Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife release

Apply for a Premium Hunt

Premium Hunts offer a long season at the peak of the rut, no preference point advantage (great for new hunters) and an extra chance to hunt on top of your controlled or general season tag. Learn more about what's available and how to apply.

Great Backyard Bird Count – Feb. 18-21

Over these four days bird watchers are invited to spend time in their favorite places watching and counting as many birds as they can find and reporting them through the Great Backyard Bird Count. Your observations will be combined with others from across the world to help scientists learn more about global bird populations. Learn more about participating in this event.

Best bets for weekend fishing

• There are winter steelhead around, with fish dispersed throughout most river systems. However, with recent dry, warm weather, steelhead anglers will want to switch up techniques for the low, clear conditions. Be stealthy and switch to smaller, lighter presentations
• The warmer weather might also be inspiring bass to bite in warmwater fisheries such as Henry Hagg Lake, Lake Selmac and Emigrant Reservoir.
• On the upper Rogue, anglers are catching some nice winter steelhead between Shady Grove and Dodge Bridge.
• Ice fishing as been good in several locations. Check the zone reports for the best ice fishing opportunities in the SW, NE and SE zones.
• White sturgeon retention is open in The Dalles and John Day pools on the Columbia River.
• When ocean conditions permit, anglers have landing nice catches of bottomfish and lingcod.

Waterfowl hunt for veterans, active military – this weekend

The statewide Veterans and Active Military Personnel Waterfowl hunt is Feb. 5. This is a chance for these hunters to have the fields and ponds to themselves for duck and goose hunting. Learn more on page 25 of the Oregon Game Bird Regulations.

Apply for your spring bear tag

If you plan to hunt spring bear this year, you have until Feb. 10 to apply for your tag.