Oregon hunting and fishing laws
The Oregon rules that catch people out, in plain English: hunter education, minimum age, blaze orange, Sunday hunting, shooting hours, baiting, night hunting, tagging and private land. Each one links to the state's own text.
Season dates for 2026-27. Page updated October 12, 2026.
These pages sum up the rules to help you find them. They are not legal advice. The state's own regulations govern, so check them before you go.
Hunter education in Oregon
Before hunting, youth 17 years of age or younger must complete a Hunter Safety Education Course from any U.S. state, Canada or Mexico. Adults 18 and older are not required to.
Minimum hunting age in Oregon
Youth 12 through 17 need a Combination License or Youth Sports Pac; children 11 and under do not need a license for game birds and small game, and those 9 through 11 can join controlled hunts if licensed. The Mentored Youth Hunter Program lets ages 9 through 15 hunt without first completing hunter education if they hunt under the immediate control of a licensed supervising adult 21 or older.
Blaze orange in Oregon
OAR 635-065-0012: no person younger than 18 years of age shall hunt with any firearm for any game mammal or upland game bird, excluding turkey, unless wearing, in a manner visible from all directions, a hat or exterior garment of hunter orange. Exterior garment includes a shirt, jacket, coat, vest or sweater. Fluorescent orange camouflage patterns are acceptable. There is no blaze pink provision.
Sunday hunting in Oregon
Oregon has no Sunday hunting restriction; seasons are open every day of the week.
Shooting hours in Oregon
Applies to: Big game
Game mammals may only be hunted from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
Baiting in Oregon
Applies to: Big game
Oregon's general big game rules contain no general ban on baiting deer or elk, but it is illegal to possess or use any commercial cervid attractant that contains or is derived from cervid urine. Using bait to attract black bear is prohibited.
Applies to: Bear
ORS 498.164: a person may not use bait to attract or take black bears, or use one or more dogs to hunt or pursue black bears or cougars. Bait means any material placed for the purpose of attracting or attempting to attract bears. Violation is a Class A misdemeanor, with a five-year license suspension for a first offense and permanent suspension thereafter.
Night hunting in Oregon
It is prohibited to use an artificial light for hunting any wildlife, except raccoon, bobcat and opossum, provided the light is not cast from or attached to a motor vehicle.
Tagging and reporting a harvest in Oregon
Applies to: Big game
OAR 635-065-0765: hunters must possess evidence of sex, being either the animal's head with antlers or horns, or a reproductive organ, meaning testicle, penis, udder or vulva, attached to a major portion of meat.
Hunting on private land in Oregon
It is unlawful to hunt on private property without permission from the landowner.
Can you show your Oregon license on your phone?
E-license and e-tags OK. Write a record for the animal.
ODFW: “Any documents in possession, either electronic or paper, must be accessible immediately upon request.” An e-tag is validated by pressing the “validate” or “tag” button in the ODFW mobile app. You must then “securely affix a physical record to the game mammal” with your name, date of birth, ODFW ID, harvest date and confirmation number in permanent ink. Paper tags must be filled in ink and attached to the animal.
Phone with MyODFW app, pen, paper for carcass record
Oregon hunting season dates, 2026-27
The main seasons, from the state's published dates. Zones and units can differ; each season links to the state's own page for it.
| Season | Dates | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer — general archery | Aug 29 – Sep 27, 2026 | Statewide general archery (most units) | |
| Deer — Western Oregon general rifle | Oct 3 – Nov 6, 2026 | Western Oregon, Units 10-30 | Youth-only extension Nov 7-8; eastern Oregon now controlled hunts |
| Elk — general archery | Aug 29 – Sep 27, 2026 | Statewide general archery units | |
| Elk — West Cascade general | Nov 7 – Nov 13, 2026 | Units 16, 19, 21, 22, 29, 30 | One bull elk |
| Elk — Coast 1st season | Nov 14 – Nov 17, 2026 | Western Oregon Coast units | 2nd season Nov 21-27 |
| Black bear — general fall | Aug 1 – Dec 31, 2026 | Statewide | Skull check-in within 10 days |
| Spring turkey | Apr 15 – May 31, 2027 | Statewide | Youth also Apr 10-11, 2027 |
| Fall turkey — general | Sep 1, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027 | Western Oregon, WMUs 14-30 | From Dec 1, private land by permission only |
| Pheasant | Oct 10 – Dec 31, 2026 | Statewide | Roosters only |
| Mourning dove | Sep 1 – Oct 30, 2026 | Zone 2 | Zone 1: Sep 1-30 and Nov 15-Dec 14 |
| Ducks — regular season | Oct 17 – Nov 1, 2026 | Zone 1 | Second segment Nov 5, 2026-Jan 31, 2027 |
What you can hunt in Oregon
Big game
- Black-tailed deer General season Western Oregon general season
- Mule deer Draw or limited entry Eastern Oregon deer is entirely controlled
- White-tailed deer Draw or limited entry Eastern Oregon only
- Roosevelt elk General season Coast and Cascade general seasons
- Rocky Mountain elk General season
- Pronghorn Draw or limited entry All pronghorn is controlled
- California bighorn sheep Draw or limited entry Once in a lifetime
- Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep Draw or limited entry Once in a lifetime
- Rocky Mountain goat Draw or limited entry Once in a lifetime
- Black bear General season Spring bear is controlled
- Cougar General season Year-round tag
- Western gray squirrel General season
- Moose No season Population present, no season
- Feral swine No season Invasive; hunting is not permitted
Upland and small game
- Wild turkey General season
- Pheasant General season Roosters only
- Quail General season California and mountain
- Chukar and gray partridge General season
- Ruffed and blue grouse General season
- Sage-grouse Draw or limited entry Controlled hunt
- Rabbit and hare General season Unprotected
Waterfowl and migratory
- Ducks and geese General season Permit zones apply
- Brant Draw or limited entry Permit required
- Sea ducks Draw or limited entry Permit required
- Dove General season
- Band-tailed pigeon Draw or limited entry Permit required
Furbearer and predator
- Bobcat, fox, raccoon, marten General season
- Coyote and badger General season Unprotected, year round
What you can fish for in Oregon
Angling license; Combined Angling Tag and endorsements for some species
Fishing licenses sold: 1-day, 2-day, 3-day, 7-day, Annual
Trout and char
- Rainbow and redband trout General season
- Brown trout General season
- Brook trout General season
- Cutthroat trout General season
- Lake trout General season
- Bull trout Tag or permit Harvest only at Lake Billy Chinook; targeted angling on three rivers
Salmon and anadromous
- Chinook salmon Needs a stamp Combined Angling Tag; Columbia Basin Endorsement in that basin
- Coho salmon Needs a stamp Combined Angling Tag
- Sockeye salmon Needs a stamp
- Steelhead Needs a stamp Combined Angling Tag; extra validation on the Rogue-South Coast
- American shad General season
- Chum salmon No season Closed except designated catch and release
Warmwater
- Largemouth and smallmouth bass General season
- Walleye General season
- Yellow perch General season
- Crappie General season
- Bluegill and sunfish General season
- Catfish General season
- Tiger muskie General season
Saltwater and marine
- Rockfish and lingcod General season Ocean Endorsement required
- Pacific halibut Needs a stamp Combined Angling Tag; managed by port of landing
- Surfperch and flatfish General season Ocean Endorsement
- Albacore tuna General season
- Dungeness crab and razor clams General season Shellfish License
Other
- Mountain whitefish General season
- White sturgeon Tag or permit Retention only in limited areas; catch and release elsewhere
- Green sturgeon No season No retention
Official Oregon links
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Carry your Oregon license on your phone
Sportsmen Ledger holds your hunting and fishing licenses and tags, these rules and your harvest log, and it works with no signal. Free to start.
Compare with other states
- Hunter education requirements by state
- Minimum hunting age by state
- Blaze orange requirements by state
- Sunday hunting laws by state
- Legal shooting hours by state
- Baiting laws by state
- Night hunting laws by state
- Tagging and harvest reporting by state
- Hunting on private land, state by state
- Can you show your hunting or fishing license on your phone? Every state