White River Wildlife Area: hunting rules, map and access
White River Wildlife Area is 29,803 acres of land managed by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, in the White River Unit (41), by ODFW's mapped boundary. ODFW's 2026 rule for the area begins: "The Wildlife Area lands north of Forest Road 27 are closed to the public from December 1 through March 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 landWhite River Wildlife AreaUnit lineLake, reservoir or riverHighway
| Size | 29,803 acres (ODFW boundary, measured) |
|---|---|
| Units | 41 White River |
| ODFW zone | Columbia |
| First rule | The Wildlife Area lands north of Forest Road 27 are closed to the public from December 1 through March 31 |
| Nearest towns | Pine Grove (next to it), Sportsmans Park (next to it) and Wamic (next to it) |
What is White River Wildlife Area?
White River Wildlife Area was established in 1953. Located along the east slope of the Cascade Mountains in the north central part of Oregon, the wildlife area encompasses 29,480 acres. An additional 1,280 acres of land owned by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is managed by the ODFW bringing the total acres managed by the department to 30,760. The primary purpose of White River Wildlife Area is to provide winter range habitat for black-tailed deer and Rocky Mountain elk and to minimize big game damage to adjacent private agricultural lands.
From ODFW's White River Wildlife Area page.
What are the hunting rules on White River Wildlife Area?
The Wildlife Area lands north of Forest Road 27 are closed to the public from December 1 through March 31. Motor vehicle travel is only allowed in parking areas, designated campsites, and open roads. No cross country travel or off road motor vehicle use is allowed, except for administrative use. ATV/OHV and snowmobile use are prohibited on all area lands except for administrative use. Camping is prohibited except in designated campsites, and may not exceed 14 days in a 30-day period. Campfires and open burning prohibited except in designated campsites. Fires are prohibited during designated fire closures. ODFW parking permit is required (see pg 89 for more information).
ODFW's 2026 Oregon Big Game Hunting Regulations, page 88, under unit 41. ODFW 2026 Oregon Big Game Hunting Regulations.
Which hunting units is White River Wildlife Area in?
All of White River lies in Unit 41. 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 41 White River | 29,803 | 199 (2025) | 527 (2025) |
Harvest: ODFW harvest statistics (2020 to 2025). Acres in each unit measured by FilledTag from ODFW's boundaries.
How do you get to White River Wildlife Area?
Highways within 8 miles: OR 216, US 97, US 197 and US 26. Nearest towns: Pine Grove (next to it), Sportsmans Park (next to it), Wamic (next to it) and Pine Hollow (2 miles).
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on White River Wildlife Area?
ODFW's 2026 regulations set these rules for White River: The Wildlife Area lands north of Forest Road 27 are closed to the public from December 1 through March 31. Motor vehicle travel is only allowed in parking areas, designated campsites, and open roads. Hunting seasons follow the unit the ground is in.
Which unit is White River Wildlife Area in?
All of it is in the White River Unit (41).
What towns are near White River Wildlife Area?
Pine Grove (next to it), Sportsmans Park (next to it) and Wamic (next to it), 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 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.