Effective January 1, 2010, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife changed their guidelines for distance learning. Students are now required to spend a minimum amount of time on each course page before proceeding to the certification exam.

Click here to go to the latest version of the Today's Hunter in Oregon online course—the official hunter education course of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The following course material is for reference only. Please go to the new course to complete your Oregon certification.

Hunting Strategies

Hunting techniques are skills honed through education and experience. Ideally, beginners should seek the guidance of experienced hunters on their initial hunts.

Still Hunting

Still hunter crouching by edge of marsh

Still hunting often involves stopping for long periods to scan and listen for game

As the name implies, still hunting is walking stealthily through an animal’s habitat, stopping frequently—sometimes for long periods—to scan and listen for game. Typically, big-game hunters use this method in unfamiliar terrain or where stands are impractical or forbidden. Still hunting is most effective when hunting into the wind.
As a general rule, spend at least ten times longer being still and observing than walking. Keep a low profile; a human silhouette will spook many game species. Use binoculars frequently to identify movement properly.
If you still hunt effectively, game will be unaware of your presence but so will other sportsmen. To avoid being mistaken for game by other hunters, always wear blaze orange.