Western Oregon town · Multnomah County
Gresham, Oregon hunting guide
Public land from Gresham: 4 places inside 10 miles, 10 inside 25, and the Willamette Unit under the town itself.
Photo: David Prasad (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Gresham public places in the 10 and 25 mile rings
4 listed public places reach within 10 miles of Gresham: 1 national forest, 1 BLM field office, 1 BLM district and 1 BLM land (statewide). Those rings hold roughly 2,640 public acres inside 10 miles of Gresham and 145,753 inside 25, by polygon with overlaps counted once and tribal land excluded.
Rows tagged in red need a check first; the first plain row, Mt. Hood National Forest, is 4.1 miles out. Hood River Ranger District (Mt. Hood National Forest) closes out the 25-mile list at 24 mi; 8 categories of land come before it.
| Area | Type | Miles | Band | WMUs | Hunting access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mt. Hood National Forest | National forest | 4.1 mi | Inside 10 | Santiam, White River + | Open in season |
| Cascades (BLM) | BLM field office | 6.8 mi | Inside 10 | Willamette, Santiam | Open unless posted |
| BLM Northwest Oregon District | BLM district | 6.8 mi | Inside 10 | Scappoose, Wilson + | Open unless posted |
| BLM lands statewide | BLM land (statewide) | 6.8 mi | Inside 10 | Scappoose, Wilson + | Open unless posted |
| Zigzag district | Ranger district | 13 mi | Inside 25 | Santiam, Hood | Open in season |
| Tualatin River refuge | Wildlife refuge | 21 mi | Inside 25 | Willamette | Refuge rules apply |
| Clackamas River district | Ranger district | 21 mi | Inside 25 | Santiam | Open in season |
| Sauvie Island WA | Wildlife area | 22 mi | Inside 25 | Scappoose | Parking permit needed |
| Santiam State Forest | State forest | 23 mi | Inside 25 | Santiam | Open in season |
| Hood River district | Ranger district | 24 mi | Inside 25 | Santiam, White River + | Open in season |
Rings and distances from places.json (lands.json boundaries to the Census point of Gresham); access cells from each record’s own rule text (the 2026 ODFW wildlife area regulations and OAR 635-008 for wildlife areas, USFS, BLM and ODF pages, 50 CFR 32.56 for refuges, the ODFW Access and Habitat and Open Fields pages). GIS acres are not official acreage. Checked November 8, 2026.
Gresham unit lines, zones and limits
ODFW's unit map puts Gresham in the Willamette Unit (15), about 2,893 square miles worked mostly from the Corvallis office. The Willamette Unit crosses into Clackamas, Linn, Washington, Polk, Yamhill, Multnomah, Lane and Benton as well as Marion.
| Unit | Size | Counties | Biologist district | Cougar zone and quota | Half of state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willamette Unit | 2,893 | Marion, Clackamas + | Mid Willamette | A (180) | West |
| Santiam Unit | 3,327 | Clackamas, Linn + | North Willamette – Cascade Unit | A (180) | West |
Cougar tags work all year here until Zone A reaches its quota of 180. The Willamette Unit overlaps the Willamette Valley elk damage area, open August 1 through March 31 with a damage tag. Centerfire rifles are restricted in the Willamette Unit during Coast Bull Elk 1st Season and Coast Bull Elk 2nd Season unless you carry a tag valid then and there.
Units from the ODFW Wildlife Management Unit layer and places.json; cougar zones from the 2026 cougar regulations; herd ranges from the Eastern Oregon Deer Hunt Areas; travel management, damage areas and rifle limits from the 2026 Oregon Big Game Hunting Regulations. Checked November 8, 2026.
Three places to start from Gresham
Closest mapped ground to Gresham, in order of distance:
Mt. Hood National Forest
Fire season can shut forest roads in late summer, right through archery season.
Cascades (BLM)
Dispersed camping is common on BLM ground, within the usual stay limits.
BLM Northwest Oregon District
Oregon seasons apply on this BLM land unless a sign says otherwise.
From lands.json (2026 ODFW big game and game bird regulations, OAR 635-008, USFS, BLM, ODF, USFWS and ODFW Access and Habitat pages). Checked November 8, 2026.
Controlled hunts in the units near Gresham
9,848 tags in 18 hunt numbers cover at least part of the Willamette Unit and Santiam Unit; a hunt spanning several units counts once. For deer, elk, pronghorn and spring bear, 75% of tags go to first choices with the most preference points and 25% are drawn at random. Treat the list as last year's map of hunts until the 2027 regulations appear.
| Hunt series | Numbers | 2026 tags | 2025 first choices | First day | Last day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 buck deer | 1 | 3,300 | 1,311 | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 |
| 600 antlerless deer | 5 | 3,601 | 11,660 | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 |
| 200 elk | 7 | 1,513 | 1,266 | Aug 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 |
| 700 spring bear | 1 | 1,430 | 1,749 | Apr 1, 2026 | May 31, 2026 |
| L premium deer | 2 | 2 | – | Aug 1, 2026 | Nov 30, 2026 |
| M premium elk | 2 | 2 | – | Aug 1, 2026 | Nov 30, 2026 |
The busiest 200 elk hunt here is 215A, Willamette Plus, with 367 first-choice applicants in 2025 for 83 tags. 9,571 hunters put 615 (Willamette Unit) first in 2025, the top 600 antlerless deer pick around Gresham for 3,410 tags.
Willamette Unit hunt numbers (first 14), with 2026 dates and tags:
| No. | Name | Kind | 2026 window | Tag count | 1st-choice apps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 615 | Willamette Unit | Any legal weapon | Sep 1-Feb 28 | 3,410 | 9,571 |
| 215A | Willamette Plus | Any legal weapon | Aug 1-Mar 31 | 83 | 367 |
| 200R | Oregon Youth Bow | Youth only | Aug 29-Sep 27 | 330 | 124 |
| 710A | NW Oregon | Any legal weapon | Apr 1-May 31 | 1,430 | 1,749 |
| L15 | Willamette | Premium | Aug 1-Nov 30 | 1 | – |
| M15 | Willamette | Premium | Aug 1-Nov 30 | 1 | – |
Hunt numbers, 2026 tags and 2025 first-choice applicants from the 2026 Oregon Big Game Hunting Regulations; hunt areas from the ODFW 2026 controlled hunt boundary layers; draw rules from the controlled hunt application rules. Checked November 8, 2026.
What Gresham hunters can buy over the counter
Gresham sits on the west side of the Cascade summit for big game, where general buck deer and general elk seasons apply. 9 general season rows are valid in the Willamette Unit, 4 of them for elk.
| Animal | Hunt | Covers | First day | Last day | Open? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery, West | 4 units | Aug 29, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Deer | West buck, any weapon | 20 units | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth extension, West buck | 20 units | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Elk | Antlerless damage | 12 units | Aug 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Elk | Archery, West | 5 units | Aug 29, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Elk | West Coast bull, 1st | 9 units | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 17, 2026 | |
| Elk | West Coast bull, 2nd | 6 units | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 27, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Fall, statewide | Statewide | Aug 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Cougar | Year-round, quotas | Statewide | Jan 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 |
Goose hunters in Multnomah County fall in the Northwest Permit Zone. Duck Zones 1 and 2 are drawn only on a map.
General seasons from the 2026 Oregon Big Game Hunting Regulations (tag sale deadlines); bird zones from the 2026-27 Oregon Game Bird Hunting Regulations (goose zones, hours zones). Checked November 8, 2026.
2025 hunters and harvest near Gresham
Read each figure as "2025 hunts in the Willamette Unit", not a count for Gresham or Multnomah County.
| Report, 2025 | Hunters | Taken |
|---|---|---|
| Buck deer, any weapon | 4,889 | 1,577 |
| Deer, archery | 811 | 122 |
| Elk, any weapon | 397 | 118 |
| Elk, archery | 175 | 19 |
| Elk damage tags | 546 | 243 |
| Black bear | 331 | 11 |
| Cougar | 335 | 5 |
2025 ODFW harvest summaries (unit totals computed from the hunt rows): buck deer, any weapon, deer, archery, elk, any weapon, elk, archery, elk damage tags, black bear, cougar. Checked November 8, 2026.
Who answers for Gresham hunters
ODFW's West Region covers Gresham; the North Willamette – Cascade Unit district biologist answers at 971-673-6028, and the nearest office of any kind is ODFW Clackamas North Willamette Watershed District Office (9 miles). Full-service offices sit at Clackamas, Roseburg, Bend and La Grande; Salem holds the headquarters.
ODFW offices from the ODFW Contact Us page and the ODFW offices layer (services.json); districts from the ODFW wildlife biologist districts layer; ranger district and BLM office addresses from the USFS and BLM office layers (places.json); straight-line distances. Checked November 8, 2026.
Gresham gear and game care
Within 25 miles of Gresham: 42 gun or outdoor shops, 8 taxidermists, 3 game processors and 1 guide listing with an address. Multnomah County appears in the guide areas of 56 registered outfitters (Marine Board roster).
Listings from Yellow Pages, store locators, the ODFW Contact Us page and the Oregon State Marine Board guide roster (services.json); chain stores left out and not every listing was checked as open, so call first. Checked November 8, 2026.
What the calendar holds around Gresham
Read November 7, 2026: 5 dates ahead within about 30 miles, namely DU Grand Council dinner, DU banquet, adult intro to hunting and sportsmen’s show.
| Day | What | Mi | Place | Next step | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 19, 2026 | Intro to Hunting in Oregon for Adults (Tualatin) adult intro to hunting | 18 | Cabela's (Tualatin) | Register | Source |
| Dec 17, 2026 | Intro to Hunting in Oregon for Adults (Tualatin) adult intro to hunting | 18 | Cabela's (Tualatin) | Register | Source |
| Feb 3, 2027 | Grand Council Dinner DU Grand Council dinner | 10 | Ringside Steakhouse | Tickets | Source |
| Feb 17–21, 2027 | Pacific Northwest Sportsmen's Show 2027 sportsmen’s show | 10 | Portland Expo Center | Event page | Source |
| Apr 23, 2027 | Portland Ducks Unlimited – Spring Conservation Event DU banquet | 10 | Rossi Farms | Tickets | Source |
Gresham shooters: the three nearest ranges
Three Oregon ranges nearest Gresham, ranked by straight-line miles.
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked November 8, 2026.
Sun and shooting hours for Gresham
Game birds run on ODFW's own printed table, and Gresham uses Zone A of it, so the bird column below is copied from the 2026-27 booklet rather than calculated.
| Day | Note | Sunup | Sundown | Big game | Game birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:26 a.m. | 7:56 p.m. | 5:56 a.m. to 8:26 p.m. | Not in table |
| Oct 3, 2026 | General buck opener | 7:09 a.m. | 6:49 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 7:19 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 6:44 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Duck opener and upland opener | 7:18 a.m. | 6:35 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 7:05 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 6:31 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:46 a.m. | 4:29 p.m. | 7:16 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. | 7:15 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. |
| Apr 15, 2027 | Spring turkey | 6:26 a.m. | 7:54 p.m. | 5:56 a.m. to 8:24 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.
Gresham hunting questions
Can I hunt cougar near Gresham all year?
Yes, from January 1 to December 31 on a general tag, until Zone A reaches its quota of 180. Dogs may not be used.
Who do Gresham hunters call with a wildlife question?
The North Willamette – Cascade Unit district biologist at 971-673-6028, or ODFW Clackamas North Willamette Watershed District Office, 9 miles from town.
When can I start duck hunting at Gresham in winter?
ODFW’s Zone A table gives 7:15 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. on December 21, 2026.
Can I bait a bear near Gresham?
No. Bait and dogs are both banned for bears in Oregon, and commercial cervid urine lures are prohibited.
What hunting businesses does Gresham have nearby?
Within 25 miles, 42 gear shops, 8 taxidermists and 3 processors; phone numbers are in the services band.
Is there pheasant hunting near Gresham?
Rooster pheasant has a Western Oregon season; fee pheasant hunts run at Denman, E.E. Wilson, Fern Ridge and Sauvie Island wildlife areas.
Counting out to 25 miles, how many public places surround Gresham?
10 records on this site, 4 of them inside 10 miles; Mt. Hood National Forest is the nearest open one at 4.1 mi.
Which ODFW unit covers Gresham?
The town point lies in the Willamette Unit (2,893 square miles). Unit lines follow roads, rivers and ridges, so check the map near a line.
When is buck season near Gresham?
The Western Oregon general buck season was October 3 to November 6, 2026, with youth days November 7 and 8; the 2027 dates are not out.
Where do Gresham elk hunters apply?
In the 200 series and M premium draw; 9 elk hunts reach the units near town. The 2026 deadline was May 15.
From places.json, lands.json, regs.json (the 2026 Oregon Big Game Hunting Regulations, 2026-27 game bird regulations, hunter orange, license fees, CWD), counties.json and services.json. Checked November 8, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Katrina Br*?#*!@nd (CC BY-SA 2.0); Bonnie Moreland (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Brandon Olafsson (CC BY 2.0); Bonnie Moreland (Public Domain Mark 1.0).