Wild spring Chinook harvest restrictions on Umpqua

Wild spring Chinook harvest will be closed on mainstem Umpqua, bag limit reduced on North Umpqua.

Winter steelhead restrictions on Illinois, Rogue rivers

Beginning Dec. 1, temporary wild winter steelhead harvest restrictions will be in affect on Illinois, Rogue rivers.

Razor clamming closed Cascade Head to CA border

Razor clam harvesting is now closed from Cascade Head to the California border the Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today.

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Silver Creek Falls

Recreation Report

May 1, 2025

ACCESS A REPORT

Includes updates to fishing, crabbing and clamming

 

Migrating birds offer a chance to see and hear wildlife.

Visit wildlife areas near you for a chance to listen and watch as a variety of songbirds, swans, cranes, geese, and other winged wildlife fly over or stop over to raise the next generation. Or take your binoculars with you on a weekend road trip to a part of the state you don't usually visit. The Burns area and parts of Harney County remain flooded so check before you go for lodging availability.

Spring hunting forecasts

Bear hunting opened on April 1; turkey opened on April 15

The 2025 spring black bear and wild turkey hunting forecasts are now online. See what our local wildlife biologists are saying about the upcoming seasons.

Hunter education workshops start soon!

Events are updated weekly, so check back for a date and location that works with your schedule. Register for a class. Please log in to VEM system if you need to withdraw or reschedule. VEM will automatically submit a refund, if more than 7 days prior to event start date, and open a seat for another student.

Mule deer hunts cancelled in Hart Mtn

 Due to wildfire impacts, ODFW has cancelled the Hart Mtn bow hunts 170R1, 170R2 and muzzleloader hunt 170M. Hunters will not be able to apply for or draw a tag to hunt mule deer for those hunts during the fall 2025 season.

Tags reduced in Murderers Creek

ODFW reduced tags for Murderers Creek mule deer hunts 146 (ALW) and 146R1 (archery), by 20 percent following drought and wildlife in 2024 that has impacted habitat in the unit on a large scale. Researchers note a decrease in mule deer survival.

Hunters can visit https://myodfw.com/articles/how-apply-controlled-hunt for instructions at the bottom of the page on how to edit their controlled hunt applications. The deadline to edit applications is May 25, 2025.

Phillip W. Schneider Wildlife Area is now open

Access trails, wildlife viewing, hunting and other opportunities.

Visiting hours: Open May 1 – January 31

Camping is permitted May 1 – Jan. 31, campers may not exceed 14 days per stay. Motor vehicle access is allowed only on open roads, or up to 300 feet off open roads for the purpose of camping. Passenger vehicles are cautioned on seasonal roads.

Let baby wildlife stay wild

Young animals are rarely orphaned, so leave them where you find them. Chances are, mom is nearby watching and waiting for you to go away before she rejoins her young. Learn more.

Enjoy shed hunting responsibly

Late winter/early spring is a popular time for deer and elk shed hunting. It's also a critical time for big game animals still recovering from winter. Follow these rules and guidelines to help protect these animals.

We'll stock millions of trout this year

And some will be for you! Each year, ODFW stocks millions of trout in the state's ponds, lakes and reservoirs for anglers to catch and keep. Check the trout stocking schedule and maps for locations near you.

Best bets for weekend fishing

  • Go to the beach to harvest bay clams or mussels. Cast a line into the surf for perch, or launch a trap off the dock to haul in Oregon Dungeness Crab.
  • The first Spring Chinook have been caught in the upper Rogue River. Be sure to check the regulations before heading out for Spring Chinook to make sure your favorite spot is opened for the season.
  • On May 22 fishing will open again for trout. The closure happens every year, to allow native steelhead spawning and out-migrating smolts to navigate the rivers.
  • Late season snow and ice has mostly cleared, but check before you go if your favorite fishing spot tends to get late season snow. You can always call a local biologist to find out if you can access your favorite fishing hole.
  • There's also plenty of open water on Howard Prairie, Hyatt Lake and Fish Lake, where early spring fishing for holdover trout can be good.
  • Haystack Reservoir continues to yield trophy-sized and brood trout in the 16-17-inch range!
  • Boats can now launch on Wallowa Lake – good news for trout and kokanee anglers.
  • Redband trout fishing from bank and boat is fair on Upper Klamath and Agency lakes.
  • Anglers are catching spring Chinook on the Columbia, Willamette and Lower Rogue rivers.
  • Anglers report excellent spring kokanee fishing at Lake Billy Chinook, Odell Lake, and Wickiup Reservoir. Fish at Lake Billy Chinook and Odell Lake are averaging 13 inches; while 14–17-inch fish can be found at Wickiup.Tips for catching more kokanee
  • These examples are for demonstration purposes only. Refer to the zone reports for more details and possibilities.