Archery season opened Aug. 30; Forest grouse seasons and Western Oregon quail seasons kicked off statewide Sept. 1; Fall turkey opened in some places on Sept. 1.

Find the 2025 Big Game Hunting Forecast here.

Scroll down for updates on hunting and wildlife viewing.

Best bets for weekend fishing:

• Fishing continues at Buoy 10 with Chinook retention ending Sept. 6. You don't need a boat to access this premiere salmon fishery, there are miles of shoreline at Fort Stevens State Park where you can cast spinners (see YouTube video) See regulations for Buoy 10 and further up the mainstem on the Reg Updates page.

  • In the Willamette zone, the Willamette River and other water bodies are increasing in activity. Alton Baker Canal will be stocked each week through Sept. 22 with 1,000 hatchery rainbow trout!

  • Wild coho seasons adopted for coastal rivers, see the in-season updates page. The 2025 forecasted ocean abundance of Oregon coast natural coho is 289,000 fish, up from about 233,000 last year and the largest forecast since 2012. Seasons are similar to last year, with additional fishing days in some rivers and an across-the-board season bag limit of 3 fish in rivers that are open due to the strong forecast. Wild fall Chinook regulations are also posted.

  • Fall Chinook are in Nehalem Bay and anglers are catching them. Early returning fish have moved up into the head of tide and fresh fish are still coming in. The wild adult Chinook bag limit is 1/day and 2/season as part of the daily bag limit on the Nehalem. See the regulation updates online for more details.
     
  • The salmon bag limit in the Coos Basin increased on Aug. 19 from two to three fish in aggregate, one of which must be a hatchery salmon. More info.
     

  • On the North Coast, Tillamook Bay, the Nestucca estuary (Pacific City), Trask River, Nestucca River, and the lower Columbia tributaries (Big Cr., Gnat Cr., and Klaskanine R.) will provide the best opportunities for fall salmon.

  • Check the trout stocking schedule and maps for locations near you and invite some friends!

  • Fish on! Summer steelhead runs are on in the Nestucca and Wilson Rivers.

  • August and September are good months for the Metolius. Bull Trout have entered the river to spawn and anglers report aggressive takes on streamers.

  • Anglers continue to report excellent kokanee and trout fishing at East, Paulina, and Odell lakes. Kokanee are beginning to darken in preparation for spawning, but quality fish can be caught into early September.

  • Devils Lake was recently stocked with rainbow trout providing a great opportunity for paddleboard, kayak, or float tube fishing.

  • Mid Coast beaches offer a great opportunity for surfperch. Register for a Beginner surfperch workshop here!

  • When fishing for trout in warmer weather: Fish early morning and late evening, target higher elevation lakes that stay cooler to increase the odds of success. Cascade hike-in lakes offer beauty, serenity and the potential for untrammeled fishing opportunities.

  • The North Jetty of Tillamook Bay (accessible through Barview County Park) provides some good angling opportunities for rockfish and kelp greenling this time of year.

  • Howard and Hyatt Lakes offer good fishing for largemouth bass right now.
  • Fishing for Brook Trout in the Upper Sycan, Upper NF Sprague, Upper SF Sprague, Long Creek, Sevenmile and Upper Williamson will be exceptional.
  • Fourmile Lake is your best bet for stocked rainbow trout in the Klamath Basin.
  • Flyfishing the NF Sprague River with large stonefly patterns should be excellent

  • Razor clam digging is still open along the central and south Oregon coast. Razor clam digging is still open along the central and south Oregon coast. Crabbing remains open along the Oregon coast.

  • It's a great time of year to fish for warmwater species. See our guide.

  • These examples are for demonstration purposes only. Refer to the zone reports for more details and possibilities.

 Know before you go:

E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area shotgun range closed for renovations through October

The shotgun range at E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area near Corvallis is closed for renovations. Improvements on the range will include expanding the shooting bays and implementing ADA compliant access to the site. ODFW expects work to be completed by October 31. Updates will be posted on the E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area Visitors Guide webpage. The archery park and other facilities on the wildlife area will remain open.

Hunting updates:

• Archery season opened on Saturday Aug. 30. Remember to check for fire closures before you go, see link to Hunting and Fire Danger page for helpful links, Hunting access and fire danger.
• CWD testing: Hunters are critical to the effort to detect Chronic Wasting Disease, a serious wildlife disease that has never been detected in Oregon but is found in most surrounding states. Successful hunters, please get your deer or elk tested for CWD, and be in the draw for prizes! See how here CWD information and check stations .
• Forest grouse seasons kicked off statewide Sept. 1, as well as quail seasons in Western Oregon and some fall turkey seasons. Hunters, please turn in mtn quail and forest grouse wings, find a map of collection barrels by following this link: Turning in grouse and mountain quail wings and tails.
• Fall turkey season started on Sept. 1 for WMUs 14-30. Find more information on Fall turkey seasons, techniques and limits in the Oregon Game Bird regulations.

Hunter Education:

Look no further: hunter safety courses and field days

Choose between a conventional in-person course or complete one of the online education courses plus an in-person field day. Sign up for a location, date and time that works best with your schedule.

Hunter safety education events are offered year-round and taught by certified volunteer instructors statewide. Hunting seasons are coming up fast - plan ahead to secure your seat now!

Youth Upland Game Bird Hunts - Registration is open for Youth Pheasant Hunts happening in a number of locations in September. These events give young hunters an opportunity to hunt in a controlled setting with a focus on safety and success. Some hunts require advanced registration via ODFW's licensing system. Youth Chukar Hunt! More opportunities for youth.

Adult Hunter Recruitment Program workshops and events.

These hands-on ODFW workshops will teach you the skills to improve your hunting performance and build your confidence in the field. ODFW offers a variety of classes and workshops statewide, throughout the year. Workshops are designed for adults – ages 18 and older. Register for an event.Duck, duck, Goose! Sign up for one of the waterfowl workshops available now, Register for an event.

Resources:

Wildfire season

Know before you go: Hunters need to check for fire-related closures before they head out, some helpful information here.

Check for closures on private forest lands through the Oregon Forest Industry Council link here.

State and Federal laws require travelers to carry specific equipment while traveling in forests, prairies and other wild lands during wildfire season. Check BLM closures, rules and requirements here.

Toxic algae blooms

Reports of algae blooms that are toxic to people and pets have started. Check the Oregon Health Authority website for updated information.

View the report