Take family and friends fishing for free on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 25 and 26. It’s a free fishing weekend in Oregon and no licenses, tags or endorsements will be required to fish anywhere in the state.

Some good bets include:

• Thanksgiving often marks the beginning the winter steelhead season on many coastal rivers.
• Several local ponds have been stocked with trout (including some brood trout) just for the weekend.
• Many larger lakes and reservoirs have been stocked throughout the season and there are many holdover fish that should be big and feisty this time of year.

Check out this week’s Recreation Report for opportunities near you, and check out road conditions before you go.

Preference points available until Nov. 30 
If you didn’t make the first May 15 deadline, you can still get a preference point. Purchase online or using this fax/mail order application.

Late archery deer seasons in November 
Bowhunters with an unfilled general season deer archery tag can hunt Nov. 12-Dec. 4 and Nov. 19-Dec. 11 in parts of western Oregon, see page 54 of the regs for details.

Turkey cooking tips
Wild game chef Tiffany Haugen shared some turkey cooking tips this week during a Facebook Live session

See elk herds in the meadows now at Jewell Meadows Wildlife Area 
Elk viewing has been good at Jewell Meadows Wildlife Area. Best viewing has been in the mornings and evenings until dark. The elk breeding season or “rut” is over for the season and elk have gathered into larger groups. With the cooler and wetter weather, elk are spending more time in the open fields and recently some elk have been visible throughout day.

Youth with 630T deer tag: Apply by Nov. 30 for chance to hunt on private ranch 
Sixteen youth hunters will be chosen for a one-day hunt on the C2 Ranch in southern Oregon. More details.