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Article

Everyone Belongs Outdoors

ODFW believes everyone benefits from healthy fish and wildlife and from the chance to explore, connect and thrive outdoors. Join us as we strive to reach more people than ever and help us ensure that Oregon's natural resources are safe and accessible for all.
A diverse group of bird watcher walks down a gravel road toward camera
Article

Gift the outdoors

What to get for family and friends who love the outdoors—the birder, hiker, aspiring angler, avid hunter or neighbor who cares deeply about conservation? ‌Here's a list of gift ideas that get them outdoors the entire year or contribute to conserving fish, wildlife and their habitats.
Give the Gift of the Outdoors
Article

Access the outdoors

ODFW welcomes everyone to hunt, fish, trap, harvest shellfish and participate in wildlife viewing to the degree their passion exists for the experience. ODFW is committed to providing programs and services to all Oregonians regardless of their race, color, religion, national origin (including language), sex, age, mental or physical disability or sexual orientation.
September 29, 2025
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Press Release

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 outdoor destination in the Willamette…

November 7, 2025
EE Wilson shotgun range improvements 2025
Press Release

Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund announces new grant cycle opening Dec. 15

SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund (OCRF) Advisory Committee is excited to announce that its next grant cycle will begin accepting applications on Monday, Dec. 15, with the application window open through Feb. 9, 2026. Visit the Online Application System and enter access code "OCRF" to begin…

December 11, 2025
Educational Moment

Safety gear

While turkey hunting is one of the safest forms of hunting, there are some safety tips hunters should follow. Be visible when you need to be The biggest risk in turkey hunting is being in the woods with other turkey hunters. Remember, everyone will be wearing camouflage and sounding like a turkey as they try to call in birds (including you). Therefore, you’ll want to make sure you and your location are visible while you’re walking to the blind or setting up, while you’re set up behind a tree and while you’re carrying your bird out of the field. A…
May 19, 2020
image of bow hunter safely carrying bow and arrows
Article

Hunter Safety Education conventional course or field day registration

January 6, 2026
HSE youth_instructor
Press Release

Serial poacher sentenced to jail time, $22,000 fines in Grant County

CANYON CITY, Ore.- A poacher investigated for more than 50 crimes committed in Grant County between 2023 and 2024 was sentenced to 95 days behind bars and more than $22,000 in restitution and fines, according to wildlife officials. In what wildlife enforcement officers refer to as a serial poaching case…

June 24, 2025
Article

Fishing opportunities for youth and disabled anglers

A few waterbodies in Oregon are set aside just for younger anglers and those with disabilities—offering everything from warmwater and stocked trout to salmon and steelhead fishing.
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Workshop and Events

Steelhead 101 and Broodstock Collection - Troy, OR

Date

Oct 18 & 19, 2024

Location

Wenaha Wildlife Area, near Troy, OR 45°56'46.3"N 117°26'12.7"W

a close up of a steelhead in shallow water
Species and Subspecies

Cats

Oregon's three cat species all belong to the same family as the domestic house cat. Cats are muscular but graceful and have retractable claws to hold prey.

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Species and Subspecies

Swans, Ducks, and Geese

Swans, ducks and geese belong to the Anatidae family and occur on all continents. Special oils let their feathers shed water, so they are adapted for swimming and floating, and some are even talented divers. For tips on discouraging geese from overwhelming your yard, check our Living with Wildlife, Birds page.

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Species and Subspecies

Frogs and Toads

Worldwide, frogs and toads are in trouble because of habitat loss, pollution, pesticides, climate change, diseases, the pet trade and competition from invasive species. Many of Oregon's 12 native species of frogs and toads are listed as Oregon Conservation Strategy Species of concern. Frogs and toads belong to the same animal group but are very different. Toads have dry, rough and bumpy skin covering a wide body while frogs are slender with smooth, moist skin. Frog eyes are higher on the head than toads and are rounder and bulging. And there's a reason we play "leap frog" - frogs take…

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Article

Hunting band-tailed pigeons in Oregon

Learning the flight patterns of the birds, and honing your long-range shooting skills are keys to this unique and challenging hunting experience.
August 4, 2022
three band-tailed pigeons feeding on the groud
Educational Moment

Archery range rules

There are basic rules of safety and etiquette that apply at archery ranges. Be sure you’re following them. Etiquette on the range Etiquette is an important part of a fun, positive and safe experience on the archery range. Proper range etiquette starts with safety, for you and others around you. Keep arrows pointed down range. Give fellow shooters plenty of space, and never cross into their shooting lane with your body or equipment. Pay attention to what ’s going on around you, especially when leaving or entering the shooting line. Straddle the shooting line -- one foot on each side…
May 19, 2020
image of archery instructor explaining range rules
Article

Start hunting game birds

Whether it’s spending more time outdoors or harvesting food to fill the freezer, there are many reasons to become a hunter. Here’s how to take the first steps into the field.
August 18, 2025
pheasant hunter in grassy field
Article

Take care out there: A guide to respectful recreation

Each year over 9 million Oregonians and visitors head to hills – and the desert, and the beach – to enjoy the outdoor beauty Oregon offers. But with that many people actively appreciating the hills (and the desert and the beach) it’s becoming even more important that we learn to enjoy our fragile ecosystems today while also protecting them for tomorrow’s visitors.
February 14, 2020
image of three bird watchers looking in a tree through binoculars
Article

10 steps to becoming an angler

Fishing isn’t hard, but it can be confusing to know how to begin. Here’s a step-by-step approach to get from thinking about it to doing it.
October 26, 2020
image of angler holding up a small smallmouth bass on the John Day R
Article

7 reasons to take a class or workshop with ODFW

Learn to fish, hunt, shoot or cast at an ODFW workshop or event, offered year round throughout the state. You'll find Hunter and Bowhunter Safety Education courses and field days here. Upcoming classes and workshops
December 12, 2025
Shotgun_Range
Article

Avoid "accidental" poaching: Know your target

"I was out hunting near a reserve, and I shot a white-tailed deer. I didn’t know it was a white-tailed deer. The rules don’t say what kind of deer to hunt, they just say a deer, and I shot a deer, but I guess it’s a white-tail. What do I do now?" "Do I have to turn myself in to OSP?" -- recent call to ODFW
December 8, 2020
photo of a white-tailed deer doe standing in a shrubby field