Welcome to the 2012 Fall
Hunting Forecast

Northeast Region

Northeast Region Deer and Elk

BAKER DISTRICT: Sumpter, Keating, Pine Creek, Lookout Mt. wildlife management units

Rachel Harrod was 10 when she took this white-tailed deer in northeast Oregon. She was hunting through the mentored youth hunter program. – Photo by Ron Harrod –

DEER 

Over-winter survival was better than average due to the light winter. Buck ratios are still at or above management objectives. Overall deer numbers are still down from the hard winter of 2010.The body condition of animals should be excellent with the above average spring and early summer rains.

ELK

Elk herds in Baker County came out of the winter in good shape with large healthy calves. Bull ratios are at or near management objective for all units. Calf ratios are average throughout the units, with the highest in the Sumpter Unit. For the best chance at tagging an elk, get as far away from roads as possible, perhaps by hunting in one of the cooperative Travel Management Areas. 

GRANT DISTRICT

DEER- Deer populations in Grant County continue to be below management objectives. Grant County experienced an unusually warm and dry winter which led to good adult survival but fawn survival was just average due to lack of fall green up. Also, more coyotes were observed during spring flights than past years and that may have contributed to some lower fawn survival. The spring was fairly cool and wet but not enough to make up for the dry winter and the district appears to be in a drought situation this summer. Buck ratios are hovering right around management objective.

Remember the Murderers Creek-Flagtail Travel Management Area begins three days prior to archery season again this year (rather than three days prior to rifle season).

ELK

Most elk populations are at or above management objectives in the Grant district units. Calf ratios were higher at the end of the winter than they had been the past few years, except in Desolation which is still experiencing reduced calf recruitment. Because of the higher calf recruitment, elk hunting may be better than past year. Due to the dry conditions elk will be focusing on areas of good forage at least early in the fall. 

Remember the Murderers Creek-Flagtail Travel Management Area begins three days prior to archery season again this year (rather than three days prior to rifle season).

HEPPNER DISTRICT: Heppner, Fossil, East Biggs, southern Columbia Basin wildlife management units

Deer in Heppner are stable to slightly increasing and buck ratios are good. Adult deer survived the mild winter well and fawn survival was similar to last year.  Improved fawn recruitment should mean more yearling bucks for hunters to pursue this fall. 

The Fossil unit deer numbers are also stable to slightly increasing. Public lands hunters can work the old Wheeler Burn, which is still producing a fair number of deer and is historically a good spot.

The Columbia Basin and East Biggs deer herds are stable. If you can find access to private land in the Columbia Basin or John Day River Canyon, you should expect decent hunting.

Bull Elk - Royalty Free Image-

ELK

Hunting should be similar to last year. With another good calf ratio last spring, the population continues to expand. Bull ratios are slightly below objectives but ODFW is starting to see some older-age class bulls. Bull ratios in Fossil are above management objective but calf ratios are still down.

UNION DISTRICT: Starkey, Catherine Creek, East Mt. Emily, portions of Sled Springs, and Wenaha wildlife management units

DEER

Deer in Union County survived the winter reasonably well this year. It’s likely to be a good year for hunter success. Deer appear to be in excellent physical condition due to high quality forage produced by a very wet spring. Buck ratios are up slightly in Starkey, about the same in Catherine Creek and down slightly in East Mt. Emily. Fawn survival through the winter was 77% or higher in the units mentioned above. The Catherine Creek unit continues to be well under our target population objective; East Mt. Emily and Starkey are at or above population target levels. Buck ratios (bucks per 100 does) are 17 in the Starkey, 16 in Catherine Creek and 12 in East Mt. Emily Hunt units.

ELK

Elk hunting should be above-average in the Starkey unit with an increase in calf survival over last year. Catherine Creek unit hunter success should be up due to a slightly elevated population. Prospects for the East Mt. Emily unit are expected to be better than average due to an increase in calf survival and bull ratios.

Elk in the Starkey and Catherine Creek units came through the winter in relatively good condition. Starkey is just below population management objective and Catherine Creek is well above the objective. Bull ratios (bulls per 100 cows) are 9, 12, and 13 respectively for the Starkey, Catherine Creek and east side of the Mt. Emily units. These bull ratios are either the same or up from the previous year. Calf ratios (calves per 100 cows) are 26, 29 and 28 respectively for the Starkey, Catherine Creek and east side of the Mt. Emily units. These calf ratios are all up from the previous year.

UMATILLA DISTRICT: Walla Walla, Mt. Emily, Ukiah, eastern portion of Heppner, northern Columbia Basin

DEER

Hunting should be average. The winter was dry, but was followed by an extremely wet spring. Conditions were favorable when fawning occurred and deer came through to mid-summer in excellent condition. Ukiah and Walla Walla are good places to get a buck as numbers are good. West Mt Emily has the bigger bucks. While deer continue to persist in good numbers in the Blue Mountains, the deer factory that was the Tower Fire (Ukiah unit) is coming to an end; populations are shrinking naturally along with forage.

Bull Elk - Royalty Free Image-

ELK

Mt Emily and Walla Walla continue to offer very high quality branch bull hunting for those hunters lucky enough to have a tag. Heppner is another bright spot; calf ratios are up. However, it will be a tough year for spike hunters in the Walla Walla and Mt. Emily Units due to what biologists believe is continued high predation. The Ukiah unit has improved in the past year where ODFW has been thinning cougar populations for the past two years. This last spring’s calf ratio was higher than in recent years and will provide more spike bulls for harvest. The unit is not at desired recruitment levels yet, but is moving in the right direction for more spike bull harvest.

WALLOWA DISTRICT: Wenaha, Sled Springs, Chesnimnus, Snake River, Minam, Imnaha

DEER

Despite a relatively mild winter, deer numbers are still low in all units with this past year’s fawn survival lower than the previous year. Predation on adults and fawns continues to hold deer populations well below management objective levels. We have had great spring and summer weather, with good moisture producing an abundance of forage, so deer will be entering the fall in good body condition. Hunters can expect to see fewer yearling bucks this year, but adult buck ratios have remained stable in all units. There should still be opportunity for older age class bucks for hunters willing to spend the time and effort.  

ELK

Elk numbers continue to increase slowly in most units. The past year’s district calf survival was low, averaging 20 calves per 100 cows. Predation on elk calves continues to hold calf recruitment at low levels. Hunters can expect to see fewer yearling (spike) bulls this fall.  Most units have good numbers of branched bulls and hunting success should be good. The Wenaha Unit population is still below management objective level, and spike hunters can expect low success.

Find hunting locations and even scout from home using ODFW’s Oregon Hunting Access Map.

ODFW Wildlife Management Units

Baker District (Sumpter, Keating, Pine Creek, Lookout Mt. wildlife management units)

Baker District includes the Wallowa Whitman National Forest and Vale District BLM land. Hunters can also access many private lands thanks to the A&H program. Remember travel management area regulations are in effect for Dark Canyon, Patrick Creek, Melhorn, Lake Fork-Dutchman, Okanogan-Fish, Summit Point and Eagle Creek.

Grant District (Murderers Creek, Northside, Desolation, southeast Heppner, northwest Beulah wildlife management units)

Remember the Flagtail-Murderers Creek TMA begins three days prior to archery season again this year. Hunters will find many good public land hunting opportunities in Grant County, including the Malheur National Forest and P.W. Schneider Wildlife Area. The Fox Valley Access and Habitat area in the Northside Unit is open to walk in access from Aug. 1-Jan. 31. Due to the dry conditions, hunter should looked for north slopes, springs, or other areas with good forage.  Roadless areas in the North Fork John Day Wilderness, Desolation and Northside travel management areas are good places to big game hunt. Remember the Camp Creek and Murderers Creek/Flagtail travel management areas are in effect, meaning no vehicle access in certain areas to protect wildlife and habitat and promote quality hunting. Please respect all road closures, gated or not.

Heppner District (Heppner, Fossil, East Biggs, southern Columbia Basin wildlife management units)

Hunters will find most public lands opportunities in the Heppner and Fossil units and can also access private land through the Heppner Regulated Hunt Area, and the Lost Valley Regulated Hunt Area thanks to ODFW’s A&H Program. The old Wheeler burn in the Fossil unit would be a good bet for deer hunters. 

Umatilla District (Walla Walla, Mt. Emily, Ukiah, eastern portion of Heppner, northern Columbia Basin)

Hunters without access to private land can utilize the Umatilla National Forest and ODFW’s Bridge Creek and Columbia Basin (Irrigon and Willow Creek) wildlife areas.

Union District (Starkey, Catherine Creek, East Mt. Emily, portions of Sled Springs, and Wenaha wildlife management units)

The Wallowa-Whitman and Umatilla National Forests and ODFW’s Ladd Marsh and Elkhorn Wildlife Areas near La Grande are open to the public for hunting. In Catherine Creek, Starkey and Wenaha units, Forest Capital timberlands have been sold to Hancock Timber Resource Group. These lands will be open to public hunting at least through the end of the year. The Access and Habitat Program (funded by a $4 fee on your hunting license) has helped keep these lands open to the public. The Dry Beaver-Ladd TMA will be in effect, meaning no vehicle access in certain areas to protect wildlife and habitat and promote quality hunting. There are seven TMAs that exist in Union County.  You can access TMA maps on the ODFW website.

Public Access Area - Photo by Bob Swingle, ODFW-

Wallowa District (Wenaha, Sled Springs, Chesnimnus, Snake River, Imnaha)

The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest and Wenaha Wildlife Area provide public hunting opportunities. Remember several travel management restrictions are in effect in the district including the Noregaard, Whiskey Creek and Shamrock TMAs in Sled Springs, the Chesnimnus TMA in Chesnimnus and the Grouse Lick Creeks in Imnaha during bull season. In the Snake River unit, the Lord Flat Road north of Warnock Corral and the Summit Ridge Road north of PO Saddle will not be open to motor vehicles.

Deer and Elk Regions: Northwest | Southwest | High Desert | Northeast

Northeast Region Upland Game Bird

Sign up online for free youth upland bird hunts
Sign up online or at a license sales agent for free youth pheasant hunts. Hunters age 17 and under are eligible. Details here.

• Baker City – Sept. 8, 9. Call 541-963-2138 for more information.
• Irrigon (Umatilla County): Sept. 22, 23. Call 541-276-2344 for more information.
• John Day: Sept. 15, 16. Call 541-575-1167 for more information.
• La Grande (Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area): Sept. 15, 16. No advanced registrations needed, just check in at HQ, 59116 Pierce Rd. Check in opens 7 a.m. and hunting hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Baker County – Baker County –Chukar and other bird production looks fair this year. It appears that nest success was average throughout the season with good chick survival.  Brood sizes are average. A&H properties offer good upland hunting and access to public land.

Morrow, Gilliam, Wheeler Counties – Production is down from last year for all species and is still below the long-term average. Total birds seen on ODFW routes were down across all species and ranged from down 35% for pheasants to 64% for Hungarian partridges.  Brood sizes for all species are down from last year. Hunters should still be able to find birds to pursue but success should not be as high as last year. In this district hunters can use lands in the Upland Cooperative Access Program and the Heppner Regulated Hunt Area and Lost Valley Regulated Hunt Area. Also see ODFW’s Columbia Basin Bird Hunting Guide for maps and other good information on the 250K acres open to public hunting.

Pheasant hunting - ODFW Photo -

Grant County –Upland game bird production appears to be good this year. Good over winter survival has contributed to good brood production. The Philip W. Schneider Wildlife Area is open to the public and offers good bird hunting.

Union County - The wet spring and flooding in the Grande Ronde Valley has resulted in many birds having to re-nest. The re-nesting effort was strong and the number of quail broods is above average. Pheasant production is about average. Hunters need to be aware that some of the birds from these late broods are likely to be very small when the seasons open. These late broods will also contain individuals that may not be fully ‘colored-up’ which will make identification difficult.

The best hunting will be in areas with permanent cover. Hunters should work ridge tops for blue grouse and stream corridors for ruffed grouse. Hunters are asked to provide wings and tails from harvested grouse at collection barrels located in the field.

Dove numbers are about average this year. Eurasian collared doves are now relatively common in this area and new this season, are unprotected so can be taken in any quantity. Please report all banded birds taken.

Umatilla County - Hunting should be slightly above average this year. Quail are holding their own with moderate brood sizes. Mountain quail hunters will find the largest number of birds in the side drainages of the North Fork John Day River. It will be slightly above average year for pheasants; biologists saw encouraging numbers of birds while counting broods. Huns can be found in the foothills of the Blues and appear to have produced well this last year. There are a few chukar but most hunting is on private land.

Wallowa County – Heavy May-June rains and cooler temperatures have resulted in much reduced chick survival for most upland bird species. In general, wildlife biologists observed fewer birds on survey routes than observed in recent years. Chukar hunting will remain poor and numbers are still below long-term average. Blue grouse numbers and chicks per brood were below last year’s, so hunters can expect to see fewer birds. Hunting timbered ridges adjacent to open grass slopes, and canyon draws with hawthorn are good places to find birds. Turkey chick survival is well below last year’s and the numbers of birds observed is down.

Upland Game Birds by Regions: Northwest | Southwest | High Desert | Northeast

Northeast Region Waterfowl

BAKER COUNTY

Duck and goose hunting is expected to be similar to past years with a few resident birds early in the season. More migrant birds will arrive later in the season and hunting should improve, especially in the Baker and Keating Valleys. Almost all hunting is on private property, so be sure to ask permission before hunting. The Powder River from Baker City to Brownlee Reservoir offers the best waterfowl hunting.

GRANT COUNTY

Grant County offers very limited waterfowl hunting opportunities due to lack of habitat; there are a few opportunities on private land along the John Day River.

Western Canada Goose - Photo by Dave Budeau -

UMATILLA COUNTY

Habitat conditions in the Columbia Basin still support large numbers of wintering Canada geese. Try hunting the Columbia Basin Wildlife Areas (Power City, Irrigon, Coyote Springs, Willow Creek). Food crops are being planted, ponds are being enhanced, all of which will make conditions better for waterfowl hunting on these lands.

Special youth waterfowl hunt at the Umatilla National Wildlife Refuge Nov. 10. Open to hunters ages 10-17. Applications due by Sept. 14. Apply here.

UNION COUNTY

Waterfowl hunting for Union County is expected to be good. Late spring and early summer rains have been beneficial to the waterfowl without flooding the nests. Mallards and gadwall are the more abundant birds from local production. Local geese produced in the Grande Ronde Basin appear to be staying in the area. This should benefit September Canada Goose hunters. If the lack of summer precipitation continues, there may be some issues with water availability at the opener of the season.

Waterfowl Regions: Northwest | Southwest | High Desert | Northeast

Bear and Cougar in the Northeast Region

BAKER DISTRICT: Sumpter, Keating, Pine Creek, Lookout Mt. wildlife management units
Bear and cougar hunting should be good. Fall bear hunters have best success in higher elevation areas of the Keating and Pine Creek Units on the Wallowa Whitman National Forest. Find cougars just about anywhere; remember to carry a tag. Hunt for bears in high elevation open areas with lots of berries.

Courgar - Royalty Free Image-

GRANT DISTRICT: Murderers Creek, Northside, Desolation, southeast Heppner, northwest Beulah wildlife management units:
Bear and cougar hunting should be decent this fall. Often hunters will run into cougar or black bear while pursuing other species, so it is good to have the tags in your possession. Look for black bear in high elevations in the Murderers Creek and Beulah units and around huckleberry patched in mid-August.

HEPPNER DISTRICT (Morrow, Gilliam and Wheeler counties): Heppner, Fossil, East Biggs, southern Columbia Basin wildlife management units
Hunters are still seeing cougars in Heppner and throughout the district so there is opportunity for hunters. This District is not the best place to hunt bears as habitat does not favor them, but they can be encountered by deer and elk hunters so carry a tag.

UMATILLA DISTRICT: Walla Walla, Mt. Emily, Ukiah, eastern portion of Heppner, northern Columbia Basin

Getting a spring bear tag in Umatilla is not easy so fall is your chance to hunt here under a general season. Bears are high up early in the season and will pull down slowly. Look in hawthorn and elderberry concentrations to find them; early on they will be on edges of clearing and clearcuts near berry crops in high country. The best bear hunting is north of I-84 in Mt Emily and Walla Walla units. Cougar populations are healthy; carry a tag while hunting deer or elk as you may get the chance to take a cougar while you’re at it.

Bear and Cougar Regions: Northwest | Southwest | High Desert | Northeast