Quick Tips
- Visit the “charming” Harney County historical museum in Burns
- Carry a GPS with land ownership data to get around private land
- Chukars and quail thrive some years
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 150"-170" | 180"+ |
| Elk | 270"-300" | 310"+ |
| Antelope | 68"-73" | 75"+ |
On The Ground
North and east of Burns in the center of the state, this mostly public unit varies from desert lowlands to forested mountains, hosting good numbers of mule deer and elk along with lower numbers of antelope.
This is a good unit for hunting elk and produces more 5x5 and 6x6 bulls than spikes, forkhorns and three-points.
Terrain
The central and northern part of the unit is mostly mountainous land in the Ochoco and Malheur National Forests. The mountains are not particularly steep, high or rugged. They are surrounded by foothills and mostly flat to rolling desert terrain with some marshland in the western end. Some lowlands are planted in farm crops, especially alfalfa and grass hay. Most agriculture is situated near Burns and along Silver Creek northwest of Riley on the southern edge.
Roughly 1,792 square miles
67% public land
Elevations from 4,200-7,200 feet
Vegetation
The Ochoco Mountains are mostly forested although there are some open slopes and ridges that are covered by grass and low shrubs. Many ridges extend for miles with forested draws on both sides. Common tree species include ponderosa pine, Douglas fir and juniper with cottonwoods along waterways at lower elevations. Bunchgrasses, fescue, sedges, bitterbrush, sagebrush, manzanita, ceanothus and sedge are common in openings and on the forest floor in places. Sagebrush and grasses dominate flattened ridges and desert lowlands. Marshy land has willows, bulrushes, cattails, sedges and other water-loving plants.
Access
Most land is in the Ochoco and Malheur National Forests. Dirt and gravel roads provide good access to many areas. See the Malheur National Forest and Ochoco National Forest websites for updates on road closures and fire restrictions. A large part of the unit is BLM land that is easily accessible although some areas are hard to reach without getting permission to hunt on or cross bordering private parcels. Most private land is near Burns, in Silvies Valley on the eastern edge, in the northwestern quarter of the unit, in Upper Valley and in Silver Creek Valley and Miller Canyon on the southern edge.
Camping and Lodging
Burns RV Park (phone: 541-573-7640) and several motels are in Burns, including the Silver Spur Motel, the Horseshoe Inn, and a couple of nationally franchised motels. Many hunters camp along dirt and gravel roads on BLM and National Forest land. Some hunters base from campgrounds maintained by the Forest Service.
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