you use for deer or elk hunting, it will work fine for turkey Many turkey hunters, though, like to reduce the draw weight of their deer/elk hunting bow to 45 pounds or less for turkey. Unlike deer and elk hunting, where you’re usually standing or kneeling when you take a shot, you’re likely to be sitting when shooting a turkey. In this case, a lighter draw
May 19, 2020
Article
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
Educational Moment
If you're a current bird hunter – upland or waterfowl – chances are you already have a shotgun you can use for turkey hunting. If you’re a new hunter here are some tips for buying a shotgun.
May 19, 2020
Article
Regulated Hunt Areas (RHAs) are cooperative programs between Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and private landowners that offer regulated hunting on private lands. Each RHA has special regulations so be sure to check them before hunting. The Upland Cooperative Access Program (UCAP) is an incentive-based program designed to provide quality public hunting opportunities for upland game birds on private lands in Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam and Morrow counties in the Columbia Basin.
September 11, 2017
Article
Let's go fishing! Not enough time? Think again. If you live in the greater Portland area, there are a number of places you can get to in less than an hour. Directions and times are approximate, mileage and generalized directions are from Pioneer Courthouse Square.
Article
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
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.
