Oregon New Bird Hunting and Fishing Regulations Set
OutdoorHub 08.05.13
The Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted bird hunting and fishing regulations today at its meeting in Eugene.
Bird hunting regulations adopted cover the period from Sept. 1, 2013-May 31, 2014. Key changes from last year’s regulations follow. Printed copies of the regulations will be available later in August.
Duck/other migratory birds:
- Canvasback bag limit increases to 2 (up from 1 last year)
- Possession limit for all migratory game birds increases to 3x the daily bag limit (up from 2X)
- Scaup season will revert to moderate limit of 3/day, 86-day season
September Canada goose:
- Klamath County reopens (closed to September goose since 2006)
- Bag limit back to 5/day in eastern Oregon (up from 3/day)
Regular goose seasons:
- Allow white goose hunting on Sauvie Island Wildlife Area (primarily snow geese), which will increase public land opportunity for geese in NW Oregon. (NW Goose permit needed.)
- Separate dark goose limits into individual limits for Canada geese and white-fronted geese
- Bag limit of 4 for Canada geese in most areas and 6 for white-fronted geese in most areas
- Different seasons for white-fronts and Canada geese in Malheur County
- Shorten split during Klamath County Canada goose season so it is identical to Lake and Harney counties
- Increase bag limit for white geese in Malheur County to 20/day (up from 10/day)
Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area:
- Require free self-service daily hunt permit
Non-resident licenses
The 3-Day Non-Resident Bird Hunting License will cover all game birds and include a Wildlife Area parking permit. (Non-resident must still purchase applicable tags, validations.) Previously, this license did not include a parking permit or cover mourning dove, band-tailed pigeon, turkey and snipe hunting.
Upland birds
Most upland game bird seasons are set under a five-year framework, so 2013-14 seasons are similar to last year except for standard date shifts. The only major changes from last year are:
- Closure of part of the Whitehorse Unit to sage-grouse hunting to protect birds using habitat impacted by last year’s fires.
- No minimum shot size for turkey, as new alloys provide effective shot in smaller sizes.
The Commission did approve dates for several special pheasant hunting clinics for youth and adults. Registration for these events is open now; see the ODFW Outdoors Calendar for information or sign up directly at ODFW’s license sales page. Note ODFW is offering a new Mentored Youth Pheasant Hunt on Sept. 15 at EE Wilson Wildlife Area near Corvallis.
The Commission also adopted 2014 Sport Fishing Regulations. After last year’s major public process to revise the regulations, most changes for 2014 are relatively minor and address issues related to conservation, housekeeping or expanded fishing opportunities.
Key changes will:
- Expand the Willamette River sturgeon sanctuary in Oregon City an additional 5 1/2 miles from the I-205 bridge to the Lake Oswego-Oak Grove bridge.
- Open the Willamette River above the Falls to sturgeon retention.
- Close the upper Sandy River above the confluence with the Salmon River to salmon and steelhead fishing from July 1 to Aug. 31. The closure is designed to protect wild spring chinook.
The Commission also reinstated the five-year review period for Oregon’s Black Bear and Cougar Management Plans, due to public request and the continued high level of interest in management of large predators.
