Elkhorn Wildlife Area: hunting rules, map and access
Elkhorn Wildlife Area is 8,307 acres of land managed by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, in the Starkey Unit (52) and Sumpter Unit (51), by ODFW's mapped boundary. ODFW's 2026 rule for the area begins: "Open to public access Apr. 11 - Nov. 30, or by permit."
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 landElkhorn Wildlife AreaUnit lineLake, reservoir or riverHighway
| Size | 8,307 acres (ODFW boundary, measured) |
|---|---|
| Units | 52 Starkey, 51 Sumpter |
| ODFW zone | Northeast |
| First rule | Open to public access Apr. 11 - Nov. 30, or by permit |
| Nearest towns | Haines (4 mi), North Powder (7 mi) and Baker City (7 mi) |
What is Elkhorn Wildlife Area?
Located near the Elkhorn Mountain Range, Elkhorn Wildlife Area is best known for Rocky Mountain elk and mule deer herds that use the area during the winter. To keep deer and elk from feeding on agriculture lands when they come down from snow-covered higher elevations, ODFW operates 10 feeding sites on the area to feed 1,400 elk and 800 deer during the winter months.
From ODFW's Elkhorn Wildlife Area page.
What are the hunting rules on Elkhorn Wildlife Area?
Open to public access Apr. 11 - Nov. 30, or by permit. Roth Tract closed to all hunting; an entry permit is required at all times of the year. Motorized vehicle travel restricted to open rds. Permanent Rd closure: 7 sq mi in T6S, R38E. ATV and snowmobile use is prohibited on all area lands except for administrative use. ODFW parking permit is required (see pg 89 for more information).
ODFW's 2026 Oregon Big Game Hunting Regulations, page 89, under units 51, 52. ODFW 2026 Oregon Big Game Hunting Regulations.
Which hunting units is Elkhorn Wildlife Area in?
Elkhorn spans 2 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 52 Starkey | 4,441 | 694 (2025) | 162 (2025) |
| Unit 51 Sumpter | 3,866 | 367 (2025) | 470 (2025) |
Harvest: ODFW harvest statistics (2020 to 2025). Acres in each unit measured by FilledTag from ODFW's boundaries.
How do you get to Elkhorn Wildlife Area?
Highways within 8 miles: I-84, US 30, OR 7, OR 245 and OR 220. Nearest towns: Haines (4 miles), North Powder (7 miles), Baker City (7 miles) and Sumpter (12 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Elkhorn Wildlife Area?
ODFW's 2026 regulations set these rules for Elkhorn: Open to public access Apr. 11 - Nov. 30, or by permit. Roth Tract closed to all hunting; an entry permit is required at all times of the year. Hunting seasons follow the unit the ground is in.
Which unit is Elkhorn Wildlife Area in?
The Starkey Unit (52, 4,441 acres) and the Sumpter Unit (51, 3,866 acres), by ODFW's boundaries.
What towns are near Elkhorn Wildlife Area?
Haines (4 miles), North Powder (7 miles) and Baker City (7 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.