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

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

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.

Oregon Hunting License, Tags And Permits Fees

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

Turkey Hunting Seasons

Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons

Small Game Hunting Seasons

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!