Oregon’s deer seasons follow a simple pattern: archery in late summer, rifle in October, and a scattering of late hunts in November and December. The details depend on which side of the Cascades you hunt and which species you’re after. Use these tables for the general pattern and check the regulations for your hunt.

2026 Oregon deer season dates

Season	2026 dates	Tag
General archery, western Oregon	August 29 – September 27	Over the counter
Controlled archery, eastern Oregon (most hunts)	August 29 – September 27	Controlled
W. High Cascade rifle (119A)	September 12–20	Controlled
Early Mid-Columbia rifle	September 12–20	Controlled
Western Oregon general rifle	October 3 – November 6	Over the counter
Eastern Oregon rifle buck (most hunts)	October 3–14	Controlled
Eastern Oregon youth-only (most hunts)	September 28 – October 14	Controlled
Eastern Oregon muzzleloader (several areas)	October 17–25	Controlled
Western Oregon youth extension	November 7–8	Unfilled general or 119A tag
Late eastern Oregon rifle buck hunts	November, varies (for example November 1–29 or 15–29)	Controlled
Western Oregon late archery (some units)	November 14 – December 6 or November 21 – December 13	Over the counter
Late whitetail muzzleloader, northeast	November 16–30	Controlled

Blacktail seasons (western Oregon)

General archery (August 29 – September 27)

Bucks are still in summer patterns and often feed in the open at dawn and dusk, especially at higher elevations. It’s warm, so cool meat fast.

W. High Cascade (September 12–20)

A controlled early rifle hunt in the high Cascades with 3,300 tags. Bucks are in their summer range up high. The same tag carries into the general rifle season if you don’t fill it.

General rifle (October 3 – November 6)

The longest rifle deer season in the state. Early October hunting can be slow in thick cover. By late October and early November, bucks start rutting and move more, and the last weeks are often the best time to hunt. Youth with an unfilled tag get an extra weekend, November 7–8.

Late archery (November and December)

Several units reopen to archers from mid- or late November into December, during and after the rut.

Western controlled hunts

A few controlled hunts cover special areas, such as the Wilson, Dixon and Umpqua hunts, and western muzzleloader hunts in November. The Umpqua hunt (123A) allows a white-tailed or black-tailed buck.

Mule deer seasons (eastern Oregon)

Controlled archery (August 29 – September 27)

Spot-and-stalk archery in open country. Bucks are often bedded in shade by mid-morning, so glass early and late. Some late archery hunts run in November.

Rifle buck hunts (October 3–14 for most)

Twelve days, ending before the mule deer rut. Bucks are in their fall range and can be found by glassing open slopes and draws. A few hunts open early (September 12–20 in the Mid-Columbia area) and several late hunts run in November, when the rut and migration make big bucks more visible.

Muzzleloader (October 17–25 in several areas, others later)

A short muzzleloader window in several eastern areas, with a few later hunts in November and December.

Whitetail seasons (northeast Oregon)

New for 2026, many northeast Oregon hunt areas have separate whitetail-only and mule deer-only hunts. Whitetail rifle hunts in the Northeast, Elkhorn and South Wallowas areas run October 3–14. There’s also a late Wallowa Valley whitetail hunt (November 16–25), late whitetail muzzleloader hunts (November 16–30), and a December 1–15 whitetail muzzleloader hunt in Northeast 01 and 02 with mandatory CWD sampling.

How to pick your season

• First deer hunt, want a guaranteed tag? Western Oregon general rifle.
• Want the blacktail rut? The last two weeks of the general rifle season, or late archery.
• After a big mule deer? Apply for a late eastern Oregon rifle hunt and build points.
• Want a whitetail? Apply for one of the new northeast whitetail-only hunts.
• Going with an outfitter? Ask which hunts and areas they work in under the new 2026 system.

Read our guide to Oregon deer controlled hunts

Related: How Oregon draw points work · Draw odds by unit · Oregon Deer Hunting Guide · General season deer tags · Cost of an Oregon deer hunt

Season dates are for 2026 from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Controlled hunt dates vary by hunt. Confirm the dates for your hunt in the current Oregon Big Game Regulations.