Recreation Report
Southeast Zone
Recreation Report
- Photo by Maxine Wyatt-
SE WILDLIFE VIEWING
December 4, 2025
Harney County
This time of year, in Harney County, wildlife viewing is typically targeted towards waterfowl, a variety of shore birds, and raptor species. Look to Malheur National Wildlife Refuge or any of the various reservoirs in the county which should have good water this year.
Raptors are present in the district and opportunities abound throughout the county. Look on fence posts, telephone poles, and amongst cliff and talus slopes to see a variety of species that include red-tailed hawks, prairie falcons, ferruginous hawks, golden eagles, and Swainson's hawks.
Many passerine species such as Oregon junco, black-capped chickadee, and various other perching birds can be found throughout the fall and winter months in Harney County. Look to the Blue Mountains and the riparian areas where you should be able to catch a glimpse of these small birds.
If you are looking to observe mammal species, an array of big game can be viewed in the county including deer, elk, antelope, and big horn sheep. Reach out to local biologists for more information on where to view these species.
Klamath County
The Link River trail below Upper Klamath Lake, Lake Ewauna and the Wood River wetlands are excellent places to view many species of wildlife including deer, river otter, muskrat, mink and a variety of waterfowl and shorebirds.
Lower Klamath and Tule Lake NWR are good places to view raptor species such as eagle, hawk, falcon, and owl. Drought conditions have impacted the refuges but there are still some good viewing opportunities for raptors.
Miller Island Unit
- The Miller Island Unit is located 6 miles south and west of Klamath Falls. Miller Island Unit is closed to all access from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m.
- May 1 – Sept. 30: Open to public use daily.
- Oct. 1 – Apr. 30: Open to public use on designated hunt days during authorized hunting seasons. All other days are closed to all entry, except public rds., parking areas, the boat ramp, the designated birding trail and designated dog training area to minimize disturbance to migrating waterfowl.
- Overnight camping is not allowed in the Miller Island Unit
A Wildlife Area Parking Permit is now required to park in the Wildlife Area. Cost is $10 daily or $30 annually. Free with purchase of hunting license; just be sure to put it on your dashboard. Find out how to buy a parking permit.
Waterfowl
Canada geese can be found throughout the area, either loafing in seasonal wetlands or utilizing farmed fields and pastures.
Duck species that can usually be found on the area at this time are mallard, northern shoveler, gadwall, northern pintail, green-winged teal, American wigeon, canvasback, redhead, common goldeneye, bufflehead, ruddy duck, ring-necked duck, lesser scaup and common and hooded mergansers.
Shorebirds, waders and other waterbirds
Great blue herons are readily observed in the area. American bitterns are also present but can be difficult to find.
Virginia rails and soras can be heard throughout the area but can be difficult to spot. American coot can be found scattered throughout Miller Island.
Grebe species and numbers remain good. They can usually be found scattered over the area's wetland ponds and on the Klamath River. Western, eared and pied-billed grebes can now be found on the area.
Ring-billed gull sightings fluctuate between very few sightings to very common. Other gull species can be occasionally observed.
Raptors
Look for great horned and barn owls at dusk. Red-tailed hawks, northern harriers, cooper's hawks, sharp-shinned, rough-legged, American kestrels, and prairie falcons are foraging throughout the wildlife area. Eagle numbers are low but are increasing with fall migrations.
Peregrine falcons can occasionally be seen but are rare sightings.
Upland Game Birds
California quail and ring-necked pheasants are scattered around the old homesteads and the headquarters area.
Songbirds and other passerines
Eurasian collared and mourning doves are scattered over the area.
American and lesser goldfinches, house finches, mountain chickadees, American robins, yellow-rumped warblers, western meadowlark, black-billed magpies, common raven and Northern flickers continue to be a common site throughout the area.
Marsh wrens and song sparrows can be found in dense stands of tall emergent hard stem bulrush and broad-leaf cattail and are very numerous. Red-winged, brewers and Yellow-headed blackbirds can still be found, but their numbers are declining and will continue to do so with fall migrations.
Mammals
Dusk is the best time to spot beaver and muskrat. River otter, mink, long-tailed weasel, coyotes, stripped skunk, black-tailed jackrabbit, mountain cottontail, California ground squirrels and raccoon can also be found using the Wildlife Area. Deer numbers continue to remain good.
If you have any questions, please contact Klamath Wildlife Area at (541) 883-5732.
Lake County
Summer Lake Wildlife Area remains Lake Counties best viewing opportunity for waterfowl in winter.
Unique raptor species, such as the rough-legged hawk and Ferruginous hawk may be found in Lake County. Other common raptor species present include red-tailed hawks, American kestrels, prairie falcons, Northern harriers, bald eagles and golden eagles.
Great horned owls, barn owls, and short-eared owls can also be heard and seen at night.
Though few and far between, you'll find the most diversity of passerine species in riparian areas. Relatively few species remain in Lake County for winter, though some hearty varieties and non-migratory species do remain. Species such as Townsend's solitaire, American robin, dark-eyed junco, western meadowlark, and some shrikes can be found throughout the county.
Mule deer
Please be aware of deer attempting to cross the road, especially at night.
Mule deer that spend the summer in the surrounding forested big game management units migrate to traditional wintering grounds near the towns of Silver Lake, Fort Rock and Christmas Valley, Paisley and Lakeview to escape harsh winter conditions at higher elevations. Some mule deer that migrate to North Lake County come from as far away as Crater Lake in the Cascades.
Pronghorn
Pronghorn antelope have horns instead of antlers like mule deer and elk. Both buck and doe pronghorn antelope have horns. The outer sheath is shed annually by December as the new horn grows underneath. This new growth will be completed by July the following year. A prominent prong or point on the horn can identify buck pronghorn antelope. In addition, the buck's entire nose appears black, and all bucks have a visible black cheek patch.
Doe pronghorn antelope generally do not have a prong or point, and the horn is usually less than 5-inches long. A doe's nose is much lighter colored, and a doe will not have a visible black cheek patch. If you see a group of pronghorns, remember to check behind the group. The dominant buck is often following well behind.
Bighorn Sheep
Bighorn sheep can be found on many of the canyon rims in Lake County.
Look for sheep on rims along Hwy 395 from the Christmas Valley Highway junction south to the Hwy 31 junction. Abert Rim just above Abert Lake along Hwy 395 offers good viewing. Hadley Butte, near Paisley, also offers viewing from Hwy 31 and the Summer Lake Hot Springs. Viewers wishing to observe bighorns should bring binoculars or spotting scopes, as sheep are generally found in steep rocky terrain and must be viewed from a distance.
Malheur County
A variety of shorebirds can be found this time of year as they migrate south. Sandpipers, killdeer, and Wilson's phalarope will be active along reservoir shores and floodplain meadows throughout September. Biologists have observed significantly more white-faced ibis and a few black-crowned night herons that have not typically been in the area during this time of the year. Blue herons and egrets can regularly be observed along larger streams or river corridors in Malheur County.
With pronghorn hunting seasons happening or having just finished throughout the County, there is a high likelihood of encountering pronghorn as herds break up and scatter from hunting pressure. While deer and elk are usually difficult to find during daylight in the summer, recent rainfall and archery seasons kickoff this weekend could result in more sightings along mid-to-high elevation open slopes. Bighorn sheep can occasionally be found near the Dry Creek arm along the western shore of the Owyhee Reservoir or in Leslie Gulch on the east side of the Reservoir.
ODFW always asks that recreationists use discretion when seeking viewing opportunities, considering the multiple stressors wildlife are subject to throughout the year. When in doubt, backing off and letting them go is always a bigger benefit to the animals.
Camping is permitted at four sites in the wildlife area. Campgrounds are primitive but each has vault toilets, trash barrels, and a few picnic tables.
- Access roads to campgrounds remain open, year-round. Roads are marked with current access regulations. Parking is only allowed in designated parking areas.
- Non-motorized travel on spur levees or lateral dikes is permitted, as is cross-country travel.
- The Wildlife Viewing Loop is now closed through the winter. All posted refuges are closed to entry.
- Major dike roads (Bullgate, Windbreak, and Work Road) are currently closed to vehicle traffic, but are open for non-motorized travel.
- The Schoolhouse Lake Wildlife Viewing blind provides an excellent opportunity to see a wide variety of waterbirds. Visitors are allowed to walk from the posted parking area to the blind but are not allowed to leave the access road or immediate vicinity of the blind
Game bird hunting seasons are now open. Viewing opportunities may be reduced by occasional extreme weather conditions.
Waterfowl
Fall migration is well under way and some species have already traveled through. Mallard, pintail, gadwall, shoveler, wigeon, and green-winged teal are commonly observed. Diving duck species are increasing in numbers. White-fronted and snow geese have arrived but will decrease as winter approaches.
Canada geese remain widely distributed across the wildlife area.
A few resident and non-breeding trumpeter swans remain widely scattered across the wildlife area. These birds are part of restoration efforts and will be neck-collared with green collars and white alphanumeric symbols. Tundra swans have recently been observed and will increase in numbers in the coming weeks.
Shorebirds, wading birds, and other waterbirds
Most shorebirds have already traveled through on their way to wintering grounds.
American bittern, black-crowned night-herons, and great blue herons can be found throughout the wildlife area. American coot are widely scattered across the wildlife area. Virginia rail and sora are throughout the wildlife area but can be difficult to locate due to the thick wetland vegetation they inhabit.
Four species of grebes can be found in the wildlife area (Clark's, eared, pied-billed and western). Look for them in large open bodies of water such as Ana Reservoir, North Bullgate Refuge and North Levee Impoundment.
Raptors and others
Northern harriers and red-tailed hawks are common this time of the year. Rough-legged hawks, American kestrel, coopers, sharp shinned, peregrine and prairie falcons can occasionally be found. Bald and golden eagles are also found on a regular basis, since both species frequently hunt the waterbirds on the wildlife area.
Great horned owls remain widely scattered across the entire wildlife area, especially in the trees at campgrounds. Short-eared owls can sometimes be found in early morning or evening hours. Barn owls can sometimes be observed, as well.
Upland game birds
California quail and ring-necked pheasants can sometimes be observed near Headquarters and north end upland areas.
Songbirds and other passerines
Eurasian collared doves remain in small numbers and can be observed at Headquarters Complex and other areas.
American robins, Townsends solitaires, loggerhead shrikes, Steller's and scrub jays, western meadowlark, and western bluebirds are in varied numbers across the wildlife area, especially around Headquarters and old homestead sites. Black-billed magpie and common raven are also common throughout the area, as are Northern flickers.
There are very good numbers of marsh wrens and song sparrows in the dense stands of hardstem bulrush and broad-leaved cattail along dikes and levees throughout the wetlands.
Most blackbird species have started to migrate but will mostly consist of Brewers. Western meadowlarks can be found scattered in good numbers throughout the area.
Winter migrants have started to show up including white crowned and golden crowned sparrows, dark eyed juncos, and spotted towhees. Warblers and other migrants have already moved through the wildlife area on their way to wintering grounds.
Habitat
Seasonal marsh areas are flooded and emergent vegetation is turning brown.
Upland habitat is in good condition.
For assistance and additional information, contact wildlife area staff at (541) 943-3152.