The sentiment around Mt. Emily, Oregon, Unit 54, is mixed based on recent hunter experiences, with a strong focus on elk hunting challenges due to increased competition and the impact of wolves, which has led to a decline in game quality over the years. Experienced hunters recommend strategic planning, including the use of horses for packing out game and focusing on lower elevations below high ridges to escape heavy hunter traffic. There is a noted decline in elk activity, with periods of silence during prime hunting times due to external pressures like wolves and saturation by hunters. For those interested in mule deer hunting, considerations about terrain, particularly north-facing slopes, are crucial for success, while spring bear hunting appears promising on open hillsides despite limited private access.
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 140"-160" | 170"+ |
| Whitetail Deer | 110"-120" | 130"+ |
| Elk | 310"-340" | 350"+ |
High
Low
This unit consists mostly of public mountains and private flatlands north of La Grande and provides good hunting for mule deer, elk and whitetail deer
This is a good place to hunt mature mule deer, whitetail deer and is one of the more well known areas to hunt elk in the state.
North and northwest of La Grande, this unit consists of hills and mountains in the Umatilla National Forest and Umatilla Indian Reservation as well as private rangelands on flats and in canyons and a few square miles of state land. The Grande Ronde Valley northeast of La Grande is mostly flat with creeks running through it. Some terrain is steep and rough, particularly in the northern half, such as in the North Fork Umatilla Wilderness, which covers a bit more than 20,000 acres. Some of the better elk hunting is in the steep mountain country in this unit. With wide open tops and timber covered bottoms its prime glassing country. Look for the bigger bulls to be out in the open early and bed up in the timber bottoms in the afternoon. This is big country so letting your glass do the walking is vital to success on bigger bulls. Bugling from the ridge tops and dropping down in on bulls in the afternoon is a good tactic.
Flats and low foothills feature grasses, sagebrush, junipers and patches of conifers such as ponderosa pines. Mountains are a mixture of grassy slopes and openings with junipers, mahoganies and ponderosa pines at low elevations and firs, spruces and lodgepole pines at upper elevations. Cottonwoods and willows grow along streams. Irrigated fields and dry farms occupy most of the flat land, especially in Grande Ronde Valley.
Roughly 770 square miles
47% public land
Elevations from 1,300-6,100 feet
A network of backcountry roads serves much of the Umatilla National Forest. The Forest Service publishes road use maps. Some trails are open only to ATVs less than 50” wide. Summit Road divides the unit and provides access to dirt roads. North Fork Umatilla Wilderness is closed to vehicles. Umatilla Indian Reservation is closed to public hunting and shooting. Part of Meacham Travel Management Area is in this unit. Some roads there are closed three days before archery season. The Meacham TMA covers about 41 square miles in Units 49, 52 and 54. Motorized travel is prohibited on many trails and old two-tracks in 3,669-acre Mount Emily recreation area just north of La Grande
Motels are in La Grande and Elgin. Many hunters camp along dirt roads. Umatilla National Forest has many campgrounds in and near this unit.