Bridge Creek Wildlife Area: hunting rules, map and access
Bridge Creek Wildlife Area is 14,939 acres of land managed by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, in the Ukiah Unit (49), Heppner Unit (48) and Desolation Unit (50), by ODFW's mapped boundary. ODFW's 2026 rule for the area begins: "Open to public access and hunting Apr. 15 - Nov. 30."
Data updated October 2026. Rules: ODFW's 2026 regulations, page 89. Boundary: ODFW. Land around it: USGS PAD-US 4.1.
National wildlife refugeNational forestBLMODFW landState forest and trust landBridge Creek Wildlife AreaUnit lineLake, reservoir or riverHighway
| Size | 14,939 acres (ODFW boundary, measured) |
|---|---|
| Units | 49 Ukiah, 48 Heppner, 50 Desolation |
| ODFW zone | Northeast |
| First rule | Open to public access and hunting Apr. 15 - Nov. 30 |
| Nearest towns | Ukiah (2 mi), Long Creek (21 mi) and Granite (24 mi) |
What is Bridge Creek Wildlife Area?
Establishment of the Bridge Creek Wildlife Area initially started in 1961 when a parcel of land was purchased from the Frank Hilbert estate. After the initial purchase, several private holdings were acquired to consolidate the land under department ownership. The last parcel was purchased from the Colvin Cattle Company in 1975. The primary purpose of the wildlife area is to maintain and protect a key historic winter range for Rocky Mountain elk.
From ODFW's Bridge Creek Wildlife Area page.
What are the hunting rules on Bridge Creek Wildlife Area?
Open to public access and hunting Apr. 15 - Nov. 30. Motorized vehicle travel restricted to open rd. A portion of the public access rd is closed for vehicular travel following the closure of Rocky Mtn Elk 2nd Season. 20 sq mi in Townships 5 & 6S, Ranges 31 & 32E in southwest corner of Ukiah Unit. Use of domestic pack goats is prohibited at all times.
ODFW's 2026 Oregon Big Game Hunting Regulations, page 89, under unit 49. ODFW 2026 Oregon Big Game Hunting Regulations.
Which hunting units is Bridge Creek Wildlife Area in?
Bridge Creek spans 3 units. ODFW's latest elk and deer harvest for the whole unit, not the wildlife area alone:
| Unit | Wildlife area acres in it | Elk harvested (unit) | Deer harvested (unit) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 49 Ukiah | 14,689 | 559 (2025) | 267 (2025) |
| Unit 48 Heppner | 161 | 708 (2025) | 526 (2025) |
| Unit 50 Desolation | 88 | 283 (2025) | 249 (2025) |
Harvest: ODFW harvest statistics (2020 to 2025). Acres in each unit measured by FilledTag from ODFW's boundaries.
How do you get to Bridge Creek Wildlife Area?
Highways within 8 miles: US 395 and OR 244. Nearest towns: Ukiah (2 miles), Long Creek (21 miles), Granite (24 miles) and Monument (25 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Bridge Creek Wildlife Area?
ODFW's 2026 regulations set these rules for Bridge Creek: Open to public access and hunting Apr. 15 - Nov. 30. Motorized vehicle travel restricted to open rd. Hunting seasons follow the unit the ground is in.
Which unit is Bridge Creek Wildlife Area in?
The Ukiah Unit (49, 14,689 acres), the Heppner Unit (48, 161 acres) and the Desolation Unit (50, 88 acres), by ODFW's boundaries.
What towns are near Bridge Creek Wildlife Area?
Ukiah (2 miles), Long Creek (21 miles) and Granite (24 miles), measured to the area's edge.
Get an Oregon hunt plan when they open
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Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Oregon included.
Where these facts come from
- Rules: ODFW 2026 Oregon Big Game Hunting Regulations, page 89.
- Boundary and acres: ODFW Wildlife Areas (Compass dataset). 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.