Quick Tips
- Develop a relationship with a private landowner
- Hunt pheasants and waterfowl in Ladd Marsh
- Forest grouse live in timbered areas
- Trout, bluegill and smallmouth bass in Thief Valley Reservoir
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 130"-150" | 160"+ |
| Whitetail Deer | 90"-100" | 110"+ |
| Elk | 260"-290" | 300"+ |
On The Ground
Largely private, this unit has limited public land and has elk, mule deer and whitetail deer.
Public land in this unit can be crowded, hard to access and is mostly timbered or filled with brush, but hunters manage to take a few good mule deer and mature bull elk ever year.
Terrain
Most land is flat farm property, marsh land and foothills of the Wallowa Mountains. The western edge of the Wallowas has some steep areas, but most terrain is mild to moderate in topography. The Grande Ronde River, Catherine Creek, Antelope Creek and many small creeks run through the valleys west of the mountains.
Roughly 664 square miles
25% public land
Elevations from 2,600-8,100 feet
Vegetation
Farm land takes up much of the unit, particularly in the Grande Ronde Valley east of La Grande, which is just outside the western corner. Bulrushes, cattails, willows and cottonwoods grow along many creeks and fill a lot of the marsh land. The largest stand of bulrushes in Oregon is in Ladd Marsh. Sagebrush and bunch grasses fill most range land. The mountains and the higher foothills are mostly timbered with spruces and firs. Much of the private timber land has been logged and is brushy or supports saplings and young trees.
Access
Most land is private. There is some BLM land in Thief Valley and scattered, small parcels of BLM and state land in the foothills and flatlands, mostly in the southern half of the unit. The scattered parcels are mostly landlocked by private land. A strip of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest between half a mile and 10 miles wide is along the eastern edge. Roads serve the National Forest but many are closed during the fall to promote quality hunting. Click here for maps of travel management areas in Union County.
Camping and Lodging
Hunters may camp along roads in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. Primitive campsites are available on a first-come first-served basis in Catherine Creek State Park, which is open until Oct. 12. North Fork Catherine Creek Campground has pull-off tent and trailer campsites along the Catherine Creek Road. Several motels are in La Grande
Historical Temperatures
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Moon Phases
April 2025
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