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MARINE WILDLIFE VIEWING December 15, 2026 The Oregon coast is a great place to come and view a variety of wildlife. Enjoy the great diversity of life: from giant whales and barking sea lions, to majestic bald eagles and diving pelicans, to showy Harlequin ducks and flocking shorebirds, to the tiny anemones and crabs inhabiting tidepools. There is always something new to discover. Visit our wildlife viewing map for locations to visit and view wildlife along the Oregon coast. Maximize your viewing of coastal creatures by bringing binoculars for close-up views. Beach Safety: http://www.oregon.gov/OPRD/PARKS/Pages/beach_safety.aspx Whales, orcas and porpoises Whales migrate…
Crabbing and Clamming January 15, 2026 Always check for closures at the ODA Shellfish Safety page before harvesting shellfish, which includes clams, crabs and mussels. Announcements Chinese mitten crab found in Willamette River A second confirmed Chinese mitten crab, a prohibited species in Oregon, was found and reported to ODFW on November 17 in the Willamette River near Sellwood Bridge. The first mitten crab was caught on April 22 in the Lower Columbia River. Mitten crabs caused significant infrastructure and ecological damage in and around San Francisco Bay when the population was at its height in the late 1990s and…
Oxbow Hatchery was originally constructed in 1913 to provide additional rearing facilities for Bonneville Hatchery. It was relocated to this present site in 1937 following the construction of Bonneville Dam. Oxbow operated as a state-funded hatchery until 1952 when it 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 is presently used for interim egg incubation and early rearing of coho and spring Chinook salmon. No adult fish are collected or spawned at Oxbow and there are no fish…
CLACKAMAS, Ore.—Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington expanded recreational spring Chinook days and retention on the mainstem Columbia River during a joint state hearing yesterday. There is remaining harvest allocation available for increased spring Chinook opportunity while staying within allowed ESA-impact rates and other management limits. The following changes were…
LA GRANDE, Ore. – Effective Aug. 1 through Sep. 30, minimum and maximum size limits as well as the daily and possession bag limits for rainbow trout and bass are suspended for Thief Valley Reservoir (Southeast Zone) located in Union County. Harvest will be allowed by hand, dip net, or…
CLACKAMAS, Ore.— Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington extended hatchery steelhead retention for recreational anglers on the mainstem Columbia River downstream of The Dalles Dam using joint state action yesterday. Steelhead retention was initially planned to be closed in this area beginning August 1. With this extension, effective Friday, Aug…
Enterprise, Ore. – Beginning Friday, Sept. 19 through Friday, Oct. 31, harvest of wild adult Chinook salmon (non-adipose clipped, ≥ 24 inches) will be closed in the Snake River from the Oregon/Washington border upstream to Hells Canyon Dam. During this period, anglers may continue to harvest adipose-clipped (hatchery) fall Chinook…
Various
These events are throughout the state.
The present facility was constructed in 1925, across the North Umpqua River from an earlier trout hatchery built in 1920. The hatchery was closed in 1975 due to low stream flows and high water temperatures, and was reopening in 1979 after extensive reconstruction. In 2012 a state of the art fish passage ladder was completed. It included a fish viewing window for Rock Creek basin fish inventory and a fish trap facility. The hatchery produces fall and spring Chinook, coho, summer and winter steelhead, and rainbow trout. The facility is used for adult collection, spawning, incubation, and rearing of Chinook…
The Klamath Fish Hatchery was originally constructed in 1929. Many improvements have been made since original construction. The hatchery produces legal and trophy sized rainbow trout, fingerling rainbow trout, brown trout, and cutthroat trout for release throughout the Klamath Basin, Deschutes Basin, Umpqua Basin and the southeast part of the state. The hatchery assist with remote egg takes for wild rainbow and brown trout at Crane Prairie and Wickiup Reservoirs.
SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking a new member to represent the South Willamette District on the Salmon and Trout Advisory Committee (STAC). Interested individuals are encouraged to apply by 5:00 p. m. on Aug. 4. ODFW is seeking interest from Oregonians who can…
ENTERPRISE, Ore. – ODFW, in coordination with co-managers, will reopen harvest of wild (adipose-intact) fall Chinook salmon in the Snake River effective Saturday, Oct. 4. The reopening follows a temporary closure implemented in September to ensure fisheries remained within agreed harvest limits. During the closure, managers continued to monitor run…
Leaburg Hatchery was built in 1953 to mitigate for lost fishing opportunity because of the many dams on Willamette Basin rivers. These dams include Cougar, Blue River, Carmen-Smith, Lookout, Dexter, and others. The hatchery rears rainbow trout, summer steelhead and Chinook salmon, and has a staff of four employees. Come visit our show pond and see huge white sturgeon and rainbow trout. There’s a viewing platform built by the McLaren School for Boys in 1993 to allow visitors to get a close up look at spring Chinook salmon spawning in the creek below.
Oregon requires all hunters under the age of 18 to complete a hunter safety education course before hunting in the state. Upon completing the course (and a Field Day for youth), participants will receive a Hunter Safety certification number and card. Adults are also encouraged to take the online course, as it may be required for out of state hunts. Note: Youth under the age of 9 may struggle with the course material and may not have the physical strength needed to safely handle a firearm during a Field Day, particularly during muzzle control, loading, and unloading drills.
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