September 21, 2026 3:50 p.m.  

On Friday, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted the 2027 Big Game Regulations at their meeting in La Grande, setting seasons that offer a wide and varied range of hunting opportunities.

An ODFW release said the approved regulations include hunts for deer, elk, pronghorn, black bear, cougar, bighorn sheep, and Rocky Mountain goats.

Hunters will see some changes to western Oregon elk hunts in 2027. For any legal weapon coast elk hunts, the spike-only bag limit will shift from the second period to the first period, a change meant to more evenly distribute hunters across the two periods. Three Wildlife Management Units will shift from two any bull elk bag limit periods to one any bull period and one spike-only period.

Cow harvest will be reduced in the West Cascades hunt by removing antlerless elk from the bag limits of the General Archery Season Tag, Santiam Unit Traditional Bow hunt, Cascade Muzzleloader tag, and for holders of an Oregon Hunting and Fishing Disability Permit. The Cascades Elk population continues to be below population management objectives.

The release said a portion of the meeting discussed the Coquille Wildlife Area Acquisition that approved the acquisition of 528 acres of land in Coos County adjacent to the existing Coquille Wildlife Area, expanding it to 1,224 acres. The acquisition will help protect and restore habitat, benefiting a number of species, and improve public access to the area.

Seasons and tag numbers will be similar to 2026 but for calendar shifts. Printed regulations will be available in late November.

Video of the full meeting is available at: www.youtube.com/@MyODFW/streams