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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
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
Updated ODFW statement on coyote incident in Portland
Updated statement Friday, Nov. 7, 2025 SALEM, Ore. – A coyote was captured and humanely killed on Oct. 31 and confirmed to be the individual animal that bit a 9-year-old child in the Alameda neighborhood on Oct. 23. ODFW worked with partners at the city, state, and federal levels to capture the…
ODFW manages 20 wildlife areas across the state, each with a unique blend of fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities. Remember, you'll need a Wildlife Area Parking Permit for your visit. See the map and listing below to find the wildlife area nearest you.
ODFW manages 20 wildlife areas across the state, each with a unique blend of fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities. Remember, you'll need a Wildlife Area Parking Permit for your visit. See the map and listing below to find the wildlife area nearest you.
Chris Kern, Region Manager Fisher research in southern Oregon Fisher are a Species of Greatest Conservaion Need in Oregon's State Wildlife Action Plan, and ODFW is actively conducting research to understand fisher occupancy and distribution east of I-5, as well as that of their competitors and predators. Wildlife Research staff maintained 30 baited camera traps in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument and Southern Cascades. The cameras were deployed in mid-September on U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands in areas with proposed habitat management efforts. The goal is to evaluate how these land alterations influence changes in mesocarnivore occupancy
ODFW shifting fish production to minimize impact of lost funding for Salmon River Hatchery: No hatchery programs eliminated, public/fishing access remains
OTIS, Ore.—ODFW's recent legislatively adopted budget did not include funding to continue the operation of Salmon River Hatchery, one of more than 30 hatcheries that ODFW maintains in the State. The cost of operating and maintaining the hatchery exceeded available revenue, but funding is just one of…
Veterans inspire improvements to shotgun range at E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area
Veterans invited to grand reopening event set for Nov. 15 MONMOUTH, Ore.—ODFW Hunter Education Coordinator Jered Goodwin used to see a group of disabled Veterans regularly visiting the shotgun shooting range at E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area, a former military base turned wildlife area and popular…
Commission adopts limited Umpqua River fall Chinook season
PENDLETON, Ore. ‐ The Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted a limited fall Chinook fishing and retention season on the mainstem Umpqua, Smith, and North Fork Smith rivers after receiving many public comments and hearing testimony from a Douglas County Commissioner, business owners and local anglers…
Commission meets June 12-13 in Pendleton
SALEM Ore. – The Fish and Wildlife Commission meets June 12-13 for a field tour on Thursday and a regular meeting Friday. See the agenda here. The meeting will also be livestreamed from the Commission page. To testify on an agenda item virtually, register on the agenda page at least 48 hours in…
Turkeys make a lot of different sounds, many of which are different in spring and fall. Though most hunters can routinely fill tags by using only two or three sounds, it’s good to know what other sounds turkeys make and why. The hen yelp and variations The most commonly heard sound in the turkey woods is made by the hen, and it’s called a yelp. Toms also yelp, but it’s louder, raspier and often more drawn-out than that of hens. The yelp is usually delivered in a series of one-note tunes. However, yelps can take on various forms. Specifically, there
Wenaha Wildlife Area, near Troy, OR 45°56'46.3"N 117°26'12.7"W
Commission adopts revised State Wildlife Action Plan
SALEM, Ore.—The Commission approved a revised State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) today, a plan that serves as a roadmap for protecting Oregon's at-risk species and their habitats. The Plan incorporates the latest available information on species and presents recommended conservation actions to inform…
Nick Myatt, Region Manager Golden eagle research in northeast District wildlife staff in Wallowa County, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Nature Conservancy, began a pilot project to study the survival, movement, and reproductive success of golden eagles. During the pilot phase, ODFW staff tested methods of capture as well as telemetry units to determine feasibility for a longer-term study. The first capture event during this pilot project took place in mid-December 2024. USFWS provided four GPS units for this pilot year. The data from golden eagles captured in northeast Oregon during this pilot phase