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Western Gray Squirrel in Oregon, 2026-27 Seasons and Tags
Oregon western gray squirrels: 2 season rows for 2026-27, western gray squirrel – remainder of state on September 1 and western gray squirrel – North-Central Oregon on September 15, with bag limits, licenses and legal methods.
Photo: grendelkhan (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Western Gray Squirrel season snapshot, 2026-27
Opening first is western gray squirrel – remainder of state (September 1, 2026); nothing for western gray squirrels runs past November 15, 2026. ODFW words the gray squirrel limit this way: 3 daily, 6 in possession. Unit lines matter for 5 WMUs on the gray squirrel list.
From 2026 Oregon Big Game Hunting Regulations (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
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Every 2026-27 gray squirrel season row
Sorted by opening day; a row with two date ranges has a break in the middle.
| Season | Zone or units | Type | Date range | Bag | Open? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western gray squirrel – remainder of state | Statewide | License | Sep 1–Nov 15, 2026 | 5 daily, 15 in possession | |
| Western gray squirrel – North-Central Oregon | License | Sep 15–Oct 31, 2026 | 3 daily, 6 in possession |
From 2026 Oregon Big Game Hunting Regulations (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Western Gray Squirrel units across Oregon
| Unit | Region | Rows | Tags | Largest counties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Deschutes Unit (34) | East | 1 | – | |
| Paulina Unit (35) | East | 1 | – | |
| Metolius Unit (39) | East | 1 | – | |
| White River Unit (41) | East | 1 | – | |
| Hood Unit (42) | East | 1 | – |
Because Oregon units follow ridges, rivers and roads, the counties below are reached by the gray squirrel hunt areas, sometimes only by a slice.
| County | Rows | Units here | West or East |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clackamas | 1 | West | |
| Crook | 1 | East | |
| Deschutes | 1 | East | |
| Hood River | 1 | East | |
| Jefferson | 1 | East | |
| Klamath | 1 | East | |
| Lake | 1 | East | |
| Lane | 1 | West | |
| Linn | 1 | West | |
| Wasco | 1 | East |
From WMU maps and 2026 Oregon Big Game Hunting Regulations (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Western Gray Squirrel bag and possession limits
Below is the exact wording for western gray squirrels; where Oregon counts by tag, season or lifetime instead of by day, the text says so.
| Limit | ODFW wording |
|---|---|
| Units 34, 35, 39, 41 and 42 | 3 daily, 6 in possession |
| Units 10-33, 36-38, 40, 43-77 | 5 daily, 15 in possession |
From bag limit table (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Lawful gear for western gray squirrels
What ODFW allows and bans when hunting western gray squirrels, by season type.
| Group | Legal methods | Not allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Western gray squirrel |
|
|
In short, for western gray squirrels: any rifle, handgun or shotgun (not fully automatic), non-matchlock muzzleloader, or bow; no minimum draw weight.
From species table, legal weapons and general hunting regulations (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Western Gray Squirrel license prices
Fees below are the 2026 prices; game bird validations run July 1 to June 30.
| License or tag | Who | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Hunting | Resident | $39.00 |
| Hunting | Nonresident | $193.00 |
| Combination (hunt and angle) | Resident | $86.00 |
| Youth combination (12-17) | Either | $10.00 |
Youth 12-17 need a Combination License ($10) or Youth Sports Pac ($75) to hunt big game, enter the draw or buy preference points; 11 and under need no license for game birds, small game or unprotected wildlife (free Youth Game Bird Hunting License available) and may not hunt big game except in the Mentored Youth Hunter Program.
From 2026 license and tag fees and license requirements (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Western Gray Squirrel: tagging, reporting and conduct
These are the Oregon rules most likely to matter on a gray squirrel hunt, quoted closely from ODFW.
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Dogs | No hunting game mammals with dogs (except western gray squirrel); no dogs or bait for black bear or cougar. |
| 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. |
| Roads | No hunting or shooting from or across public roads or railroad rights-of-way (except roads closed to vehicles); no hunting in city limits, parks, cemeteries or school grounds, or on closed refuges. |
From tagging and reporting and ORS chapter 496 (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Western Gray Squirrel country on public land
Start with these places for western gray squirrels; refuges and wildlife areas keep their own days, permits and shot rules.
Squirrel appear for Jackson Access & Cooperative Travel Management Area in ODFW A&H page (Huntable Species), inside Dixon Unit and Evans Creek Unit.
Tillamook State Forest is open to hunting under its own rules, in Saddle Mtn Unit and Scappoose Unit.
Clatsop State Forest: public land in Saddle Mtn Unit and Wilson Unit; check its page for access.
Other ODF state forestlands (West Oregon, Western Lane, Coos and Southwest districts), Stott Mtn Unit and Alsea Unit, with access rules on its page.
Gilchrist State Forest is open to hunting under its own rules, in Upper Deschutes Unit and Paulina Unit.
Public ground in Ochoco Unit and Murderers Creek Unit: Phillip W. Schneider Wildlife Area.
From land records and agency page (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Legal hours for Oregon western gray squirrels
Legal light on the gray squirrel dates that matter most.
Shooting western gray squirrels follows sunrise and sunset with a thirty-minute margin each side.
| Date | Douglas County centre | Crook County centre | Baker County centre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | 6:06 a.m. to 8:20 p.m. | 5:53 a.m. to 8:10 p.m. | 5:42 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | 6:21 a.m. to 7:55 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 7:34 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | 7:11 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 4:43 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: PierreSelim (CC BY 3.0)
Photo: Grigory Heaton (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Photo: Charles Patrick Ewing (CC BY 2.0)
Questions about western gray squirrels in Oregon
What fines apply to western gray squirrels taken out of season?
Civil damages under ORS 496.705: silver gray squirrel $100. Penalties for western gray squirrels also depend on whether the violation was knowing.
Do I need hunter orange for western gray squirrels in Oregon?
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.
What dates apply to western gray squirrels in Oregon this season?
Gray squirrel dates start September 1, 2026 and finish November 15, 2026. Western gray squirrel – remainder of state: September 1, 2026; Western gray squirrel – North-Central Oregon: September 15, 2026. As of today, western gray squirrels can be hunted under at least one row.
Which units have the 3-squirrel limit?
Units 34, 35, 39, 41 and 42: September 15 to October 31, 2026, 3 daily, 6 in possession. Units 10-33, 36-38, 40, 43-77: September 1 to November 15, 2026, 5 daily, 15 in possession. No bag limit or closed season in the part of Unit 30 south of the Rogue River and S Fork Rogue River and north of Highway 140.
Do I need a tag for western gray squirrels in Oregon?
A hunting license ($39.00 resident, $193.00 nonresident); no tag or validation is listed for western gray squirrels.
What is the Oregon gray squirrel bag limit?
3 daily, 6 in possession; 5 daily, 15 in possession.
Where can I hunt western gray squirrels in Oregon?
Rows tied to units name 5 Wildlife Management Units touching 10 counties, and some rows are statewide. The unit table above links each unit page.
What is legal gear for gray squirrel hunting?
Any rifle, handgun or shotgun (not fully automatic), non-matchlock muzzleloader, or bow; no minimum draw weight.
What are the shooting hours for Oregon western gray squirrels?
Western gray squirrels follow the game mammal rule: one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset, worked out on this page with the NOAA solar formula.
Other photos on this page: PierreSelim (CC BY 3.0); Grigory Heaton (CC BY-SA 4.0); Charles Patrick Ewing (CC BY 2.0).