Prineville Reservoir Wildlife Area: hunting rules, map and access
Prineville Reservoir Wildlife Area is 8,422 acres of land managed by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, in the Maury Unit (36), Ochoco Unit (37) and Paulina Unit (35), by ODFW's mapped boundary. ODFW's 2026 rule for the area begins: "Open to public access and hunting of big game and game birds during authorized seasons."
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 landPrineville Reservoir Wildlife AreaUnit lineLake, reservoir or riverHighway
| Size | 8,422 acres (ODFW boundary, measured) |
|---|---|
| Units | 36 Maury, 37 Ochoco, 35 Paulina |
| ODFW zone | Central |
| First rule | Open to public access and hunting of big game and game birds during authorized seasons |
| Nearest towns | Prineville Lake Acres (3 mi), Juniper Canyon (4 mi) and Prineville (12 mi) |
What are the hunting rules on Prineville Reservoir Wildlife Area?
Open to public access and hunting of big game and game birds during authorized seasons. Motorized vehicle travel is restricted to designated open roads. This area is closed to motorized vehicle access from Nov. 15 or Dec. 1 as posted at each gate through April 15 annually. That part of the Ochoco and Maury Unit as follows: 5 square miles in Township 16S, Range 17E.
ODFW's 2026 Oregon Big Game Hunting Regulations, page 88, under units 36,37. ODFW 2026 Oregon Big Game Hunting Regulations.
Which hunting units is Prineville Reservoir Wildlife Area in?
Prineville Reservoir 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 36 Maury | 4,379 | 6 (2025) | 97 (2025) |
| Unit 37 Ochoco | 3,767 | 253 (2025) | 350 (2025) |
| Unit 35 Paulina | 275 | 52 (2025) | 238 (2025) |
Harvest: ODFW harvest statistics (2020 to 2025). Acres in each unit measured by FilledTag from ODFW's boundaries.
How do you get to Prineville Reservoir Wildlife Area?
Highways within 8 miles: OR 27 and OR 380. Nearest towns: Prineville Lake Acres (3 miles), Juniper Canyon (4 miles), Prineville (12 miles) and Pronghorn (20 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Prineville Reservoir Wildlife Area?
ODFW's 2026 regulations set these rules for Prineville Reservoir: Open to public access and hunting of big game and game birds during authorized seasons. Motorized vehicle travel is restricted to designated open roads. Hunting seasons follow the unit the ground is in.
Which unit is Prineville Reservoir Wildlife Area in?
The Maury Unit (36, 4,379 acres), the Ochoco Unit (37, 3,767 acres) and the Paulina Unit (35, 275 acres), by ODFW's boundaries.
What towns are near Prineville Reservoir Wildlife Area?
Prineville Lake Acres (3 miles), Juniper Canyon (4 miles) and Prineville (12 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.