Washington County, Oregon
Hunting near Hillsboro, Oregon
Public land from Hillsboro: 5 places inside 10 miles, 9 inside 25, and the Willamette Unit under the town itself.
Photo: born1945 (CC BY 2.0)
Hillsboro public places in the 10 and 25 mile rings
5 listed public places reach within 10 miles of Hillsboro: 1 BLM district, 1 BLM field office, 1 BLM land (statewide), 1 reclamation land and 1 wildlife refuge. Those rings hold roughly 1,079 public acres inside 10 miles of Hillsboro and 89,842 inside 25, by polygon with overlaps counted once and tribal land excluded.
The nearest place with no access caution is BLM Northwest Oregon District, 7.1 miles out; its status cell reads "open unless posted". BLM Cascades Field Office closes out the 25-mile list at 20 mi; 7 categories of land come before it.
| Area | Type | Miles | Band | WMUs | Hunting access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLM Northwest Oregon District | BLM district | 7.1 mi | Inside 10 | Scappoose, Wilson + | Open unless posted |
| Tillamook (BLM) | BLM field office | 7.1 mi | Inside 10 | Scappoose, Wilson + | Open unless posted |
| BLM lands statewide | BLM land (statewide) | 7.1 mi | Inside 10 | Scappoose, Wilson + | Open unless posted |
| Reclamation lands | Reclamation land | 8.1 mi | Inside 10 | Trask, Rogue + | Partner rules, check |
| Tualatin River refuge | Wildlife refuge | 8.2 mi | Inside 10 | Willamette | Refuge rules apply |
| Sauvie Island WA | Wildlife area | 10 mi | Inside 25 | Scappoose | Parking permit needed |
| Wapato Lake refuge | Wildlife refuge | 11 mi | Inside 25 | Willamette | Refuge rules apply |
| Tillamook State Forest | State forest | 11 mi | Inside 25 | Saddle Mtn, Scappoose + | Open in season |
| Cascades (BLM) | BLM field office | 20 mi | Inside 25 | Willamette, Santiam | Open unless posted |
Rings and distances from places.json (lands.json boundaries to the Census point of Hillsboro); access cells from each record’s own rule text (the 2026 ODFW wildlife area regulations and OAR 635-008 for wildlife areas, USFS, BLM and ODF pages, 50 CFR 32.56 for refuges, the ODFW Access and Habitat and Open Fields pages). GIS acres are not official acreage. Checked November 8, 2026.
Hillsboro unit lines, zones and limits
ODFW's unit map puts Hillsboro in the Willamette Unit (15), about 2,893 square miles worked mostly from the Corvallis office. The Willamette Unit crosses into Clackamas, Linn, Washington, Polk, Yamhill, Multnomah, Lane and Benton as well as Marion.
| Unit | Size | Counties | Biologist district | Cougar zone and quota | Half of state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willamette Unit | 2,893 | Marion, Clackamas + | Mid Willamette | A (180) | West |
| Scappoose Unit | 771 | Columbia, Washington + | North Willamette – Coast Range Unit | A (180) | West |
| Trask Unit | 1,317 | Tillamook, Yamhill + | North Coast | A (180) | West |
Cougar tags work all year here until Zone A reaches its quota of 180. The Willamette Unit overlaps the Willamette Valley elk damage area, open August 1 through March 31 with a damage tag. Centerfire rifles are restricted in the Willamette Unit during Coast Bull Elk 1st Season and Coast Bull Elk 2nd Season unless you carry a tag valid then and there.
Units from the ODFW Wildlife Management Unit layer and places.json; cougar zones from the 2026 cougar regulations; herd ranges from the Eastern Oregon Deer Hunt Areas; travel management, damage areas and rifle limits from the 2026 Oregon Big Game Hunting Regulations. Checked November 8, 2026.
Three places to start from Hillsboro
Closest mapped ground to Hillsboro, in order of distance:
BLM Northwest Oregon District
The BLM rule is simple: open unless specifically prohibited. This office sits under the Bureau of Land Management Oregon public lands.
Tillamook (BLM)
Ask the district office about fire or road closures; otherwise the BLM ground is open in season.
Tualatin River refuge
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service can set shorter seasons than the state.
From lands.json (2026 ODFW big game and game bird regulations, OAR 635-008, USFS, BLM, ODF, USFWS and ODFW Access and Habitat pages). Checked November 8, 2026.
Controlled hunts in the units near Hillsboro
6,829 tags in 33 hunt numbers cover at least part of the Willamette Unit, Scappoose Unit and Trask Unit; a hunt spanning several units counts once. For deer, elk, pronghorn and spring bear, 75% of tags go to first choices with the most preference points and 25% are drawn at random. Treat the list as last year's map of hunts until the 2027 regulations appear.
| Hunt series | Numbers | 2026 tags | 2025 first choices | First day | Last day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 buck deer | 1 | 220 | 238 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 |
| 600 antlerless deer | 5 | 4,116 | 12,528 | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 |
| 200 elk | 20 | 1,057 | 3,380 | Aug 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 |
| 700 spring bear | 1 | 1,430 | 1,749 | Apr 1, 2026 | May 31, 2026 |
| L premium deer | 3 | 3 | – | Aug 1, 2026 | Nov 30, 2026 |
| M premium elk | 3 | 3 | – | Aug 1, 2026 | Nov 30, 2026 |
The busiest 200 elk hunt here is 214, Trask Unit, with 619 first-choice applicants in 2025 for 10 tags. 9,571 hunters put 615 (Willamette Unit) first in 2025, the top 600 antlerless deer pick around Hillsboro for 3,410 tags.
Willamette Unit hunt numbers (first 14), with 2026 dates and tags:
| No. | Name | Kind | 2026 window | Tag count | 1st-choice apps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 615 | Willamette Unit | Any legal weapon | Sep 1-Feb 28 | 3,410 | 9,571 |
| 215A | Willamette Plus | Any legal weapon | Aug 1-Mar 31 | 83 | 367 |
| 200R | Oregon Youth Bow | Youth only | Aug 29-Sep 27 | 330 | 124 |
| 710A | NW Oregon | Any legal weapon | Apr 1-May 31 | 1,430 | 1,749 |
| L15 | Willamette | Premium | Aug 1-Nov 30 | 1 | – |
| M15 | Willamette | Premium | Aug 1-Nov 30 | 1 | – |
Hunt numbers, 2026 tags and 2025 first-choice applicants from the 2026 Oregon Big Game Hunting Regulations; hunt areas from the ODFW 2026 controlled hunt boundary layers; draw rules from the controlled hunt application rules. Checked November 8, 2026.
What Hillsboro hunters can buy over the counter
Hillsboro sits on the west side of the Cascade summit for big game, where general buck deer and general elk seasons apply. 9 general season rows are valid in the Willamette Unit, 4 of them for elk.
| Animal | Hunt | Covers | First day | Last day | Open? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery, West | 4 units | Aug 29, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Deer | West buck, any weapon | 20 units | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth extension, West buck | 20 units | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Elk | Antlerless damage | 12 units | Aug 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Elk | Archery, West | 5 units | Aug 29, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Elk | West Coast bull, 1st | 9 units | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 17, 2026 | |
| Elk | West Coast bull, 2nd | 6 units | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 27, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Fall, statewide | Statewide | Aug 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Cougar | Year-round, quotas | Statewide | Jan 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 |
Goose hunters in Washington County fall in the Northwest Permit Zone. Duck Zones 1 and 2 are drawn only on a map.
General seasons from the 2026 Oregon Big Game Hunting Regulations (tag sale deadlines); bird zones from the 2026-27 Oregon Game Bird Hunting Regulations (goose zones, hours zones). Checked November 8, 2026.
2025 hunters and harvest near Hillsboro
Read each figure as "2025 hunts in the Willamette Unit", not a count for Hillsboro or Washington County.
| Report, 2025 | Hunters | Taken |
|---|---|---|
| Buck deer, any weapon | 4,889 | 1,577 |
| Deer, archery | 811 | 122 |
| Elk, any weapon | 397 | 118 |
| Elk, archery | 175 | 19 |
| Elk damage tags | 546 | 243 |
| Black bear | 331 | 11 |
| Cougar | 335 | 5 |
2025 ODFW harvest summaries (unit totals computed from the hunt rows): buck deer, any weapon, deer, archery, elk, any weapon, elk, archery, elk damage tags, black bear, cougar. Checked November 8, 2026.
Who answers for Hillsboro hunters
ODFW's West Region covers Hillsboro; the North Willamette – Coast Range Unit district biologist answers at 503 621-3488, and the nearest office of any kind is ODFW Sauvie Island Wildlife Area (10 miles). Full-service offices sit at Clackamas, Roseburg, Bend and La Grande; Salem holds the headquarters.
ODFW offices from the ODFW Contact Us page and the ODFW offices layer (services.json); districts from the ODFW wildlife biologist districts layer; ranger district and BLM office addresses from the USFS and BLM office layers (places.json); straight-line distances. Checked November 8, 2026.
Hillsboro gear and game care
Within 25 miles of Hillsboro: 48 gun or outdoor shops, 12 taxidermists, 6 game processors and 1 guide listing with an address. Washington County appears in the guide areas of 59 registered outfitters (Marine Board roster).
Listings from Yellow Pages, store locators, the ODFW Contact Us page and the Oregon State Marine Board guide roster (services.json); chain stores left out and not every listing was checked as open, so call first. Checked November 8, 2026.
What the calendar holds around Hillsboro
Read November 7, 2026: 6 dates ahead within about 30 miles, namely DU Grand Council dinner, DU banquet, adult intro to hunting, adult waterfowl workshop and sportsmen’s show.
| Starts | Event | Mi | Held at | Link | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 14–15, 2026 | Waterfowl Hunting Workshop for Adults (Northwest Oregon) (Gervais) adult waterfowl workshop | 29 | Mid-Valley Clays & Shooting School Gervais | Register | Source |
| Nov 19, 2026 | Intro to Hunting in Oregon for Adults (Tualatin) adult intro to hunting | 13 | Cabela's (Tualatin) | Register | Source |
| Dec 17, 2026 | Intro to Hunting in Oregon for Adults (Tualatin) adult intro to hunting | 13 | Cabela's (Tualatin) | Register | Source |
| Feb 3, 2027 | Grand Council Dinner DU Grand Council dinner | 14 | Ringside Steakhouse | Tickets | Source |
| Feb 17–21, 2027 | Pacific Northwest Sportsmen's Show 2027 sportsmen’s show | 14 | Portland Expo Center | Event page | Source |
| Apr 23, 2027 | Portland Ducks Unlimited – Spring Conservation Event DU banquet | 14 | Rossi Farms | Tickets | Source |
Hillsboro: where to zero before the hunt
Three Oregon ranges nearest Hillsboro, ranked by straight-line miles.
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked November 8, 2026.
Hillsboro shooting light by date
Game birds run on ODFW's own printed table, and Hillsboro uses Zone A of it, so the bird column below is copied from the 2026-27 booklet rather than calculated.
| Day | Note | Sunup | Sundown | Big game | Game birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:28 a.m. | 7:58 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 8:28 p.m. | Not in table |
| Oct 3, 2026 | General buck opener | 7:11 a.m. | 6:51 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 7:21 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 6:44 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Duck opener and upland opener | 7:20 a.m. | 6:37 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 7:07 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 6:31 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:49 a.m. | 4:31 p.m. | 7:19 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. | 7:15 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. |
| Apr 15, 2027 | Spring turkey | 6:28 a.m. | 7:56 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 8:26 p.m. | Not in table |
Hours rules from the ODFW general hunting regulations; game bird times from the 2026-27 game bird shooting hours table; mammal sunrise and sunset worked out for this location with the NOAA solar formula (Pacific Time); checked November 8, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Hillsboro hunting questions
What is the first public land a Hillsboro hunter reaches?
Start with BLM Northwest Oregon District, 7.1 miles out; its access cell reads “open unless posted”. The land table lists 9 places with distances and status.
Which ODFW unit covers Hillsboro?
The town point lies in the Willamette Unit (2,893 square miles). Unit lines follow roads, rivers and ridges, so check the map near a line.
What deer live near Hillsboro?
The Willamette Unit is Western Oregon deer country; see the deer page for every 2026 season row.
Where do Hillsboro elk hunters apply?
In the 200 series and M premium draw; 23 elk hunts reach the units near town. The 2026 deadline was May 15.
Can I hunt cougar near Hillsboro all year?
Yes, from January 1 to December 31 on a general tag, until Zone A reaches its quota of 180. Dogs may not be used.
Who do Hillsboro hunters call with a wildlife question?
The North Willamette – Coast Range Unit district biologist at 503 621-3488, or ODFW Sauvie Island Wildlife Area, 10 miles from town.
When can I start duck hunting at Hillsboro in winter?
ODFW’s Zone A table gives 7:15 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. on December 21, 2026.
Can I bait a bear near Hillsboro?
No. Bait and dogs are both banned for bears in Oregon, and commercial cervid urine lures are prohibited.
Who mounts deer and elk heads close to Hillsboro?
Kraig Coleman's Taxidermy in Beaverton is the nearest listed taxidermist, about 5 miles away.
Is there pheasant hunting near Hillsboro?
Rooster pheasant has a Western Oregon season; fee pheasant hunts run at Denman, E.E. Wilson, Fern Ridge and Sauvie Island wildlife areas.
From places.json, lands.json, regs.json (the 2026 Oregon Big Game Hunting Regulations, 2026-27 game bird regulations, hunter orange, license fees, CWD), counties.json and services.json. Checked November 8, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Eric Gropp (CC BY 2.0); Eric Gropp (CC BY 2.0); born1945 (CC BY 2.0); Oregon Department of Transportation (CC BY 2.0).