Oregon › Hunting seasons › Units › Silvies Unit
ODFW East Region · 1,788 sq mi
Silvies Unit controlled hunts, general seasons and land
Harney County, Crook County, Grant County and Deschutes County: 1,788 square miles, 7,035 tags in 2026 hunts that reach it and 8 land records inside the unit.
Photo: Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington (CC BY 2.0)
Silvies Unit at a glance
Number 72 on the ODFW map, the Silvies Unit measures 1,788 square miles. The biggest piece, 1,216 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, Crook, Grant, Deschutes and Lake inside it. The Lake share is below 2% of the unit, likely a strip along the boundary.
| County piece | Sq mi | Unit share | County share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harney County | 1,216.1 | 68% | 12% |
| Crook County | 299.6 | 17% | 10% |
| Grant County | 207.1 | 12% | 4% |
| Deschutes County | 49.9 | 3% | 2% |
| Lake County | 15.8 | 0.9% | 0.2% |
District staff in Hines and Prineville handle the Silvies Unit, led by Hines with 67% of the ground.
| District | Office town | Phone | Part |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harney | Hines | 541-573-6582 | 67% |
| Ochoco | Prineville | 541-447-5111 | 33% |
Some ground inside the Silvies 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.
Silvies Unit rules that change by unit
- For cougar the Silvies Unit is in Zone F, set at 140 of the statewide 970. 2025 cougar harvest in the unit: 2.
- Mule deer: from 2026 Eastern Oregon buck hunts follow Deer Hunt Areas, and the Silvies Unit touches 3 herd ranges: Aldrich (AD: AD01), Crooked River (CR: CR01) and Sage Hen (SH: SH01, SH02).
- 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 Silvies Unit without a deer, elk, pronghorn, sheep or goat tag valid for that time and place.
- Travel management areas in the Silvies Unit: 72A Dairy Cr and 72B Burnt Cabin.
- No county-listed goose zone reaches the Silvies Unit; use the ODFW map.
- Bird hours by county: Zone B (Crook, Deschutes), Zone C (Lake) and Zone D (Harney, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 72A | Dairy Cr | See 66A effective period |
| 72B | Burnt Cabin | See 66A effective period |
| Range | Letters | Areas in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Aldrich | AD | AD01 |
| Crooked River | CR | CR01 |
| Sage Hen | SH | SH01, SH02 |
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.
Silvies Unit drawn tags by series
Drawn hunting in WMU 72: 27 hunt numbers and 7,035 tags for 2026, counting hunts that also cover other units. 1,288 hunters put 746A first in 2025, more than any other hunt in the Silvies Unit. Odds are longest for 472A1 (roughly 23 first choices a tag). 9 hunts carry the 2026 "new" flag. 7 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 (9)
| 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 |
| CR101 new | Crooked River 01 | Any legal weapon | Oct 3–14 | One buck with visible antler | 851 | — | 36, 37, 72 |
| CR101R new | Crooked River 01 Bow | Archery | Aug 29–Sep 27 | One buck with visible antler | 281 | — | 36, 37, 72 |
| SH102 new | Sage Hen 02 | Any legal weapon | Oct 3–14 | One buck with visible antler | 358 | — | This unit only |
| SH102M new | Sage Hen 02 Muzzleloader | Muzzleloader | Oct 17–25 | One buck with visible antler | 55 | — | This unit only |
| SH102R new | Sage Hen 02 Bow | Archery | Aug 29–Sep 27 | One buck with visible antler | 303 | — | This unit only |
| SH102T new | Sage Hen 02 Youth | Youth only | Sep 28–Oct 14 | One buck with visible antler | 22 | — | This unit only |
Premium deer, L hunts (3)
| 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 |
| LCR01 | Crooked River 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 | — | 36, 37, 72 |
| LSH02 | Sage Hen 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 | — | This unit only |
Elk, 200 series (8)
| 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 |
| 271A1 * | Silvies – N Juniper No. 1 | Any legal weapon | Aug 15–Sep 30 | One antlerless elk | 138 | 107 | 71, 72, 73 |
| 271A2 * | Silvies – N Juniper No. 2 | Any legal weapon | Nov 1–30 | One antlerless elk | 110 | 108 | 71, 72, 73 |
| 272A | Silvies Unit | Any legal weapon | Nov 21–29 | One antlerless elk | 330 | 534 | This unit only |
| 272R | Silvies Unit Bow | Archery | Aug 29–Sep 27 | One elk | 755 | 238 | This unit only |
| 272T | Silvies Unit Youth | Youth only | Aug 15–Dec 31 | One antlerless elk | 11 | 32 | This unit only |
| 272X | Silvies Unit No. 1 | Any legal weapon | Oct 28–Nov 1 | One bull elk | 358 | 629 | This unit only |
| 272Y | Silvies Unit No. 2 | Any legal weapon | Nov 7–15 | One bull elk | 358 | 632 | This unit only |
Premium elk, M hunts (1)
| Hunt | Name | Type | Dates | Bag | Tags 2026 | 1st choice 2025 | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M72 | Silvies | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 466B * | Harney Basin | Any legal weapon | Sep 5–20 | One doe or fawn pronghorn | 33 | 164 | 66, 69, 71, 72 |
| 472A1 | Silvies Unit No. 1 | Any legal weapon | Aug 15–23 | One pronghorn either sex | 42 | 954 | This unit only |
| 472A2 | Silvies Unit No. 2 | Any legal weapon | Aug 26–Sep 3 | One pronghorn either sex | 42 | 678 | This unit only |
| 472B * | Riley | Any legal weapon | Sep 5–20 | One doe or fawn pronghorn | 28 | 94 | This unit only |
Premium pronghorn, N hunts (1)
| Hunt | Name | Type | Dates | Bag | Tags 2026 | 1st choice 2025 | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N72 | Silvies | 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 |
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 Silvies Unit
2 general rows reach this Eastern Oregon unit, for black bear and cougar. General elk rows skip the Silvies Unit.
Big game without a draw (2)
| Species | Season | Tag | Area | Dates | Bag | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. 13 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 Silvies Unit
ODFW's 2025 estimates put 351 animals in the buck deer, any weapon column for hunts in the Silvies Unit, from 739 hunters.
In buck deer, any weapon, about 47 in 100 hunters scored (351 of 739). In elk, any weapon, about 13 in 100 hunters scored (124 of 940).
Eastern deer rows for 2025 use units; the 2026 Deer Hunt Areas came later.
| Report | Hunt | People | Taken | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buck deer, any weapon | 172 Silvies Unit | 717 | 336 | 47% |
| Buck deer, any weapon | 172T Silvies Unit Youth | 22 | 15 | 67% |
| Deer, archery | 172R Silvies Unit Bow | 413 | 85 | 21% |
| Deer, muzzleloader | 172M Silvies Unit Muzzleloader | 51 | 25 | 50% |
| Antlerless deer | 679A Harney Basin Agri | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| Antlerless deer | 679T Harney Basin Youth | 5 | 1 | 25% |
| Elk, any weapon | 271A1 Silvies – N Juniper No. 1 | 65 | 24 | 36% |
| Elk, any weapon | 271A2 Silvies – N Juniper No. 2 | 64 | 3 | 4% |
| Elk, any weapon | 272A Silvies Unit | 241 | 15 | 6% |
| Elk, any weapon | 272T Silvies Unit Youth | 10 | 1 | 11% |
| Elk, any weapon | 272X Silvies Unit No. 1 | 263 | 33 | 13% |
| Elk, any weapon | 272Y Silvies Unit No. 2 | 297 | 48 | 16% |
| Elk, archery | 200R Oregon Youth Bow | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Elk, archery | 272R Silves Unit Bow | 532 | 53 | 10% |
| Pronghorn | 466B Harney Basin | 4 | 0 | 0% |
| Pronghorn | 472A1 Silvies Unit No. 1 | 45 | 27 | 59% |
| Pronghorn | 472A2 Silvies Unit No. 2 | 42 | 24 | 56% |
| Pronghorn | 472B Riley | 26 | 4 | 18% |
| Black bear | 746A S Blue Mtns | 23 | 3 | 12% |
| Black bear | Additional Fall Bear | 3 | 0 | 0% |
| Black bear | Fall Bear | 180 | 7 | 4.1% |
| Cougar | Additional Cougar | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Cougar | Cougar | 190 | 2 | 0.8% |
ODFW 2025 harvest estimates: Buck deer, any weapon, Deer, archery, Deer, muzzleloader, Antlerless deer, Elk, any weapon, Elk, archery, Pronghorn, Black bear, Cougar; checked November 8, 2026.
Mapped ground inside the Silvies Unit
8 public land pages on this site reach into the Silvies Unit: 1 ODFW wildlife area, 3 national forest or ranger district records, 4 BLM units and 0 private-land access areas. The Silvies Unit includes Bureau of Land Management Oregon public lands.
Emigrant Creek Ranger District (Malheur National Forest)
Chickahominy Wildlife Area
Only in WMU 72
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.
When hunting light starts in the Silvies Unit
Deer, elk, bear and cougar hunters around the Silvies 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 | 6:17 a.m. | 7:41 p.m. | 5:47 a.m. to 8:11 p.m. | Not in table |
| Oct 3, 2026 | Eastern buck rifle | 6:55 a.m. | 6:37 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 7:07 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 6:24 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Duck opener and upland opener | 7:04 a.m. | 6:25 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 6:55 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 6:12 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:27 a.m. | 4:23 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 4:53 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 4:18 p.m. |
| Apr 15, 2027 | Spring turkey | 6:16 a.m. | 7:39 p.m. | 5:46 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.
Around the Silvies Unit
Towns tied to the Silvies Unit: Burns and Hines.
Units around the Silvies Unit:
| WMU | Shared | Sq mi | Hunts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Juniper Unit | Harney, Lake | 2,920 | 28 |
| Malheur River Unit | Grant, Harney | 2,890 | 31 |
| Steens Mtn Unit | Harney | 1,910 | 25 |
| Murderers Creek Unit | Grant, Harney | 1,148 | 20 |
| Northside Unit | Grant | 1,114 | 20 |
| Ochoco Unit | Crook, Grant | 1,605 | 22 |
| Desolation Unit | Grant | 670 | 19 |
| Maury Unit | Crook, Deschutes, Lake | 1,100 | 13 |
Towns and their units from Census places and the ODFW unit layer; checked November 8, 2026.
Silvies Unit answered
Are centerfire rifles restricted in the Silvies 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.
What is the cougar quota around WMU 72?
140 for Zone F.
Does any town sit inside the Silvies Unit?
Yes: Burns.
Are there ODFW wildlife areas in the Silvies Unit?
Yes, 1 wildlife area.
Who manages wildlife in the Silvies Unit?
The ODFW Harney district, from Hines.
How did hunters do in the Silvies Unit last season?
739 hunters took 351 buck deer, any weapon.
How many square miles is the Silvies Unit?
1,788 square miles (1,146,340 acres) on the ODFW layer.
Which Deer Hunt Areas reach the Silvies Unit?
AD01, CR01 and SH01, SH02.
What big game can I buy over the counter for the Silvies Unit?
Black bear and cougar.
How many 2026 tags do hunts in the Silvies Unit carry?
7,035 tags across 27 hunts, some shared with other units.
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).