Northeast Area
Table of Contents
Recreation Report
April 10, 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
Cougar (check current harvest numbers), coyote, controlled spring bear
Announcements, resources
Big game harvest statistics
You'll find links to population, harvest and point summary reports that can help you decide what hunts to apply for.
Shed hunt responsibly
Deer and elk shed their antlers at a time when they're not finding a lot of nutritious food and need to be conserving energy so they can migrate to summer ranges a bit later in the year. Follow these tips to help protect vulnerable animals.
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.)
Black bear: Season continues through May 31. Access to lower elevation areas should be better this year than normal. Look for bears in areas of early green-up. Usually south-facing slopes are the first to become snow-free and can be good places to glass for bears.
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.
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)
Black bear: Season continues through May 31. There is a fair amount of snow at higher elevations and access may be restricted during the early part of the season. Lower elevations have already lost most of their snow and should be accessible during the earlier parts of the season.
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: Season continues through May 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)
If you have questions about where to go hunting in Umatilla County, please call the Pendleton office at 541 276 2344.
Black bear: The district experienced slightly below average snowfall at higher elevations this winter and well below average snowfall at lower elevations (below 4000 ft.). Hunters should expect limited access to higher elevation areas off of Hwy 204 in early to mid-season.
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.
Columbia Basin Wildlife Areas (Willow Cr WA, Coyote Springs WA, Irrigon WA, Power City WA)
Big game hunting is permitted except at Coyote Springs WA. Use of rifles and handguns are prohibited at all times except Willow Cr WA. Please review the regulations for shot and weapon restrictions. Please be mindful of our neighbors and respect the safety zones.
The wildlife area is open.
UNION COUNTY (Starkey, Catherine Creek, East Mt. Emily, southern portion of Wenaha, southwest portion of Sled Springs)
Black bear: While still early in the season, bears should be out of their dens and starting to move around a little more. Hunters should focus on green slopes and slightly timbered draws where lush green grass and other vegetation is present. Find a good knob to sit on and glass, glass, glass. Our district is seeing snow melt off very quickly, with access to most low and mid elevation spots very easy. The upper elevations will be accessible earlier than normal this season, but bears will not be very active in those spots until later spring when everywhere is full of forage.
Remember that all successful bear hunters must check in their bears within 10 business days of harvest. Call your local ODFW office to schedule an appointment.
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 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. If we do get fresh snow, cutting fresh tracks and pursuing can be effective.
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.
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. Violators will be asked to leave and or will be issued citations.
Please call the Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area with any questions 541 963 4954.
WALLOWA COUNTY (Wenaha, Sled Springs, Chesnimnus, Snake River, Minam, Imnaha)
Black bear: Spring bear continues through May 31.
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.
Coyote: Good numbers of coyotes can be found throughout Wallowa County. Calling coyotes with rabbit distress type calls has been effective for hunters. It is important to choose areas with abundant coyote sign and little human activity.