Oregon › Species › Spotted Skunk
Unprotected mammal
Spotted Skunk in Oregon, No Closed Season
Spotted skunks in Oregon: open every day of the year, statewide, under the hunting license.
Photo: Sam Beebe (CC BY 2.0)
Quick read on Oregon spotted skunks
ODFW treats spotted skunks as unprotected wildlife: they may be hunted on any day of 2026 and the next year too. A hunting license is still needed, along with permission on private land and the usual limits on lights, roads and vehicles. No closed season or bag limit, but a hunting license and all hunting regulations apply. Because the furbearer table lists spotted skunks as open all year, a Furtaker's License works for them as well.
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 spotted skunk dates, row by row
Both spotted skunk lines say the same thing in different booklets: open all year, statewide.
| Hunt | Area | How issued | Dates | Limit | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open season entire year (furbearer regulations) | Statewide | Furtaker | Year-round | – | Year-round |
From furbearer regulations (2026-28) (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Spotted Skunk: the legal group
The groups below set how spotted skunks and similar animals are treated: no season, no bag, license still needed.
| Group | Species | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Furbearers |
| Need a Furtaker’s License or Hunting License for Furbearers; fisher (and ringtail, wolverine, kit fox, Canada lynx, sea otter) closed all year. |
| Predatory animals (ORS 610.002) |
| No closed season, bag limit or weapon restriction for predatory animals destructive to crops; landowners need no license on their land. |
| Unprotected mammals and birds |
| No closed season or bag limit, but a hunting license and all hunting regulations apply. |
From ODFW definitions (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Spotted Skunk: what you may hunt with
Oregon sets weapon rules by season type, so an archery spotted skunk hunt and an any-legal-weapon hunt allow different tools.
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Electronics |
|
ODFW's summary for spotted skunks: trap with a Furtaker’s License; hunt with a Hunting License for Furbearers or a general hunting license.
From species table and general hunting regulations (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Before you hunt spotted skunks: the rules
A short list for spotted skunks: Oregon has no Sunday limit, but it does have the rules below.
| Subject | What it says |
|---|---|
| Landowners | A resident does not need a license to hunt on land they reside on that is owned by them or immediate family, unless hunting a species that needs a tag or applying for big game tags; landowners/agents need no license to take predatory animals on their land. |
| Private land | Hunting on private property requires landowner permission (ORS 105.700, 498.120); enclosed land includes posted Indian reservation boundaries. |
From tagging and reporting and ORS chapter 496 (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Licenses and fees for spotted skunks
Oregon fees for spotted skunks; 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 |
Every hunter needs a valid hunting license (calendar-year, January 1 or purchase date through December 31; only one annual hunting license) plus a big game tag (electronic or paper) valid for the dates, area and species. Documents must be shown on request.
From 2026 license and tag fees and license requirements (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Public places for spotted skunks
The land list for spotted skunks 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 predators 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.
Spotted Skunk hunting hours on key dates
Oregon clocks fall back on November 1, 2026 and spring forward on March 14, 2027, so spotted skunk times jump an hour across those dates.
Spotted skunks are hunted under the game mammal rule: one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
| Date | Clatsop County centre | Klamath County centre | Harney County centre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | 6:04 a.m. to 8:26 p.m. | 6:00 a.m. to 8:14 p.m. | 5:49 a.m. to 8:03 p.m. |
| Oct 15, 2026 | 7:00 a.m. to 7:01 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 6:56 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | 7:24 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | 7:23 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 5:26 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 5:14 p.m. |
| Mar 20, 2027 | 6:50 a.m. to 7:56 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 7:48 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 7:37 p.m. |
Hours rule from the ODFW general hunting regulations; times worked out with the NOAA solar formula on Pacific Time for each county centre; checked November 8, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Photo: Ian Sane (CC BY 2.0)
Photo: Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington (CC BY 2.0)
Common questions on spotted skunks
Can I hunt spotted skunks on Sundays?
Yes. Oregon has no statewide Sunday limit, so spotted skunks may be hunted any day the row is open.
Which places are closed to spotted skunk hunting?
Keep off roads, railroad rights-of-way, parks and school grounds when hunting spotted skunks.
Can I hunt spotted skunks any day in Oregon?
Spotted skunks are open all year in every county, with a hunting license.
What does it cost to hunt spotted skunks in Oregon?
A hunting license ($39.00 resident, $193.00 nonresident); no tag or validation is listed for spotted skunks.
How may spotted skunks be taken in Oregon?
Trap with a Furtaker’s License; hunt with a Hunting License for Furbearers or a general hunting license.
Are spotted skunks open statewide in Oregon?
Anywhere hunting is otherwise lawful: spotted skunk rows are statewide or zone-based, and tribal land is not open to state seasons.
How late can I shoot spotted skunks in Oregon?
From a half hour before sunrise until a half hour after sunset; the spotted skunk table above gives clock times from the NOAA solar formula.
Can I hunt spotted skunks on private land?
Hunting spotted skunks on private land requires the owner's permission; landowners and their agents may take predatory animals without a license.
Can I trap spotted skunks in Oregon?
Trappers take spotted skunks with a Furtaker's License; snares and traps on game mammals stay illegal.
Other photos on this page: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Ian Sane (CC BY 2.0); Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington (CC BY 2.0).