North Coast

Bear and cougar: Bear are best hunted by watching clear cuts, berry patches and abandoned orchards in the late evening and early morning hours. The presence of torn-up logs in the forest is an indication that bear may be in the area. The best strategy for cougar is to use a predator call.

Deer and Elk (archery): Conditions in the woods have improved with recent rains. Some corporate lands on the north coast are currently closed due to fire danger. On the remaining lands that are open, please be aware of fire regulations while in the woods.

Grouse and Mountain Quail: Hunting should be good due to mild weather during the nesting season. Ruffed grouse are usually found along riparian areas in forest habitats, while blue grouse prefer the higher elevation areas on the coast range. Mountain quail are usually associated with brushy clear cuts.

Band-tailed Pigeon: Good numbers of birds are available on the north coast. Look for areas with concentrations of elderberries and cascara trees, which are favored food plants. Pass shooting can be done from saddles on ridges that pigeons use as flight routes. The season ends September 23.

CENTRAL OREGON

Deschutes District

Archery season for deer and elk opened August 26. Success has been fair to good as hunters hunting in the woods are encountering good numbers of animals. General archery season ends September 24, 2000.

Controlled buck deer opens September 30 with good numbers of bucks available throughout the district. Hunters should be completing their scouting trips at this time. The opener is expected to be a good one.

Coyotes: Good numbers continue to be available throughout the district. Areas near Fort Rock and Christmas Valley should provide excellent opportunities as well as east of Bend from Pine Mountain to Glass Butte. Coyotes are also scattered north of Frederick's Butte and Pine Ridge near antelope herds.

Jackrabbits: Numbers are low throughout the district. Best success will be adjacent to agricultural lands. Ask permission first prior to hunting on private lands.

Cougars: Season has opened with some early success by archery hunters.

Upland Birds: Dove season ends September 30, 2000. Fair numbers of birds remain scattered throughout the area. Prospects are good locally near the agricultural areas.

Waterfowl: Duck season opens October 7 and General Goose opens October 14. Prospects are good for the opener. Please consult the regulations for the bag limits and zone regulations. The Youth Waterfowl Hunt is the weekend of September 23-24. The fall forecast for the flyway is for good numbers of birds this season.

Blue and ruffed grouse along with mountain quail in western Oregon also opened on September 1 with fair to good chances of success.

Chukar and California Quail season opens October 7 with improved numbers over last year.

Ochoco District

Bear/Cougar: Forested lands on the Ochoco National Forest offer the best opportunities for bear. Cougar are more scattered and are present at all elevations throughout the local units.

Archery: Hunting has been challenging due to the hot, dry weather conditions and high fire danger. Hunters are urged to exercise extreme caution and observe all fire restrictions. Portions of the Grizzly Unit on the Prineville Ranger District are closed to entry due to the current active fire.

Upland Birds: Doves are scattered with success fair. For grouse, north slope areas on the Big Summit and Paulina Ranger Districts offer the best opportunity for success.

The Willow Creek Youth Pheasant Hunt will be on September 23 and 24. The hunt is filling up and youth hunters are required to pre-register. For further information or to pre-register, call the Prineville office at (541) 447-5111.

Klamath District

September brought rain to the Klamath Basin. However, everyone should remember that fire danger is still high. Be careful and be smart.

Coyote: Good numbers scattered throughout the area.

Ground Squirrels remain active in many of the fields, but may be difficult to observe due to the height of the vegetation. Remember, you must always ask for permission to hunt on private land. The best time period for hunting them has passed, but some limited opportunities still remain.

Cougar and Bear general seasons are now open with the prospect of increased numbers for the hunters.

Archery season is open for both deer and elk. Hunters have been reporting mixed success on deer, with some nice bucks being taken. Elk numbers have been increasing in most south central units, but success is typically low as these animals remain very mobile with large home ranges.

Waterfowl: The youth waterfowl hunt is scheduled for the weekend of September 23-24. Hunters need to be thinking ahead to opening weekend of duck season and applying for permits for the Klamath Wildlife Area.

Upland Birds: Blue and ruffed grouse opened September 1. Brood production was excellent throughout the Basin. Weather conditions have also been good for berry production, and grouse should be utilizing these important feeding areas.

EASTERN OREGON

Grant District

Deer and Elk: Conditions are slowly drying again, and success has been fairly low due to conditions.

Grouse: Very good production this season should provide good shooting. Any fairly open ridge top might hold blue grouse, and ruffed grouse hunting should be very good in seeps, wet meadows and drainages.

Chukar: The South Fork of the John Day River holds the best populations in the district, but birds are available on BLM and state scattered parcels below Picture Gorge. Broods were large and numerous this year. Birds in this area can range quite high into the hills when springs are available.

Baker District

Coyotes: Numbers are high and calling should be good. Be sure to ask permission before hunting on private land.

Umatilla District

Deer and elk: Archery season opened August 26, with cooler temperatures, but continuing concerns with extreme fire danger. Deer and elk numbers are good with wide distribution on summer ranges.

Bear and cougar: The season opened August 1. Look for fair opportunities around drainages in mid- to high-elevation locations. The tag sale deadline is September 29 for General Bear and Cougar seasons.

Forest Grouse: The season opened September 1. The outlook is good in most areas for blue and ruffed grouse. Look for best opportunities in drainages and edges of grass meadows during early and late hunting hours.

Union District

Coyotes: Numbers are high and hunting lower elevations by calling should be good. Hunters are reminded to get permission before hunting private lands.

Elk and deer: Archery hunting conditions have improved with the recent rainfall and cooler temperatures. Hunters should still concentrate their activity during early morning hours in moist areas, draw bottoms, or north slopes. Fire conditions and restrictions have been relaxed, but restrictions still remain. Hunters should check with the U.S. Forest Service and Oregon Department of Forestry for current regulations.

Bear: The season continues through November 30, with good opportunities to harvest a bear. Hunting success has been fair. Best opportunities are near trees with fruit such as hawthorn, elderberry, old orchards or berry patches.

Cougar: The season continues through December 31, 2000. Numerous sightings are being reported. Hunting conditions are poor. Using a predator call from a stand will probably be the best opportunity for success. All harvested cougars must be checked through ODFW with 72 hours.

Forest Grouse: The season continues through November 26, with good numbers of birds available. The bag limit is three ruffed and three blue grouse daily. Hawthorn patches and stream bottoms are best for ruffed grouse with ridge tops and open slopes best for blue grouse. Hunting success has been fair to excellent depending on local populations of birds. Hunters are again asked to provide wings and tails from harvested birds at local collection barrels.

Mourning Dove: The season continues through September 30, with fair numbers available. The daily bag limit is 10 birds, and with the recent rainfall, doves may begin to leave the area. Hunters are reminded to have permission before hunting private land.

Wallowa District

Coyotes: Good numbers are available throughout the district.

Archery (Big Game): Early fall rains have greatly improved hunting conditions in the Wallowa district. Recent fire restrictions have been lifted in the Chesnimnus, Imnaha, and Sled Springs units. Hunters are reminded that both the Chesnimnus and Sled Springs Units are open to controlled hunting only.

Grouse hunting has been spotty and success only fair. Grouse wings and tails are being collected, and wing barrels are located at Minam, Smith Mountain. Promise/Indian Point Junction, Chico, Charlois/Highway 3 Junction and Little Sheep Highway.

Cougar numbers are at high population levels. Most cats are taken incidental to other big game hunting. Hunters are urged to have cougar tags.

Bear hunting prospects are best in riparian areas near orchards. Successful hunters need to send in tooth envelopes.

Harney District

Mourning doves: Most have moved on south with the recent colder weather.

Blue and ruffed grouse can be found in huntable populations at the higher elevations and in better riparian zones of the Blue Mountains front ranges.

Other fall hunting seasons are in full swing, with archery deer and elk being the most important at the moment. Also occurring are scattered bighorn sheep hunts, late antelope hunts, and damage elk hunts.

Coyotes: Numbers are fair. Young of the year are beginning to hunt on their own, and can be seen most often mousing around green meadows. Good numbers are being seen with deer and antelope.

Archery hunting conditions have improved. Warmer days and cool nights should find elk responding to calling. Mule deer remain scattered, and green-up that usually comes with fall rains will spread them even more.

Summer Lake Wildlife Area

Archery deer season remains open, but no hunters have checked in to hunt. Fair numbers of bucks can be found on the Area, primarily on the north end. The season will end on Sunday, September 24, 2000. Mourning dove season opened on September 1, and hunter turnout was light. Dove harvest remains very light.

Hunters are reminded that a daily hunting permit is required when hunting on the Area. Non-toxic shot is required for bird hunting. Free self-service permits are available at the headquarters located 1.3 miles south of Summer Lake. Check-out is mandatory, and can be accomplished by dropping permits off at boxes located at the headquarters or north end access points (County Road 4-16 and Caulkins Lane).

Note: The Youth Waterfowl Hunt will occur this coming weekend, September 23 and 24, 2000. It will be open to hunters 15 years of age and younger. All youth hunters must check in, and obtain a free daily hunting permit prior to hunting. The checking station will be open until 5 p.m. on Friday and again at 5 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.