2025 Quick Guide: Oregon Hunting Season Dates&Rules

Get ready, hunters! We are eagerly anticipating the new Oregon Deer Season and will provide you with dates, rules, and license information.

Oregon’s diverse game species, beautiful landscapes, and over 34 million acres of vast hunting areas make for unforgettable experiences. So, gear up, put on your Kalkal hunting boots, and let’s start on a thrilling journey through deer hunting in Oregon.

When Does Oregon Deer Season Start?

From August to October, hunters are most active in the woods for big game hunting. And, it is the best time to hunt deer in the state. Let’s first check the popular deer seasons as follows:

Deer Season Schedules

Season	Date	Limit	Zone
Western Oregon – Any Legal Weapon	Oct. 4 – Nov. 7, 2025	One buck with visible antler	Units 10 – 30
Western – General Archery	Aug. 30 – Sept. 28, 2025	One buck with visible antler	Units 11, 12, 14, 22, 24, 27, and 28
	Aug. 30 – Sept. 28 & Nov. 15 – Dec. 7, 2025	One buck with visible antler	Units 25, 29, and 30
		One deer	Unit 23
	Aug. 30 – Sept. 28, 2025 Nov. 15 – Dec. 7, 2025 (Any legal archery weapon)	One buck with visible antler	Unit 26
	Nov. 16 – Dec. 8, 2025 (Traditional archery only)
	Aug. 30 – Sept. 28, 2025 Nov. 22 – Dec. 14, 2025	One buck with visible antler	Units 10, 17, 18, 20
		One deer	Units 15, 16, 19 and the northern portion of unit 21

Deer Hunting Regulations

1. Hunting hours: Deer may only be hunted from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.
2. It is illegal to hunt or bother wildlife from a motorized vehicle or use drones for hunting or trapping
3. Individuals under 18 must wear visible orange while hunting certain game animals.
4. Hunters must leave evidence to prove deer sex in the field after harvesting.
5. Selling, borrowing, or lending big game tags is prohibited.
6. Hunting deer with dogs, using artificial light, and hunting on private property without permission is not allowed.
7. Centerfire rifles during deer and elk seasons, bows with less than 40 pounds of draw weight, and scopes are not allowed.
8. Specific weapon restrictions include a minimum .22 caliber for rifles; .40 caliber Round ball or legal bullet for Muzzleloader; and #1 or larger buckshot or slugs for shotguns.
9. Hunting with a centerfire rifle without a valid deer or elk tag is illegal in certain areas and times.
10. Reporting deer and elk through ELS is mandatory, or there will be a penalty of $25 for not doing so.

When Does Oregon Elk Season Start?

Western  Areas Elk Seasons

• West Cascade Any Legal Weapon: Nov. 8 – 14, 2025
• Coast Bull Elk Any Legal Weapon: Nov. 15 – Nov. 18 and Nov. 22 – Nov. 28, 2025
• General Archery: Aug. 30 – Sept. 28, 2025

Eastern Areas Elk Seasons

• Rocky Mountain Any Legal Weapon: Nov. 8 – Nov. 16, 2025
• General Archery: Aug. 30 – Sept. 28, 2025

Hunting Limits and Zones

Seasons	Limits	Zones
Rocky Mountain Any Legal Weapon	One spike elk	Units 49, 50, 52, 53, 61, 62, 63, unit 48 north, west of N Fork John Day Rvr, Unit 51 north of Hwy 245, and Burnt Rvr Canyon Rd between Unity and Durkee
Coast Bull Elk Any Legal Weapon	One bull elk	Units 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 23, and 28
	One spike elk	Units 12, 14, and 20
Western/Eastern Archery	One either-sex elk	Units 15, 20, 23, 25, and 28
	One bull elk	Units 11, 12, 14, 17, 18, and 27
	One bull elk with 3 points or more	Units 10 and 24
	One spike only elk	Unit 26
West Cascade Any Legal Weapon	One bull elk	Units 16, 19, 21, 22, 29, and 30

General Season Antlerless Elk Damage Hunts

This hunt was created because there are too many elk causing problems on private farms. With the special tag, hunters can hunt elk in certain areas to help reduce the number of elk that damage crops on farms.

Dates	Zones	Limits	Tags
Aug. 1 – Mar. 31, 2026	All of Units 15, 23, 40, 43 and 44 and portions of units marked in orange	One antlerless elk	Antlerless Elk Damage Tag
Aug. 1 – Nov. 30, 2025	Portions of Units shown marked in yellow	One antlerless elk	Antlerless Elk Damage Tag

Oregon Hunting License, Tags And Permits Fees

License	Resident Cost	Non-Resident Cost
Hunting	$34.50	$172.00
Senior Hunting(age 70 and 5 years Oregon residency)	$22.00	/
Combination License – Angling and Hunting	$73.00	/
Sports Pac	$196.50	/
Pioneer Combination – Hunting, Angling, and Columbia Rvr Basin Endorsement (age 65 and 50 years Oregon residency)	$6.00	/
Combination License (12-17 years old)	$10.00	$10.00
Youth Sports Pac	$55.00	/
Uniformed Services Hunting	$17.00	$34.50
Disabled Veteran Combination	Free	/

Big Game Tag	Resident Cost	Non-Resident Cost
Black Bear	$16.50	$16.50
Additional Bear	$16.50	$16.50
Cougar	$16.50	$16.50
Additional Cougar	$16.50	$16.50
Deer	$28.50	$443.50
Elk	$49.50	$588.00
Bighorn Sheep	$142.00	$1,513.50
Pronghorn Antelope	$51.50	$395.50
Rocky Mountain Goat	$142.00	$1,513.50

Permit	Resident Cost	Non-Resident Cost
Duplicate Tag	$2.00
Wildlife Area Parking Permit – Daily	$10.00
Wildlife Area Parking Permit – Annual	$30.00
Controlled Hunt Application – Big Game	$8.00
Waterway Access Permit	$7.00 weekly/7 day $19.00 annual $32.00 two-year
Oregon Disabilities Hunting and Fishing Permit	Free

How To Buy Licenses, Tags Or Permits?

There are three options for purchasing a license, tags, or applying for a controlled hunt in Oregon:

1. Purchase online at the official site: Oregon Department of Fish&Wildlife and opt for electronic documents; bring them on your mobile device.
2. Purchase online and choose paper documents, and print them at home.
3. Purchase from a licensed sales agent or ODFW office that sells licenses; they can print your documents on standard paper or help you with electronic documents.

What Is a Controlled Hunt In Oregon?

In Oregon, a controlled hunt is a limited hunting opportunity where hunters must apply in advance through a drawing system, with some tags given based on preference points and the rest distributed randomly among applicants.

Many types of hunting in the state, including deer, elk, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, Spring Bear, and Rocky Mountain goat, fall under these limited entry regulations.

Each controlled hunt application is given a unique seven-digit random number. A seed number is drawn for each hunt series to determine successful tag applicants.

In big game hunts like deer, elk, pronghorn, and spring bear, 75% of tags go to first-choice applicants with preference points, while the rest are randomly awarded to the rest of the first and second choices.

If your first-choice hunt is not drawn each year, you earn a preference point to boost your chances for the next year. Successfully drawing your first choice hunt resets your preference points to zero.

These points are linked to your ODFW ID# and remain until you draw your first choice hunt in a series. To keep accumulating points and improve your odds, apply for a point saver if you are unable to hunt or opt for a general season.

How To Apply For a Controlled Hunt?

To apply, you must first purchase an annual hunting license. The application deadline is on May 15, and the draw result is available to check on June 12.

Step 1: Log in to your account HERE, and select “Controlled hunts”;

Step 2: Choose your hunt series and add them to cart;

Step 3: Complete each application in the pop-up window and then proceed to the checkout

Step 4: Confirm all your applications are correct and Pay Now for them.

Oregon Hunting Seasons For Other Games

In case you want to hunt more game animals in Oregon, we also listed the hunting seasons for other big game, small game and waterfowl for your reference.

Upland Birds Hunting Seasons

Species	Season Dates	Limits
Ruffed and blue grouse	Sept. 1 – Jan. 31, 2026	Daily bag limit: 3 Possession limit: 9
Chukar and Hungarian (gray) partridge	Oct. 11 – Jan. 31, 2026	Daily bag limit: 8 Possession limit: 24
Rooster pheasant	Oct. 11 – Dec. 31, 2025	Daily bag limit: 2 Possession limit: 8
Rooster Pheasant	Oct. 11 – Dec. 31, 2025	Daily bag limit: 2 Possession limit: 8
Quail (California and mountain)	Sept. 1 – Jan. 31, 2026 (Western Oregon) Oct. 11 – Jan. 31, 2026 (Eastern Oregon)	Daily bag limit: 10 Possession limit: 30

Turkey Hunting Seasons

Seasons	Zones	Dates	Limits
General	WMUs 36, 37, 38, 40, 43-44, 45, 49, 51-64, 65, 66, 67, 69, 71, and 72	Oct. 11 – Nov. 30, 2025	Daily bag limit: 1
		Dec. 1 – Jan. 31, 2026	Possession limit: 1
	WMUs 37, 45, 46, 47, 48, 50, and 65	Sept. 1 – Nov. 30, 2025	Daily bag limit: 1
		Dec. 1 – Jan. 31, 2026	Possession limit: 1
	Western Oregon, WMUs 14-30	Sept. 1 – Jan. 31, 2026	Daily bag limit: 2
			Possession limit: 2
General Spring Turkey Season	Statewide	Apr. 15 – May 31, 2026	Daily bag limit: 1 male turkey
			Possession limit: 3
Spring Youth Turkey Hunt	Statewide	Apr. 11 – 12 and April 15 – May 31, 2026	Daily bag limit: 1 male turkey
			Possession limit: 1
Beardless Wild Turkey Permit Season	Private landsb within WMUs 37, 45, 46, 47, 48, 50, and 65	Oct. 1 – Feb. 28, 2026	Daily bag limit: 3 hen turkeys /or wild turkeys without a visible beard
			Possession limit: 9

Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons

Seasons	Zones	Dates	Limits
Duck(including merganser)	Zone 1	Oct. 11 – Oct. 26, 2025 Oct. 30 – Jan. 25, 2026	Daily bag limit: 7 Possession limit: 21
	Zone 1 Scaup	Nov. 1 – Jan. 25, 2026
	Zone 2	Oct. 11 – Nov. 30, 2025 Dec. 4 – Jan. 25, 2026
	Zone 2 Scaup	Oct. 11 – Nov. 30, 2025 Dec. 4 – Jan. 7, 2026
Coot	Statewide	Same with duck seasons	Daily bag limit: 25 Possession limit: 75
Youth Waterfowl Hunts		Sept. 27 – 28, 2025	Same as general for each specie
Veterans and Active Military Personnel Waterfowl Hunt		Jan. 31, 2026	Same as general for each specie
Mourning dove	Zone 1	Sept. 1 – Sept. 30 & Nov. 15 – Dec. 14, 2025	Daily bag limit: 15 Possession limit: 45
	Zone 2	Sept. 1 – Oct. 30, 2025
Band-tailed pigeona	Statewide	Sept. 15 – Sept. 23, 2025	Daily bag limit: 2 Possession limit: 6
Wilson’s snipe	Zone 1	Nov. 1 – Feb. 15, 2026	Daily bag limit: 8 Possession limit: 24
	Zone 2	Oct. 11 – Jan. 25, 2026
Brant	Statewide	Nov. 29 – Dec. 14, 2025	Daily bag limit: 2 Possession limit: 6
Crow	Statewide	Oct. 1 – Jan. 31, 2026	No Limit

Seasons	Zones	Dates	Daily Limits	Total Limits
September Canada Goose	Northwest Permit Zone	Sept. 6 – Sept. 20, 2025	5	15
	Southwest Zone	Sept. 6 – Sept. 10, 2025
	High Desert and Blue Mtn Zone	Sept. 6 – Sept. 10, 2025
	Mid-Columbia Zone	Sept. 6 – Sept. 10, 2025
Regular Canada Goose	Northwest Permit Zone	Oct. 18 – Oct. 26 & Nov. 22 – Jan. 9, 2026 & Jan. 31 – Feb. 15, 2026	2	6
	Southwest Zone	Oct. 11 – Oct. 26 & Nov. 4 – Jan. 25, 2026	4	12
	South Coast Zone	Oct. 4 – Dec. 7 & Dec. 20 – Jan. 9, 2026 & Feb. 21 – Mar. 10, 2026	6	18
	High Desert and Blue Mtn Zone	Oct. 11 – Nov. 30 & Dec. 9 – Jan. 25, 2026	4	12
	Mid-Columbia Zone	Oct. 11 – Oct. 26 & Nov. 4 – Jan. 25, 2026	4	12
Regular White-fronted and White Goose	Northwest Permit Zoneb	Oct. 18 – Oct. 26 & Nov. 8 – Jan. 25, 2026 & Jan. 31 – Feb. 15, 2026	10d White-fronted & 20 White	30 White-fronted & 60 White
	Southwest Zone	Oct. 11 – Oct. 26 & Nov. 4 – Jan. 25, 2026
	South Coast Zone	Oct. 4 – Dec. 7 & Dec. 20 – Jan. 9, 2026 & Feb. 21 – Mar. 10, 2026
	High Desert and Blue Mtn Zone	Oct. 11 – Nov. 30 & Jan. 16 – Mar. 10, 2026c
	Mid-Columbia Zone	Oct. 11 – Oct. 26 & Nov. 4 – Jan. 8, 2026 & Jan. 31 – Feb. 22, 2026

Small Game Hunting Seasons

Species	Dates	Bag Limit	Possession Limit	Open Area
Western Gray Squirrel	Sept. 15 – Oct. 31, 2025	3 daily	6 in possession	Units 34, 35, 39, 41, and 42
	Sept. 1 – Nov. 15, 2025	5 daily	15 in possession	Units 10-33, 36-38, 40, 43-77
Coyote, ground squirrel, brush rabbits, black-tailed jackrabbits, snowshoe hares and feral pigs	Year-round	No Limit	No Limit	Statewide Public Lands

Conclusion

As the Oregon Deer Season will start in a few months, we hope this guide has led you to make the most of your hunting trips in the state.

Oregon’s deer season offers a wonderful opportunity to explore the wilderness, test your skills, and create lasting memories. So, mark your calendar with our guide, obtain your licenses, and follow the regulations to hunt ethically for a trophy hunt!