Oregon DFW Recreation Report

Hunting, Fishing, Wildlife Viewing

December 13, 2011

Five Wildlife Areas to require parking permits on Jan. 1, 2012
As of Jan. 1, 2012, wildlife viewers and anglers will need a parking permit at five ODFW Wildlife Areas. A daily permit is $7 an annual permit is $22. Permits can be purchased online or at an ODFW office that sells licenses or at a license sales agent.

• Denman Wildlife Area, Central Point
• E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area, Monmouth
• Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area, La Grande
• Summer Lake Wildlife Area, Summer Lake
• Sauvie Island Wildlife Area, Sauvie Island

More information
Hunter education registration is online now
Students can register online or at a license sales agent. New customers need to choose “New customer” under the Hunter/Angler ID# tab. List of classes and field days are here
Cougar hunting may close in Zone A (Coast/North Cascades)
Cougar take in Zone A is nearing the quota of 120 and the hunting season could be closed before the end of the year along the entire coast and in the North Cascades. Cougar hunters, keep an eye on ODFW’s website for a closure.See a map of the zones
Start planning next year’s hunting or fishing trip
2012 Sport Fishing and Big Game Regs are online and at license sales agents. Find them here.
Oregonopenfields.com offers new hunting opportunities
Bird hunting opportunities on private land in the Columbia Basin and Willamette Valley through this program, see the website or http://www.oregonhuntingmap.com/
Great bird hunting in the Columbia Basin
Use ODFW’s new Columbia Basin Bird Hunting Guide to find out how to access the area’s 250K acres open to hunting.
Go crabbing
Crabbing has been excellent in many of Oregon’s bays and estuaries and crabbing in the ocean opens Dec. 15. Check the Marine and Southwest Zone reports for the latest updates.
Elk viewing is excellent at Jewell Meadows Wildlife Area
Elk have been visible throughout the day on the Fishhawk Tract at Jewell Meadows. Best viewing times are from 9 a.m. to about noon each day. Learn more on the ODFW website and in the Northwest Zone Viewing section.