Central Area

CENTRAL BIG GAME HUNTING

October 1, 2026

Currently open

Bear, cougar (check current harvest numbers), coyote, youth only controlled series hunts, general season antlerless elk damage, premium, auction and raffle hunts and western gray squirrel.

• Select controlled deer season opens Oct 3.

*Check Big Game regulations for hunt details and purchase your license and required tag before hunting.

Announcements and resources

Reminder -- tag sale deadline and sports pac tag pickup for deer, bear, and cougar – by Oct 2!

Get tested – hunters must check in for CWD at these locations.

Make a plan with this year's Big Game Hunting Forecast and get ahead of the game!

Big game statistics - You'll find links to population, harvest and maps that can help you decide where to hunt this season.

Check the Leftover Tag List, don't miss an opportunity to hunt this year.

Youth can register for the Mentored Youth Hunter Program free of charge online, find more youth hunting opportunities here.

Point Savers available for purchase now through Nov 30, 2026.

Please report elk with hoof disease - If you see elk showing signs of elk hoof disease, including lame or limping elk or elk with damaged, injured, missing or deformed hooves, please report it using this online form.

Coyote and wolf ID - Coyote hunters need to take extra care to identify their target as wolves can look like coyotes, especially wolf pups in the mid-summer and fall. Test your ID skills. Please report any wolf sightings or wolf sign to ODFW using the online reporting system.

For the most current fire closures and restrictions--KNOW BEFORE YOU GO.    

District updates

Habitat conditions:

Watch local weather reports and prepare for possible weather changing conditions over the extension of your hunt. Areas are showing warmer and drier than normal conditions, please be mindful when recreating outdoors.

PRINEVILLE/OCHOCO WILDLIFE DISTRICT (Maury, Ochoco, Grizzly)

Elk: Burn severity in the Grizzly unit appears to be mixed, with some drainages severely burned and others unburned. Elk and deer are still present throughout the unit, though they are now responding to a sharp increase in pressure with the recently lifted fire closures.

Wildlife is not typically displaced by wildfire or associated activity; elk are likely to be right where they were before the fires occurred. Much of the Ochoco unit falls under Travel Management restrictions that work to improve elk retention/security on public lands and provide hunters with a higher quality experience. Be sure to read TMA signs and regulations before entering these areas. Hunting pressure in the unit is moderate, and several successful hunters have been encountered by ODFW staff.

Deer: Reminder that there are new mule deer hunt areas this fall. Ochoco district staff have received multiple calls from hunters planning to hunt in areas that are not legal for the tag they possess, if you are unsure, call and ask! Expect hunter distribution to be different than it has been in years past, you may have to try a new spot and learn about some new country. Try focusing on areas with access to water, shade, and green shrubs and forbs.

Black Bear: Fall bear season has been productive since the beginning of archery deer/elk with many hunters incidentally running into bears. Most berry crops failed this year due to low snowpack and drought, as such, bears will be hungry and on the move. Bears prefer more forested and wet north facing slopes. Low gradient creeks/rivers and wetlands are especially good places to look. Remember, it is illegal to hunt with a centerfire rifle during some deer or elk season in units that you do not have a tag. Check page 19 of the hunting regulations for more information.

Cougar: Present throughout the Maury, Ochoco, and Grizzly units. The Maury and Ochoco units are recommended because of their greater amounts of public land and better accessibility. Remember, it is illegal to hunt with a centerfire rifle during some deer or elk season in units that you do not have a tag. Check page 19 of the hunting regulations for more information.

Coyotes: Offer an exciting hunting challenge. Both Maury and Ochoco have sizeable areas of public lands that provide hunting opportunities. Coyotes can be brought in with a predator call or spotted and stalked in open country. Pelt quality will improve as fall progresses into winter.

Travel Management: Just a reminder that the Ochoco District has several cooperative Travel Management Areas that limit motor vehicle use on certain roads. These maps can be downloaded for free on Avenza.

Map of South Boundary (year-round)

DESCHUTES DISTRICT (Upper Deschutes, Paulina, North Wagontire, Northwest Fort Rock, Metolius)

Buck Deer: Controlled any legal weapon seasons open Oct 3 and continues through Oct 14. With the new deer hunt areas this fall, expect hunter distribution to be a bit different than in the past. Despite a wet and cooler than average September, it appears we will be getting some warmer weather through ALW season. This will likely limit buck movement to the first part of the day, and the last part of the day. Glassing into spot and stalking can be effective, as can finding pinch points or areas with high deer traffic like trails or food sources. Two travel management areas go into effect Sept 30 and run through the end of ALW season- Fox Butte (in DG02) and Walker Rim (in DG03). Both areas can be good places to walk if you want to stay away from vehicles.

Elk: Youth cow tags are currently open. Areas away from roads with good hiding cover, water and feed are where the elk want to be at. Some places to start looking include Crane Prairie, Wickiup and Davis Lakes in the Upper Deschutes unit, and the Timbers/Spring Butte Travel Management Area in the Paulina unit.

Bear: Due to the minimal snowpack and lack of spring moisture this year, the berries that bears often focus on during August and September are few and far between. High elevations and wet creek bottoms or around lakes would be the best places to look. Bears will be highly mobile looking for alternative food sources such as grubs in logs and stumps, roots, and new grass growth

Cougar: Found throughout the Deschutes District. Look for cougars wherever there are prey species. Locating a fresh kill and sitting on it can be the most effective method for locating a cougar. Predator calls are another effective method of locating a cougar.

Coyote: Good numbers of coyotes can be found throughout the Deschutes District. Calling coyotes with distress type calls has been effective for hunters. Calling in the early morning and late afternoon produces the best results. It is important to choose areas with abundant coyote signs and little human activity.