ODFW Recreation Report
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Photo by Byron Johnson
Highlights from this week’s Recreation Report:
Deer and elk hunting
General Rocky Mountain elk 2nd season opens Nov. 4-12. Conditions for big game hunting have improved with the rain. See reports below or the Big Game Hunting Forecast for what to expect.
Zone 1 duck season
Reopens Nov. 1 and continues through Jan. 28, 2018. Check out the waterfowl and upland bird harvest statistics at ODFW wildlife areas.
Western fall turkey
Western general season turkey is open through Dec. 31. Up to 4,000 tags will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Have you got yours yet?
Fall trout fishing continues
While many west side rivers and streams closed to trout on Oct. 31 in order to protect migrating smolts, many more water bodies remain open to fishing. These include most ponds, lakes, reservoirs and rivers/streams east of the Cascades. Just because sunburn is now off the table is no reason to put the trout gear away!
Klamath County Big Game Report
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 Big Game Report
Hunting and fire danger in Oregon
The 2017 fire season officially ended Friday, Oct. 20. However, fire managers would like to remind the public that just because fire season has been terminated, fire starts and spread may still occur under the right conditions. Please continue to use fire safe practices all year-round.
Fall bear season continues. 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.
Summer Lake Wildlife Area
Updated Oct. 17, 2017
All big game hunting seasons are now closed.
Game bird hunting season is underway.