Oregon, 2027 shed season

Oregon Shed Antler Season 2027

Q: When is shed hunting season in Oregon?

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife publishes these dated closures. White River Wildlife Area: closed from December 1 until March 31. Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area: closed from February 1 until March 31. In the agency's words: "The Wildlife Area lands north of Forest Road 27 are closed to the public from December 1 through March 31."

Q: Do I need a permit to collect sheds in Oregon?

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's published shed rules name no permit, course or license for collecting. Landowner permission and the land manager's own rules still apply wherever you walk.

Q: Who sets the shed antler rules in Oregon?

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The rules here were read from its own pages on September 21, 2026, and each one links to the page it came from. Rules change between winters, so the agency page is the one to check before a trip.

Oregon needs no license to pick up deer and elk sheds, and seven ODFW wildlife areas close to entry over winter.

“You don't need a license or permit to hunt for sheds, but in order to deter poaching there are a few rules—and some areas are closed until spring to protect wintering big game.” Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Dated closures

Rule type

from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

March 31

Next closure lifts

White River Wildlife Area

None named

Course or permit

in the agency rules quoted below

September 21, 2026

Rules read

from the agency page

The rule

Shed antler rules in Oregon

Dated closures

The closures protect wintering big game on the White River, Phillip W Schneider, Bridge Creek, Elkhorn, Ladd Marsh, Wenaha and Minam River wildlife areas, each on its own dates, the earliest from Dec 1 and the latest to Apr 14. On private land a shed belongs to the landowner.

Statewide

No license or permit is needed to collect sheds, and only antlers naturally shed by deer and elk may be picked up; antlers attached to skulls stay in the woods.

You don't need a license or permit to hunt for sheds, but in order to deter poaching there are a few rules—and some areas are closed until spring to protect wintering big game.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, read September 21, 2026. Read it at the source

Private land

A shed antler belongs to the landowner, so collectors need permission to enter private land and pick up sheds.

Once an antler falls off it legally becomes the property of the landowner.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, read September 21, 2026. Read it at the source

White River Wildlife Area

December 1 to March 31

Wildlife area lands north of Forest Road 27 are closed to the public each winter.

The Wildlife Area lands north of Forest Road 27 are closed to the public from December 1 through March 31.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, read September 21, 2026. Read it at the source

Phillip W Schneider Wildlife Area

The area is open to public access only from Apr 15 through Jan 31.

Open to public access and hunting Apr. 15 - Jan. 31.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, read September 21, 2026. Read it at the source

Bridge Creek Wildlife Area

The area is open to public access only from Apr 15 through Nov 30.

Open to public access and hunting Apr. 15 - Nov. 30.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, read September 21, 2026. Read it at the source

Elkhorn Wildlife Area

The area is open to public access from Apr 11 through Nov 30 or by permit.

Open to public access Apr. 11 - Nov. 30, or by permit.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, read September 21, 2026. Read it at the source

Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area

February 1 to March 31

All lands west of Foothill Road are closed to all entry in late winter.

All lands west of Foothill Rd are closed to all entry Feb. 1 - Mar. 31.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, read September 21, 2026. Read it at the source

Wenaha Wildlife Area

The area is open to public access Apr 1 through Dec 31 (with named year round exceptions).

Open to public access and hunting from April 1 through December 31.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, read September 21, 2026. Read it at the source

Minam River Wildlife Area

The area is open to public access Apr 1 through Nov 30 (except the Minam River Trail and its parking area).

Open to public access and hunting Apr. 1 - Nov. 30.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, read September 21, 2026. Read it at the source

Dated windows

Oregon shed closures by month

Winter range closures protect wintering deer and elk, keeping people off the ground where the animals spend the hardest months. The dates below are Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s own, each one printed in the agency sentence quoted above.

Oregon windows, January to December, as Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife dates them

White River Wildlife AreaDecember 1 to March 31

Ladd Marsh Wildlife AreaFebruary 1 to March 31

Closed to shed collecting

Courses, sale and state land

More Oregon shed rules

State wildlife land

ODFW says some of its wildlife areas are entirely closed to public access during late winter to protect wintering big game, and others have road and travel restrictions; the dated closures are in rules above.

Some ODFW wildlife areas are entirely closed to public access during late winter; other areas have road and travel restrictions.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, read September 21, 2026. Read it at the source

When antlers drop

When deer shed antlers in Oregon

Buck deer cast antlers from late December through March and bull elk from late February through early April.

Oregon's buck deer shed their antlers from late December through March and bull elk shed them from late February through early April.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, read September 21, 2026. Read it at the source

A large elk antler lying in green grass with snow covered mountains in the distance — An elk shed on the National Elk Refuge, Wyoming, with the Tetons behind. Elk winter range in the West is where most dated shed closures fall, because the closures exist for the animals wintering there. “Shed Antler on the National Elk Refuge (53662858076)”, USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain

Oregon shed antler questions

Is it legal to pick up shed antlers in Oregon?

When is shed hunting season in Oregon?

Do I need a permit to collect sheds in Oregon?

Can I collect sheds on state wildlife land in Oregon?

Can I pick up sheds on private land in Oregon?

When do deer shed antlers in Oregon?

Who sets the shed antler rules in Oregon?

Shed antler rules in other states

Oregon deer seasonArchery and firearms dates for Oregon, read from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.Oregon deer rutWhen bucks breed in the fall, months before those antlers drop.Shed antler rules by stateEvery state's shed rule, the dated western closures and when each species drops.

A young bull elk carrying a single antler standing among elk bedded in snow — A young bull that has already dropped one antler, among elk bedded in snow. Colorado Parks and Wildlife says elk may start shedding in February and run through April. “Bull Elk and Herd (6258537907)”, USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain

Compiled September 21, 2026. Every rule above is republished from Responsible shed hunting, ODFW and the other Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife pages linked beside each quote, read on September 21, 2026. Rules change between winters, so the agency page is the one to check before a trip. Every state is in the national shed antler guide.