Highlights from this week’s Recreation Report:

#OptOutside on black Friday

#OptOutside on black Friday, Nov. 24, with the help of FREE FISHING. On Friday and Saturday (Nov.25) you won’t need a license, tag or endorsement to fish, crab or clam anywhere in Oregon that’s open to fishing. Check the weekly Recreation Report, and follow us on social media to learn more about upcoming opportunities.

Best bets for free fishing Nov. 24 and 25

Several waterbodies are being stocked with trout in time for the holiday weekend; early returning winter steelhead are making their presence known. Check this week’s reports to find the best opportunities near you.

Cold, wet forecasts brighten duck hunting prospects

Several wildlife areas report good habitat conditions with plenty of water, and increasing numbers of migrant birds arriving. Add a little blustery weather and hunters have a good recipe for duck hunting success. Check out the waterfowl and upland bird harvest statistics at ODFW wildlife areas.

There’s still time to take a friend hunting

Hunters have until the end of the year to enter the “Take a Friend Hunting” contest. For veteran hunters who want to pass on their passion for the outdoors, this is the year to take that friend hunting—and enter to win a prize for your efforts. Find more details about how to participate.

Thanksgiving steelhead

Thanksgiving marks the traditional beginning of winter steelhead season on the coast, but some early returning hatchery fish already have been caught. With fishing conditions improving in many places by the weekend, anglers should add fishing to their holiday plans.

Find regulation updates in the Recreation Report

You’ll now find fishing regulation updates on the new website at the top of each Fishing Report in the Recreation Report.

South Central Oregon Big Game Report

Mandatory reporting deadline for hunts that end Dec. 31, 2017 is Jan. 31, 2018. There are several ways to report, including online.

OPEN: COUGAR, BEAR, ELK

Hunting forecasts now available

Biologists from around the state weigh in on what to expect this fall. See the Big Game and Bird Huntingforecasts online. Use the Oregon Hunting Map to see where to hunt.

Wolves and coyotes can look alike

Most wolves in the state today are in northeast Oregon but a few have dispersed further west and south. Wolves are protected by state and/or federal law and it is unlawful to shoot them. Coyote hunters need to take extra care to identify their target as wolves can look like coyotes, especially wolf pups in the mid-summer and fall. Please report any wolf sightings or wolf sign to ODFW using the online reporting system.

Test your identification skills with ODFW’s new Coyote and Gray Wolf ID Quiz.

KLAMATH COUNTY

Cougar: Hunting is open. Populations are healthy and distributed throughout the district in any area with a big game prey base. Use of predator calls is a great hunting technique during the summer period. Don’t forget successful hunters must check-in cougars no more than 10 days after harvest; please bring cougar in thawed and with mouth propped open so that field staff can quickly process the animal and get you on your way. Remember a 2017 cougar tag and hunting license is needed to hunt.

Coyote hunting opportunities are improving. Be aware that bobcats and cougars may respond to predator calls, and separate licensing and open season limitations exist for these species. Please consult the annual Big Game hunting regulations for further information.

Test your identification skills with ODFW’s new Coyote and Gray Wolf ID Quiz.

Bear: General Fall Bear Season continues. Best bear prospects are in the Cascades or in the Interstate Unit. Hunters are reminded to check-in harvested bears at an ODFW office within 10 days of harvest. Please bring in skull thawed with mouth propped open. Be sure to call ahead to schedule an appointment.

LAKE COUNTY

The North Lake cow elk continues until March 31, 2018 and youth antlerless elk hunts continue until Dec. 31 2017. Hunters should note that the Cabin Lake/Silver Lake winter range road closure will start Dec. 1 and will effect portions of the North Lake cow elk and the Silver Lake and E. Fort Rock Paulina youth antlerless elk hunts. Motor vehicles are not allowed on closed roads within the closure Dec. 1 – March 31. A copy of the map can be found here.

Fall bear season continues through Nov. 30. Bear populations in Lake County are generally low, though populations in the Silver Lake and eastern portion of the Interstate WMUs have been increasing over the last several years. While no formal surveys are done for bear in this area, bear populations across the District appear to be stable or slightly increasing.

Hunters are reminded that hunter harvested bear MUST be checked in at an ODFW field office within 10 days of harvest; please bring bear in thawed and with mouth propped open for easier tissue and tooth collection.

Cougar populations are healthy throughout the District. Predator calls can be an effective cougar hunting lure at this time of year, though bears and other predators may also be particularly interested and hunters should be prepared for predators other than cougar to respond.

All cougars harvested must be checked into an ODFW office, by appointment, within 10 days of harvest. Please prop mouth open at time of harvest and either wait to freeze or thaw the skull before your appointment.

Coyote populations are good and hunting is available throughout the district. Be aware that bobcats and cougars may respond to predator calls, and separate licensing and season limitations exist for these species. Coyote hunters need to take extra care to identify their target as wolves can look like coyotes, especially wolf pups in the mid-summer and fall. Test your identification skills with ODFW’s new Coyote and Gray Wolf ID Quiz.

Please report any wolf sightings or wolf sign to ODFW using the online reporting system.

News

ODFW Recreation Report - November 22