Lower Deschutes Wildlife Area: hunting rules, map and access
Lower Deschutes Wildlife Area is 18,696 acres of land managed by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, in the Biggs Unit (43), by ODFW's mapped boundary. ODFW's 2026 rule for the area begins: "Open to the discharge of firearms only while hunting of big game and game birds during authorized seasons, except that discharge of firearms is prohibited within the Wild and Scenic waterway boundary from the third Saturday in May through August 31."
Data updated October 2026. Rules: ODFW's 2026 regulations, page 88. Boundary: ODFW. Land around it: USGS PAD-US 4.1.
National wildlife refugeNational forestBLMODFW landState forest and trust landLower Deschutes Wildlife AreaUnit lineLake, reservoir or riverHighway
| Size | 18,696 acres (ODFW boundary, measured) |
|---|---|
| Units | 43 Biggs |
| ODFW zone | Columbia |
| First rule | Open to the discharge of firearms only while hunting of big game and game birds during authorized seasons, except that discharge of firearms is prohibited within the Wild and Scenic waterway boundary from the third Saturday in May through August 31 |
| Nearest towns | Moro (3 mi), Biggs Junction (4 mi) and Grass Valley (5 mi) |
What is Lower Deschutes Wildlife Area?
Lower Deschutes Wildlife Area was established in 1983, with the initial donation of land by the Oregon Wildlife Foundation (OWF) of 2,758 acres. In 1986 OWHF donated an additional 5,158 acres of land to the department. The Lower Deschutes Wildlife Area was initially established to provide permanent public angler access. However, especially with the 1986 acquisition, the wildlife area has grown to provide enhanced wildlife and fish habitat (i.e. through removal of livestock, riparian vegetation improvements, etc.) and more wildlife-oriented recreational activities such as hunting, boating, hiking and biking. In 2015, ODFW partnered with the Trust for Public Land to acquire 10,198 acres of upland and tributary habitat for the wildlife area. The Woosley Tract of Lower Deschutes Wildlife Area offers a very remote experience and can be accessed by boat only.
From ODFW's Lower Deschutes Wildlife Area page.
What are the hunting rules on Lower Deschutes Wildlife Area?
Open to the discharge of firearms only while hunting of big game and game birds during authorized seasons, except that discharge of firearms is prohibited within the Wild and Scenic waterway boundary from the third Saturday in May through August 31. Access by foot, boat, or non-motorized bicycle only (all classes of E-bikes are considered motorized vehicles). Use of domestic pack goats is prohibited at all times. Camping is allowed on the Woosley tract from three days prior to the opening of controlled buck deer season through February 28, and may not exceed 14 days per stay. Public access to the Woosley tract is only allowed from the Deschutes Rvr through adjacent Bureau of Land Management lands.
ODFW's 2026 Oregon Big Game Hunting Regulations, page 88, under unit 43. ODFW 2026 Oregon Big Game Hunting Regulations.
Which hunting units is Lower Deschutes Wildlife Area in?
All of Lower Deschutes lies in Unit 43. 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 43 Biggs | 18,696 | 131 (2025) | 679 (2025) |
Harvest: ODFW harvest statistics (2020 to 2025). Acres in each unit measured by FilledTag from ODFW's boundaries.
How do you get to Lower Deschutes Wildlife Area?
Highways within 8 miles: US 97, US 30, I-84, OR 216 and OR 206. Nearest towns: Moro (3 miles), Biggs Junction (4 miles), Grass Valley (5 miles) and Wasco (7 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Lower Deschutes Wildlife Area?
ODFW's 2026 regulations set these rules for Lower Deschutes: Open to the discharge of firearms only while hunting of big game and game birds during authorized seasons, except that discharge of firearms is prohibited within the Wild and Scenic waterway boundary from the third Saturday in May through August 31. Access by foot, boat, or non-motorized bicycle only (all classes of E-bikes are considered motorized vehicles). Hunting seasons follow the unit the ground is in.
Which unit is Lower Deschutes Wildlife Area in?
All of it is in the Biggs Unit (43).
What towns are near Lower Deschutes Wildlife Area?
Moro (3 miles), Biggs Junction (4 miles) and Grass Valley (5 miles), measured to the area's edge.
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Where these facts come from
- Rules: ODFW 2026 Oregon Big Game Hunting Regulations, page 88.
- 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.