Oregon › Species › River Otter
Furbearer
River Otter in Oregon, 2026-27 Seasons and Tags
2026-27 otter dates in Oregon (river otter on November 15), the daily bag, validations and shooting hours.
Photo: USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Quick read on Oregon river otters
The first otter opener on the calendar is river otter on November 15, 2026, and the last day of any otter row is March 15, 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 →
Oregon otter dates, row by row
One row per printed otter season. Unit numbers link to the unit pages.
| Hunt | Area | How issued | Dates | Limit | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| River otter | Statewide | Furtaker | Nov 15–Mar 15, 2027 | – |
From furbearer regulations (2026-28) (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
River Otter: what you may hunt with
Oregon sets weapon rules by season type, so an archery otter hunt and an any-legal-weapon hunt allow different tools.
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Traps |
|
ODFW's summary for river otters: trapping or hunting under the furbearer regulations.
From species table and general hunting regulations (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Licenses and fees for river otters
Oregon fees for river otters; licenses and tags are sold online, at license agents and at ODFW offices.
| Item | Residency | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Before you hunt river otters: the rules
A short list for river otters: Oregon has no Sunday limit, but it does have the rules below.
| Subject | What it says |
|---|---|
| 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. |
| Sunday | No statewide Sunday restriction appears in the 2026 big game or 2026-27 game bird regulations; seasons run every day. Some wildlife areas limit hunting to set days (for example certain units open only Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays). |
From tagging and reporting and ORS chapter 496 (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Public places for river otters
The land list for river otters uses the species named by ODFW visitors' guides, refuge rules, A&H pages and forest pages.
Listed for predators by ODFW A&H page (Huntable Species): Willamette Private Timberlands Law Enforcement Project, in Santiam Unit and Stott Mtn Unit.
Listed for predators by ODFW A&H page (Huntable Species): North Coast TMA-Law Enforcement Project, in Saddle Mtn Unit and Scappoose Unit.
Listed for predators by ODFW A&H page (Huntable Species): Lincoln County Forest Patrol Project, in Stott Mtn Unit and Alsea Unit.
Listed for predators by ODFW A&H page (Huntable Species): Linn County Forest Patrol Project, in Santiam Unit and McKenzie Unit.
Listed for predators by ODFW A&H page (Huntable Species): Mid Coast Access Area, in Trask Unit and Stott Mtn Unit.
Listed for furbearers by ODFW A&H page (Huntable Species): Jackson Access & Cooperative Travel Management Area, in Dixon Unit and Evans Creek Unit.
Listed for predators by ODFW A&H page (Huntable Species): Thomas Creek Access Area, in Santiam Unit.
Listed for predators by ODFW A&H page (Huntable Species): East Lane TMA-Law Enforcement Project, in McKenzie Unit and Indigo Unit.
From land records and agency page (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Photo: Sam Beebe (CC BY 2.0)
Photo: Oregon Department of Transportation (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Photo: Bureau of Land Management (CC BY 2.0)
River Otter, answered
How late can I shoot river otters in Oregon?
From a half hour before sunrise until a half hour after sunset; the otter table above gives clock times from the NOAA solar formula.
What reporting applies to Oregon river otters?
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 river otters on private land?
Hunting river otters on private land requires the owner's permission; landowners and their agents may take predatory animals without a license.
Can I trap river otters in Oregon?
Trappers take river otters with a Furtaker's License; snares and traps on game mammals stay illegal.
Which days of the week are open for river otters?
Yes. Oregon has no statewide Sunday limit, so river otters may be hunted any day the row is open.
When is otter season in Oregon?
River otters can be hunted between November 15, 2026 and March 15, 2027. River otter: November 15, 2026. No otter row is open today; November 15, 2026 is next.
Do I need a tag for river otters in Oregon?
Furbearers need a Furtaker’s License or Hunting License for Furbearers; bobcat also needs a Bobcat Record Card.
What weapons are legal for river otters in Oregon?
Trapping or hunting under the furbearer regulations.
Are river otters open statewide in Oregon?
Anywhere hunting is otherwise lawful: otter rows are statewide or zone-based, and tribal land is not open to state seasons.
Other photos on this page: Sam Beebe (CC BY 2.0); Oregon Department of Transportation (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Bureau of Land Management (CC BY 2.0).