Cougar Seasons
Cougar Regulations
General Season Tag Sale Deadline
Oct. 4, see License, Tag, & Permit Fees
Statewide Season:
Jan. 1 - Dec. 31
Using dogs to hunt or pursue cougar is prohibited.
Mortality Quotas: Cougar Zones will be closed to cougar hunting if the quota has been reached. However, quotas are typically not met. See table below for zones and quotas. Quota information is updated regularly at: myodfw.com/cougar-quota-zone
Additional Tag: An additional cougar tag may be purchased throughout the season; however, hunters must purchase the general season tag to be eligible for the additional tag.
Bag Limit: One cougar per tag, except it is unlawful to take spotted kittens or females with spotted kittens.
Mandatory Check for All Cougar
- Any cougar taken must be presented to an ODFW field office or designated collection site within 10 days of the kill to be checked and marked; the person who took the animal is responsible to have it presented.
- Hunters are required to check the unfrozen hide with skull and proof of sex attached
- Hunters are required to submit the reproductive tract of any female cougar taken (see below).
- To make check-in easier, ODFW biologist request hunters use a stick to hold the mouth open so teeth are easier to access
- Check-in must occur by appointment during normal business hours (Mon. - Fri., 8am - 5pm). Please call ahead to make arrangements to have the cougar checked.
- At check-in, hunters must provide
- Date, and location including Wildlife Management Unit of harvest.
- Complete hunter information including the issued date and time of a paper tag or the confirmation number of an electronic tag; a completed “Wildlife Transfer Record Form” (see pg 104 or select Transfer in your ODFW account) is an alternative for providing the needed information.
- Hunters must still complete mandatory reporting via the internet.
Cougar Zones and Quotas |
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Hunt Zone* |
Name |
Quota |
Management Units |
A |
Coast/North Cascade |
180 |
10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 24, 25, 26 27, 39, 41, 42 |
B |
Southwest Cascades |
200 |
19, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30, 31 |
C |
Southeast Cascades |
80 |
32, 33, 34, 35, 75, 76, 77 |
D |
Columbia Basin |
100 |
38, 40, 43, 44, 45 |
E |
Blue Mountains |
270 |
37, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64 |
F |
Southeast Oregon |
140 |
36, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74 |
Statewide Total Quota: |
970 |
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Collecting the Reproductive Tract from a Female Black Bear or Cougar
- Label a plastic bag with: issued date and time of a paper tag or the confirmation number of an electronic tag, Date of Kill, Unit Number and Name, County, and Your Name and Address. Ziplock type kitchen or freezer bags work very well for this purpose.
- Locate the “Y” shaped reproductive tract beneath and slightly ahead of the pelvis or hip bones. It usually is necessary to move some of the intestines and other organs aside to locate the entire tract, including both ovaries and the uterus.
- Cut the uterus immediately forward of the bladder. Use caution when handling the bladder and cutting the reproductive tract from the body cavity to insure the meat is not contaminated with urine from the bladder.
- Place the entire reproductive tract in the labeled plastic bag and seal.
- Preserve specimens by freezing as soon as possible and submit to any ODFW district office or check station.
