Owsley Canyon Access Area: hunting access, rules and map
The Owsley Canyon Access Area opens 432 acres to public hunting through ODFW's Access and Habitat program, in the Mt. Emily Unit (54). ODFW lists it as "Welcome to Hunt".
Data updated October 2026. Area, access type and rules: ODFW's Access and Habitat layer for the Oregon Hunting Access Map. Land around it: USGS PAD-US 4.1.
National wildlife refugeNational forestBLMODFW landState forest and trust landOwsley Canyon Access AreaUnit lineLake, reservoir or riverHighway
| Open to hunting | 432 acres |
|---|---|
| Access | Welcome to Hunt |
| Units | 54 Mt. Emily |
| ODFW region | Northeast |
| Nearest towns | La Grande (2 mi), Island City (2 mi) and Imbler (8 mi) |
What is the Owsley Canyon Access Area?
The Owsley Canyon Access Area is a cooperative program between a private landowner and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Access and Habitat Program to maintain public hunting access on private lands and increase access to public land. The Owsley Canyon Access Area north of La Grande, OR provides public hunting opportunities for deer, elk, predators, Hungarian Partridge, pheasant, turkey, and quail. All Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations and seasons apply.
What are the rules on the Owsley Canyon Access Area?
- No permission is required to hunt on the Owsley Canyon Access Area. The area is surrounded by private lands and you are responsible for knowing property boundaries. Do not trespass on surrounding private lands.
- No camping or night-time use of private land.
- No fires, be careful with cigarettes.
- Respect landowners rights and needs.
- Leave all gates as you found them.
- No littering, pick up any trash.
- Report unlawful activities.
- Welcome to Hunt.
- Motorized travel restricted.
- NO COYOTE HUNTING.
ODFW's description and rules, from ODFW Access and Habitat areas (Oregon Hunting Access Map layer). ODFW's area map: Owsley Canyon map (PDF). The program: ODFW Access and Habitat.
Which units is the Owsley Canyon Access Area in?
| Unit | Area acres in it, all zones | Elk harvested (unit) | Deer harvested (unit) | Public land (unit) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 54 Mt. Emily | 432 | 173 (2025) | 226 (2025) | 44.1% |
Harvest: ODFW harvest statistics (2020 to 2025), for the whole unit. Acres measured by FilledTag from ODFW's boundaries; public land from USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land by manager, 2025).
How do you get to the Owsley Canyon Access Area?
Highways within 8 miles: I-84, OR 82, US 30, OR 237 and OR 203. Nearest towns: La Grande (2 miles), Island City (2 miles), Imbler (8 miles) and Summerville (9 miles). ODFW's area map shows the roads in.
Questions hunters ask
Do you need permission to hunt the Owsley Canyon Access Area?
ODFW lists the area as "Welcome to Hunt". No permission is required to hunt on the Owsley Canyon Access Area. The area is surrounded by private lands and you are responsible for knowing property boundaries. Do not trespass on surrounding private lands.
Which unit is the Owsley Canyon Access Area in?
The Mt. Emily Unit (54).
What can you hunt on the Owsley Canyon Access Area?
ODFW's description: The Owsley Canyon Access Area north of La Grande, OR provides public hunting opportunities for deer, elk, predators, Hungarian Partridge, pheasant, turkey, and quail.
Get an Oregon hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Oregon are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Oregon included.
Where these facts come from
- Area, zones, access type, description and rules: ODFW Access and Habitat areas (Oregon Hunting Access Map layer).
- Surrounding public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land by manager, 2025). Unit harvest: ODFW harvest statistics (2020 to 2025).
FilledTag is not part of Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Access areas are private land: follow ODFW's rules for each one.