Oregon › Hunting seasons › Units › Malheur River Unit
Harney district · WMU 66
Malheur River Unit controlled hunts, general seasons and land
Harney County, Malheur County and Grant County: 2,890 square miles, 6,784 tags in 2026 hunts that reach it and 10 land records inside the unit.
Photo: Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington (CC BY 2.0)
Mapping the Malheur River Unit
Number 66 on the ODFW map, the Malheur River Unit measures 2,890 square miles. The biggest piece, 1,658 square miles, sits in Harney County, and big game rules follow Eastern Oregon. Its boundary is drawn on landmarks rather than county lines, which puts parts of Harney, Malheur and Grant inside it.
| County piece | Sq mi | Unit share | County share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harney County | 1,657.6 | 57% | 16% |
| Malheur County | 983.4 | 34% | 10% |
| Grant County | 249.2 | 9% | 6% |
District staff in Hines and Ontario handle the Malheur River Unit, led by Hines with 66% of the ground.
| District | Based in | Phone | Unit % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harney | Hines | 541-573-6582 | 66% |
| Malheur | Ontario | 541-889-6975 | 34% |
Some ground inside the Malheur River Unit is closed to state seasons: Burns Paiute Indian Colony and Burns Paiute Off-Reservation Trust Land. Tribal land has no state hunting, and reservation boundaries count as enclosed land under ORS 498.120.
| Closed place | Why |
|---|---|
| Burns Paiute Indian Colony | Tribal land |
| Burns Paiute Off-Reservation Trust Land | Tribal land |
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.
Malheur River Unit rules that change by unit
- For cougar the Malheur River Unit is in Zone F, set at 140 of the statewide 970. 2025 cougar harvest in the unit: 5.
- Mule deer: from 2026 Eastern Oregon buck hunts follow Deer Hunt Areas, and the Malheur River Unit touches 1 herd range: Juntura (JT: JT01, JT02, JT03).
- 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 Malheur River Unit without a deer, elk, pronghorn, sheep or goat tag valid for that time and place.
- Travel management areas in the Malheur River Unit: 66A Conroy-Cliff and 66B Devine Ridge-Rattlesnake.
- No county-listed goose zone reaches the Malheur River Unit; use the ODFW map.
- Bird hours by county: Zone D (Harney, Malheur, Grant).
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 66A | Conroy-Cliff | 3 days prior to opening of controlled buck deer ALW season through the close of controlled buck deer ALW season and 3 days prior to opening of controlled Rocky Mtn bull elk first season through close of Rocky Mtn bull elk second season |
| 66B | Devine Ridge-Rattlesnake | See 66A effective period |
| Range | Letters | Areas in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Juntura | JT | JT01, JT02, JT03 |
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.
Malheur River Unit drawn tags by series
Drawn hunting in WMU 66: 31 hunt numbers and 6,784 tags for 2026, counting hunts that also cover other units. 1,681 hunters put 466A1 first in 2025, more than any other hunt in the Malheur River Unit. Odds are longest for 566A (roughly 252 first choices a tag). 7 hunts carry the 2026 "new" flag. 16 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 (7)
| Hunt | Name | Type | Dates | Bag | Tags 2026 | 1st choice 2025 | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JT102 new | Juntura 02 | Any legal weapon | Oct 3–14 | One buck with visible antler | 402 | — | 66, 67 |
| JT102R new | Juntura 02 Bow | Archery | Aug 29–Sep 27 | One buck with visible antler | 116 | — | 66, 67 |
| JT102T new | Juntura 02 Youth | Youth only | Sep 28–Oct 14 | One buck with visible antler | 22 | — | 66, 67 |
| JT103 new | Juntura 03 | Any legal weapon | Oct 3–14 | One buck with visible antler | 1,430 | — | 65, 66, 69 |
| JT103M new | Juntura 03 Muzzleloader | Muzzleloader | Oct 17–25 | One buck with visible antler | 55 | — | 65, 66, 69 |
| JT103R new | Juntura 03 Bow | Archery | Aug 29–Sep 27 | One buck with visible antler | 473 | — | 65, 66, 69 |
| JT103T new | Juntura 03 Youth | Youth only | Sep 28–Oct 14 | One buck with visible antler | 22 | — | 65, 66, 69 |
Premium deer, L hunts (2)
| Hunt | Name | Type | Dates | Bag | Tags 2026 | 1st choice 2025 | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LJT02 | Juntura 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 | — | 66, 67 |
| LJT03 | Juntura 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 | — | 66, 65, 69 |
Elk, 200 series (13)
| 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 |
| 266A1 * | Drewsey Valley No. 1 | Any legal weapon | Aug 15–Sep 30 | One antlerless elk | 121 | 102 | 65, 66 |
| 266A2 * | Drewsey Valley No. 2 | Any legal weapon | Nov 1–30 | One antlerless elk | 44 | 59 | 65, 66 |
| 266B * | N Malheur Rvr | Any legal weapon | Nov 21–29 | One antlerless elk | 275 | 395 | This unit only |
| 266C * | S Malheur Rvr | Any legal weapon | Aug 15–Sep 30 | One antlerless elk | 165 | 80 | This unit only |
| 266R * | N Malheur Rvr Bow | Archery | Aug 29–Sep 27 | One elk | 425 | 425 | This unit only |
| 266T * | N Malheur Rvr Youth | Youth only | Aug 15–Dec 31 | One antlerless elk | 11 | 48 | This unit only |
| 266X * | N Malheur Rvr No. 1 | Any legal weapon | Oct 28–Nov 1 | One bull elk | 358 | 789 | This unit only |
| 266Y * | N Malheur Rvr No. 2 | Any legal weapon | Nov 7–15 | One bull elk | 358 | 662 | This unit only |
| 278A1 * | High Desert No. 1 | Any legal weapon | Oct 28–Nov 3 | One elk | 440 | 629 | 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 73 |
| 278A2 * | High Desert No. 2 | Any legal weapon | Nov 7–15 | One elk | 440 | 623 | 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 73 |
| 278M * | High Desert Muzzleloader | Muzzleloader | Oct 17–25 | One elk | 138 | 82 | 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 73 |
| 278T * | High Desert Youth | Youth only | Aug 15–Dec 31 | One antlerless elk | 11 | 24 | 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 73 |
Premium elk, M hunts (1)
| Hunt | Name | Type | Dates | Bag | Tags 2026 | 1st choice 2025 | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M66 | Malheur River | 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 (4)
| Hunt | Name | Type | Dates | Bag | Tags 2026 | 1st choice 2025 | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 466A1 | Malheur Rvr Unit No. 1 | Any legal weapon | Aug 15–23 | One pronghorn either sex | 88 | 1,681 | This unit only |
| 466A2 | Malheur Rvr Unit No. 2 | Any legal weapon | Aug 26–Sep 3 | One pronghorn either sex | 86 | 1,155 | This unit only |
| 466B * | Harney Basin | Any legal weapon | Sep 5–20 | One doe or fawn pronghorn | 33 | 164 | 66, 69, 71, 72 |
| 466R | Malheur Rvr Unit Bow | Archery | Sep 5–13 | One pronghorn either sex | 55 | 146 | This unit only |
Premium pronghorn, N hunts (1)
| Hunt | Name | Type | Dates | Bag | Tags 2026 | 1st choice 2025 | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N66 | Malheur River | 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 |
California bighorn, 500 series (1)
| Hunt | Name | Type | Dates | Bag | Tags 2026 | 1st choice 2025 | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 566A * | Riverside | Any legal weapon | Aug 15–Sep 14 | — | 2 | 505 | This unit only |
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 |
Sage-grouse permits (1)
| Hunt | Name | Type | Dates | Bag | Permits 2025 | 1st choice 2025 | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J66 | Malheur Rvr Unit | Controlled (permit) | Sep 12–20 | — | 110 | 155 | This unit only |
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 Malheur River Unit
3 general rows reach this Eastern Oregon unit, for elk, black bear and cougar. For elk without a draw: Archery elk – Eastern Oregon.
Big game without a draw (3)
| Species | Season | Tag | Area | Dates | Bag | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk | General archery elk – Eastern Oregon | General tag | Units 35, 38, 40-45, southern Unit 51 | Aug 29–Sep 27 | One 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 19 rows in the second table need licenses, validations or permits rather than big game tags. 14 pursuit and falconry rows are omitted here.
License and validation seasons (19)
| Species | Season | Tag | Area | Dates | Bag | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Malheur River Unit
ODFW's 2025 estimates put 417 animals in the buck deer, any weapon column for hunts in the Malheur River Unit, from 1,007 hunters.
In buck deer, any weapon, about 41 in 100 hunters scored (417 of 1,007). In elk, any weapon, about 15 in 100 hunters scored (180 of 1,185).
Eastern deer rows for 2025 use units; the 2026 Deer Hunt Areas came later.
| Report | Hunt | People | Taken | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buck deer, any weapon | 166 Malheur Rvr Unit | 990 | 403 | 41% |
| Buck deer, any weapon | 166T Malheur Rvr Unit Youth | 17 | 14 | 86% |
| Deer, archery | 166R Malheur Rvr Unit Bow | 268 | 54 | 20% |
| Deer, muzzleloader | 166M N Malheur Muzzleloader | 52 | 19 | 37% |
| Elk, any weapon | 266A1 Drewsey Valley No. 1 | 70 | 17 | 25% |
| Elk, any weapon | 266A2 Drewsey Valley No. 2 | 33 | 4 | 12% |
| Elk, any weapon | 266B N Malheur Rvr | 223 | 50 | 22% |
| Elk, any weapon | 266C S Malheur Rvr | 75 | 2 | 3% |
| Elk, any weapon | 266T N Malheur Rvr Youth | 9 | 2 | 29% |
| Elk, any weapon | 266X N Malheur Rvr No. 1 | 268 | 36 | 13% |
| Elk, any weapon | 266Y N Malheur Rvr No. 2 | 305 | 42 | 14% |
| Elk, any weapon | 278A1 High Desert No. 1 | 102 | 16 | 15% |
| Elk, any weapon | 278A2 High Desert No. 2 | 97 | 10 | 10% |
| Elk, any weapon | 278T High Desert Youth | 3 | 1 | 50% |
| Elk, archery | 200R Oregon Youth Bow | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Elk, archery | 266R N Malheur Rvr Bow | 352 | 74 | 21% |
| Elk, archery | Eastern Elk Archery | 40 | 9 | 23% |
| Elk, muzzleloader | 278M High Desert Muzzleloader | 20 | 3 | 12% |
| Pronghorn | 466A1 Malheur Rvr Unit No. 1 | 81 | 70 | 86% |
| Pronghorn | 466A2 Malheur Rvr Unit No. 2 | 79 | 54 | 68% |
| Pronghorn | 466B Harney Basin | 12 | 10 | 80% |
| Pronghorn | 466R Malheur Rvr Unit Bow | 43 | 12 | 29% |
| Black bear | 746A S Blue Mtns | 17 | 0 | 0% |
| Black bear | Additional Fall Bear | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Black bear | Fall Bear | 245 | 13 | 5.5% |
| Cougar | Additional Cougar | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Cougar | Cougar | 286 | 5 | 1.6% |
| Bighorn sheep | 566A Riverside | 2 tags | 2 | 100% |
ODFW 2025 harvest estimates: Buck deer, any weapon, Deer, archery, Deer, muzzleloader, Elk, any weapon, Elk, archery, Elk, muzzleloader, Pronghorn, Black bear, Cougar, Bighorn sheep; checked November 8, 2026.
Mapped ground inside the Malheur River Unit
10 public land pages on this site reach into the Malheur River Unit: 1 ODFW wildlife area, 4 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 and Bureau of Reclamation lands in Oregon.
BLM Malheur Field Office
Emigrant Creek Ranger District (Malheur National Forest)
Prairie City Ranger District (Malheur National Forest)
Bentz Access Area
Only in WMU 66
Riverside Wildlife Area
Only in WMU 66
BLM Vale District
BLM Burns District
BLM Three Rivers Field Office
Malheur National Forest
Blue Mountain Ranger District (Malheur National Forest)
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 Malheur River Unit
Deer, elk, bear and cougar hunters around the Malheur River 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 | 6:13 a.m. | 7:36 p.m. | 5:43 a.m. to 8:06 p.m. | Not in table |
| Oct 3, 2026 | Eastern buck rifle | 6:51 a.m. | 6:33 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 7:03 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 6:24 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Duck opener and upland opener | 6:59 a.m. | 6:20 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 6:50 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 6:12 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:22 a.m. | 4:20 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 4:18 p.m. |
| Apr 15, 2027 | Spring turkey | 6:12 a.m. | 7:34 p.m. | 5:42 a.m. to 8:04 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 Malheur River Unit
For fuel, food and a room near the Malheur River Unit, look at Crane, Burns and Hines.
Units around the Malheur River Unit:
| WMU | Shared | Sq mi | Hunts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whitehorse Unit | Harney, Malheur | 4,884 | 24 |
| Steens Mtn Unit | Harney, Malheur | 1,910 | 25 |
| Juniper Unit | Harney | 2,920 | 28 |
| Silvies Unit | Grant, Harney | 1,788 | 27 |
| Beulah Unit | Grant, Harney, Malheur | 2,738 | 38 |
| Owyhee Unit | Malheur | 3,019 | 22 |
| Murderers Creek Unit | Grant, Harney | 1,148 | 20 |
| Desolation Unit | Grant | 670 | 19 |
Towns and their units from Census places and the ODFW unit layer; checked November 8, 2026.
Questions on the Malheur River Unit
Who manages wildlife in the Malheur River Unit?
The ODFW Harney district, from Hines.
Is the Malheur River Unit a good unit?
It depends on the hunt; in 2025 the buck deer, any weapon report shows 417 taken.
How many square miles is the Malheur River Unit?
2,890 square miles (1,852,575 acres) on the ODFW layer.
Which Deer Hunt Areas reach the Malheur River Unit?
JT01, JT02, JT03.
What big game can I buy over the counter for the Malheur River Unit?
Elk, black bear and cougar.
How many 2026 tags do hunts in the Malheur River Unit carry?
6,784 tags across 31 hunts, some shared with other units.
What access limits apply in WMU 66?
3 rifle-restricted seasons and 2 travel management areas.
What is the cougar quota around WMU 66?
140 for Zone F.
Where can I get fuel and food near the Malheur River Unit?
Crane, Burns and Hines.
How many land pages on this site touch the Malheur River Unit?
10.
Answers drawn from the ODFW sources cited on this page; checked November 8, 2026.
Other photos on this page: YellowstoneNPS (Public domain).