Unit 51 - Sumpter

Lowlands are a mixture of irrigated crop fields, dry farms, sagebrush flats, juniper-covered ridges and grassy rangeland with trees such as ponderosa pines, mountain mahoganies, aspens and Douglas firs in draws. Higher terrain is mostly forested by spruces, firs, pines, larches and aspens with some alpine meadows full of grass, forbs and low shrubs. A massive part of the unit was burned in a huge wildlife in summer of 2015. Most of the fires took place in the central part of the unit. Eventually, the fires will have been seen as a good thing, especially for deer, as the areas grow in with grasses and forbs, and then brush and saplings.

There is good road access to most Forest Service and BLM land. The state leases 3,835 acres of the M.R. King Ranches to provide public access to private land. No motor vehicles are allowed there. Troy Ranches Access Area is composed of 5,696 acres of land in this unit and the bordering Lookout Mountain Unit. Another 2,724 acres are open in the Fur Mountain Access Area about 25 miles southeast of Baker City. Motor vehicles are restricted to designated roads. In this unit the 20-square-mile Dark Canyon and the eight-square-mile Patrick Creek travel management areas have vehicle restrictions that start three days before deer rifle season through the end of the last elk season. Parking permits are required to hunt in the Elkhorn Wildlife Area, where motor vehicles are allowed only on open roads and ATVs are prohibited. The Roth Tract is closed to hunting. The Vale District of the BLM provides access on many roads.

Many hunters camp along dirt roads, while hunters who use the wilderness typically stay in backpack tents or sometimes in wall tents if they horses. The Forest Service provides a few campgrounds where trailers and RVs can be parked. Motels and RV parks are in Baker City. Options include Baker City Motel & RV Park, Oregon Trails West RV Park (phone: 541- 523-3236), Always Welcome Inn and Mountain View RV Park.