This unit has some public land, including the western arm of the Umatilla National Forest, but most public tracts are scattered and landlocked by private property. Hunters take a good number of elk, mule deer and a few antelope every year.

Some big bull elk come from this unit, but are almost all taken on private land. Harvested bulls mostly are 5x5s and 6x6s.

This mostly private unit features low mountains in the Umatilla National Forest and in its southern third with foothills stretching away from them to flats, desert basins and wide, flattened ridges. The John Day River cuts through the unit, leaving a mixture of flat river bottoms and steep breaks along its sides. Many canyons and the edges of ridges are steep. Flats in the north typically range from less than 2,400 feet to more than 3,000 feet above sea level. The southern third of the unit has a greater elevation change, varying from less than 1,700 feet to more than 5,200 feet. Forest Service lands are mostly between 3,500 and 4,500 feet above sea level.

Douglas firs, junipers, tamaracks, ponderosa pines and other conifers cover most of the Umatilla National Forest as well as many public and private areas in the southern third of the unit. Conifers also grow along the John Day River and other creeks along with willows and other bushes. Many dry farm grain fields are along the northern border with a few irrigated farm fields along rivers and creeks. The foothills and many of the flat areas are covered with low shrubs such as sagebrush and various wild grasses with brushy and tree-filled draws between them.

Many hunters camp along forest roads, which is permitted on most public land. Check for fire restrictions. Fairview Campground is off Highway 207 and has five campsites and a vault toilet. Bridge Creek Flora Inn is in Fossil, and Wilson Ranches Retreat Bed & Breakfast is three miles from town. River Bend Motel and Lazy Wolf Resort are in Spray.

Most public land is in the western finger of the Umatilla National Forest near the ghost town of Wetmore. Hunters can access it from Highway 207, the Heppner-Spray Highway, and from a network of forest roads. Three roads are open to ATVs no wider than 50”. The roughly 6,000-acre Lost Valley Ranch Regulated Hunt Area is private land open to hunting by the public. Camping, horseback riding and open fires are prohibited in the Lost Valley hunt area, and vehicles may be used only where posted. It is in Gilliam and Wheeler counties, most of it next to Lost Valley and Trail Fork roads. John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is closed to hunting. More than 100 separate parcels of BLM are scattered in this unit, many of them only 40 acres. Some large contiguous BLM tracts are along the John Day River, near Packsaddle Mountain, in Lockwood Canyon, in the Horse Heaven Mine area and south and southwest of Kimberly. Several square mile sections of BLM land are on the west and southwest sides of Sutton Mountain. Some private roads that used to provide access to the west part of the Umatilla National Forest are no longer open to the public, creating an opportunity for hunters willing to hike to get away from crowds.