Yes. Hunting on the forest follows Oregon’s rules, and the forest spans three ODFW units: Hood (42), White River (41) and Santiam (16). Some season is open from August through January, and rifle seasons cluster from mid-September to mid-November. This page covers the basics and points you to ODFW’s current regulations, the final word on seasons, tags and limits.
Hunters and hikers share the forest every fall. Some hunting season is open from August through January, so expect hunters in the woods on any fall hike. A few habits keep everyone safe.
The Forest Service recommends hunter orange for everyone on national forests during big game season. A bright hat and vest are easy to see from any side.
Rifle hunts cluster in a few windows. In 2026: high-country deer hunts Sep 12 to 20, the rifle deer opener on Oct 3, and elk hunts in late October and mid-November.
Archery season, Aug 29 to Sep 27 in 2026, overlaps late-summer hiking. Bowhunters are quiet and hard to spot, so wear color then too.
Legal shooting hours for deer, elk and other game mammals run from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset.
Keep your dog on a leash; at developed recreation sites it must be 6 feet or shorter. An orange vest or bandana helps hunters see it.
No one may shoot within 150 yards of a campsite, building, developed recreation site or occupied area, or across or on a Forest road or the water next to it.
Hunters, be seen too. Hunters under 18 using a firearm for game mammals or upland birds (except turkey) must wear a hunter orange hat or outer garment visible from all directions, and ODFW strongly encourages adults to wear it as well.
ODFW manages hunting by unit, and Mt. Hood National Forest falls in three. ODFW's unit pages list each unit's boundaries and local office. New for 2026, eastern Oregon deer hunts are organized by deer hunt areas instead of units.
The north side, from Hood River southwest along OR 35 to Barlow Pass, then along the PCT to Lolo Pass. Deer hunt area MC02 shares its boundary.
The east side, east of OR 35 and US 26 and north of the Warm Springs Reservation. Most of it is deer hunt area MC01. The McQuinn Strip, on the reservation, has been closed to public hunting since 1992.
The west side, including the Sandy and Clackamas basins, west of the PCT between Lolo and Barlow passes and south to Highway 20.
DeerWest side: general archery and rifle buck seasons, plus a controlled high-country hunt in September. East side: controlled hunts only.
ElkArchery from late August. West side: a general rifle bull season in November. East side: rifle bull elk by controlled hunt only.
Bear and cougarFall black bear season ran Aug 1 to Dec 31 in 2026; spring bear is a controlled hunt. Bait and hounds are banned for bear. Cougar is open all year.
Grouse and turkeyRuffed and sooty grouse Sep 1 to Jan 31. Spring turkey statewide. Fall turkey is open in the Santiam unit but not in Hood or White River.SummerAug to Sep
FallOct
Late fallNov to Jan
SpringApr to May
These are 2026 dates, and they change every year. Many of these hunts are controlled, so you need to draw a tag. Read ODFW's current big game seasons, Big Game Hunting Regulations and Game Bird Regulations for your unit before you go. They're the only official word on dates, tags and bag limits.
Do
Don't
Some parts of the forest are closed to entry, and closures change often. Check alerts and closures before every trip.
No entry, except on the PCT and the Huckleberry Trail.
No entry, under a standing order. ODFW runs special permit-only hunts there.
The Austin and Grasshopper fire closures run through Dec 31, 2026.
Motor vehicles only on FR 15 (Larch Mountain Road), and no camping.
No fires and no camping, on the Barlow district.
The MVUM shows legal roads and seasonal and wildlife closures, and law enforcement uses it.
Yes. Hunting follows Oregon's rules, and the forest is in ODFW's Hood (42), White River (41) and Santiam (16) units. Forest Service rules still apply: no shooting within 150 yards of camps, buildings or developed sites, or across Forest roads. Some areas, such as the Bull Run and The Dalles watersheds, are closed to entry.
Some season is open from August through January. In 2026 bear ran Aug 1 to Dec 31, cougar is open all year, and grouse runs Sep 1 to Jan 31. Rifle seasons cluster in mid-September high-country deer hunts, October deer and November elk. Dates change every year, so check ODFW's seasons page.
Yes. The Forest Service recommends hunter orange for everyone on national forests during big game season. Hunters under 18 using a firearm for game mammals or upland birds must wear it, and ODFW encourages adults to wear it too.
Yes, on a leash. Forest Service site pages ask that all pets be leashed, and at developed recreation sites the leash can be no longer than 6 feet. An orange vest helps hunters see your dog. Hunting game mammals with dogs is illegal in Oregon except for western gray squirrel, and dogs can't be used to hunt or pursue bear.
Not within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site or occupied area; not across or on a Forest road or the water next to one; not into or inside a cave; and not anywhere a person or property could be hurt. State law also bans hunting or shooting from or across a public road. Our target shooting guide covers the same rules in more detail.
Baiting bear is banned statewide, and so are commercial deer and elk attractants made from cervid urine. We didn't find a Mt. Hood rule on tree stands. Federal rules ban leaving personal property unattended for more than 72 hours unless the forest allows longer, so ask the ranger district before you set one up.
Yes, within the limits. Forest-wide, you can stay no more than 14 days in a row in one spot and 28 days a year, under an order that runs to Sep 30, 2027. The Forest Service notes that occupancy limits, stay limits and firewood rules all apply during hunting season.
Seasons, tags and rules change every year. ODFW's current regulations are the source of truth.
