Mountain Lion in Oregon
hunting regulations.
Hunting regulations change. The information on this page reflects what we know about species presence and hunt availability based on state agency listings. For current season dates, bag limits, weapon restrictions, tag requirements, and reporting obligations, verify directly with Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. You are responsible for confirming current regulations before hunting.
Mountain Lion is general season in Oregon. The agency above sets season dates, bag limits, and zone boundaries — those change yearly. Verify before you hunt.
About the species
Mountain lions (cougars, pumas, panthers) are the largest cat species in North America, occupying the Western mountains and increasingly recolonizing parts of their historical Eastern range. Mature toms range from 130-180 pounds with home territories spanning hundreds of square miles. They're solitary, ambush-hunting deer specialists, with population density limited primarily by deer density and intra-specific competition.
Most lion hunting in the West uses trained hounds to track and tree cats during the hunting season. California prohibits lion hunting entirely; Washington and Oregon prohibit hound use. Most other Western states (Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada) run season-limited lion hunts with quotas. Texas, where lions are unprotected, treats them as varmints with year-round take. Florida's panther subspecies is endangered and not huntable.
Other predators in Oregon
Want the picture for this species across every state? See Mountain Lion regulations by state. Or browse every huntable species in Oregon.