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Grateful for Oregon’s Bounty
There is much to be grateful for this month. More days for wild coho on mid-coast rivers means you can chase silvers into November. Fall turkey season allows you to put a wild bird on your Thanksgiving table. If you want only dark meat, November is also prime time for waterfowl hunting. Winter steelhead are coming soon and lots of freshwater fish go on the bite in late fall. And don’t miss the chance to introduce visiting friends and family to the sport you love and get everyone outdoors during free fishing days the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving (Nov. 28-29).
Finally, make your holiday gift-giving easier: Mark your calendar now for Dec. 1 and be ready to use group purchase when 2026 licenses go on sale.
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 Changes Coming for Sturgeon Seasons
If you’d like to harvest a sturgeon, you’re not alone—many anglers love the challenge of these prehistoric fish that fight hard regardless of whether you hook them in a deep pool or a tidal flat. If you just want to catch a sturgeon and perhaps snap a quick pic of it in the water before you release it, opportunity is abundant. The Columbia River’s sturgeon retention fisheries are much more challenging for anglers and fishery managers because they are both popular and limited. Recently, the only retention opportunity in the Columbia has been in the reservoirs upstream of Bonneville Dam. Given challenges with managing these fisheries, anglers should expect seasons to look different in 2026. Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington will lay out a new approach during a joint state hearing Nov. 13.
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 Winter Steel Coming to Streams Near You
Winter steelhead are coming. Some rivers see their first catches in November while others don’t typically show until December or January. Visit myodfw.com to see which rivers tend to offer steelhead earlier than others. Once you choose a river, we have lots of tips to help you bag this iconic northwest game fish.
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 Yellowjacket Lake Gets Upgrades
ODFW and partners just finished improvements at Yellowjacket Lake northwest of Burns, including a new fishing dock and accessible kayak launch. The lake now features ADA-compliant parking and picnic areas, an informational kiosk, better beach access for paddlers, and boulder clusters along the shore to make fishing even better when the lake is next stocked in May 2026. Funding came from ODFW’s R&E program, the Oregon State Marine Board and the U.S. Forest Service.
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 Holiday Recipes Cap Off Successful Fall
What could be more festive than sharing your hunting and fishing success in the form of holiday meals? These recipes will turn your harvest into the perfect centerpiece for a big table surrounded by friends and family.
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 Wallowa Rendezvous and Other Events
Last month, it was a Steelhead Fishing 101 class on the banks of the Grand Ronde River (see video). This month, a two-day waterfowl workshop in southwest Oregon is happening in late November, plus several Learn to Hunt classes. ODFW classes are great for beginners, tell your friends and family!
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Regulation Reminders
Free Fishing Nov. 28-29: No fishing/shellfish licenses or tags (including a Combined Angling Tag or Columbia River Basin Endorsement or Two-Rod Validation) are required on these days. Both Oregon residents and nonresidents can fish for free. All other fishing regulations apply including closures, bag limits and size restrictions.
Reminder: Check for in-season regulation changes before fishing as regulations can change, especially for salmon and steelhead.
Successful deer/elk hunters: Please get your animal tested for an always fatal, untreatable and highly contagious wildlife disease called Chronic Wasting Disease. Select one of several options for quick and easy testing and learn about what hunters can do to protect our deer and elk herds.
Clamming or crabbing? Always call ODA’s Shellfish Safety Hotline 800-448-2474 or check their website before heading out to clam or crab. ODA’s website includes information in Español, русский, 中国 , Tiếng Việt, 한국인
Jackson Cooperative TMA: Updated map, added acreage. More info
Wild coho: More days added on mid-coast. More info
New Ocean Endorsement: Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, most recreational anglers fishing in the ocean from beaches, jetties, and boats or spearfishing will be required to have it. It's included in Resident Youth, Pioneer and Disabled Veterans Licenses.
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 November and Thoughts Turn to Turkey
Turkey hunting has taken wing in Oregon. Spring seasons offer trophy gobbler opportunities and fall seasons offer meat for Thanksgiving. Special permits allow hunters up to three beardless turkeys in certain areas. Turkeys are huntable on public forest land in western and northeastern Oregon. ODFW offers classes for those who want to give it a try.
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 Eastern Oregon Deer Hunts are Changing
Changes are coming for mule deer hunters in 2026. Updates to the Oregon Mule Deer Management Plan have shifted the traditional way of allocating tags by wildlife management unit, to deer hunt areas. The results are better management of deer numbers and changes to the names and shapes of deer hunting units in eastern Oregon. Take a look at our online map to find your new hunt and tell your hunting buddies, too.
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 EE Wilson Range Renovated
The shotgun range at this popular wildlife area near Corvallis has reopened after improvements. Find four times as many shooting lanes and a fully paved ADA-compliant walkway with pullouts that will make it more accessible for all. A covered pole barn with picnic tables makes it easier for friends and family to gather. The project is one of several ODFW and partners are completing to get everyone outdoors by improving access and the visitor experience.
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 Oregon’s pygmy rabbits are not only adorably tiny (12 ounces full grown). They are also the only North American rabbit species to dig their own burrows. Learn more here.
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 Big Trees, Thriving Wildlife
The majestic old Douglas-firs near Whaleback Mountain – some nearly 28 feet in circumference at the base - are standing tall once again with a new lease on life. Alongside stately incense cedars, these old-growth trees were "freed" from dense thickets of smaller trees thanks to a forest thinning project by ODFW and partners. Funded mainly from federal grant dollars tied to the purchase of hunting equipment, this project is part of the U.S. Forest Service's Stella Landscape Restoration Project, which aims to restore thousands of acres of forest and promote implementation of Oregon's 20-year Landscape Resiliency Strategy.
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Catch of the Month Photo Showcase
David Krueger of Bend caught this monster rainbow trout while fly fishing on Haystack Reservoir last January.
Want a chance to showcase your awesome catch to other anglers? Excited about your latest fishing trip? Snap a great photo while wildlife viewing? Proud picture of your recent harvest? Share your best photos and videos with us. Chosen photographs and videos will be displayed in the Catch of the Month spotlight in an upcoming issue of the ODFW Monthly Messenger, ODFW Photo Gallery and may be used in promotional materials.
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If you know of or suspect crimes against fish, wildlife, or habitat, please contact OSP Dispatch at: 800-442-0776 for the Northern Command Center or 800-442-2068 for the Southern Command Center; or call *OSP (*677) from a mobile device. Or email: TIP@osp.oregon.gov. |
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ODFW Messenger: Monthly Edition | November 2025 |
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The ODFW Messenger is a monthly email which highlights some of the best seasonal opportunity available, and we’ll cover content for fishing, hunting, clamming, crabbing, wildlife viewing, and everything in between. Consider the Messenger your short list for the best adventures in the current season. Lastly, we want to thank you for your continued readership and hope you’ll share it with your friends. |
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