Oregon Hunting Laws
Oregon sets different minimum centerfire calibers by species — .22 caliber or larger for deer, pronghorn, black bear and cougar, but .24 caliber or larger for elk, bighorn sheep and Rocky Mountain goat. Full metal-jacket and tracer bullets are banned for all game mammals, and semi-automatic rifles are capped at a 5-round magazine.
Every rule below cites the official regulation. Last verified August 30, 2026.
At a glance
Check a cartridge in Oregon
Pick a state, species, and weapon — add a cartridge for a full check.
Sourced rules
Every row cites the controlling regulation and the date we verified it.
Air Gun
4 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Airguns are not on Oregon's authorized weapons list for game mammals — only rifles, handguns, shotguns, muzzleloaders, and bows are legal.
"It is unlawful to hunt game mammals with a crossbow or any weapon other than those rifles, handguns, shotguns, muzzleloaders, and bows authorized." |
OAR 635-065-0725 | Aug 2026 |
| Elk |
Airguns are not on Oregon's authorized weapons list for game mammals — only rifles, handguns, shotguns, muzzleloaders, and bows are legal.
"It is unlawful to hunt game mammals with a crossbow or any weapon other than those rifles, handguns, shotguns, muzzleloaders, and bows authorized." |
OAR 635-065-0725 | Aug 2026 |
| Black Bear |
Airguns are not on Oregon's authorized weapons list for game mammals — only rifles, handguns, shotguns, muzzleloaders, and bows are legal.
"It is unlawful to hunt game mammals with a crossbow or any weapon other than those rifles, handguns, shotguns, muzzleloaders, and bows authorized." |
OAR 635-065-0725 | Aug 2026 |
| Pronghorn |
Airguns are not on Oregon's authorized weapons list for game mammals — only rifles, handguns, shotguns, muzzleloaders, and bows are legal.
"It is unlawful to hunt game mammals with a crossbow or any weapon other than those rifles, handguns, shotguns, muzzleloaders, and bows authorized." |
OAR 635-065-0725 | Aug 2026 |
All weapons
2 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| All species |
Fluorescent orange is mandatory only for hunters under 18 pursuing game mammals or upland birds (excluding turkey) with a firearm; adult hunters are not required to wear orange, though ODFW recommends it.
"No person younger than 18 years of age shall hunt with any firearm any game mammal or upland game bird (excluding turkey) unless the person is wearing in a manner visible from all directions a hat or exterior garment ..." |
OAR 635-065-0012 | Aug 2026 |
| All species | Suppressors are reported legal for hunting in Oregon as long as they are federally registered under the NFA; no OAR restriction on hunting with one was found. | General weapons page; ORS 166.272 governs suppressor possession (secondary compilations, primary ORS text not retrieved in this pass) | Aug 2026 needs review |
Handgun
6 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Tracer and full metal-jacket (military-style) bullets are banned for game mammals.
"Hunters shall not use tracer ammunition or full metal-jacket bullets." |
OAR 635-065-0700 / 635-065-0710 | Aug 2026 |
| Elk |
Tracer and full metal-jacket (military-style) bullets are banned for game mammals.
"Hunters shall not use tracer ammunition or full metal-jacket bullets." |
OAR 635-065-0700 / 635-065-0710 | Aug 2026 |
| Black Bear |
Tracer and full metal-jacket (military-style) bullets are banned for game mammals.
"Hunters shall not use tracer ammunition or full metal-jacket bullets." |
OAR 635-065-0700 / 635-065-0710 | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Deer and black bear handguns must be centerfire, at least .22 caliber, and not fully automatic. Military/FMJ bullets are also prohibited.
"Any centerfire handgun .22 caliber or larger that is not fully automatic" |
OAR 635-065-0710 | Aug 2026 |
| Black Bear |
Deer and black bear handguns must be centerfire, at least .22 caliber, and not fully automatic. Military/FMJ bullets are also prohibited.
"Any centerfire handgun .22 caliber or larger that is not fully automatic" |
OAR 635-065-0710 | Aug 2026 |
| Elk |
Elk handguns must be centerfire, at least .24 caliber, and not fully automatic.
"Any centerfire handgun .24 caliber or larger that is not fully automatic" |
OAR 635-065-0710 | Aug 2026 |
Muzzleloader
6 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Deer and black bear muzzleloaders must be at least .40 caliber.
".40 calibers or larger" |
OAR 635-065-0705 | Aug 2026 |
| Black Bear |
Deer and black bear muzzleloaders must be at least .40 caliber.
".40 calibers or larger" |
OAR 635-065-0705 | Aug 2026 |
| Elk |
Elk muzzleloaders must be at least .50 caliber.
".50 caliber or larger" |
OAR 635-065-0705 | Aug 2026 |
| All species |
Only flintlock or percussion-cap ignition is legal; in-line muzzleloaders that use these ignition types otherwise still qualify.
"Hunters shall use only flint or percussion caps as a source of ignition." |
OAR 635-065-0705 | Aug 2026 |
| All species |
During muzzleloader-only seasons, scopes and battery/illuminated sights are banned; open, peep, and fiber-optic iron sights are legal.
"no scopes (permanent or detachable)... no sights that use batteries, artificial light or energy" |
OAR 635-065-0705 | Aug 2026 |
| All species |
Sabots and bullets with plastic/synthetic parts are prohibited; only granular black powder or substitutes with cloth/paper/felt patches are legal.
"It is illegal to hunt with or have in possession while hunting, sabots, or bullets with plastic or synthetic parts. Cloth, paper or felt patches are allowed." |
OAR 635-065-0705 | Aug 2026 |
Rifle
7 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Deer and black bear rifles must be centerfire, at least .22 caliber, and not fully automatic.
"Any centerfire rifle .22 caliber or larger that is not fully automatic" |
OAR 635-065-0700 | Aug 2026 |
| Black Bear |
Deer and black bear rifles must be centerfire, at least .22 caliber, and not fully automatic.
"Any centerfire rifle .22 caliber or larger that is not fully automatic" |
OAR 635-065-0700 | Aug 2026 |
| Elk |
Elk rifles must be centerfire, at least .24 caliber, and not fully automatic.
".24 caliber or larger centerfire rifle that is not fully automatic" |
OAR 635-065-0700 | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Tracer and full metal-jacket (military-style) bullets are banned for game mammals.
"Hunters shall not use tracer ammunition or full metal-jacket bullets." |
OAR 635-065-0700 / 635-065-0710 | Aug 2026 |
| Elk |
Tracer and full metal-jacket (military-style) bullets are banned for game mammals.
"Hunters shall not use tracer ammunition or full metal-jacket bullets." |
OAR 635-065-0700 / 635-065-0710 | Aug 2026 |
| Black Bear |
Tracer and full metal-jacket (military-style) bullets are banned for game mammals.
"Hunters shall not use tracer ammunition or full metal-jacket bullets." |
OAR 635-065-0700 / 635-065-0710 | Aug 2026 |
| All species |
Semi-automatic rifles used for hunting game mammals are capped at a 5-round magazine capacity.
"Semiautomatics shall have a magazine capacity of no more than five cartridges." |
OAR 635-065-0700 | Aug 2026 |
Shotgun
2 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Turkey |
Turkey shotguns must be 10 to 20 gauge, firing shot no larger than No. 2 (smaller shot sizes such as No. 4–9 are also legal).
"It is unlawful to hunt wild turkeys with shotguns larger than 10 gauge or smaller than 20 gauge or with shot size larger than No. 2." |
OAR 635-053-0035 | Aug 2026 |
| All species | On many state Wildlife Areas, National Wildlife Refuges, and Regulated Hunting Areas, only federally approved nontoxic shot may be possessed or used for shotgun hunting. | OAR Chapter 635, Division 51 (nontoxic shot rule OAR 635-051-0025 — verbatim text pending; index page confirms the rule exists in this division) | Aug 2026 needs review |
Federal rules that apply in every state
These federal requirements apply in Oregon on top of state law.
Federal law: only USFWS-approved nontoxic shot may be used — or even possessed — while hunting waterfowl, coots, and aggregate-bag species.
50 CFR § 20.21(j)(1)–(3)
Federal law: shotguns for migratory birds are limited to 3 shells total (magazine + chamber) with a one-piece plug; limited light-goose and September Canada goose season exceptions exist.
50 CFR § 20.21(b)
Federal law: shotguns for migratory birds may be no larger than 10 gauge.
50 CFR § 20.21(a)
Federal law prohibits taking migratory birds with a rifle, pistol, or fully automatic firearm.
50 CFR § 20.21(a)
On Waterfowl Production Areas and designated National Wildlife Refuge lands, possessing shot other than approved nontoxic shot is prohibited; individual refuges may impose stricter rules.
50 CFR § 32.2(k)
Sources
Legal hunting methods and weapon restrictions
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife · retrieved August 30, 2026
OAR 635-065-0012 — Mandatory Fluorescent Orange Garments
Oregon Secretary of State / Oregon Administrative Rules · retrieved August 30, 2026
OAR 635-065-0700 — Rifles — Requirements
Oregon Secretary of State / Oregon Administrative Rules · retrieved August 30, 2026
OAR 635-065-0705 — Muzzleloading Rifles — Requirements
Oregon Secretary of State / Oregon Administrative Rules · retrieved August 30, 2026
OAR 635-065-0710 — Handguns — Requirements
Oregon Secretary of State / Oregon Administrative Rules · retrieved August 30, 2026
OAR 635-065-0725 — Other Weapons
Oregon Secretary of State / Oregon Administrative Rules · retrieved August 30, 2026
OAR Chapter 635, Division 51 — General Game Bird Regulations (Nontoxic Shot index)
Oregon Secretary of State / Oregon Administrative Rules · retrieved August 30, 2026
Or. Admin. Code § 635-053-0035 — Wild Turkey
Legal Information Institute (Cornell Law), mirroring Oregon Administrative Rules · retrieved August 30, 2026
Sources & methodology
Rules on this page are verified against state statutes, administrative code, official agency regulation digests, and federal regulations — never forums, retailer blogs, or hunter-ed course summaries. Rules we could not yet pin to a primary source are labeled needs review and never produce a green "legal" answer. Cartridge energy figures used by the checker are typical factory-load values; where a rule sets an energy or bullet-weight floor, verify your specific load's manufacturer rating.
Legal disclaimer — please read
This page is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Hunting regulations change every season, vary by zone, season, land type, and county ordinance, and are interpreted by the state's enforcement officers — not by this page.
- Confirm every rule in the current official Oregon hunting regulations before your hunt.
- Check season dates, license and tag requirements, zone boundaries, and local ordinances — this page covers equipment rules only.
- When in doubt, contact Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife directly.
The controlling document is the regulation, not this page. We disclaim all liability for reliance on it.