Recreation Report
Northeast Area
Recreation Report
Dec. 18, 2024
If there’s not a photo, it didn’t happen
Submit your hunting photo to ODFW and we might use it here or elsewhere on MyODFW.com.
Currently open (general seasons)
Black bear (closes Dec. 31), cougar (Check current harvest numbers), coyote.
Announcements, resources
Recreation Report holiday break
Due to the upcoming holidays, we'll be taking a break from the Recreation Report the weeks of Dec. 23 and 30. The Rec Report will resume publication the week of Jan. 6, 2025.
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.
District updates
BAKER DISTRICT (Sumpter, Keating, Pine Creek, Lookout Mt.)
Habitat conditions: The fall was dryer than normal in Baker County. Most areas did not see the amount of green up that the area would usually experience. Game should be concentrated around areas that have good forage and a southerly exposure. Snow free areas will also concentrate animals as they have an easier time accessing available forage. Last updated 12/11/24.
Black bear: Fall bear continues through Dec. 31.
Cougar: Can be found throughout Baker County but hunters should target areas with high concentrations of deer and elk. Setting up on a fresh kill or using distress calls can all be productive techniques. Looking for tracks after a fresh snow is a good place to start.
Coyote: Numbers are good throughout the district. Try calling in early morning and late afternoon. Remember to ask for permission before hunting on private properties.
GRANT DISTRICT (Murderers Creek, Northside, Desolation)
Habitat Conditions: The spring was wet with a fair amount of rain throughout the district, but the summer has been extremely hot and dry. The hot dry summer has resulted in large wildfires in numerous places around the county. The Rail Ridge fire burning South of Dayville has a portion of the Murderers Creek WMU closed to access. Hunters should check with the Forest Service (541-575-3000) prior to heading out for updated fire closure information or click this link for information about the Rail Ridge Closure information. Last updated 10/9/24.
Controlled ALW deer: With the dry conditions deer will be attracted to meadows, springs, and aspen stands because of the availability of green feed in those areas. Within the district, hunters have had increased success hunting in old (3-16 years) burn perimeters. Forecasted weather for opening weekend is hot and dry so hunters should focus on early morning or evening hunts.
Black bear: Fall bear continues through Dec. 31.
Cougar: Cougar are well-distributed in our forested areas. Calling with distress calls or cougar vocalizations can be effective. However, locating a fresh, naturally made kill has the best chance of success.
Coyote: Numbers are good in most of the district. Coyotes may respond to distress calls. Try calling in the early morning and late evening.
HEPPNER DISTRICT (Heppner, Fossil, East Biggs, southern Columbia Basin)
Black bear: Fall bear continues through Dec. 31.
Cougar: Cougar are well-distributed in our forested areas. Calling with distress calls or cougar vocalizations can be effective. However, locating a fresh, naturally made kill has the best chance of success.
Coyote: The population is healthy with good numbers of coyotes available for those who wish to pursue them. Watch wind direction to help prevent giving away your location. Calling with game distress calls can be very successful.
UMATILLA DISTRICT (Walla Walla, Mt. Emily, Ukiah, eastern portion of Heppner, northern Columbia Basin)
Habitat conditions: There has been some green-up on the forest in places from rains during the middle of archery season but it looks like we may have warm temperatures for the opener of any legal weapon buck season. Warm temperatures may make hunting challenging in the early season. Last updated 10/2/24.
If you have questions about where to go hunting in Umatilla County, please call the Pendleton office at 541 276 2344.
Controlled ALW elk:
Ukiah: The Ukiah unit is great for elk hunting. The population is above management objective. It can be busy with hunters due to hunter density, with 900 spike tags during the first season.
Generally, only around 600 of those spike tag holders report going hunting. The any bull tag has an average success rate of 30 percent for the last 5 years. Both spike hunts average 8 percent over the last 5 years.
Mt. Emily and Walla Walla
The Mt. Emily and Walla Walla units are managed as high success rate hunts where hunters get to pursue more mature animals. They both take a very long time to draw.
The Mt. Emily elk population is below management objective, but it is still a phenomenal hunt. The success rate averages 69 percent for the any bull tag over the last 5 years.
The Walla Walla unit elk population is well over management objective. The success rate on the any bull hunt averages 70 percent over the last 5 years
Controlled ALW deer:
Ukiah: Buck ratio has been increasing in the unit and the white-tailed deer population has been recovering from the 2019 EHD outbreak. The unit continues to be a place where we offer lots of opportunity for harvesting a buck, so hunter densities are high. Generally, white-tailed deer make up around 20- 30 percent of the harvest.
Mt. Emily and Walla Walla: Similar to the Ukiah unit, buck ratio and white-tailed deer numbers are increasing in both units. The mule deer population is below management objective in both units.
Average success rate in the West Mt. Emily hunt over the last five years has been 22 percent. In East Mt. Emily, average success has been 39 percent.
Average success rate in the Walla Walla Unit over the last 5 years has been 40 percent. Both units had dramatic declines in deer population and harvest after the hard winter of 2016-17.
Black bear:Fall bear continues through Dec. 31. There are good numbers of black bears throughout the district. Mt. Emily and Walla Walla units have higher densities of bears, but the Ukiah unit has had some nice falls bears checked in this year. Black bears are notorious scavengers so hunters can take advantage of gut piles when the opportunity arises.
Late season bear hunters can have success with predator calling as bears look to put on extra fat reserves for the winter. Be sure to pick up a fall bear tag to carry while you're deer and elk hunting this season. A significant portion of fall bear harvest is from incidental encounters while pursuing other game.
Cougar: Well-distributed in forested areas of the Walla Walla, Mt. Emily, and Ukiah units. Hunters will have best success by finding a fresh naturally made kill and hunting near it, or by using predator calls. Some success has come from following tracks until the cougar is located.
Coyote: Numerous throughout the county and hunters should have good success calling. Remember to ask permission before hunting on private lands.
The wildlife area is open.
UNION COUNTY (Starkey, Catherine Creek, East Mt. Emily, southern portion of Wenaha, southwest portion of Sled Springs)
Habitat conditions: Much of the high country is covered in snow, with more likely on the way. Access will be somewhat difficult in these areas, but most of the mid elevation habitats are going to be bare and elk may start pushing down. Last updated 11/13/20.
Rocky Mountain elk: Elk seasons are largely coming to an end for the year. Elk have been moving off summer range and heading lower onto winter range now. Hunters with late season tags should try to catch elk as they are transitioning lower.
Black bear: Fall bear continues through Dec. 31.
Cougars: Common in Union County. Focus on game rich areas with long ridgelines or saddles that cats typically travel. Setting up downwind of a deer or elk killed by a cougar can be productive.
Coyote: Numbers are high throughout the district. Try calling in early morning and late afternoon. Remember to ask for permission before hunting on private properties.
Habitat conditions: The hot and dry summer conditions have continued through the conclusion of archery season. Although grass growth was decent, no precipitation is forecasted in the next 10 days. With the dry conditions, the woods are very loud. Hunters might consider finding a good advantage point and glassing. Last updated 10/2/24.
All lands north and east of Foothill Road are open to hunting weekends, Wednesdays and all federal holidays. Please refer to Big Game and Game Bird regulations for season dates and additional regulations.
Hunting equipment is limited to short range (shotgun, archery or muzzleloader) equipment only. Rifles and handguns are prohibited at all times.
The Glass Hill portion of the wildlife area is open seven days a week April 1 through Jan. 31. Please refer to the ODFW big game and game bird regulations for season dates.
The wildlife Area is closed from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. In addition, there is no camping on the wildlife area.
Please call the Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area with any questions 541-963-4954.
WALLOWA COUNTY (Wenaha, Sled Springs, Chesnimnus, Snake River, Minam, Imnaha)
Habitat conditions: Be prepared for limited access in higher elevations due to snow and ice.
Hunters in the Chesnimnus unit should be aware of logging activity within the Green Dot closure along the 4650 and various spur roads in the Lupine creek area. Last updated 12/11/24.
Controlled ALW elk: Anterless elk hunts continue through December. Elk at higher elevations are moving to mid- and low elevation ranges. Snow levels and drifting snow may make some roads impassable.
Controlled ALW deer: White-tailed deer hunts continue through December. White-tailed deer numbers are stable or increasing in all units. Most hunters have success stand hunting near trails or feeding areas. Winter is here, expect snow and icy conditions.
Black bear:Fall bear continues through Dec. 31. Hunters can find bears on the edges of clearings and clear-cuts near berry crops (e.g., hawthorn and elderberry).
Cougar: Populations are moderate throughout Wallowa County. Most lions are taken incidental to other hunting. However, calling with fawn bleat, or locating a cougar kill and waiting for a cat to return are often successful techniques. Please remember to check in your harvest at your local district office to help with population estimates.