What a difference a year makes.

For the first time in many, many of them, Oregon hunters have positive news on nearly all fronts of the fall hunting seasons, big game and upland birds alike.

After another relatively mild winter statewide, there was enough summer rainfall to encourage forage for deer and elk, and cover for upland birds, many of which successfully re-nested.

The main event begins Saturday, with deer season openers on both sides of the Cascades.

And both recent snow in the east and rain in the west will easily quiet concerns in past years about noisy forest floors.

Black-tailed deer hunters in the west should be especially encouraged by the quiet conditions, which will allow them to hunt slowly without causing a single crunch underfoot.

Further, the later start in the west — the latest allowed under new season frameworks — means hunting farther into the rut, with a Nov. 10 closure for general blacktail seasons.

With some exceptions, deer and elk herds in northeast Oregon fared well and holders of controlled hunt tags should also find much better hunting conditions.

(Returning bow hunters report low numbers of pesky wasps, although some Benadryl in the backpack is never a bad idea.)

Although drought persists across much of eastern Oregon, and even along the coast despite the recent wet snap, the soon-to-end fire season wasn’t nearly as threatening as in recent years.

It’s possible some public and private land may still have fire restrictions, but there don’t appear to be nearly as many as last fall.

Links to fire conditions and access in most areas can be found on the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife website.

Snow has already fallen across much of the northeast, although it didn’t stick, and while much of the forest floor is temporarily silent, long-range forecasts suggest warmer, sunny weather will greet controlled-hunt tag holders.

Oregon remains free of chronic wasting disease in deer and elk (although it’s been detected in Idaho near the Snake River border) and the state wants to keep it that way by operating several mandatory check-stations in eastern Oregon.

Successful hunters who encounter well-marked, signed check-stations are required to stop if traveling with a carcass, unlike voluntary stops in past years.

The major stations will be located in:

Elgin: Elgin Stampede Grounds, Oct. 7-9 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m and Nov. 4-6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Baker City: ODOT parking lot off Oregon 86, same hours as above.

Prineville: Crook County Fairgrounds, Oct. 8-10 from 9 a.m. to dusk and Nov. 4-6 from 9 a.m. to dusk.

Celilo Park: Exit 97 off Interstate 84, same hours as above.

Smaller stations will also be open in other areas of the state.

Nervous hunters who want their animals tested can contact the nearest office of the ODFW.

Wolves continue to spread across the state and scattered packs are now found in most areas — including the Cascades — but not the Coast Mountain Range. At least some hunters may hear them howl, especially in northeast Oregon.

If you see or hear a wolf or sign of one, the department would like to hear from you.

Hunters can take coyotes (except coyote-killing contests are no longer allowed on public land), but wolves are protected. Wolf pups often resemble coyotes in the fall, so greater care is necessary before pulling the trigger.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife offers an online identification test.

On to the outlooks: The Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife has made it easier than ever to access information, with links to virtually everything a hunter needs to know before setting out for big game or birds.

Detailed forecasts for birds and big game are down the left side of the page for every game management unit or wildlife district in the state.

Big GameDeer: Blacktail hunting should be good throughout the Coast Range, and may be very good in the north Cascades.

Deer numbers continue to climb in units along the Columbia River and much of northeast Oregon, but remain lower than ideal across much of south central and southeast Oregon. Nevertheless, deer wintered well in mild weather statewide and hunting in the east should be average or better.

Elk: Elk in the north Coast Range are found more often on the west slopes, and both east and west slopes farther south. Cascades hunters will do best in southern units.

As with last fall, northeast and central Oregon hunters will find stable numbers in most units with some exceptions detailed in the forecasts.

Bear/cougar: Berry and orchard crops were better this year than last and will have the full attention of black bears, as will edges of meadows and prairies.

There are plenty of cougars across most of the east and numbers are increasing in the west. Game calls remain the best way to get a cat close.

Upland BirdsAnother mild winter and even a late, wet spring helped most birds, many of which apparently re-nested.

Pheasants: Did well almost everywhere they’re found, even great in some areas. Even though they remain well below average in Malheur County, there were some bright spots there as well.

Quail: Numbers are up after spring rains encouraged the growth of brushy habitat.

Chukar: It could be “like the old days” in some areas of the northeast and in the Deschutes and John Day canyons.

Hells Canyon access has reopened, but there’s no mention of how chukar fared after last year’s fire season.

Note: While mourning dove season has closed, Asian collared doves are increasing in numbers, are not migratory like their mourning dove cousins, and are not protected, so no limit and no season.

However, most are found close to human development.

WaterfowlIt’s been a good water year in Oregon, with better nesting conditions for local birds west and east and much better production.

Unlike last fall, the Warner wetlands south to the border have standing water that should hold migrants for awhile, especially given the abundance of food.

In the north, production was good in Alaska and British Columbia, but not so much in Alberta.

Still, flights of pintails and green-wing teal have already appeared, along with cackling and white-fronted geese. Duck and goose hunters should see at least a repeat of last fall and perhaps even a bit better with so many local ducks and western Canada geese.