The Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife’s 2016 big game and bird hunting forecasts are now available online. These forecasts are based on reports from ODFW wildlife biologists around the state and can help hunters know what to expect this fall.
The big game hunting forecast is available here.
The bird hunting forecast is available here.
Overall, big game population numbers are mostly stable in Oregon. Conditions for big game and hunters are looking much better than they were a year ago, when all of Oregon was in severe drought and 50 percent in the even worse category of “extreme drought.” Wildlife biologists are now crossing their fingers for more rains in September. These early fall rains green up forage and help big game put on weight, so animals head into breeding season in good body condition and fit to reproduce.
This year could be a good one for upland bird hunting with counts at their highest in 10 years for chukar. North American duck populations are also looking good and still nearly 40 percent above their long-term average. Oregon just needs weather and habitat conditions to cooperate for another good waterfowl season.
