New Oregon resident

[PaulB84]

My sister and her husband just moved to the Hood River area. They're both supremely outdoorsy and I am now trying to take advantage of their resident status and get them into hunting. I'm a meat guy, don't give two shits about antlers. A cow would be a huge trophy for us.

If I were to act as their "guide" knowing nothing about the actual areas but plenty about hunting in general, where would you suggest we start?

Thanks in advance

 

[BullsDeep]

E scout and Boots on the ground.

 

[PaulB84]

From what I understand, they just fill out a few forms online and buy a license, same as I would for deer or whatever in my home state?

 

[Windigo]

From what I understand, they just fill out a few forms online and buy a license, same as I would for deer or whatever in my home state?

OTC elk in OR is a crap shoot, good luck

 

[coast range]

Well basically too late for this year. But you can buy preference points for this year if you do it before November 31st. You will have to buy a hunting license first. I don’t do cow hunts myself but most take several points. So a couple years of applying.
But there are opportunities if you have money or know people with a large amount of land to get land owner tags.

Good luck general seasons are um well general seasons…

 

[PaulB84]

Understood. So even as a resident you need points?

 

[Erict]

From what I understand, they just fill out a few forms online and buy a license, same as I would for deer or whatever in my home state?

If they just moved there, they are likely not entitled to resident licenses for this season:

 

[PaulB84]

No worries. More than willing to play the long game

 

[Sawitrightoff]

My sister and her husband just moved to the Hood River area. They're both supremely outdoorsy and I am now trying to take advantage of their resident status and get them into hunting. I'm a meat guy, don't give two shits about antlers. A cow would be a huge trophy for us.

If I were to act as their "guide" knowing nothing about the actual areas but plenty about hunting in general, where would you suggest we start?

Thanks in advance

It’s a good thing you just want to “guide” them and don’t care anything about antlers, because OR is a NR unfriendly state, for branch antlered bulls.

 

[Tmac]

OTC elk & deer are on the West side, and it’s generally not easy. But if one learns an area and the tactics, you’ll eventually have success. Very tough terrain for the most part.

Get a copy of the Oregon regs and pay close attention to the General Season Antlerless Damage hunt. 20 minutes ish east of your sis is open thru 3/31/2026 on a 2025 OTC elk tag with no tag purchase deadline… You would almost certainly need private land access, but worth exploring.

Hood River orchards can need deer/elk thinned out, ODFW can issue special damage tags when necessary. Again private land so would need to know a landowner.

You can do all the above and still buy Oregon preference points and build to a decent elk hunt in NE OR. Good bow and rifle opportunities. There are some controlled draw antlerless elk hunts that do have public land, takes a bit of research, but they are there. The 2026 regs are just hitting stores.