Madras - Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce

Madras Chamber

Hunting in Jefferson County

Visitor Information

Big Game
Cougar: Cougar are scattered throughout the district. The Ochoco and Maury units offer the best opportunities due to the higher amount of public lands. Areas to consider include the Maury Mountains, Lookout Mountain, Mill Creek and south fork John Day River.

Bear: Bear numbers are low, with the best opportunities on the Ochoco National Forest.

Elk: The cooler, a wet weather forecast should improve conditions for first period bull hunters. Elk are scattered, with some concentrations at higher elevations on the Ochoco National Forest, and on lower elevations private lands. Hunters are reminded of motorized vehicle restrictions in effect for the Ranger Cooperative Travel Access Program on the Paulina Ranger District in the Ochoco unit.

Grouse: Best opportunities will be on the upper-forested elevations of the Ochoco National Forest. Check with the Ochoco National Forest on campfire restrictions and road closures.

Waterfowl: Most birds are using private lands where access is difficult. Bird numbers are down due to the recent fair weather and lack of water.

Quail: Hunting is slow, particularly in the Madras area and on the Crooked River National Grasslands. Best opportunities are in areas close to water near the agricultural lands. Hunters are reminded to ask for permission to hunt on private property

Klamath District:
Cascade Bull season is open through Oct. 26 and Rocky Mt Bull season is Oct.24 through Oct. 28. These two seasons provide good hunting opportunity and weather will dictate hunter success.

Cougar season will continue through the regulated hunting season or until the harvest quota is met. Refer to the big game hunting regulations to get information for each hunt zone. A few cougar are being observed and harvest is average.

Bear season will close Nov. 30 in Eastern Oregon. Good opportunities should be around areas that provide ample amount of patches in late summer and early fall.

Blue and Ruffed grouse season is open. Good to excellent populations have been documented and brood survival has been good this spring with favorable weather conditions.

Upland game bird harvest on the Klamath Wildlife area is average.

Lake Wildlife District:
Rocky Mountain Elk - Weather to date has been warm and dry which will make for poor hunting conditions. Elk numbers are low throughout the county.

Chukar and Quail: The spring hatch was fair to good throughout most of the county. Hunters should find fair numbers of chukar. Quail occur primarily on valley floors and private land.

Waterfowl: Summer drought conditions have reduced water available in many of the wetlands throughout the county. Most of the lakes north of Hart Lake bar in the Warner Valley are less than half full but do contain some water.

Summer Lake Wildlife Area:
Game bird hunting was fair during the past week (Oct. 15 through 21) Hunter numbers (523 check-in) were down (-9.2%), but total harvest was up (7.0%), when compared to last year.

A total of 463 hunters checked-out (91.4%) and reported the harvest of 317 ducks (98 mallards, 79 American wigeon, 45 gadwall, 34 Am. green-winged teal, 33 shoveler, 16 pintail, 12 ducks of other species), 411 geese (371 snow, 24 white-fronted, 14 Canada's, and 1 Ross'), 6 coots, 9 common snipe, 5 ring-necked pheasants and 33 California quail. This resulted in a bird per hunter average of 1.69 which was up (17.4%) from last year when hunters averaged 1.44 birds each during the same week.

The last weekly waterfowl count (Oct. 17) found about 37,900 ducks and 11,254 geese (10,448 snow, 611 Canada and 195 white-fronted) on the Area. Snow geese numbers may have increased somewhat since then. The next count is on Thursday, Oct. 25. Waterfowl numbers (esp. snow geese) are expected to increase throughout the month, dependent on weather conditions.

Prospects for waterfowl hunting remain fair due to the good numbers of birds present, but is dependent on weather conditions. Currently, it has been mild and most birds remain in refuge areas or rafted-up on Summer Lake proper.

Hunters are reporting fair numbers of pheasants along with good numbers of California quail. These can be found predominately on northern portions of the Area in brushy uplands and around homestead sites. Remember, pheasants are not released on this Area.

All hunters are required to check in and obtain a daily hunting permit prior to hunting the Area. Permits are available at the Check-in Station located 1.2 miles south of the town of Summer Lake. Check out is mandatory and can be accomplished by returning your permit to the collection boxes found at Headquarters and north end access areas. Hunters are reminded that non-toxic shot is required for all game bird hunting on the Area.

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