Southeast Area

SE BIG GAME HUNTING

September 10, 2026

Currently open

Bear, cougar (check current harvest numbers), coyote, youth only controlled series hunts, premium, auction and raffle hunts, controlled pronghorn and bighorn sheep

Season openings beginning in September

Western gray squirrel

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

Announcements and resources

Gear up for 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 for 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 until November 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.

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

Bighorn sheep: For those lucky enough to have drawn tags for bighorn sheep this year, season dates run from August 15 through September 14, with a second season following from September 15 through October 14.

Pronghorn: Second season began August 26 to September 3. The district also has some later pronghorn seasons occurring in September. Buck ratios continue to stay above M.O. in all management units, and dry arid conditions should make targeting water sources key to a successful hunt this year.

Elk: Currently cow elk hunts are beginning in various parts of the district and will continue to occur into November. Archery elk season ends on September 27. Rifle bull hunts are as follows: First season October 28 – November 1 and second season November 7 – November 15. When you have harvested an elk, drop by your local ODFW District office to have it sampled for chronic wasting disease. The district is also requesting liver and heart samples from elk harvested in the Silvies unit and are requesting a golf ball size piece of each organ placed in a Ziploc bag.

Deer: Controlled deer archery seasons ends September 27 followed by controlled rifle deer seasons October 3 – October 14. When you harvest your deer drop by your local ODFW District office to have it sampled for chronic wasting disease.

Cougar: Cougar season is open year-round. An additional cougar tag may be purchased throughout the season; however, hunters must purchase the general season tag to be eligible for the additional tag. 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 and calling can be productive. Finding fresh snow has been a little difficult this year with the mild winter we have had, but that just means travelling around in the mountains may be easier. Typically utilizing fresh snow to follow tracks and predator calls can give you an advantage at targeting cougar.

Bear: The statewide fall bear season started August 1 and will continue until December 31. Bear hunting continues to do well in the district, and targeting water sources or utilizing a predator call can be good advantages for harvesting a bear. Note that Centerfire Rifle Restrictions do apply for hunting bear and referring to page 19 in the Oregon Big Game Regulations for clarification is a must.

Coyote: Coyote hunting in the county should be good and requires a hunting license only to harvest coyotes. Remember to ask permission before accessing private property or refer to the Access and Habitat program where enrolled access areas give way to private ground for hunting.

MALHEUR COUNTY (Beulah, Owyhee, and Whitehorse)

Beulah, Whitehorse and Owyhee Units

Cougar: Cougar densities are low and cats are maximizing the use of large home ranges this time of year as prey remains abundant. Most cougar will be harvested opportunistically while seeking other big game during late summer and early fall, which is even more reason to make sure you have a cougar tag before going off on your archery deer, elk, or even pronghorn hunt in the coming couple weeks.

Coyote: Coyote hunting opportunities abound almost anywhere you go in Malheur County and can make for an enjoyable alternative while hunting other species throughout the fall. Earlier courting, breeding, denning, and rearing intervals over this past light winter will mean increased opportunity as juvenile coyotes will be more active and mature than most years.