Deer Hunt Area SH-01 (Sage Hen 01)

Buttes between Riley and Hwy 205

The boundary starts at Riley, runs south on US 395, follows Big Stick Road and the BLM roads east to Jack Mountain Road, then takes Rock Creek Lane to Hwy 205 and heads north to Hwy 78. Jackass Butte, Jackass Mountain, Jack Mountain, Iron Mountain and Weed Lake Butte are the high points. Check ODFW's current hunt sheet for the boundary, since its note flags the description for review.

Burns and Hines are the closest towns, and Riley Store RV Park and Hines RV Park are named stops.

Recovery after fire

ODFW's forecast says the Sagehen herd range had a mild winter and strong fawn survival, and deer are starting to benefit from vegetation recovering in the Falls Fire burn scar. Buck ratio stays above objective in SH-01, though deer numbers remain below objective. The Harney County forecast also lists burn scars and edge habitat among the places to spend your time.

Most of the ground is open, which suits a long-range glassing approach. Climb one of the named buttes, sit with a spotting scope and study the draws below it. OR 205 and US 395 reach the edges, so expect other hunters on the main roads.

The ground ODFW draws for this hunt

ODFW's Deer Hunt Area SH-01 covers about 1,175 square miles measured on ODFW's own polygon, and ODFW rates it 79% public land. It takes in parts of these WMUs: Juniper (about 100%). Named features inside the line fall in Harney County. Elevation runs from about 4,088 to 5,594 feet. The highest named points are Jackass Butte (5,594 ft), Jackass Mountain (5,594 ft) and Jack Mountain (5,478 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.

Glass water and edge cover

ODFW says animals will concentrate around water sources and edge habitat, and it recommends hunting the early part of the day and late afternoon, when it's cooler. Sit a rim above a spring or a juniper edge and let your binoculars do the walking. Mid-day is for resting and moving.

Roads such as Jack Mountain Road and Rock Creek Lane get you close to the buttes.

Check the burn and the fire rules

Check the burn scar, where green regrowth is drawing deer. The district is in drought, and ODFW warns that tall grass can ignite under a hot exhaust, so park on bare ground. Some small fire closures may still apply, so check ODF and BLM before you go. A youth hunt and a bow hunt run alongside the general hunt. Buck ratios are healthy, so be selective, glass a lot of deer and don't settle for the first small buck that walks out.

Take a few minutes to read the hunt sheet, since ODFW flagged the boundary for review.

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.

• SH101 Sage Hen 01, Oct. 3 - Oct. 14: 358 tags, one buck with visible antler.
• SH101T Sage Hen 01 Youth, Sep. 28 - Oct. 14: 22 tags, one buck with visible antler.
• SH101R Sage Hen 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.

• Juniper (about 100% of this area): 144 hunters, 40 animals, 28% success over 688 hunter days.

Roads in and the nearest towns

The longest named roads through this ground are Jack Mountain Road, OR 205, Foster Lake CCC Road and Weaver Springs Road. The nearest towns are Hines (24 mi) and Burns (26 mi), measured from the centre of the unit.