Southeast Area

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

HARNEY COUNTY (Silvies, Malheur River, Steens Mt, Juniper, portions of Beatys Butte, Wagontire, and Whitehorse)

Habitat conditions: Harney County has some snow

accumulation in the higher elevations, with snow holding due to cooler temperatures ranging from the mid-teens to low-40s throughout the daylight hours. Winter migrations of deer and elk are still in progress, so drive safely and watch for animals attempting to cross highways throughout the county. Last updated 12/11/24.

Elk: Only one elk season remains open in the county; North Juniper 271B. All other elk hunts have concluded for this season.

Cougar hunting is open year around. Populations are healthy and distributed throughout the district in any area with a big game prey base. Utilizing predator calls this time of year can be beneficial for those looking to harvest a cougar.

Black Bear: Fall bear season will end Dec. 31, although the majority of bears in the district have now entered their dens for the winter.

Coyote populations are good throughout Harney County. Coyote vocalizations calls should work well but mixing it up with prey in distress can be an advantage this time of year. Be aware that bobcats and cougars also may respond to predator calls, and there are separate licensing and season limitations for these species.

MALHEUR COUNTY (Whitehorse, Owyhee and Beulah)

Habitat conditions: Cooler temperatures and some precipitation over the last few weeks have brought fire danger ratings down. Fire restrictions have been lifted on public lands throughout the county. ODFW still recommends hunters to be very careful and cautious in the field as the area remains to be generally dry and another stretch of hot weather is predicted. Despite dry topsoils and vegetation, water sources are relatively available over the landscape due to high annual water tables. Unmaintained road access is good. Last updated 9/25/24.

Controlled ALW deer: Opportunity should be as good as it has been since the winter of 2016-2017 as populations gradually rebound throughout the district. The Beulah WMU has seen the best of that recovery and will have the most deer. Nice bucks are being harvested in the desert units given additional time and persistent efforts. More deer will be found in the higher elevations although they are distributed throughout the district due to good water availability and agricultural holdings.

Black bear: Fall bear runs through Dec. 31. In the Malheur District. Bears are found almost exclusively in the National Forest and surrounding juniper woodland portions of the Beulah unit. Some black bear are being opportunistically harvested by hunters seeking other species.

Cougar: Most of the cougars in the district have retreated to forest habitats along with their prey base of deer and elk. Isolated cougars will remain around the human-wildland interface, the Snake and Owyhee Rivers, and near pockets of bighorn sheep habitation. Some cougar are being opportunistically harvested by hunters seeking other species.