Quick Tips
- Good bass and trout fishing in Lake Billy Chinook
- Smallmouth bass fishing on the John Day River
- Deschutes River provides good trout fishing
- Carry a GPS to avoid trespassing on bordering tribal land
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 140"-160" | 170"+ |
| Elk | 270"-300" | 310"+ |
| Antelope | 60"-65" | 70"+ |
On The Ground
A largely private unit north of Redmond and Prineville, this unit holds elk, mule deer and antelope. The largest piece of public land is in the Ochoco Mountains and is part of the Ochoco National Forest, which includes the Mill Creek Wilderness.
Private land produces better elk, antelope and mule deer hunting than public land because the habitat is more diverse with less dense cover and more browse plants, forbs and grass, and hunting pressure is lower.
Terrain
North of Redmond and Prineville, this mostly private unit ranges from steep, broken terrain in the Ochoco Mountains in the southeast and along the John Day River in the northeast to open, high-desert plains and foothills in the west. The mountains are mostly in the Ochoco National Forest. The unit is in three counties, Wasco, Jefferson and Crook. Wide bands of farmland, including many round fields that are irrigated by center-pivot sprinklers, comprise much of the land along the western and southern boundaries. Crooked River and the Deschutes River run along the western boundary. Along the unit is an arm of Lake Billy Chinook, an impoundment of the Deschutes River, the Crooked River and the Metolius River. Lowlands mostly range from 1,700 to 3,500 above sea level with ridges, foothills and breaks above them, and mountains in the 4,000-6,000 foot range.
Roughly 1687 square miles
28% public land
Elevations from 1,300-5,900 feet
Vegetation
The mountains are mostly forested with ponderosa pines, Douglas firs and other conifers, especially the public part. Junipers grow at lower elevations and on many slopes and ridges in the mountains and foothills. Sagebrush and other shrubs and grasses cover most of the foothills and high desert terrain. A lot of private land has more shrubs and fewer trees than National Forest land. Many flat lands have been planted in rye, wheat, alfalfa and other crops. Willows, cottonwoods, alders and various brush species grow along creeks and rivers.
Access
Most of this unit is either private or is public land that is difficult to reach because of gated, fenced private land. The largest piece of public land is in the Ochoco National Forest, where roads reach within a couple of miles of most places. The 17,323-acre Mill Creek Wilderness is entirely within the unit and offers a place for hunters who are willing to hike several miles to find uncrowded hunting. Part of the 155,000-acre Crooked River National Grasslands is in the eastern third of the unit.
Rimrock Springs Wildlife Area is closed to hunting
No hunting allowed in John Day Fossil Beds National Monument
Camping and Lodging
Many hunters camp along dirt and gravel roads, which is allowed on almost all Forest Service and BLM land. The Forest Service has campgrounds at Haystack Lake and in the Ochocos. Here’s a list of available campgrounds. Prineville has several lodging options, including Stafford Inn (phone: 541-447-7100), Best Western Prineville Inn and Crook County RV Park. Several motels are in Redmond, including a Comfort Suites and a Best Western.
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