Unit 53 (Catherine Creek)
Oregon Hunting Guide — Elk, Pronghorn
Catherine Creek is the Union County ground around Cove, Union and La Grande, climbing to Granite Butte at 8,672 feet. Public land is a small share of it, so access and Manulife's changes matter.
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Elk Hunting in Unit 53
Catherine Creek is the Union County ground around Cove, Union and La Grande, climbing to Granite Butte at 8,672 feet. Public land is a small share of it, so access and Manulife's changes matter.
Where to Find Elk in the Catherine Creek Unit: the steep country between the Minam and Catherine Creek drainages
Steep country, thick timber
ODFW's forecast says to look for elk in the steep terrain of the Starkey and Catherine Creek units. The boundary climbs from Elgin to Minam, follows the divide between the Catherine Creek and Minam River drainages past Meadow Mountain and Burger Butte to Granite Butte, and comes back down by Big Creek and Medical Springs. Mule Peak and Granite Butte are the named high points. The low end sits near 2,698 feet. The forecast says elk are above management objective here, with bull ratios at or above objective.
Public ground is limited
Only a quarter of this unit is public. ODFW describes the part south of Highway 237 and Mill Creek Road as better, and the part north of it as the thinner share. The forecast also warns that Manulife is no longer in the Access and Habitat Program, so traditional hunting areas in South Wenaha, Catherine Creek and Starkey may be affected for hunters without a Manulife access permit. Check before you plan a camp. North Fork Catherine Creek and Buck Creek campgrounds put you on forest land. Cove, Union and Island City sit along the valley edge with the national forest above them. Grande Hot Springs RV Resort and Catherine Creek Campground are named places for a base camp.
The ground ODFW draws for this hunt
The Catherine Cr Unit, WMU 53, covers about 662 square miles measured on ODFW's polygon, and ODFW rates it 24% public land. Named features inside the line fall in Union County. Elevation runs from about 2,686 to 8,672 feet. The highest named points are Granite Butte (8,672 ft), Mule Peak (8,535 ft) and Burger Butte (8,461 ft). ODFW's line is the legal one, so check it against a current land-ownership map, and get permission before you cross private ground or a locked gate inside it.
Unit 53 terrain and land status
Measured from the unit boundary, not from the agency write-up
The lay of it
- 2,686–5,879 ft on a terrain sample , averaging 3,751 ft ; peaks can run higher.
- 662.5 sq mi inside the boundary.
Who owns the ground
- National Forest — 60%
- State Trust — 8%
- Private / Other — 32%
Roughly 68% is public. Carry a land-status layer anyway — these are area percentages, not a map of where the boundaries fall.
Water on the ground
- 49 tanks
- 10 springs
- 159 stream segments
- 21 lakes
Counts from mapping data, so this is how many exist, not how many hold water in a dry year. Sitting water only pays where you find fresh tracks.
Named features inside the unit
Glass from: Granite Butte (8,672 ft), Cúuy’em Butte (7,875 ft), Meadow Mountain (7,813 ft), Cartwheel Ridge (7,460 ft)
Holding ground: Deadhorse Flat (6,488 ft), Horse Meadow (5,809 ft), Little Catherine Meadows (4,870 ft), Clay Spring, Lucky Spring
Every one of these was tested against the unit polygon before it went on the map. They are starting points, not agency recommendations.
How to Hunt Elk in the Catherine Creek Unit: start with the Starkey travel areas and plan around spikes
Elk Success Rates
Unit 53: 211 of 670 hunters, 31%. Figures are ODFW's own 2025 harvest statistics.
Elk Draw Odds
| Season | Tags | Applicants | Draw % | Pts Req |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery — Controlled bull/buck only (resident) | 55 | 72 | 75.0% | 3 |
| Archery — Controlled bull/buck only (nonresident) | 3 | 3 | 33.3% | 3 |
| Rifle — Controlled bull/buck only (resident) | 110 | 70 | 100.0% | 2 |
| Rifle — Controlled bull/buck only (nonresident) | 6 | 2 | 100.0% | 2 |
| Rifle — Controlled bull/buck only (resident) | 1795 | 779 | 98.7% | 17 |
| Rifle — Controlled bull/buck only (nonresident) | 90 | 237 | 25.7% | 17 |
| Rifle — Controlled bull/buck only (resident) | 200 | 16 | 100.0% | 3 |
| Rifle — Controlled bull/buck only (nonresident) | 10 | 18 | 55.6% | 3 |
| Rifle — Controlled either sex (resident) | 30 | 61 | 47.5% | 5 |
| Rifle — Controlled either sex (nonresident) | 2 | 3 | 33.3% | 5 |
| Rifle — Controlled bull/buck only (resident) | 303 | 725 | 39.7% | 5 |
| Rifle — Controlled bull/buck only (nonresident) | 15 | 62 | 16.1% | 5 |
| Muzzleloader — Controlled bull/buck only (resident) | 165 | 57 | 100.0% | 2 |
| Muzzleloader — Controlled bull/buck only (nonresident) | 8 | 1 | 100.0% | 2 |
Data from 2025 draw results. Each row is one residency pool — read the label before the number.
Open in Draw Odds EngineFrom ODFW's 2026 regulations, residents and nonresidents together: 2026 tags against 2025 first-choice applicants.
- 253R1 Eagle Cap Zone: 1,795 tags for 2026; 1,074 first-choice applicants in 2025.
- 253X Catherine Cr Unit: 303 tags for 2026; 72 first-choice applicants in 2025.
- 253M Catherine Cr Unit Muzzleloader: 275 tags for 2026; 5 first-choice applicants in 2025.
- 253A Catherine Cr Unit: 110 tags for 2026; 583 first-choice applicants in 2025.
- 253B Mt Harris: 110 tags for 2026; 75 first-choice applicants in 2025.
ODFW sets a point cut-off per hunt each year; its point summary reports carry it.
Unit Logistics & Expectations
Frequently Asked Questions
What ground does this Oregon elk page cover?
What's the biggest 2026 elk hunt here?
What was hunter success for elk here in 2025?
What ground does this Oregon pronghorn page cover?
What's the biggest 2026 pronghorn hunt here?
What was hunter success for pronghorn here in 2025?
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Upgrade to Pro — $49/yrSources & Verification
Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-10-30.
- 2026 Oregon Big Game Hunting Regulations — Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife · supports: Hunt areas and boundary descriptions, Seasons, bag limits and 2026 tags · accessed 2026-10-30
- Big Game hunting forecast, 2026/27 — Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife · supports: Field reports by hunt area and WMU · accessed 2026-10-30
- Big game hunting harvest statistics, 2025 — Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife · supports: Hunters, harvest and success · accessed 2026-10-30
- Wildlife Management Units (ArcGIS) — Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife · supports: 662 square miles · accessed 2026-10-30
- Geographic Names Information System — named features inside the boundary — U.S. Geological Survey · supports: Granite Butte 8,672 ft, Mule Peak 8,535 ft · accessed 2026-10-30