Oregon › Hunting seasons › Units › Heppner Unit
ODFW East Region · 1,438 sq mi
Heppner Unit controlled hunts, general seasons and land
Morrow County, Grant County, Umatilla County and Wheeler County: 1,438 square miles, 15,131 tags in 2026 hunts that reach it and 9 land records inside the unit.
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Heppner Unit by county
Number 48 on the ODFW map, the Heppner Unit measures 1,438 square miles. The biggest piece, 645 square miles, sits in Morrow County, and big game rules follow Eastern Oregon. Its boundary is drawn on landmarks rather than county lines, which puts parts of Morrow, Grant, Umatilla and Wheeler inside it.
| County piece | Sq mi | Unit share | County share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morrow County | 644.7 | 45% | 32% |
| Grant County | 498.1 | 35% | 11% |
| Umatilla County | 260.9 | 18% | 8% |
| Wheeler County | 34.2 | 2% | 2% |
District staff in Heppner, John Day and Pendleton handle the Heppner Unit, led by Heppner with 62% of the ground.
| Biologist district | Office | Phone | % here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heppner | Heppner | 541-676-5230 | 62% |
| Grant | John Day | 541-575-1167 | 20% |
| Umatilla | Pendleton | 541-276-2344 | 18% |
Area, side, county overlap and districts from the ODFW Wildlife Management Units layer and the ODFW wildlife district layer (overlay with Census county lines; GIS measures); closed places from the big game regulations and land manager sources; checked November 8, 2026.
Heppner Unit rules that change by unit
- For cougar the Heppner Unit is in Zone E, set at 270 of the statewide 970. 2025 cougar harvest in the unit: 15.
- Mule deer: from 2026 Eastern Oregon buck hunts follow Deer Hunt Areas, and the Heppner Unit touches 3 herd ranges: Aldrich (AD: AD01), Fox (FX: FX01, FX02, FX03) and North Blues (NB: NB01, NB02).
- Centerfire rifles: during Eastern Buck Deer, Rocky Mtn Bull Elk 1st Season and Rocky Mtn Bull Elk 2nd Season you may not carry a centerfire rifle in the Heppner Unit without a deer, elk, pronghorn, sheep or goat tag valid for that time and place.
- Travel management areas in the Heppner Unit: 48A Umatilla NF.
- Antlerless elk damage tags (August 1 to March 31) work in Ukiah and Heppner, which overlaps the Heppner Unit.
- No county-listed goose zone reaches the Heppner Unit; use the ODFW map.
- Bird hours by county: Zone B (Wheeler) and Zone D (Morrow, Grant, Umatilla).
- No CWD has turned up in Oregon, but whole deer and elk carcasses from other states may not be brought in.
| Season with rifle limit |
|---|
Eastern Buck Deer (Oct. 3 – Oct. 14) |
Rocky Mtn Bull Elk (controlled) 1st Season (Oct. 28 – Nov. 1) |
Rocky Mtn Bull Elk 2nd Season (Nov. 7 – Nov. 15) |
| Area | Called | Active |
|---|---|---|
| 48A | Umatilla NF | Permanent Closure |
| Range | Letters | Areas in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Aldrich | AD | AD01 |
| Fox | FX | FX01, FX02, FX03 |
| North Blues | NB | NB01, NB02 |
Cougar zones, Eastern Oregon Deer Hunt Areas, centerfire rifle restrictions, travel management areas, antlerless elk damage areas, goose zones, game bird hours and CWD testing from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife; checked November 8, 2026.
Heppner Unit drawn tags by series
Drawn hunting in WMU 48: 39 hunt numbers and 15,131 tags for 2026, counting hunts that also cover other units. 2,986 hunters put 248A1 first in 2025, more than any other hunt in the Heppner Unit. Odds are longest for 447 (roughly 20 first choices a tag). 15 hunts carry the 2026 "new" flag. 20 asterisk hunts do not cover the whole unit.
Leftover tags went on sale online on July 1 at 10 a.m.; spring bear leftovers on March 15. Hunts shown are from the 2026 regulations.
Buck deer, 100 series (11)
| Hunt | Name | Type | Dates | Bag | Tags 2026 | 1st choice 2025 | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AD101R1 new * | Late Aldrich 01 Bow Whitetail | Archery | Nov 14–28 | One white-tailed deer | 21 | — | 37, 46, 47, 48, 65, 72 |
| FX101 new | Fox 01 | Any legal weapon | Oct 3–14 | One buck with visible antler | 880 | — | 48, 49, 50, 51 |
| FX101R new | Fox 01 Bow | Archery | Aug 29–Sep 27 | One buck with visible antler | 715 | — | 48, 49, 50, 51 |
| FX102 new | Fox 02 | Any legal weapon | Oct 3–14 | One buck with visible antler | 1,210 | — | 47, 48, 65 |
| FX102R new | Fox 02 Bow | Archery | Aug 29–Sep 27 | One buck with visible antler | 770 | — | 47, 48, 65 |
| FX103 new | Fox 03 | Any legal weapon | Oct 3–14 | One buck with visible antler | 1,980 | — | 45, 48 |
| FX103-1 new | Late Fox 03 | Any legal weapon | Nov 21–29 | One buck with visible antler | 11 | — | 45, 48 |
| FX103M new * | Fox 03 Muzzleloader | Muzzleloader | Oct 17–25 | One buck with visible antler | 242 | — | 45, 48 |
| FX103R new | Fox 03 Bow | Archery | Aug 29–Sep 27 | One buck with visible antler | 770 | — | 45, 48 |
| NB102 new | North Blues 02 | Any legal weapon | Oct 3–14 | One buck with visible antler | 2,420 | — | 44, 45, 48 |
| NB102R new | North Blues 02 Bow | Archery | Aug 29–Sep 27 | One buck with visible antler | 440 | — | 44, 45, 48 |
Antlerless deer, 600 series (4)
| Hunt | Name | Type | Dates | Bag | Tags 2026 | 1st choice 2025 | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FX603 new * | Fox 03 Private | Any legal weapon | Oct 17–25 | One antlerless deer | 22 | — | 45, 48 |
| NB601 new * | North Blues 01 | Any legal weapon | Nov 16–29 | One white-tailed deer | 44 | — | 44, 45, 48, 49 |
| NB602 new * | North Blues 02 Private | Any legal weapon | Oct 17–25 | One antlerless deer | 22 | — | 44, 45, 48 |
| NB602T new * | North Blues 02 Youth | Youth only | Nov 21–Dec 6 | One antlerless deer | 50 | — | 44, 45, 48 |
Premium deer, L hunts (4)
| Hunt | Name | Type | Dates | Bag | Tags 2026 | 1st choice 2025 | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LFX01 | Fox 01 | Premium (any legal weapon) | Aug 1–Nov 30 | One animal (either sex); premium deer tags are good for any species of deer hunted in that unit | 1 | — | 50, 49, 48, 51 |
| LFX02 | Fox 02 | Premium (any legal weapon) | Aug 1–Nov 30 | One animal (either sex); premium deer tags are good for any species of deer hunted in that unit | 1 | — | 47, 65, 48 |
| LFX03 | Fox 03 | Premium (any legal weapon) | Aug 1–Nov 30 | One animal (either sex); premium deer tags are good for any species of deer hunted in that unit | 1 | — | 45, 48 |
| LNB02 | North Blues 02 | Premium (any legal weapon) | Aug 1–Nov 30 | One animal (either sex); premium deer tags are good for any species of deer hunted in that unit | 1 | — | 44, 48, 45 |
Elk, 200 series (14)
| Hunt | Name | Type | Dates | Bag | Tags 2026 | 1st choice 2025 | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 200R * | Oregon Youth Bow | Youth only | Aug 29–Sep 27 | One elk | 330 | 124 | 62 units |
| 247D1 * | Northside – Ritter Private No. 1 | Any legal weapon | Aug 1–Dec 31 | One antlerless elk | 660 | 286 | 47, 48 |
| 247D2 * | Northside – Ritter Private No. 2 | Any legal weapon | Jan 1–Mar 31 | One antlerless elk | 165 | 72 | 47, 48 |
| 248A1 * | Heppner Unit No. 1 | Any legal weapon | Oct 28–Nov 1 | One bull elk | 605 | 2,986 | This unit only |
| 248A2 * | Heppner Unit No. 2 | Any legal weapon | Oct 28–Nov 1 | One spike elk | 660 | 257 | This unit only |
| 248B1 * | Ritter No. 1 | Any legal weapon | Oct 28–Nov 1 | One elk | 138 | 103 | This unit only |
| 248B2 * | Ritter No. 2 | Any legal weapon | Nov 7–15 | One elk | 220 | 106 | This unit only |
| 248C * | Monument | Any legal weapon | Aug 1–Dec 31 | One antlerless elk | 99 | 69 | This unit only |
| 248D | Heppner Unit | Any legal weapon | Nov 21–29 | One antlerless elk | 33 | 311 | This unit only |
| 248E * | Willow Cr | Any legal weapon | Dec 1–31 | One antlerless elk | 22 | 5 | This unit only |
| 248M * | Pole Cr Muzzleloader | Muzzleloader | Oct 17–25 | One bull elk | 27 | 224 | This unit only |
| 248R1 | Heppner Unit Bow No. 1 | Archery | Aug 29–Sep 27 | One elk | 121 | 490 | This unit only |
| 248R2 | Heppner Unit Bow No. 2 | Archery | Aug 29–Sep 27 | One bull elk | 1,430 | 431 | This unit only |
| 248T | Heppner Unit Youth | Youth only | Aug 15–Dec 31 | One antlerless elk | 50 | 186 | This unit only |
Premium elk, M hunts (1)
| Hunt | Name | Type | Dates | Bag | Tags 2026 | 1st choice 2025 | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M48 | Heppner | Premium (any legal weapon) | Aug 1–Nov 30 | One animal (either sex); premium deer tags are good for any species of deer hunted in that unit | 1 | — | This unit only |
Pronghorn, 400 series (3)
| Hunt | Name | Type | Dates | Bag | Tags 2026 | 1st choice 2025 | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 440A1 * | Columbia Plateau No. 1 | Any legal weapon | Oct 17–25 | One doe or fawn pronghorn | 55 | 181 | 40, 43, 44, 48 |
| 440A2 * | Columbia Plateau No. 2 | Any legal weapon | Oct 17–25 | One buck pronghorn | 26 | 437 | 40, 43, 44, 48 |
| 447 * | Northside – Ritter | Any legal weapon | Aug 15–23 | One buck pronghorn | 7 | 140 | 47, 48 |
Premium pronghorn, N hunts (1)
| Hunt | Name | Type | Dates | Bag | Tags 2026 | 1st choice 2025 | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N45 | Fossil/Heppner | Premium (any legal weapon) | Aug 1–Nov 30 | One animal (either sex); premium deer tags are good for any species of deer hunted in that unit | 1 | — | 45, 48 |
Spring bear, 2026 hunts (1)
| Hunt | Name | Type | Dates | Bag | Tags 2026 | 1st choice 2025 | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 746A * | S Blue Mtns | Any legal weapon | Apr 1–May 31 | — | 880 | 1,288 | 11 units |
Hunt numbers, dates, bags, 2026 tags and 2025 first-choice applicants from the 2026 Oregon Big Game Hunting Regulations and the 2026-27 game bird regulations (sage-grouse); hunt areas from ODFW’s 2026 hunt boundary layers; draw rules from the controlled hunt pages; checked November 8, 2026.
What else opens in the Heppner Unit
4 general rows reach this Eastern Oregon unit, for elk, black bear and cougar. For elk without a draw: Eastern Oregon Rocky Mountain elk – 2nd season.
Big game without a draw (4)
| Species | Season | Tag | Area | Dates | Bag | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk | General season antlerless elk damage | General tag | Halfway Valley; Richland Valley; Ukiah and Heppner; Walla Walla; Wallowa Valley; John Day Valley ; Grande Ronde Baker Keating Valleys | Aug 1–Nov 30 | One antlerless elk | |
| Elk | General Eastern Oregon Rocky Mountain elk – 2nd season | General tag | Units 49, 50, 52, 53, 61, 62, 63; Unit 48 north and west of the N Fork John Day River; Unit 51 north of Hwy 245 and Burnt River Canyon Rd between Unity and Durkee | Nov 7–15 | One spike elk | |
| Black bear | General fall black bear (statewide) | General tag | Statewide | Aug 1–Dec 31 | One bear per tag; unlawful to take cubs less than one year old or sows with cubs less than one year old | |
| Cougar | General cougar (statewide, zone quotas) | General tag | Statewide | Jan 1–Dec 31 | One cougar per tag; unlawful to take spotted kittens or females with spotted kittens |
The 21 rows in the second table need licenses, validations or permits rather than big game tags. 13 pursuit and falconry rows are omitted here.
License and validation seasons (21)
| Species | Season | Tag | Area | Dates | Bag | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Turkey | Fall wild turkey | General tag | WMUs 37 | Sep 1–Nov 30 Dec 1–Jan 31 2027 | One wild turkey of either sex | |
| Wild Turkey | Beardless wild turkey permit season | Permit | Private lands in WMUs 37 | Oct 1–Feb 28 2027 | 3 hen turkeys and/or turkeys without a visible beard per day; season limit 9 (3 permits) | |
| Wild Turkey | Fall wild turkey | General tag | WMUs 36, 37 | Oct 10–Nov 30 Dec 1–Jan 31 2027 | One wild turkey of either sex | |
| Wild Turkey | Spring 2027: youth spring wild turkey hunt | General tag | Statewide | Apr 10–11 Apr 15–May 31 | One male or bearded turkey per day | |
| Wild Turkey | Spring 2027: spring wild turkey | General tag | Statewide | Apr 15–May 31 | One male wild turkey or a wild turkey with a visible beard per day; season limit 3 | |
| Western Gray Squirrel | Western gray squirrel – remainder of state | License | Statewide | Sep 1–Nov 15 | 5 daily, 15 in possession | |
| Ruffed Grouse | Ruffed grouse | Validation | Statewide | Sep 1–Jan 31 2027 | 3 daily, 9 in possession | |
| Blue Grouse | Blue grouse (dusky and sooty) | Validation | Statewide | Sep 1–Jan 31 2027 | 3 daily, 9 in possession | |
| Chukar | Partridge (chukar and Hungarian combined) | Validation | Statewide | Oct 10–Jan 31 2027 | 8 daily, 24 in possession (combined) | |
| Hungarian Partridge | Partridge (chukar and Hungarian combined) | Validation | Statewide | Oct 10–Jan 31 2027 | 8 daily, 24 in possession (combined) | |
| Pheasant | Rooster pheasant | Validation | Statewide | Oct 10–Dec 31 | 2 daily, 8 in possession | |
| Ducks | Youth waterfowl hunt (ducks, mergansers, coots, geese) | Validation | Statewide | Sep 26–27 | Regular bag limits | |
| Ducks | Veterans and active military personnel waterfowl hunt | Validation | Statewide | Feb 6 | Regular bag limits | |
| Band-tailed Pigeon | Band-tailed pigeon | Permit | Statewide | Sep 15–23 | 2 daily, 6 in possession | |
| Crow | Crow | Validation | Statewide | Oct 1–Jan 31 2027 | No limit | |
| Brant | Brant | Permit | Statewide | Nov 28–Dec 13 | 2 daily, 6 in possession | |
| Gray Fox | Gray fox | Furtaker | Statewide | Oct 15–Feb 28 2027 | — | |
| Muskrat | Muskrat and mink | Furtaker | Statewide | Nov 15–Mar 31 2027 | — | |
| Mink | Muskrat and mink | Furtaker | Statewide | Nov 15–Mar 31 2027 | — | |
| Raccoon | Raccoon | Furtaker | Statewide | Nov 15–Mar 15 2027 | — | |
| River Otter | River otter | Furtaker | Statewide | Nov 15–Mar 15 2027 | — |
Season rows from the 2026 Oregon Big Game Hunting Regulations, the 2026-27 Oregon Game Bird Hunting Regulations and the furbearer regulations; general tag deadlines from the general season page; duck and dove zones on the ODFW waterfowl map; checked November 8, 2026.
How 2025 hunters did in the Heppner Unit
ODFW's 2025 estimates put 425 animals in the elk, any weapon column for hunts in the Heppner Unit, from 2,647 hunters.
In buck deer, any weapon, about 24 in 100 hunters scored (401 of 1,669). In elk, any weapon, about 16 in 100 hunters scored (425 of 2,647).
Eastern deer rows for 2025 use units; the 2026 Deer Hunt Areas came later.
| Report | Hunt | People | Taken | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buck deer, any weapon | 148 Heppner Unit No. 1 | 1,658 | 392 | 24% |
| Buck deer, any weapon | 148A Heppner Unit No. 2 | 11 | 9 | 89% |
| Deer, archery | 148R Heppner Unit Bow | 456 | 43 | 9% |
| Deer, muzzleloader | 148M Ditch Cr Muzzleloader | 145 | 42 | 29% |
| Antlerless deer | 644T2 Umatilla Co Private Youth | 2 | 1 | 50% |
| Antlerless deer | 648A Heppner Private | 31 | 22 | 71% |
| Antlerless deer | 648T Morrow – Gilliam Co Youth | 12 | 10 | 80% |
| Antlerless deer | 649B W Blue Mtns | 11 | 7 | 67% |
| Elk, any weapon | 247D1 Northside – Ritter Private No.1 | 37 | 13 | 36% |
| Elk, any weapon | 247D2 Northside – Ritter Private No.2 | 15 | 9 | 60% |
| Elk, any weapon | 248A1 Heppner Unit No. 1 | 525 | 154 | 29% |
| Elk, any weapon | 248A2 Heppner Unit No. 2 | 352 | 30 | 9% |
| Elk, any weapon | 248B1 Ritter No. 1 | 105 | 36 | 34% |
| Elk, any weapon | 248B2 Ritter No. 2 | 162 | 28 | 17% |
| Elk, any weapon | 248C Monument | 66 | 32 | 49% |
| Elk, any weapon | 248D Heppner Unit | 34 | 19 | 56% |
| Elk, any weapon | 248E Willow Creek | 14 | 3 | 23% |
| Elk, any weapon | 248T Heppner Unit Youth | 42 | 23 | 56% |
| Elk, any weapon | Rocky Mtn 2nd season | 1,295 | 78 | 6% |
| Elk, archery | 200R Oregon Youth Bow | 15 | 1 | 8% |
| Elk, archery | 248R1 Heppner Unit Bow No. 1 | 112 | 29 | 26% |
| Elk, archery | 248R2 Heppner Unit Bow No. 2 | 1,139 | 242 | 21% |
| Elk, muzzleloader | 248M Pole Cr Muzzleloader | 26 | 11 | 42% |
| Elk damage tags | General Season Antlerless Elk Damage | 417 | 258 | 62% |
| Pronghorn | 440A1 Columbia Plateau No. 1 | 3 | 0 | 0% |
| Pronghorn | 440A2 Columbia Plateau No. 2 | 2 | 1 | 50% |
| Black bear | 746A S Blue Mtns | 68 | 1 | 2% |
| Black bear | Additional Fall Bear | 6 | 0 | 0% |
| Black bear | Fall Bear | 633 | 12 | 1.9% |
| Cougar | Additional Cougar | 5 | 0 | 0% |
| Cougar | Cougar | 699 | 15 | 2.2% |
ODFW 2025 harvest estimates: Buck deer, any weapon, Deer, archery, Deer, muzzleloader, Antlerless deer, Elk, any weapon, Elk, archery, Elk, muzzleloader, Elk damage tags, Pronghorn, Black bear, Cougar; checked November 8, 2026.
Mapped ground inside the Heppner Unit
9 public land pages on this site reach into the Heppner Unit: 1 ODFW wildlife area, 3 national forest or ranger district records, 4 BLM units and 1 private-land access area. Statewide programs that also reach it: Bureau of Land Management Oregon public lands.
North Fork John Day Ranger District (Umatilla National Forest)
Heppner Ranger District (Umatilla National Forest)
Heppner Regulated Hunt Area
Only in WMU 48
Bridge Creek Wildlife Area
BLM Vale District
BLM Prineville District
Umatilla National Forest
BLM Central Oregon Field Office
BLM Baker Field Office
Land records and unit overlaps from ODFW, USFS, BLM, USFWS and ODF layers (see each land page); A&H and Open Fields access rules on the ODFW access program pages; checked November 8, 2026.
When hunting light starts in the Heppner Unit
Deer, elk, bear and cougar hunters around the Heppner Unit follow the mammal window; grouse, quail, chukar, pheasant, ducks and geese follow the bird table.
| When | Event | First sun | Last sun | Big game window | Bird window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:15 a.m. | 7:43 p.m. | 5:45 a.m. to 8:13 p.m. | Not in table |
| Oct 3, 2026 | Eastern buck rifle | 6:56 a.m. | 6:36 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 7:06 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 6:24 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Duck opener and upland opener | 7:05 a.m. | 6:23 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 6:53 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 6:12 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:33 a.m. | 4:18 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. to 4:48 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 4:18 p.m. |
| Apr 15, 2027 | Spring turkey | 6:14 a.m. | 7:41 p.m. | 5:44 a.m. to 8:11 p.m. | Not in table |
Hours rules from the ODFW general hunting regulations; game bird times from the 2026-27 game bird shooting hours table; mammal sunrise and sunset worked out for this location with the NOAA solar formula (Pacific Time); checked November 8, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Around the Heppner Unit
0 towns on our list sit inside the Heppner Unit, and 2 mores lie within 10 miles.
Units around the Heppner Unit:
| WMU | Shared | Sq mi | Hunts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fossil Unit | Grant, Morrow, Wheeler | 1,407 | 34 |
| Ukiah Unit | Grant, Umatilla | 874 | 20 |
| Columbia Basin Unit | Morrow, Umatilla | 2,857 | 20 |
| Walla Walla Unit | Umatilla | 305 | 14 |
| Desolation Unit | Grant, Umatilla | 670 | 19 |
| Northside Unit | Grant | 1,114 | 20 |
| Murderers Creek Unit | Grant | 1,148 | 20 |
| Mount Emily Unit | Umatilla | 768 | 15 |
Towns and their units from Census places and the ODFW unit layer; checked November 8, 2026.
Heppner Unit in brief
How many square miles is the Heppner Unit?
1,438 square miles (922,108 acres) on the ODFW layer.
Which Deer Hunt Areas reach the Heppner Unit?
AD01, FX01, FX02, FX03 and NB01, NB02.
What big game can I buy over the counter for the Heppner Unit?
Elk, black bear and cougar.
How many 2026 tags do hunts in the Heppner Unit carry?
15,131 tags across 39 hunts, some shared with other units.
Which travel management areas cover WMU 48?
48A Umatilla NF.
What is the cougar quota around WMU 48?
270 for Zone E.
Where can I get fuel and food near the Heppner Unit?
Heppner and Ukiah.
Is any national forest inside the Heppner Unit?
Yes, 3 forest or ranger district records.
Who manages wildlife in the Heppner Unit?
The ODFW Heppner district, from Heppner.
Does ODFW publish harvest for the Heppner Unit?
Yes, by hunt within each unit in its 2025 reports.
Answers drawn from the ODFW sources cited on this page; checked November 8, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (CC BY-SA 2.0).