Oregon › Species › Ruffed Grouse
Upland game bird
Ruffed Grouse in Oregon, 2026-27 Seasons and Tags
2026-27 ruffed grouse dates in Oregon (ruffed grouse on September 1), the daily bag, validations and shooting hours.
Photo: Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington (CC BY 2.0)
Quick read on Oregon ruffed grouse
The first ruffed grouse opener on the calendar is ruffed grouse on September 1, 2026, and the last day of any ruffed grouse row is January 31, 2027. For the bag, the booklet says: 3 daily, 9 in possession.
From 2026-27 Oregon Game Bird Hunting Regulations (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
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Oregon ruffed grouse dates, row by row
One row per printed ruffed grouse season. Unit numbers link to the unit pages.
| Hunt | Area | How issued | Dates | Limit | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falconry season | Statewide | Falconry | Sep 1–Mar 31, 2027 | 2 daily, 6 in possession | |
| Ruffed grouse | Statewide | Validation | Sep 1–Jan 31, 2027 | 3 daily, 9 in possession |
From 2026-27 Oregon Game Bird Hunting Regulations (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
How many ruffed grouse you may take in Oregon
The table copies the ruffed grouse limit lines from the booklets so the counting rule is plain.
| Which limit | As printed |
|---|---|
| Statewide | 3 daily, 9 in possession |
| Statewide | 2 daily, 6 in possession |
From bag limit table and bag limit table (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Legal weapons for ruffed grouse
Oregon sets weapon rules by season type, so an archery ruffed grouse hunt and an any-legal-weapon hunt allow different tools.
| Season type | Legal | Not legal |
|---|---|---|
| Game birds and crows |
|
|
ODFW's summary for ruffed grouse: shotgun 10 gauge or smaller holding no more than three shells, or bow; no slugs; steel shot no larger than F (other shot no larger than BB); falconry allowed. Forest grouse may also be taken with any rimfire firearm.
From species table, legal weapons and general hunting regulations (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Licenses and fees for ruffed grouse
Oregon fees for ruffed grouse; 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 |
| 3-day bird license (18+) | Nonresident | $36.00 |
| Youth bird license (11 and under) | Either | Free |
| Upland game bird validation (18+) | Resident | $11.00 |
| Youth upland game bird validation (12-17) | Either | $4.00 |
| Nonresident game bird validation (18+) | Nonresident | $50.00 |
Physically reside in Oregon at least six consecutive months immediately before applying; owning property or paying property tax is not enough; claiming residency elsewhere disqualifies; false application is a crime. Waived for uniformed service members stationed in Oregon (and spouse/dependents).
From 2026 license and tag fees and license requirements (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Before you hunt ruffed grouse: the rules
A short list for ruffed grouse: Oregon has no Sunday limit, but it does have the rules below.
| Subject | What it says |
|---|---|
| Bait | Unlawful to hunt game birds by aid of baiting or over a baited area; an area stays baited for 10 days after complete removal of bait (salt, grain or other feed). |
| Evidence | Edible portions of game mammals (except cougar) and game birds must not be wasted; deer, elk, pronghorn, sheep and goat need evidence of sex (head/scalp with antlers or horns, or a reproductive organ attached to meat; option 1 for antler-point hunts); game birds keep the head or a fully feathered wing in transit. |
| Hunter orange | Hunters younger than 18 hunting any game mammal or upland game bird (except wild turkey) with a firearm must wear a hunter orange hat or exterior garment (shirt, jacket, coat, vest or sweater) visible from all directions; hunter orange camouflage is acceptable. No hunter orange requirement for adults. |
| 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.
Ruffed Grouse: wildlife areas, forests and refuges
The land list for ruffed grouse uses the species named by ODFW visitors' guides, refuge rules, A&H pages and forest pages.
Listed for grouse by USFS forest hunting & shooting page: Malheur National Forest, in Murderers Creek Unit and Northside Unit.
Listed for grouse by ODFW A&H page (Huntable Species): Willamette Private Timberlands Law Enforcement Project, in Santiam Unit and Stott Mtn Unit.
Listed for grouse by ODFW A&H page (Huntable Species): North Coast TMA-Law Enforcement Project, in Saddle Mtn Unit and Scappoose Unit.
Listed for grouse by USFS forest hunting & shooting page: Blue Mountain Ranger District (Malheur National Forest), in Murderers Creek Unit and Northside Unit.
Listed for grouse by USFS forest hunting & shooting page: Emigrant Creek Ranger District (Malheur National Forest), in Murderers Creek Unit and Malheur River Unit.
Listed for grouse by USFS forest hunting & shooting page: Prairie City Ranger District (Malheur National Forest), in Murderers Creek Unit and Beulah Unit.
Listed for grouse by ODFW A&H page (Huntable Species): Lincoln County Forest Patrol Project, in Stott Mtn Unit and Alsea Unit.
Listed for grouse by ODFW A&H page (Huntable Species): Linn County Forest Patrol Project, in Santiam Unit and McKenzie Unit.
From land records, agency page and agency page (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Ruffed Grouse hunting hours on key dates
Oregon clocks fall back on November 1, 2026 and spring forward on March 14, 2027, so ruffed grouse times jump an hour across those dates.
The game bird table governs ruffed grouse; Zone A is Western Oregon and Zone D the far east, with a Mountain Time column for part of Malheur County.
| Date | Zone A | Zone B | Zone C | Zone D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | 6:05 a.m. to 7:48 p.m. | 5:56 a.m. to 7:40 p.m. | 5:59 a.m. to 7:38 p.m. | 5:46 a.m. to 7:28 p.m. |
| Oct 15, 2026 | 6:55 a.m. to 6:31 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 6:22 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 6:24 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 6:12 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | 7:15 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. | 7:15 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 4:33 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 4:18 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | 7:15 a.m. to 4:56 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. to 4:52 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. |
Times from the 2026-27 game bird shooting hours table; checked November 8, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Photo: GerryT (CC BY 2.0)
Photo: ShenandoahNPS (Public domain)
Ruffed Grouse FAQ
Are electronic calls legal for ruffed grouse?
Oregon bans live decoys, electronic calls (crows excepted) and baiting for ruffed grouse.
Are weekends open for Oregon ruffed grouse?
Yes. Oregon has no statewide Sunday limit, so ruffed grouse may be hunted any day the row is open.
How long is the Oregon ruffed grouse season?
Ruffed grouse can be hunted between September 1, 2026 and January 31, 2027. Ruffed grouse: September 1, 2026. One or more ruffed grouse seasons are running now.
How many ruffed grouse can I take in Oregon?
3 daily, 9 in possession; 2 daily, 6 in possession.
Which Oregon license covers ruffed grouse hunting?
A hunting license ($39.00 resident, $193.00 nonresident) and the Upland Game Bird Validation ($11.00; nonresidents use the $50.00 game bird validation).
How may ruffed grouse be taken in Oregon?
Shotgun 10 gauge or smaller holding no more than three shells, or bow; no slugs; steel shot no larger than F (other shot no larger than BB); falconry allowed. Forest grouse may also be taken with any rimfire firearm.
Are ruffed grouse open statewide in Oregon?
Anywhere hunting is otherwise lawful: ruffed grouse rows are statewide or zone-based, and tribal land is not open to state seasons.
Which hours table applies to ruffed grouse?
Game birds only between the times in the 2026-27 shooting hours table (zones A-D), except fee pheasant hunts (end 5 pm at EE Wilson and Fern Ridge, 6 pm at Sauvie Island), youth upland hunts, the Northwest Permit Goose Season and some state or federal areas.
Is blaze orange required for Oregon ruffed grouse hunters?
Hunters younger than 18 hunting any game mammal or upland game bird (except wild turkey) with a firearm must wear a hunter orange hat or exterior garment (shirt, jacket, coat, vest or sweater) visible from all directions; hunter orange camouflage is acceptable. No hunter orange requirement for adults.
Other photos on this page: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (CC BY-SA 2.0); GerryT (CC BY 2.0); ShenandoahNPS (Public domain).