COLUMBIA COUNTY, Western Oregon’s general rifle deer season closes Friday, Nov. 6, and the two general coast bull elk rifle seasons open the following two weekends, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s 2026 season dates.
| Season | Dates | Tag deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Deer, western Oregon, any legal weapon | Oct. 3 to Nov. 6 | Oct. 2 (passed) |
| Coast bull elk, first season | Nov. 14 to 17 | Nov. 13 |
| Coast bull elk, second season | Nov. 21 to 27 | Nov. 20 |
The first coast elk season requires a General Western Oregon Coast First Season Tag; the second requires the General Western Oregon Coast Second Season Tag. Tags must be bought by the day before each season opens.
Also on the calendar: general cougar season runs all year with a tag, and the additional fall bear season runs through Dec. 31, per ODFW. Hunters can check unit boundaries and rules in the ODFW big game regulations.
For everyone else on the county’s trails and timber roads, the elk seasons bring more vehicles and more hunters into the county’s forests in mid-November. Wear bright colors and keep dogs close.