Oregon’s 2025 Fall Hunting Season: What Hunters Need to Know
Oregon’s fall hunting season is shaping up with notable changes, including a significant update for waterfowl hunters: for the first time in nearly 30 years, hunters are allowed to keep three pintails daily. This regulatory adjustment reflects ongoing efforts to balance game population management with hunting opportunities.
With over 300,000 hunters in the state, many will soon head out for the opening of mule deer hunts on October 4, while others anticipate pursuing black-tailed deer, which are now more active as the forest floor quiets without the rustle of dry leaves.
Weather conditions will be favorable this season, marking a shift from previous years’ heat waves. Cooler temperatures, supported by recent rainfall, will benefit both hunters and wildlife. This moisture has permitted land managers from the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to lift campfire restrictions across many public lands, though hunters should always verify conditions locally, especially in areas on either side of the Cascades.
Disease Concerns Impacting Hunting and Wildlife Management
Despite positive weather and management developments, chronic wasting disease (CWD) remains a looming threat for Oregon’s big game populations. This fatal, degenerative neurological disease affects deer, elk, and moose, and though currently not detected in Oregon, it has been documented just across the state’s borders in California, Idaho, and Washington.
CWD’s incubation period, during which infected animals exhibit no symptoms, makes it particularly difficult to control. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is proactively working to keep Oregon free of this disease through rigorous testing programs.
- Hunters are required to submit samples from harvested game or report to check stations if harvesting animals near borders.
- Samples can be submitted at department offices, collection bins, participating meat processors, or taxidermists.
- Submitting samples enters hunters into a raffle for a Weatherby Vanguard 7mm rifle, promoting participation in surveillance efforts.
Strict regulations are in place for transporting game across state lines to prevent inadvertent spread of CWD, reflecting the seriousness of the disease’s ecological and economic impact.
Wildlife Disease and Hunter Safety: Avian Influenza Outlook
Waterfowl hunters should also be aware of avian influenza, which significantly affected Canada and cackling goose populations in 2026. Although the risk of humans contracting the virus is low, wearing latex gloves when processing birds is advised to minimize potential exposure.
Wildlife and Habitat Conditions This Season
Biologists report generally positive conditions for deer and elk following a milder winter, which can influence winter survival rates and subsequently animal abundance during fall hunts. This bodes well for sustainable harvests as animals are entering the season in better condition than in more severe years.
The recent precipitation has also improved water availability in key regions such as the Klamath Basin, which now has sufficient water after several dry years. However, some desert wetland areas like Warner Basin continue to face limited water resources, which may affect local wildlife distributions and hunter access.
Additional reporting and sources from: Oregon’s 2025 fall hunting season: What you need to know – oregonlive.com
