2019-20 game bird hunting forecast

A district-by-district look at the upcoming season

The 2019-2020 Oregon game bird seasons look promising with quail and chukar numbers up in the east, forest grouse booming in the west and duck populations still above their long-term average.

Hunters: Sync your app before going into the field

If you’re e-tagging this year, here are some tips for tagging. Also, a few ideas for keeping paper tags dry. 

See our 9 tips for tagging

September seasons for bird hunters

It’s time to get the scattergun out for some early season bird hunting. And since your best hunting buddy is likely your bird dog, better plan on taking him/her, too.

• Forest grouse, quail and mourning dove all opened Sept. 1.
• There is a short season for band-tailed pigeons from Sept. 15-23.
• Denman, Fern Ridge and Sauvie Island wildlife areas all have fee pheasant hunts in September.
• The September Canada goose season opens Sept. 7.
• And for kids, there are youth pheasant hunts throughout the state, and special youth upland bird hunts on several ODFW wildlife areas (see page 26 of the Oregon Game Bird Regulations for dates and locations).

Best bets for fishing

We’re still a ways away from Chinook on the coast and fall trout stocking, but there still is good fishing available throughout the state. Here’s just a few examples:

• In Coos Bay, rockfish fishing near submerged rocks continues to be good.
• Trout anglers should check out the upper Elk and Chetco rivers for cutthroat. Look for them at the mouths of tributaries or in deeper pools where the water is cooler.
• Take advantage of the fine September days to fish Detroit Reservoir for kokanee, before they disperse into the river to spawn.
• Anglers have been catching some nice, bright Chinook on the lower Deschutes.
• North and South Twin lakes are scheduled to be stocked this week.
• Trout fishing on the Blitzen near Page Springs has been good for anglers throwing wooly buggers and hopper patterns.   
• Hike-in lakes continue to be a good bet for trout. ODFW stocks hundreds of hike-in lakes where water temperatures are cool and trout are happy. Find more information on planning your hike-in fishing trip.