Northwest Permit Goose Season
Because season dates and hunting regulations change annually, significant changes from last year’s season dates and hunting regulations are in yellow highlight.
Significant regulations and information are highlighted in bold.
Open Season
Canada Goose
- Oct. 18 - Oct. 26
- Nov. 22 - Jan. 9, 2026
- Jan. 31 - Feb. 15, 2026
Bag limit of 2 Canada Geese (except dusky Canada geese which are closed to harvest, see dusky Canada goose definition). See expection for Sauvie Island WA below.
White-fronted and White Goose
- Oct. 18 - Oct. 26
- Nov. 8 - Jan. 25, 2026
- Jan. 31 - Feb. 15, 2026
Bag limit of 10 white-fronted geese and 20 white geese.
Exception for Sauvie Island WA: only white geese (bag limit of 20) may be taken in units of the WA open to goose hunting. Open days are WA hunt days during the Northwest Permit Goose Season.
All harvested geese must remain intact and fully feathered in the field and while in transit to the place of permanent residence of the possessor.
Boundary
All of Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Washington, and Yamhill Cos. Within this boundary, the following ODFW WAs are closed to goose hunting during the Northwest Permit Goose Season:
- Fern Ridge WA (including Fern Ridge Reservoir and all Corps of Engineers lands in the Fern Ridge Project)
- E. E. Wilson WA
- Sauvie Island WA, except the Eastside, Westside and Oak Island Units. See open season and bag limit exceptions above.
Permit Requirements
In addition to hunting license and stamp/validation requirements, hunters must possess an annual Northwest Goose Permit while hunting. To be eligible to obtain a Northwest Goose Permit, hunters must have passed a goose identification test provided by the Oregon or Washington Departments of Fish and Wildlife after 1996 and have a valid Northwest Goose Certification on file with ODFW. Hunters who successfully complete a goose test in Washington are eligible to receive a permit in Oregon, please call 503-947-6301 for more information. A permit is not needed to hunt during the September Goose Season.
To access study materials and take the goose identification test, visit the Northwest Goose Permit Zone hunting page on the ODFW website. The test can be taken a maximum of three times per season. If you fail the test a third time in one season you will need to wait until the next season to test again. After passing the test, hunters may obtain a Northwest Goose Permit online or anywhere ODFW licenses are sold.
Dusky Canada geese are closed to harvest, the permit will become invalid for the remainder of the season if the holder takes any dusky Canada goose. In addition, it is a wildlife violation to take or possess a dusky Canada goose. Hunters who have their permit invalidated for taking a dusky Canada goose may obtain a new permit for subsequent seasons by retaking and passing the goose identification test.
Shooting Hours
Legal shooting hours for geese in the Northwest Permit Zone during the Northwest Permit Goose Season.
DATES |
AM |
PM |
Oct. 18 - Oct. 24 |
7:35 AM |
6:18 PM |
Oct. 25 - Oct. 26 |
7:44 AM |
6:07 PM |
Oct. 27 - Nov. 7 |
— |
|
Nov. 8 - Nov. 14 |
7:03 AM |
4:49 PM |
Nov. 15 - Nov. 21 |
7:12 AM |
4:42 PM |
Nov. 22 - Nov. 28 |
7:21 AM |
4:37 PM |
Nov. 29 - Dec. 5 |
7:29 AM |
4:34 PM |
Dec. 6 - Dec. 12 |
7:36 AM |
4:33 PM |
Dec. 13 - Dec. 19 |
7:41 AM |
4:35 PM |
Dec. 20 - Dec. 26 |
7:45 AM |
4:38 PM |
Dec. 27 - Jan. 2 |
7:47 AM |
4:43 PM |
Jan. 3 - Jan. 9 |
7:47 AM |
4:49 PM |
Jan. 10 - Jan. 16 |
7:45 AM |
4:57 PM |
Jan. 17 - Jan. 23 |
7:41 AM |
5:06 PM |
Jan. 24 - Jan. 25 |
7:35 AM |
5:16 PM |
Jan. 26 - Jan. 30 |
— |
|
Jan. 31 - Feb. 6 |
7:27 AM |
5:25 PM |
Feb. 7 - Feb. 13 |
7:18 AM |
5:35 PM |
Feb. 14 - Feb. 15 |
7:08 AM |
5:45 PM |
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
Avian influenza, or “bird flu,” is a respiratory disease of birds caused by influenza A viruses. Wild birds can carry and spread these viruses but may show no signs of illness.
Although avian influenza viruses rarely infect people, you should still protect yourself:
- Do not harvest or handle wild birds that are obviously sick or found dead.
- Always wear disposable gloves when handling or cleaning game and wash hands with soap and water immediately afterward.
- Dress game birds in a location away from poultry and other birds and bag the carcass for disposal. Disinfect all tools and work surfaces.
- Clothing and boots used in hunting wild birds should be changed before handling live poultry.
- Cook game meat thoroughly.
- Report dead wild birds to ODFW 866-968-2600 or email.
For more information about avian influenza, visit the USDA APHIS avian influenza page.
