Furbearer
Muskrat in Oregon, 2026-27 Seasons and Tags
Season dates, bag and license for Oregon muskrats in 2026-27, starting muskrat and mink on November 15.
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Muskrat season snapshot, 2026-27
Muskrat and mink starts the muskrat year on November 15, 2026; the final muskrat row closes on March 31, 2027.
From furbearer regulations (2026-28) (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
GearHeading out for a hunt? Hunting gear checklists by season →
The muskrat calendar for 2026-27
Each line is one ODFW row for muskrats, earliest first, with the area it covers and the paperwork it needs.
| Hunt | Where | Tag or license | When | Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muskrat and mink | Statewide | Furtaker | Nov 15–Mar 31, 2027 | – |
From furbearer regulations (2026-28) (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Muskrat methods of take
Night vision, thermal scopes and drones are never legal for hunting muskrats in Oregon.
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Traps |
|
Method line for muskrats: trapping or hunting under the furbearer regulations.
From species table and general hunting regulations (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Oregon muskrat fees for 2026-27
From the ODFW fee table: the license first, then any tag, validation or permit the muskrat rows call for.
| License, tag or validation | Who | 2026 price |
|---|---|---|
| Hunting | Resident | $39.00 |
| Hunting | Nonresident | $193.00 |
| Combination (hunt and angle) | Resident | $86.00 |
| Youth combination (12-17) | Either | $10.00 |
Furbearers need a Furtaker’s License or Hunting License for Furbearers; bobcat also needs a Bobcat Record Card.
From 2026 license and tag fees and license requirements (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Muskrat hunting rules in Oregon
Read these before a muskrat hunt; a violation with a culpable mental state is a Class A misdemeanor.
| Area | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Traps | No taking game mammals with traps or snares; no poisons or immobilizing drugs; furbearer trapping under the furbearer rules (trap checks, Furtaker’s License). |
| Reporting | Furtaker Harvest Report due (postmarked) by April 15, 2027 for 2026-27; bobcat and river otter pelts tagged within five business days after the season. |
| License | Furbearers need a Furtaker’s License or Hunting License for Furbearers; bobcat also needs a Bobcat Record Card. |
| Vehicles and drones | No hunting or harassing wildlife from a motor vehicle; no hunting within eight hours of aircraft help; no drones to hunt, scout, track or interfere; firearms and bows unloaded on snowmobiles and ATVs (except concealed handgun licensees and law officers); no shooting from a motorboat or sailboat under power. |
From tagging and reporting and ORS chapter 496 (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Public land for Oregon muskrats
Public land picked for muskrats: first the places whose agency source lists them, then big wildlife areas, forests or BLM land.
Willamette Private Timberlands Law Enforcement Project names predators in ODFW A&H page (Huntable Species); it lies in Santiam Unit and Stott Mtn Unit.
North Coast TMA-Law Enforcement Project names predators in ODFW A&H page (Huntable Species); it lies in Saddle Mtn Unit and Scappoose Unit.
Lincoln County Forest Patrol Project names predators in ODFW A&H page (Huntable Species); it lies in Stott Mtn Unit and Alsea Unit.
Linn County Forest Patrol Project names predators in ODFW A&H page (Huntable Species); it lies in Santiam Unit and McKenzie Unit.
Mid Coast Access Area names predators in ODFW A&H page (Huntable Species); it lies in Trask Unit and Stott Mtn Unit.
Jackson Access & Cooperative Travel Management Area names furbearers in ODFW A&H page (Huntable Species); it lies in Dixon Unit and Evans Creek Unit.
Thomas Creek Access Area names predators in ODFW A&H page (Huntable Species); it lies in Santiam Unit.
East Lane TMA-Law Enforcement Project names predators in ODFW A&H page (Huntable Species); it lies in McKenzie Unit and Indigo Unit.
From land records and agency page (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Photo: Oregon Department of Transportation (CC BY 2.0)
Photo: Sam Beebe (CC BY 2.0)
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Common questions on muskrats
What methods may be used on muskrats?
Trapping or hunting under the furbearer regulations.
Which permits apply to muskrat hunting in Oregon?
Furbearers need a Furtaker’s License or Hunting License for Furbearers; bobcat also needs a Bobcat Record Card.
When does legal light start for muskrats?
The game mammal window applies to muskrats: sunrise minus thirty minutes to sunset plus thirty, calculated for three county centres above.
Where in Oregon do muskrat rules apply?
The muskrat rows are statewide or described in words, not by unit; tribal land, national park land and closed refuges stay off limits.
Do I need permission to hunt muskrats on private property?
Ask before hunting muskrats on a ranch or farm; residents on their own land need no license for these animals.
Must muskrat pelts be tagged?
Furtaker Harvest Report due (postmarked) by April 15, 2027 for 2026-27; bobcat and river otter pelts tagged within five business days after the season.
Can I hunt muskrats on Sundays?
Every day of the week works for muskrats unless a wildlife area says otherwise.
Which license covers trapping muskrats?
Traps for muskrats are set under the furbearer regulations; poisons are never legal.
When does muskrat hunting open in Oregon?
The muskrat calendar spans November 15, 2026 through March 31, 2027. Muskrat and mink: November 15, 2026. Muskrats are closed today until November 15, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Oregon Department of Transportation (CC BY 2.0); Sam Beebe (CC BY 2.0); Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (CC BY-SA 2.0).