Deer Hunt Area TC-01 (Trout Creek 01)

Canyon country under big peaks

The boundary starts at McDermitt on US 95, runs north to Whitehorse Ranch Road, then follows CR 201, the Fields-Denio Road, south to Denio. Catlow Peak, Twin Peaks, Blue Mountain, Whitehorse Mountain and Red Mountain lead the list. Three Forks, Alvord Hotsprings and Willow Creek Hot Springs have named campgrounds, and Anderson Crossing is another.

McDermitt, Jordan Valley and Orovada are the closest towns, and all are a long way off.

Where ODFW says to look

ODFW's forecast says Trout Creek keeps a high buck ratio, though overall deer numbers remain under objective. Heavy four-point bucks are typical, success is high and many adult bucks are taken from the upper age classes. Its advice is to look at mid to high elevations, canyon country and the bases of cliff and talus slopes. Fires in the north of the district are also growing forage in burn scars.

Public land runs nearly wall to wall, so the problem isn't access. It's distance and finding deer in huge country. Pick a canyon system and give it several days, because low deer numbers mean you'll see few animals each hour you glass.

The ground ODFW draws for this hunt

ODFW's Deer Hunt Area TC-01 covers about 948 square miles measured on ODFW's own polygon, and ODFW rates it 95% 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 4,157 to 8,201 feet. The highest named points are Catlow Peak (7,653 ft), Twin Peaks (7,565 ft) and Blue Mountain (7,426 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 the cliffs and talus

ODFW singles out the bases of cliff and talus slopes. Set up across a canyon from one, glass before the sun hits and watch for bucks heading to bed. Then wait. Big deer in this country often move short distances and bed tight.

Three Forks Road and Whitehorse Ranch Road give long approaches, so plan fuel and water.

Drought, fire and the bow hunt

The district is in drought, and ODFW says deer will be near water and burn edges. Park on bare ground, because tall grass can ignite under a hot exhaust. The archery hunt here is for traditional bows only, so check your gear against the rules. Packing out from a cliff base is hard work, so cape and quarter the buck and carry it in stages. With few tags, you'll likely have the ground largely to yourself, and a slow, careful glassing day often pays better than a long walk.

Stay patient on the traditional bow hunt. A shot at close range is the standard, and a deer that senses you will leave.

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.

• TC101 Trout Creek 01, Oct. 3 - Oct. 14: 43 tags, one buck with visible antler.
• TC101R Trout Creek 01 Traditional Bow (Traditional Bow ONLY): 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 US 95, Whitehorse Ranch Road, Oregon Canyon Road and Fields-Denio Road. The nearest towns are McDermitt (23 mi), Orovada (45 mi) and Paradise Valley (55 mi), measured from the centre of the unit.