Deer Hunt Area NE-06 (Northeast 06)

Mount Emily and its neighbours

The boundary runs northeast on Hwy 11 from Pendleton to Weston, southeast on Hwy 204 to Elgin, then southwest on Hwy 82 to I-84 and back to Pendleton. Mount Emily is the high point, with Thimbleberry Mountain, Green Mountain, Black Mountain and Rocky Bedground behind it. Umatilla Forks and Woodward are the named camps, along with Woodland Campground and Wildhorse RV Park.

Sandridge Road and OR 204 serve the upper ground, while I-84 and US 30 run along the southwest edge.

Fire and the herd

ODFW's forecast says medium to large wildfires could affect hunt access in the Mt Emily WMU. Check closures before you leave. It also reports mule deer in the Northeast herd range with buck ratios above management objective, and notes that whitetail numbers are good in all units. The town list includes Weston, Elgin, Imbler and Athena, which makes this one of the easier places to resupply.

You can run this ground as day trips from Weston, Elgin, Imbler or Athena, which also puts other hunters on the roads. A short hike up a ridge often gets you away from them, and it keeps you well clear of the interstate noise.

The ground ODFW draws for this hunt

ODFW's Deer Hunt Area NE-06 covers about 768 square miles measured on ODFW's own polygon, and ODFW rates it 44% public land. It takes in parts of these WMUs: Mt Emily (about 100%). Named features inside the line fall in Umatilla County and Union County. Elevation runs from about 1,247 to 6,110 feet. The highest named points are Mount Emily (6,110 ft), Thimbleberry Mountain (5,561 ft) and Green Mountain (5,452 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.

Check the closures, then the north slopes

Look up the national forest and agency closure pages before you pick a trailhead, because fire can change your plan. When you're in, follow ODFW's advice. Deer will be localized around forage and water, and north-facing drainages hold feed longer than south slopes. Glass them early and late.

Roads like Sandridge Road and OR 204 reach the upper ground, so don't assume you need a long hike.

Pick the right hunt for your style

This area has a general rifle buck hunt, a youth hunt, a late buck hunt and a bow hunt. The late hunt is a small draw, and bucks can be easier to see in thin cover, but you'll compete with weather. Youth hunters get a longer window, which helps a first-timer scout without rushing. Whatever the hunt, plan the pack-out before you shoot, and have a second route in case fire or weather closes your first.

Watch the wind on every slope. Shifting air will spook a buck long before he sees you, so keep checking it before you move.

ODFW's 2026 buck deer hunts on this ground

Seasons, bag limits and tags come from ODFW's 2026 regulations. Check the current book before you apply or go, because these change every year.

• NE106 Northeast 06, Oct. 3 - Oct. 14: 495 tags, one buck with visible antler.
• NE106T Northeast 06 Youth, Sep. 28 - Oct. 14: 22 tags, one buck with visible antler.
• NE106-1 Late Northeast 06, Nov. 1 - Nov. 29: 11 tags, one buck with visible antler.
• NE106R Northeast 06 Bow: see ODFW's table in the 2026 regulations for the season and tag count.

Roads in and the nearest towns

The longest named roads through this ground are I 84;US 30, OR 82, OR 204 and NF 31. The nearest towns are Weston (17 mi), Elgin (17 mi) and Imbler (18 mi), measured from the centre of the unit.