Oregon › Hunting seasons › Units › Murderers Creek Unit
Grant district · WMU 46
Hunting the Murderers Creek Unit (46) in Oregon
1,148 square miles of Eastern Oregon, 20 hunt numbers and 9 public land pages, managed from the John Day office.
Photo: USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Mapping the Murderers Creek Unit
Measured on the ODFW Wildlife Management Unit layer, unit 46 runs to 735,765 acres, mostly in Grant County (100%), and it sits in Eastern Oregon. The Murderers Creek Unit crosses into 2 counties. By area the split runs Grant 100% and Harney 0.2%. Treat the Harney overlap as a boundary sliver (below 2% of the unit).
| County | Sq mi in unit | Share of unit | Share of county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grant County | 1,145.5 | 100% | 25% |
| Harney County | 2.2 | 0.2% | — |
Call 541-575-1167 for the John Day biologists, who manage the largest part of the Murderers Creek Unit (100%).
| District | Based in | Phone | Unit % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grant | John Day | 541-575-1167 | 100% |
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.
Murderers Creek Unit unit-level rules
- Zone E (Blue Mountains) takes in WMU 46 and 19 other units under a quota of 270. The 2025 cougar report credits the unit with 12 animals.
- Herd ranges overlapping WMU 46: Aldrich (AD: AD01). No general buck tag works in Eastern Oregon.
- The centerfire rifle restriction covers WMU 46 during Eastern Buck Deer, Rocky Mtn Bull Elk 1st Season and Rocky Mtn Bull Elk 2nd Season.
- Walk-in or limited motor access applies in 46A Murderers Cr-Flagtail.
- ODFW maps the John Day Valley antlerless elk damage area across WMU 46.
- Check the ODFW waterfowl map for the Murderers Creek Unit: its counties fall in map-only goose and duck zones.
- Game bird hours table zone for this unit: Zone D (Grant, Harney).
- Testing continues statewide and no chronic wasting disease has been confirmed in Oregon.
| When rifles are limited |
|---|
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) |
| Code | Area name | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 46A | Murderers Cr-Flagtail | 3 days prior to opening of archery deer and elk 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. |
| Mule deer range | Prefix | Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Aldrich | AD | AD01 |
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.
Murderers Creek Unit hunt numbers
Apply for any of these 20 hunts to carry a drawn tag in the Murderers Creek Unit. Tag counts total 5,899, though multi-unit hunts spread them wider. The most-requested hunt touching the unit is 946A Strawberry Mtn, with 3,892 first-choice applicants in 2025 for 1 tags this year. New in 2026: AD101, AD101R and AD101R1. Hunts with * (11) are limited to part of the area named.
Results came out by June 12. Sheep, goat and premium hunts are drawn fully at random, with no preference points. Read each row as 2026; 2027 hunts come with the next booklet.
Buck deer, 100 series (3)
| Hunt | Name | Type | Dates | Bag | Tags 2026 | 1st choice 2025 | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AD101 new | Aldrich 01 | Any legal weapon | Oct 3–14 | One buck with visible antler | 1,100 | — | 37, 46, 65, 72 |
| AD101R new | Aldrich 01 Bow | Archery | Aug 29–Sep 27 | One buck with visible antler | 624 | — | 37, 46, 65, 72 |
| AD101R1 new * | Late Aldrich 01 Bow Whitetail | Archery | Nov 14–28 | One white-tailed deer | 21 | — | 37, 46, 47, 48, 65, 72 |
Premium deer, L hunts (1)
| Hunt | Name | Type | Dates | Bag | Tags 2026 | 1st choice 2025 | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAD01 | Aldrich 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 | — | 46, 37, 72, 65 |
Elk, 200 series (9)
| 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 |
| 246 | Murderers Cr Unit | Any legal weapon | Nov 21–29 | One antlerless elk | 385 | 479 | This unit only |
| 246A * | W Murderers Cr | Any legal weapon | Nov 7–15 | One elk | 468 | 1,406 | This unit only |
| 246B * | E Murderers Cr | Any legal weapon | Nov 7–15 | One elk | 248 | 582 | This unit only |
| 246C * | Murderers Cr Private Plus | Any legal weapon | Aug 1–Dec 31 | One antlerless elk | 193 | 93 | 46, 65 |
| 246R | Murderers Cr Unit Bow | Archery | Aug 29–Sep 27 | One elk | 930 | 385 | This unit only |
| 246T * | Murderers Cr – Northside Youth | Youth only | Aug 15–Dec 31 | One antlerless elk | 50 | 108 | 46, 47 |
| 246X | Murderers Cr Unit | Any legal weapon | Oct 28–Nov 1 | One bull elk | 413 | 859 | This unit only |
| 265M * | E Grant Muzzleloader | Muzzleloader | Oct 17–25 | One elk | 193 | 212 | 46, 65 |
Premium elk, M hunts (1)
| Hunt | Name | Type | Dates | Bag | Tags 2026 | 1st choice 2025 | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M46 | Murderers Cr | 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 (1)
| Hunt | Name | Type | Dates | Bag | Tags 2026 | 1st choice 2025 | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 446 | Murderers Cr Unit | Any legal weapon | Aug 15–23 | One buck pronghorn | 55 | 822 | This unit only |
Premium pronghorn, N hunts (1)
| Hunt | Name | Type | Dates | Bag | Tags 2026 | 1st choice 2025 | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N46 | Murderers Cr | 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 (2)
| Hunt | Name | Type | Dates | Bag | Tags 2026 | 1st choice 2025 | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 546A * | Aldrich | Any legal weapon | Aug 15–Oct 31 | — | 3 | 1,395 | 37, 46 |
| 546B * | McClellan | Any legal weapon | Aug 15–Oct 31 | — | 2 | 583 | This unit only |
Mountain goat, 900 series (1)
| Hunt | Name | Type | Dates | Bag | Tags 2026 | 1st choice 2025 | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 946A * | Strawberry Mtn | Any legal weapon | Sep 1–Oct 31 | — | 1 | 3,892 | 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 |
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.
Seasons open in the Murderers Creek Unit
The Murderers Creek Unit has 3 general big game rows, none of them for buck deer, which is drawn by hunt area east of the Cascades. Every elk hunt in the Murderers Creek Unit is a controlled hunt.
General big game (3)
| 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 | |
| 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 |
Non-big-game hunting in the Murderers Creek Unit runs to 20 season rows, from grouse and turkey to raccoon and otter. The table skips 13 falconry and pursuit seasons.
Game birds and furbearers (20)
| 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 | 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.
Last season in the Murderers Creek Unit
619 hunters took 337 buck deer, any weapon in the Murderers Creek Unit in 2025, the top line in the table.
619 buck deer, any weapon hunters took 337. 1,222 elk, any weapon hunters took 230.
Figures are ODFW estimates from mandatory hunter reports, by hunt within the unit.
| ODFW report | Hunt | Hunters | Animals | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buck deer, any weapon | 146 Murderers Cr Unit | 619 | 337 | 54% |
| Deer, archery | 146R1 Murderers Cr Unit Bow | 371 | 75 | 20% |
| Deer, archery | 146R2 Grant Co Whitetail Bow | 4 | 2 | 67% |
| Elk, any weapon | 246 Murderers Cr Unit | 228 | 21 | 9% |
| Elk, any weapon | 246A W Murderers Cr | 392 | 82 | 21% |
| Elk, any weapon | 246B E Murderers Cr | 171 | 26 | 15% |
| Elk, any weapon | 246C Murderers Cr Private Lands Plus | 97 | 25 | 25% |
| Elk, any weapon | 246T Murderers Cr – Northside Youth | 17 | 3 | 17% |
| Elk, any weapon | 246X Murderers Cr Unit | 317 | 73 | 23% |
| Elk, archery | 200R Oregon Youth Bow | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Elk, archery | 246R Murderers Cr Unit Bow | 660 | 88 | 13% |
| Elk, muzzleloader | 265M E Grant Muzzleloader | 58 | 10 | 17% |
| Elk damage tags | General Season Antlerless Elk Damage | 31 | 14 | 44% |
| Pronghorn | 446 Murderers Cr Unit | 48 | 31 | 64% |
| Black bear | 746A S Blue Mtns | 58 | 6 | 10% |
| Black bear | Additional Fall Bear | 9 | 0 | 0% |
| Black bear | Fall Bear | 335 | 19 | 5.8% |
| Cougar | Additional Cougar | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Cougar | Cougar | 266 | 12 | 4.6% |
| Bighorn sheep | 546A Aldrich | 3 tags | 4 | 133% |
| Bighorn sheep | 546B McClellan | 2 tags | 2 | 100% |
| Mountain goat | 946A Strawberry Mtn | 1 tags | 2 | 200% |
ODFW 2025 harvest estimates: Buck deer, any weapon, Deer, archery, Elk, any weapon, Elk, archery, Elk, muzzleloader, Elk damage tags, Pronghorn, Black bear, Cougar, Bighorn sheep, Mountain goat; checked November 8, 2026.
Land records in the Murderers Creek Unit
These 9 lands share ground with the Murderers Creek Unit; open each for camping, vehicle and parking rules. The unit also holds Bureau of Land Management Oregon public lands land.
Emigrant Creek Ranger District (Malheur National Forest)
Prairie City Ranger District (Malheur National Forest)
Phillip W. Schneider Wildlife Area
BLM Burns District
BLM Three Rivers Field Office
Malheur National Forest
BLM Prineville District
BLM Central Oregon Field Office
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.
Legal hours around the Murderers Creek Unit
Spring turkey hunters near the Murderers Creek Unit start half an hour before sunrise but must stop at sunset, earlier than deer and elk hunters on the same evening.
| Day | Why it matters | Sun up | Sun down | Deer and elk | Upland and ducks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:15 a.m. | 7:41 p.m. | 5:45 a.m. to 8:11 p.m. | Not in table |
| Oct 3, 2026 | Eastern buck rifle | 6:55 a.m. | 6:36 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 7:06 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 6:24 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Duck opener and upland opener | 7:04 a.m. | 6:23 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 6:53 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 6:12 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:29 a.m. | 4:20 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 4:18 p.m. |
| Apr 15, 2027 | Spring turkey | 6:14 a.m. | 7:39 p.m. | 5:44 a.m. to 8:09 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.
Towns and units near the Murderers Creek Unit
For fuel, food and a room near the Murderers Creek Unit, look at Canyon City, John Day and Prairie City.
- Canyon CityGrant County
- John DayGrant County
- Prairie CityGrant County
- DayvilleGrant County
Units that share a county with the Murderers Creek Unit, closest first:
| Unit | Counties shared | Size, sq mi | Hunts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northside Unit | Grant | 1,114 | 20 |
| Desolation Unit | Grant | 670 | 19 |
| Ochoco Unit | Grant | 1,605 | 22 |
| Heppner Unit | Grant | 1,438 | 39 |
| Fossil Unit | Grant | 1,407 | 34 |
| Silvies Unit | Grant, Harney | 1,788 | 27 |
| Sumpter Unit | Grant | 1,523 | 29 |
| Ukiah Unit | Grant | 874 | 20 |
Towns and their units from Census places and the ODFW unit layer; checked November 8, 2026.
Questions on the Murderers Creek Unit
Which ODFW district handles WMU 46?
Grant.
Is the Murderers Creek Unit a good unit?
It depends on the hunt; in 2025 the buck deer, any weapon report shows 337 taken.
How big is WMU 46, and where is it?
1,148 square miles over 2 counties, mostly Grant.
What deer hunt codes cover the Murderers Creek Unit?
AD.
Is there a general buck deer season in the Murderers Creek Unit?
No. Eastern Oregon buck deer is controlled only.
How many controlled hunts include the Murderers Creek Unit?
20: 9 elk, 3 buck deer, 2 California bighorn, 1 pronghorn, 1 mountain goat, 1 spring bear, 1 premium deer, 1 premium pronghorn and 1 premium elk.
Are centerfire rifles restricted in the Murderers Creek Unit?
Yes, during Eastern Buck Deer, Rocky Mtn Bull Elk 1st Season and Rocky Mtn Bull Elk 2nd Season, unless you carry a valid big game tag.
When is cougar season in WMU 46?
January 1 to December 31 on a general tag, until Zone E hits 270.
Where can I get fuel and food near the Murderers Creek Unit?
Canyon City, John Day and Prairie City.
Where is public land in the Murderers Creek Unit?
9 land records reach it, led by Emigrant Creek Ranger District (Malheur National Forest), Prairie City Ranger District (Malheur National Forest) and Phillip W. Schneider Wildlife Area.
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).