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Protected or no season
Nongame Birds and Raptors in Oregon, Status and Law
Nongame birds and raptors in Oregon: protected status, Oregon Revised Statutes penalties and look-alike quarry.
Photo: Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Nongame Birds and Raptors: protected in Oregon
Nongame birds and raptors stay closed to hunting and trapping in Oregon; the table shows the status, the rule and any damages.
| Item | ODFW or statute text |
|---|---|
| Status | Protected by federal and/or state law (except starling, house sparrow, Eurasian collared-dove, rock pigeon). |
| Rule | All birds except European starling, house sparrow, Eurasian collared-dove and rock pigeon are protected by federal and/or state law; raptor damages $2,000 ($5,000 for eagles, goshawk, osprey, peregrine and listed raptors). |
From ODFW regulations and ORS chapter 496 (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Mourning doves instead of nongame birds and raptors
Legal dove rows, shown because they overlap the places and methods where nongame birds and raptors could be mistaken.
| Season | Area | Kind | Dates | Bag | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falconry season | Statewide | Falconry | Sep 1–Dec 16, 2026 | Falconry aggregate 3 daily, 9 in possession of all migratory birds | |
| Mourning dove | Zone 1 | Validation |
| 15 daily, 45 in possession | |
| Mourning dove | Zone 2 | Validation | Sep 1–Oct 30, 2026 | 15 daily, 45 in possession |
From 2026-27 Oregon Game Bird Hunting Regulations (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
What unlawful take of nongame birds and raptors costs
Taking nongame birds and raptors falls under the Oregon wildlife penalties in ORS 496.992 and the damages schedule in ORS 496.705; these are the lines.
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| General violation with a culpable mental state | Class A misdemeanor: up to 364 days in jail and a fine up to $6,250 (fine set at the maximum for repeat offenders or taking 3x the daily bag). |
| Violations without a culpable mental state | Taking game mammals or other wildlife (not nongame mammals or game birds): Class A violation (fine up to $2,000); nongame mammals or game birds: Class C violation (up to $500); not involving taking: Class D violation (up to $250). |
| Felonies | Class C felony (up to 5 years, $125,000): taking wildlife to sell or trade; second unlawful taking of a game mammal within 12 months; unlawful taking of moose, mountain sheep, Rocky Mountain goat or wolf; taking threatened or endangered species; second conviction in 10 years for taking big game more than an hour outside the season. |
| Civil damages (per animal) | State may sue for damages: game mammals $1,000 (deer, antelope); elk $5,000 ($15,000 with 6+ points); deer with 4+ points, gray wolf, black bear, cougar $7,500; antelope with a 14 inches+ horn $7,500; moose, mountain sheep, mountain goat $10,000 ($50,000 trophy class); silver gray squirrel $100; game birds $20 (turkey or sage-grouse $1,000); furbearers $100 (bobcat, fisher $700); threatened/endangered $2,500; raptors $2,000-$5,000. |
| License revocation | On conviction the court may order revocation of all licenses, tags and permits (in addition to other penalties), including for some trespass, criminal mischief and firearm offenses committed while hunting. |
From ORS 496.705 and 496.992 and ORS 497.415 (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Turning in nongame bird poachers
Reporting a nongame bird case: Report poaching at *OSP (*677) or 1-800-452-7888; rewards up to $5,000 or preference points; anonymous tips accepted.
From access and special programs, 2026-27 regulations (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Oregon legal groups next to nongame birds and raptors
Oregon's game mammals, game birds, furbearers and unprotected species, set against the protected list that holds nongame birds and raptors.
| Group | Members |
|---|---|
| Game mammals |
|
| Game birds |
|
| Furbearers |
|
| Predatory animals (ORS 610.002) |
|
| Unprotected mammals and birds |
|
| Nongame birds and raptors | Protected |
| Threatened and endangered species | Protected |
From ODFW definitions (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Photo: Brandon Olafsson (CC BY 2.0)
Photo: USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Photo: USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Answers about Oregon nongame birds and raptors
Can a 12-year-old hunt in Oregon?
Young hunters need a hunter safety certificate; mentored youth aged 9 to 15 may hunt without one beside a supervising adult.
What damages apply to listed species?
Unlawful taking of a threatened or endangered species is a Class C felony; damages $2,500 per specimen.
What else follows a wildlife conviction?
On conviction the court may order revocation of all licenses, tags and permits (in addition to other penalties), including for some trespass, criminal mischief and firearm offenses committed while hunting.
Is there an Oregon season for nongame birds and raptors?
Protected by federal and/or state law (except starling, house sparrow, Eurasian collared-dove, rock pigeon). All birds except European starling, house sparrow, Eurasian collared-dove and rock pigeon are protected by federal and/or state law; raptor damages $2,000 ($5,000 for eagles, goshawk, osprey, peregrine and listed raptors).
How serious is unlawful take of nongame birds and raptors?
Class A misdemeanor: up to 364 days in jail and a fine up to $6,250 (fine set at the maximum for repeat offenders or taking 3x the daily bag). Taking game mammals or other wildlife (not nongame mammals or game birds): Class A violation (fine up to $2,000); nongame mammals or game birds: Class C violation (up to $500); not involving taking: Class D violation (up to $250).
Which Oregon season shares nongame bird country?
Mourning Dove: 3 rows, September 1, 2026 to December 14, 2026. Know the difference between mourning doves and nongame birds and raptors.
Can I report anonymously in Oregon?
Report poaching at *OSP (*677) or 1-800-452-7888; rewards up to $5,000 or preference points; anonymous tips accepted.
Which animals are game in Oregon?
Game mammals: pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, black bear, cougar, deer and elk; Game birds: ducks and mergansers, geese, coot, Wilson's snipe, band-tailed pigeon and mourning dove; Furbearers: beaver, bobcat, fisher, marten, mink and muskrat.
Other photos on this page: Brandon Olafsson (CC BY 2.0); USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0).