Responsible Hunting: Green Dot Restrictions

The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest works in partnership with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife annually to implement the Upper Rogue Cooperative Travel Management Area (Green Dot) road restrictions. These restrictions are generally implemented several days before the opening of Bull Elk Season, in the first week of November. While the specific date does fluctuate every year, the objectives and restrictions do not! 

In 1985, the RRSNF and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife entered into an agreement to restrict motorized vehicles on a portion of Forest roads on the High Cascades Ranger District during the General Cascade Bull Elk Season.

The objectives of the Green Dot restrictions are to: 

• Promote quality hunting; 
• Minimize harassment of wildlife;
• Maintain adequate bull elk escapement; and
• Protect soils and wildlife habitat. 

During the restricted period, Off Highway Vehicles (OHVs) are not allowed on the northern portion of the High Cascades Ranger District (north of the Middle Fork Rogue River) including the Prospect OHV system and the Woodruff Play Area. OHVs are allowed only on Green Dot roads between Middle Fork Rogue River and Oregon State Highway 140. 

The remaining part of the Ranger District south of Highway 140 is not part of the Green Dot program.

Motor vehicles cannot be parked or operated more than 300 feet from a Green Dot road.

Participating agencies ask hunters to help in maintaining high ethical standards during the elk hunting season by: 

• Driving only on designated Green Dot roads;
• Using the violation report form on the Green Dot map to report vehicles driving on closed roads; and
• Not camping or parking near livestock corrals, or blocking access to Green Dot roads.

During the Green Dot restriction period, hunters may see Forest Service personnel and contractors working in the field. Please respect their presence and the job they are doing. Occasionally, it is necessary for Forest Service personnel and contractors to access work areas on non-Green Dot roads.  Both Forest Service personnel and contractors must have a waiver, signed by the appropriate Forest Service representative, posted clearly on the dashboard of their vehicle if they are driving on a non-Green Dot road.

The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife have provided maps for download and use online.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's Website

• Upper Rogue TMA page 1 (South)
• Upper Rogue TMA page 2 (North)

Avenza

• Upper Rogue Cooperative Travel Management Area  (bundled north and south maps)

More Information

Additional information on the closure can be found on page 104 of the 2021 Oregon Big Game Regulations.

Annually, the signed closure order can be found on the RRSNF website. 

Questions? Contact Us!

• High Cascades Ranger District

  

  47201 Highway 62 Prospect, OR 97536                                                               

  Phone: (541) 560-3400

• Medford Interagency Office

  

  3040 Biddle Road Medford, OR 97504

  Phone: (541) 618-2000   

• Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

  

  1495 East Gregory Road Central Point, OR 97502

  Phone: (541) 826-8774