How big is Unit 37 in Oregon?

Unit 37 (Ochoco) covers about 1,603 square miles, ranging from roughly 2,900 to 6,926 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.

What species does the catalog list for Unit 37?

Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat, Black Bear, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Oregon agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.

Unit 37 Ochoco

Controlled-draw elk-and-deer country in the timbered Ochoco Mountains east of Prineville.

East Oregon — Ochoco Mountains (Central) · Last reviewed 2026-06-03

Bull elk standing at the edge of dark timber

Area

1,603

sq mi

Public land

53%

approx.

Elevation

2,900–6,926

feet

Motorized

extensive

access

Overview

Unit 37 covers roughly 1,600 sq mi of the Ochoco Mountains and foothills east of Prineville, spanning Grant, Crook, and Wheeler counties. The forested mountain core is Ochoco National Forest wrapped by a large BLM base — about 53-54% public land — but private ranches and the privately held Big Summit Prairie are intermixed throughout. ODFW reports a lot of elk and good numbers of mule deer and pronghorn with herds stable or increasing, and big-game tags here are issued through the controlled draw. It's a road-accessible, moderate-terrain unit with pockets of steep canyon country in the northwest.

Terrain

The Ochoco Mountains rise from high-desert creek valleys and benches up through mostly forested mid-elevations to open high ridges, peaking at Lookout Mountain (6,926 ft), the Crook County highpoint. Most of the range sits 4,500-6,000 ft with moderate relief, though some slopes and canyons — particularly in the northwest — are steep. Creek valleys (the Crooked River on the south, the South Fork John Day River on the northeast) and open parks like Big Summit Prairie and Combs Flat break up the timber.

Cover: Juniper, sagebrush, and grasses at the dry lower elevations; ponderosa pine dominating mid-elevations on south and west aspects; and cooler mixed-conifer stands (Douglas-fir, ponderosa, white fir, western larch) on north and east aspects up high. Open meadow parks and flattened grassy ridges occur in the eastern half and on the south side of Lookout Mountain.

Landmarks: Lookout Mountain (6,926 ft) · Big Summit Prairie · Ochoco Reservoir · Combs Flat · Crooked River · South Fork John Day River · Bridge Creek Wilderness · Prineville Reservoir

Access

The mountainous core is Ochoco National Forest (the Lookout Mountain and Paulina Ranger Districts), wrapped by extensive BLM holdings, giving the unit roughly 53-54% public land. Private ranch land intermixes heavily on the mountain fringes, and Big Summit Prairie in the unit's center is largely private despite being surrounded by national forest — a notorious access trap. The forest is served by a dense grid of gravel and dirt roads; four-wheel-drive is recommended, but ATVs are seldom needed. Bridge Creek Wilderness, in the north of the unit, is closed to motor vehicles.

Managers: U.S. Forest Service (Ochoco National Forest), Bureau of Land Management (Prineville District), Private ranches / timber

Access points: US Hwy 26 east from Prineville (main corridor through the unit) · Ochoco National Forest gravel/dirt road grid off the Hwy 26 corridor · Access via Paulina and Suplee on the south/east side · State Hwy 27 along Prineville Reservoir on the southwest boundary

Species notes

Rocky Mountain Elk

common quality

A strong Rocky Mountain elk unit — ODFW notes a lot of elk with herds stable or increasing, and recent forecasts describe the Ochoco herd as holding steady with strong antler growth off prolonged summer green-up. Elk tags here come through the controlled draw. Note the 237A Ochoco hunt is private-land only (0% public), so public-land hunters target the general controlled forest hunts.

→Work the timbered draws and benches in the mixed conifer on north and east aspects where elk hold cover and shade
→Glass the meadow edges around Big Summit Prairie and grassy parks at first and last light, then push into adjacent timber
→Early seasons: stay higher in cooler conifer; as pressure and weather build, elk shift to thicker, less-roaded pockets
→Use the road grid to reach ridges, then still-hunt the timbered heads of drainages away from roads where pressure concentrates animals
→Locate bulls during the rut in the prairie-to-timber transition zones

Mule Deer

common opportunity

Good numbers of mule deer, drawn through the controlled hunt. As across the Ochocos, the winter population on lower range tends to run higher than the in-season population up in the unit, so densities during the hunt can be lower than winter herd counts suggest.

→Hunt the forest-edge transition — open ridges and juniper-sage foothills below the timber where bucks feed
→Glass open south-facing slopes (e.g., south side of Lookout Mountain) and the eastern open ridges at dawn before deer bed in timber pockets
→Still-hunt timber stringers and draws connecting feed and bedding in the mid-elevation ponderosa
→Get off the road system — roadside pressure pushes mature bucks into the steeper northwest canyons and brushy creek heads
→Late-season weather can pull deer down off the high country onto lower benches

Pronghorn

common opportunity

Good numbers of pronghorn, drawn through the controlled hunt and a tough tag to draw. They occupy the open, lower-elevation country rather than the forested core.

→Focus the open high-desert flats and grassy benches — Combs Flat south of Ochoco Reservoir and the open eastern ridges and prairie margins
→Spot-and-stalk with quality glass; locate bands from high points then plan a terrain-screened approach
→Use folds, draws, and brush lines to close distance on sharp-eyed animals in open ground
→Watch water sources and feed edges during warm early-season conditions

Bighorn Sheep

limited trophy

Unit 37 falls within the 546A Aldrich bighorn sheep hunt, a once-in-a-lifetime controlled tag with extremely low draw odds. Sheep are very localized in rocky rim and rimrock habitat — largely along the South Fork John Day breaks and Aldrich-country rim — not the timbered forest interior.

→Treat it as a once-in-a-lifetime tag — scout heavily and consider professional help if drawn
→Concentrate on rugged rim, rimrock, and rocky breaks rather than the timbered interior
→Glass long from vantage points and be ready for steep, physical terrain

Mountain Goat

transient trophy

ODFW lists a Rocky Mountain goat (900-series) controlled hunt covering Unit 37, a once-in-a-lifetime tag with extremely long odds. Goats are scarce and tied to the most rugged, rocky high-country pockets, so realistic opportunity is minimal unless drawn.

→Treat as a true once-in-a-lifetime draw — confirm exactly where the few goats are before the season if you draw
→Focus the steepest rock, cliff bands, and high rimrock; ignore the forested mid-elevations
→Glass from long range and plan for demanding, technical terrain

Black Bear

limited opportunity

Black bear occur across the Ochoco but harvest in the district is modest; ODFW's spring-bear forecast notes bear numbers appear to be increasing across Eastern Oregon. Spring and fall opportunity exist through the controlled draw and general framework.

→Glass green-up south slopes and meadow/prairie edges in spring as bears feed on emerging forage
→Focus berry- and forb-rich pockets in the mixed conifer in fall
→Cover ground and glass — the open feeding edges around Big Summit Prairie and timber transitions offer the best odds

Cougar

common opportunity

Cougar are present throughout the Ochoco; ODFW's Central Area report recommends the Ochoco (and Maury) units for cougar because of their larger public-land base and better access, with cats following the deer, elk, and pronghorn. Available on a general statewide tag.

→Hunt where deer and elk concentrate — cougar follow the prey base into timbered draws and winter-range benches
→After fresh snow, cut roads and ridgelines for tracks, then follow into cover
→Use predator calls in broken timber and rimrock country
→Capitalize on the road access to cover ground glassing and cutting sign

Pro tips

→Big Summit Prairie in the unit's center is largely PRIVATE despite sitting in the middle of national forest — a classic access trap, so map your boundaries before assuming public ground
→Don't be fooled by the Ochoco's deer reputation — the winter population on lower range tends to run higher than the in-season population up in the unit, so hunt-season densities can be lower than herd counts imply
→The 237A Ochoco elk hunt is private-land only (0% public); public-land hunters should plan around the general controlled forest hunts instead
→Get off the dense road grid — it spreads pressure everywhere, so the steeper northwest canyons and roadless drainage heads hold the older animals
→Glass open south slopes and eastern open ridges at first light, then work the timber transitions — animals bed in conifer through the warm midday

Watch out for

!Checkerboard and intermixed private ranch land around the mountain fringes and Big Summit Prairie can landlock public ground — verify boundaries with a mapping app
!Bridge Creek Wilderness is closed to motor vehicles — foot or horse access only
!Secondary forest roads get slick, rutted, and impassable after rain/snow; the high country can snow shut late season — carry chains and recovery gear
!Big game here is controlled-draw, and the pronghorn, 546A Aldrich bighorn, and Rocky Mountain goat tags are very hard to draw — plan your point strategy accordingly
!Bear densities are modest — don't bank a trip solely on bear opportunity

Logistics

Prineville is the practical basecamp and supply town — the gateway on US Hwy 26 and home to both the Ochoco National Forest Supervisor's Office and the BLM Prineville District Office (good stops for road conditions and maps). Bend, about 35 miles west, offers full services, lodging, and the nearest commercial airport (Redmond/RDM). Dispersed camping is available throughout the national forest, with developed campgrounds near Ochoco Reservoir and along the main corridors. Fuel up in Prineville; services thin out fast once you're on the forest roads to the east.

Nearest towns: Prineville, Dayville, Paulina, Mitchell, Bend

Nearby units

Hunt Area CR-01 · Crooked River (CR-01) Unit 36 · Maury Unit 45 · Fossil Hunt Area PH-01 · Painted Hills (PH-01)

Seasons & regulations

This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Oregon sources:

Research sources: ODFW Ochoco Unit 37 · GoHunt — Oregon Unit 37 Ochoco Profile · Ochoco National Forest — About the Area (USFS) · ODFW Big Game Hunting Report — Central Area · Oregon Bighorn Sheep Hunt Descriptions (eRegulations) · Oregon Rocky Mountain Goat Hunt Descriptions (eRegulations)

FAQ

How big is Unit 37 in Oregon?: Unit 37 (Ochoco) covers about 1,603 square miles, ranging from roughly 2,900 to 6,926 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
How much public land is in Unit 37?: Approximately 53% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: U.S. Forest Service (Ochoco National Forest), Bureau of Land Management (Prineville District), Private ranches / timber. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
What species does the catalog list for Unit 37?: Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat, Black Bear, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Oregon agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.

Put Unit 37 on your map.

Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.

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