Deer Hunt Area SE-01 (Southeast 01)

The unburned country

ODFW's forecast for SE-01 says wildfire burned much of the northern part over two summers but spared most of the best deer habitat. Its list of the likeliest places is Tenmile Creek, the West Little Owyhee River headwaters, Jackson Creek Ridge, High Peak, Parsnip Peak and Juniper Ridge. That's your starting map.

Burn edges and boundaries

Fires from 2024 are growing good forage, ODFW says, so burn scars are worth a look, as are edges near the desert and north-facing slopes. The boundary runs from Follyfarm along Hwy 78 and Hwy 95 to Jordan Valley, south along the state lines and back via Whitehorse Ranch Road and CR 201. Battle Mountain, Horse Hill and Oregon Butte rank among the high points. A hunt description also shows ground north and east of the Owyhee River mainstem. McDermitt and Jordan Valley are the nearest towns, and both are far.

Distance is the first challenge. The roads between the creeks and ridges ODFW names are long, so pick one of those places, plan a camp near it and give it several days rather than trying to cover the whole area at once.

The ground ODFW draws for this hunt

ODFW's Deer Hunt Area SE-01 covers about 3,937 square miles measured on ODFW's own polygon, and ODFW rates it 87% public land. It takes in parts of these WMUs: Whitehorse (about 100%). Named features inside the line fall in Malheur County and Harney County. Elevation runs from about 3,378 to 6,498 feet. The highest named points are Battle Mountain (6,498 ft), Horse Hill (6,497 ft) and High Peak (6,444 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.

A tougher year for bucks

ODFW says buck and fawn ratios declined after the winter, compared with the past few years, which will make hunting a little harder. Fewer yearlings means fewer bucks overall. Cover more ground and glass longer before you commit.

Early mornings and late evenings are prime movement time in the cooler air.

Park smart

The district is in drought, and ODFW warns that tall grass can burn under a hot exhaust. Park on bare ground and carry a shovel. Some small closures remain from this summer's fires, so check ODF and BLM first. Keep water sources and north-facing slopes on your map, since ODFW says deer are more likely within a few miles of water. Roads like Whitehorse Ranch Road and Three Forks Road run a long way. Fuel up and carry a spare. Muzzleloader and bow hunts run here too, if you want a quieter season.

Tell someone your plan, carry a paper map and don't count on cell coverage. Stock a full tank, extra water and a way to change a tire, since help is a long way off in this country.

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.

• SE101 Southeast 01, Oct. 3 - Oct. 14: 319 tags, one buck with visible antler.
• SE101M Southeast 01 Muzzleloader: see ODFW's table in the 2026 regulations for the season and tag count.
• SE101R Southeast 01 Bow: see ODFW's table in the 2026 regulations for the season and tag count.

The 2025 harvest in ODFW's numbers

ODFW has no harvest figures on the new hunt areas yet. Its 2025 statistics are by WMU, for all deer hunters, every season and tag type, so these are the units this area was drawn from, and each covers more or less ground than the area does.

• Whitehorse (about 100% of this area): 245 hunters, 147 animals, 60% success over 1,153 hunter days.

Roads in and the nearest towns

The longest named roads through this ground are Whitehorse Ranch Road, Three Forks Road, US 95 and BLM 7281. The nearest towns are McDermitt (35 mi), Jordan Valley (47 mi) and Orovada (65 mi), measured from the centre of the unit.