Unit 68 Whitehorse
Oregon's remote southeast corner — a 90%-public desert unit of the Trout Creek and Oregon Canyon Mountains famed for California bighorn and pronghorn.
Southeast Oregon — high desert · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
4,901
sq mi
Public land
90%
approx.
Elevation
4,000–8,500
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
The Whitehorse Unit (68) occupies the far southeastern corner of Oregon, running from Follyfarm and the Alvord country east to the Idaho line and south to the Nevada border near Denio, taking in the Trout Creek Mountains, Oregon Canyon Mountains, Sheepshead Mountains, and Whitehorse Ranch basin. This is some of the wildest, emptiest country in the state — vast sagebrush basins, isolated fault-block desert mountains, and deep-cut redband trout creeks, at roughly 90% public land almost entirely Burns/Vale District BLM. It is best known as premier California bighorn sheep and pronghorn country, with mule deer holding in the mountain and canyon cover. Elk are limited and localized.
Terrain
Classic Basin and Range: broad sagebrush valleys and playa flats broken by isolated fault-block desert ranges — the Trout Creek, Oregon Canyon, and Sheepshead Mountains — that rise steeply with rimrock, aspen draws, and deep stream canyons. Big, open, roadless-feeling country with enormous sightlines.
Cover: Big sagebrush, low sage, and bunchgrass across the basins; bitterbrush, mountain mahogany, and scattered juniper on the slopes; aspen, willow, and mountain shrub in the higher canyons and along Trout Creek, Willow Creek, and Whitehorse Creek. Riparian ribbons hold the only real cover and water in a dry landscape.
Landmarks: Trout Creek Mountains · Oregon Canyon Mountains · Sheepshead Mountains · Beatys Butte and Alvord Peaks (west edge) · Whitehorse Ranch and Whitehorse Creek · Trout Creek and Willow Creek canyons (redband trout)
Access
About 90% public, almost all BLM — some of the most open, unbroken public ground in Oregon. Access is limited not by ownership but by remoteness: primitive dirt and gravel roads, long distances, and no services deep in the unit. A few large ranches (notably the Whitehorse Ranch basin) hold key valley bottoms and water; respect those boundaries. Much of the higher mountain country is de facto roadless and hunted on foot or horseback. High-clearance 4x4 is mandatory and roads become impassable when wet.
Managers: BLM - Burns District, BLM - Vale District, Private ranch land (Whitehorse Ranch and scattered valley inholdings)
Access points: US Hwy 95 (Jordan Valley corridor, northeast) · State Hwy 78 (Follyfarm, northwest) · Fields-Denio Road (west/south) · Whitehorse Ranch Road · Jordan Valley-Silver City Road · BLM primitive road network into the ranges
Species notes
Bighorn Sheep
common qualityThe unit's signature animal. California bighorn thrive in the rimrock and canyon country of the Trout Creek and Oregon Canyon Mountains — this region is a cornerstone of Oregon's bighorn program and has served as a transplant source. A coveted, hard-to-draw controlled tag.
- →Glass rimrock rims, talus, and canyon breaks from long range at first and last light
- →Focus on the steepest escape terrain near water in the Trout Creek and Oregon Canyon ranges
- →Plan multi-day backcountry hunts with a spotting scope and be ready to cover rough ground
- →Judge rams carefully — draw odds make every stalk count
Pronghorn
common qualityExcellent pronghorn country across the vast sage basins between the ranges. Big open flats hold good numbers and quality bucks, one of the unit's premier draw opportunities alongside sheep.
- →Glass wide-open sage and grass basins from high points at extreme range
- →Locate a buck, then use swales, rimrock, and terrain to screen a long stalk
- →Sit the scarce water sources during hot, dry weather
- →Carry a good spotting scope and judge horns before committing to a stalk
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer hold in the mountain and canyon cover of the desert ranges and along the riparian creek bottoms, with bucks using rimrock, mahogany, and aspen pockets. Densities are typical of the arid southeast — a spot-and-stalk unit for hunters willing to get remote.
- →Glass rimrock breaks, mahogany slopes, and aspen/canyon pockets in the Trout Creek and Oregon Canyon Mountains
- →Key the riparian stringers of Trout, Willow, and Whitehorse creeks for cover and water
- →Hunt higher canyon country early, watching for movement toward water
- →Cover big ground and glass long — deer are scattered across empty terrain
Cougar
limited opportunityCougars are present at low density wherever deer and bighorn concentrate in the desert ranges. Encounters are incidental and tracks are the usual sign.
- →Carry a tag and watch sandy washes, mud, and snow for fresh tracks
- →Work steep rimrock and canyon country that holds deer and sheep
- →Use a predator call near canyon breaks and cover
Pro tips
- →Treat this as an expedition — self-sufficient camp, extra fuel and water, spare tires, and recovery gear
- →Water is the key: in dry conditions animals concentrate on the few reliable creeks and springs
- →Glass, glass, glass — success in this open country is about spotting first from high points
- →Respect the Whitehorse Ranch and valley inholdings and hunt the surrounding public
- →Leave a detailed trip plan; there is no cell coverage and help is hours away
Watch out for
- !Extreme remoteness — no services, fuel, or cell coverage deep in the unit; a breakdown is serious
- !Clay desert roads become impassable gumbo when wet and can strand vehicles
- !Private ranch inholdings (Whitehorse Ranch and valley bottoms) control key water — respect boundaries
- !Scarce water demands you carry your own supply for people and stock
- !Long, rough approaches to the best sheep and deer country require real physical preparation
Logistics
This is Oregon's most remote big-game country and logistics dominate the hunt. Fields is a tiny outpost with a store and fuel; Jordan Valley, Denio, and McDermitt are small crossroads; Burns is the nearest real town, hours away. There is essentially no lodging in the unit — plan on a self-sufficient backcountry camp. Carry all your fuel, water, food, tires, and recovery gear; there is no help for many miles and no cell coverage. High-clearance 4x4 and paper/offline navigation are non-negotiable, and travel must be planned around weather that turns roads to gumbo.
Nearest towns: Fields, Andrews, Denio (NV), Jordan Valley, Burns, McDermitt (NV)
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Oregon sources:
Research sources: ODFW - Whitehorse Unit 68 (official unit page: boundary, 90% public, Burns/Vale BLM, Trout Creek Mtns) · BLM - Vale District · ODFW - Big Game Hunting Seasons & Regulations
FAQ
- How big is Unit 68 in Oregon?
- Unit 68 (Whitehorse) covers about 4,901 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,000 to 8,500 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 68?
- Approximately 90% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM - Burns District, BLM - Vale District, Private ranch land (Whitehorse Ranch and scattered valley inholdings). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 68?
- Bighorn Sheep, Pronghorn, Mule Deer, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Oregon agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
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