The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted 2025 Big Game Hunting Regulations on Friday at its meeting in The Dalles.
The commission first heard staff testimony regarding the population status of Oregon’s game mammals, most of which are stable to increasing. No major changes were proposed or made to 2025 big game regulations beyond season date changes reflecting calendar date shifts and minor changes to tag numbers. Beginning in 2025, it will be more convenient to visit Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife areas as visitors will be able to display their ODFW ID number in the window of their vehicle as proof of permit, rather than needing to print the permit.
Much of the public comment and testimony about the regulations focused on spring bear hunting, with thousands of emailed comments received and about 30 people testifying for and against. The commission did not make any major changes to spring bear hunt structure, approving the staff proposal for a small increase in tags (2 percent) and a new bear hunt for youth hunters. Oregon’s current bear population is estimated to be approximately 44,000 bears of all age classes.
The commission also took the following actions on Friday:
Commercial Dungeness Crab Regulations: Adopted line color and marking requirements to help identify gear involved in marine life entanglements, which are part of ODFW and the industry’s progress toward developing a Conservation Plan and Incidental Take Permit application to address marine life entanglements. The Commission adopted staff recommendations but modified the proposed rules to delay the line marking requirements for surface gear by one year (until Dec. 1, 2026). The rules adopted today also revised the Tri-State pre-season testing protocol and modified rules related to the removal of derelict crab pots by contracted vessels and electronic monitoring requirements for crab vessels to transit closed areas.
Access & Habitat Project Funding: Approved funding to open private land to hunting by renewing several access areas and increasing acreage in the Jackson Travel Management Area.
The commission delegated authority to ODFW’s director to issue proposed orders authorized under Oregon’s fish passage laws that are codified in ORS 509.585 through ORS 509.910.
Finally, the commission heard an update on progress implementing the 3-Year Action Plan for Beaver Modified Landscapes, complimenting ODFW staff on progress to date. The Plan seeks to accelerate the restoration of American beaver habitat and beaver-modified habitat at the landscape-scale in Oregon.
