This unit contains the Phillip W. Schneider Wildlife Area, the Aldrich Mountains and the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness. Pronghorn antelope, mule deer, elk, mountain goat and California bighorn tags are issued for all or parts of the unit.

Hunters enjoy a lot of public access and take a good percentage of four-point mule deer and 5x5 and 6x6 elk, including some big, mature animals.

This unit consists of mostly public mountains, including the Aldrich Mountains and the Strawberry Range, and mostly private lowlands and foothills near towns such as Seneca and Canyon City. The Phillip W. Schneider Wildlife Area, also called the Murderers Creek Wildlife Area on some maps, is along the eastern edge of the unit and provides hunting on mostly BLM land. Most land is in the Malheur National Forest, part of which is the 65,568-acre Strawberry Mountain Wilderness, named after 9,060-foot Strawberry Mountain. Most of the mountainous terrain varies from 5,000 to 8,000 feet above sea level with a few higher ridges and peaks. Foothills and lowlands are generally 3,400 to 4,800 feet in elevation. The northern boundary generally follows the John Day River; the east boundary is the South Fork of the John Day River.

Most of the mountains are forested by larch, spruce, fir and pine with junipers and mahoganies abundant in foothills and low mountains. In U-shaped valleys carved out by glaciers grow brush, wild grasses, wildflowers and hundreds of species of forbs, including strawberries. Most lowlands are divided into irrigated and dry farms and pastures. Foothills are mostly covered with fescue, bluegrass, wheatgrass and low browse plants such as sagebrush and bitterbrush.

Hundreds of square miles of land are open to public hunting. No motor vehicles are allowed in the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness. The Schneider Wildlife Area and BLM lands within its exterior boundaries are open during big game hunting seasons, but motor vehicles are restricted to designated roads. Some roads are closed after Dec. 1. Hunters need a Division of Fish and Wildlife parking permit in the wildlife area. Some areas are closed due to fire danger. Murderers Creek/Flagtail Travel Management Area has areas closed to motor vehicles to protect habitat and promote quality hunting.

Many hunters camp on flat areas near roads, which is allowed in most of the Malheur National Forest and in the Schneider Wildlife Area. Half a dozen campgrounds are in the unit or near its boundaries. Click here for a list of Malheur National Forest campgrounds. Hunters can find lodging in towns such as Seneca, Canyon City and John Day. Options include The Timbers Inn and RV Park and The Grayback Lodge in Seneca, Fish House Inn & RV Park in Dayville, and Dreamer Lodge in John Day.