Unit 48 Heppner

The unit's signature species, with dependable mule deer across the foothill breaks and forested highlands. Access is the limiting factor more than deer numbers, since much of the best low country is private.

• →Glass the grass/sage and juniper breaks above the wheat ground at first and last light where bucks feed and bed at the farm-forest transition.
• →Hunt the Umatilla National Forest timber edges and ridge systems in the south and east for public-land bucks.
• →Work steep canyon breaks along the North Fork John Day for older, less-pressured bucks.
• →Secure private-land permission early — the wheat/CRP edges hold good deer but are almost entirely private.

Elk populations in the Heppner unit are at management objective with steady bull ratios; hunters should find five- and six-point bulls plus a few more spike bulls in years of good calf recruitment. Bridge Creek and adjacent rangelands to the east provide critical winter range for the herd.

• →Hunt the timbered Umatilla National Forest highlands in the southeast — bulls hold in north-slope timber and drainage heads.
• →Work meadow and timber edges at dawn and dusk, then still-hunt security cover mid-day.
• →Get distance from open forest roads for mature bulls.
• →Note that some prime elk ground (e.g. the Willow Creek area) is private-land-only — check the specific hunt's land status before you draw or hunt.

Limited controlled pronghorn tags are issued for the unit's open country. Antelope hold on the open grass and sage plateaus rather than the timber.

• →Focus on open bunchgrass and sage plateaus in the lower, more open portions of the unit.
• →Glass long distances from high points and use terrain-screened stalks.
• →Much of the open pronghorn ground is private — line up access in advance.

California bighorn use the rough breaks and rimrock along the North Fork John Day canyon; a rare, essentially once-in-a-lifetime controlled tag.

• →Glass steep rimrock and canyon breaks above the North Fork John Day River where sheep key on escape terrain.
• →Locate rams from canyon-rim vantage points with quality glass before committing to a stalk.

A very limited Rocky Mountain goat controlled hunt exists for the unit's steepest terrain; numbers are small and the tag is rare.

• →Hunt the highest, steepest rock and cliff bands in the roughest country.
• →Glass escape terrain from a distance and plan a foot-based, demanding stalk.

Black bears are distributed through the forested Umatilla National Forest portions; a spring hunt is offered.

• →In spring, glass green-up slopes, logging openings and creek bottoms where bears feed on fresh forage.
• →In fall, key on berry patches and riparian draws in the mid-elevation timber.
• →Cover open slopes with optics at dawn and dusk.

Cougars follow the deer and elk herds throughout the unit; harvest is typically incidental.

• →Hunt where deer and elk concentrate — the farm-forest transition and canyon winter range.
• →After fresh snow, cut and follow tracks in drainages.
• →Be ready to take a cougar opportunistically while pursuing deer or elk.