All Things BendBend, OregonLocal guide
Golden grass and ponderosa pines on Big Summit Prairie in the Ochoco Mountains

2026 seasonPlanning 2027

Guided hunting in Central Oregon

Elk in the Ochocos, pronghorn on the Paulina flats, chukar in the Deschutes canyons and pheasants an hour from Bend. Here’s who guides it, what each hunt really requires, and what’s changing for 2027.

11
outfitters + preserves, checked on their own sites
May 15
2027 controlled hunt deadline
100%
of Eastern Oregon deer now by draw

Big Summit Prairie, Ochoco Mountains · Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives, CC BY 4.0

The outfitters

Who guides hunts near Bend

Pick what you’re after. Every outfitter here was checked on its own website on October 13, 2026, and photos come from each outfitter’s own site.

Showing all 11

  1. Timbered ridges and meadows in Ochoco country northeast of Prineville Northeast of Prineville

    Private ranch

    Sarvis Prairie Outfitters

    ~1 hr 15 min from Bend

    🫎 Elk🦌 Mule deer

    The exclusive outfitter on more than 68,000 contiguous acres of private ranch land in Central Oregon. Its five-day rifle mule deer hunts work a resident, non-migratory herd the outfitter puts at 300 to 400 deer. It also offers archery and rifle hunts for Rocky Mountain elk.

    Know before you book

    Its site was already warning “2026 hunts are going fast,” so ask now about 2027 openings and how the tag works for its hunt area.

    Call 541-468-2185 sarvisprairie.com

    Photo: Sarvis Prairie Outfitters

  2. Mule deer in a meadow on Blue Mountain Ranch near Paulina Paulina, Ochoco Unit

    Private ranch

    Blue Mountain Ranch

    ~1 hr 45 min from Bend

    🐐 Pronghorn🫎 Elk🦌 Mule deer🦆 Ducks + geese

    A working grass-fed beef ranch on the south side of the Ochocos near Paulina, offering rifle pronghorn, archery and rifle elk, rifle mule deer, cow elk, sage rats and waterfowl.

    Know before you book

    Its pronghorn hunt is semi-guided with bunkhouse lodging for $2,000. You must draw ODFW controlled hunt #437 (One Buck Pronghorn) first, and applications are due May 15.

    bluemtnranch.com

    Photo: Blue Mountain Ranch

  3. A bull elk standing in a forest waterhole Bend-based; private ranches + Ochoco NF

    Private ranchPublic land permits

    Battle Creek Outfitters

    Based in Bend

    🫎 Elk🦌 Mule deer

    A Bend outfitter guiding Rocky Mountain elk and mule deer on private ranches, with an expanded area that covers parts of the Ochoco National Forest. Its Guidefitter listing says it has guided for over 14 years.

    Know before you book

    Its Guidefitter listing puts hunts at $3,500 to $5,800, one of the more approachable price ranges for guided big game here.

    Call 541-382-5315 Guidefitter profile

    Photo: Battle Creek Outfitters (via Fin & Field)

  4. An AOA Outfitters hunter with a pronghorn buck in high desert grass Central + Eastern Oregon

    Private ranchPublic land permitsPack + drop camp

    AOA Outfitters

    Varies by hunt

    🦌 Mule deer🫎 Elk🐐 Pronghorn🐻 Bear + cougar🐏 Bighorn sheep🐦 Pheasant, chukar + quail

    Owner Zach Bruce grew up ranching and hunting in Central and Eastern Oregon and has guided since 2010. AOA hunts private ranches, leased ground, and BLM and National Forest land under permit, including wilderness and horseback hunts.

    Know before you book

    One of the few outfitters here that also lists bighorn sheep and pronghorn alongside deer and elk. Ask which properties match your tag.

    Call 541-314-3249 aoaoutfitters.com

    Photo: AOA Outfitters

  5. A hunter with a mule deer buck in juniper country Prineville BLM, Malheur NF + private leases

    Private ranchPublic land permits

    Hunter’s Rendezvous (Outfitter John Cole)

    2+ hrs from Bend

    🫎 Elk🦌 Mule deer

    Run by John and Deborah Cole for 25-plus years. They hunt more than 85,000 acres of private leases and operate under special use permits from the Prineville BLM and the Malheur National Forest. Oregon outfitter license #1376.

    Know before you book

    They publish their license number, which makes them easy to look up on the state’s guide lookup before you book.

    outfitterjohncole.com

    Photo: Outfitter John Cole

  6. Upland bird habitat along the John Day River at Horseshoe Bar Ranch Antelope, along the John Day River

    Private ranch

    Horseshoe Bar Ranch

    ~1 hr 45 min from Bend

    🐦 Pheasant, chukar + quail🫎 Elk🦌 Mule deer🐏 Bighorn sheep

    Guided chukar, pheasant and quail on more than 18,000 acres in North Central Oregon, with irrigated fields along the John Day River. Big game hunts for elk, mule deer and sheep cover 30,000-plus acres of deeded and BLM land.

    Know before you book

    Big game was already fully booked for 2026 with repeat clients, so ask about 2027 now. Bird hunts are booking for the 2026-27 season.

    horseshoebar.ranches.org

    Photo: Horseshoe Bar Ranch

  7. A hunter overlooking the canyon at Gateway Canyon Preserve near Madras 11 miles north of Madras

    Bird preserve

    Gateway Canyon Preserve

    ~1 hr from Bend

    🐦 Pheasant, chukar + quail

    An upland bird preserve on the family-owned Vibbert Ranch, with planted sorghum, grass and cattails for pheasants and sage flats for chukars. Hunt unguided with your own dog or book a guided hunt with theirs.

    Know before you book

    The 2026-27 season opened Sept. 12, 2026. Published rates: $25 ranch access per hunter, pheasants $40 to $45 a bird (five-bird minimum), and chukar or bobwhite quail $30 a bird (eight-bird minimum). It’s the closest preserve to Bend.

    Call 458-256-0262 gatewaycanyonpreserve.com

    Photo: Gateway Canyon Preserve

  8. Bird hunters walking tall grass at Sage Canyon Outfitters near Maupin Maupin, above the Deschutes

    Bird preserve

    Sage Canyon Outfitters

    ~1 hr 45 min from Bend

    🐦 Pheasant, chukar + quail

    Pheasant and chukar on more than 8,000 acres near the Deschutes River since 1995. Guided or non-guided, half or full day, for individuals, groups and corporate outings, with lodging for its hunters.

    Know before you book

    Good for a first bird hunt or a work group. Call or text the office with dates and they’ll build the trip.

    Call 541-980-7345 sagecanyonoutfitters.com

    Photo: Sage Canyon Outfitters

  9. A hunter with bird dogs and pheasants at White River Outfitters Tygh Valley

    Bird preservePrivate ranch

    White River Outfitters and Game Birds

    ~2 hrs from Bend

    🐦 Pheasant, chukar + quail🦌 Mule deer🦃 Turkey

    Preserve bird hunting with trained dogs, guides and lodging at 58133 Conroy Rd, just past White River Falls State Park. The outfitter also has property in the West Biggs, Maupin and White River units for deer and turkey.

    Know before you book

    Reservations are required so birds are ready. Half the cost is due as a deposit when booking two weeks or more out for more than 10 birds, and deposits are non-refundable. Read the cancellation terms.

    Call 541-993-4294 whiteriveroutfittersandgamebirds.com

    Photo: White River Outfitters and Game Birds

  10. The log lodge at Highland Hills Ranch near Condon at dusk Condon

    Bird preservePrivate ranch

    Highland Hills Ranch

    ~2 hrs 30 min from Bend

    🐦 Pheasant, chukar + quail🦌 Mule deer

    A 3,000-acre luxury lodge property for the upland “grand slam” of chukar, pheasant, valley quail and Hungarian partridge, plus driven pheasant shoots, a women’s-only shoot and spot-and-stalk trophy mule deer in wheat and rimrock country.

    Know before you book

    The splurge option, best for a group trip or a special occasion.

    Call 866-478-4868 highlandhillsranch.com

    Photo: Highland Hills Ranch

  11. Packers loading mules for a Cascade wilderness trip Three Sisters, Mt. Washington + Mt. Jefferson wildernesses

    Pack + drop camp

    CH Packstring

    Trailheads west of Bend + Sisters

    🫎 Elk🦌 Mule deer🐻 Bear + cougar

    Owner Casey Hufstader is a fifth-generation packer. CH runs fully guided pack trips, drop camps, and gear and meat haul-outs in the Central Cascades under a Forest Service special use permit. Trips run 4 to 7 days for up to six people and book May 15 to Nov. 15.

    Know before you book

    The answer for Cascade elk or deer when you have the tag and need the mules. Tags aren’t included.

    Call 541-914-3724 chpackstring.com

    Photo: CH Packstring

Not listed: outfitters we couldn’t confirm are active, or that only guide far from Central Oregon (see “Beyond Central Oregon” below). Know a legit local guide we missed? Tell us.

Right now · fall 2026

The field report

From ODFW’s Central Area hunting report for the Prineville/Ochoco and Deschutes districts, dated Oct. 8, 2026.

Read the latest ODFW report
  • Open nowBear, cougar, coyote, youth-only controlled hunts, general-season antlerless elk damage hunts and select controlled deer hunts.
  • DeerDeschutes controlled buck season runs Oct. 3 to 14. Warm weather keeps bucks moving early and late, so glass and watch pinch points. In the Ochocos, the new deer hunt areas have hunters calling ODFW about where their tag is legal. Check your boundary.
  • ElkFire closures in the Grizzly unit have lifted and elk are still there, responding to the extra pressure. Youth cow tags are open around Crane Prairie, Wickiup and Davis lakes. Report elk with signs of hoof disease to ODFW.
  • BearBerry crops largely failed, so bears are hungry and moving. Many were seen during archery season. Try wet north-facing slopes, creek bottoms and lakeshores.
  • ConditionsWarmer and drier than normal after a low-snowpack winter. Check fire closures and travel management maps (free in the Avenza app) before you go.
  • DeadlinePoint Savers can be bought through Nov. 30, 2026. The Leftover Tag List is the place to find remaining 2026 tags.

Hunt by species

What each Central Oregon hunt really takes

Rocky Mountain + Cascade elk in Oregon
Andrew Russell, CC BY 2.0

Rocky Mountain + Cascade elk

Season
2026: archery Aug. 29 to Sept. 27 (some eastern units controlled-only) · Rocky Mountain second season Nov. 7 to 15 · West Cascade Nov. 7 to 13
Where
Ochoco, Maury and Grizzly units east of Prineville. Metolius and Upper Deschutes on the Cascade side.
The reality
ODFW’s 2026 forecast had elk stable to increasing in the East Central Cascades, with record spring counts in the Metolius and Upper Deschutes units, but bull ratios below objective in the Maury, Ochoco and Grizzly units. A guide with private ground can make a real difference here.

Guides for this: Sarvis Prairie OutfittersBattle Creek OutfittersAOA OutfittersHunter’s Rendezvous (Outfitter John Cole)CH Packstring

The money

What a hunt really costs in 2026

ODFW’s 2026 license and tag prices, then a quick budget for the whole trip. Outfitter prices are on each card above.

2026 priceResidentNonresident
Hunting license$39$193
Deer$33$500
Elk$56$660
Pronghorn$58$443
Black bear$16.50$16.50
Cougar$16.50$16.50
Turkey$26.50$90
Upland bird validationNonresident price is the combined bird-waterfowl validation$11$50
Waterfowl validationFederal duck stamp and free HIP validation also required$15$50
Controlled hunt applicationPer application. Needed for all Eastern Oregon deer, pronghorn and many elk hunts.$10$10

Also: Resident Sports Pac $253 (Hunting and fishing license plus most tags and validations in one buy) · Resident combination license $86 (Hunting + angling) · Youth license $10. Source: ODFW fee schedule.

Trip budget

License + tag
–
Everything else
–
Trip total
–

2026 → 2027

The hunter’s calendar

What’s left of 2026, and the dates that decide your 2027 season. Good outfitters book months before the draw.

What’s changing for 2027

  • Seasons and tag numbers will be similar to 2026, with calendar shifts.
  • Because the Cascade elk herd is below management objectives, antlerless elk come off the bag limit for the general archery elk tag, the Santiam traditional bow hunt, the Cascade muzzleloader tag and disability permit holders.
  • Coast elk any-legal-weapon hunts move their spike-only period to the first season, and three units change bull options.
  • Eastern Oregon deer stays organized by Deer Hunt Areas (new in 2026). ODFW says tag numbers and the points needed to draw may fluctuate for a few years as hunters adjust.

Adopted by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission in September 2026 (report). Confirm details in the printed 2027 regulations.

  1. Rocky Mountain elk second season (any legal weapon). The West Cascade elk season is Nov. 7 to 13. Tag sale deadline: Nov. 6.

  2. ODFW expects the printed 2027 Big Game Regulations to be out. The Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted them in September 2026.

  3. Last day to buy a Point Saver and keep your preference points if you aren’t hunting.

  4. General fall bear season ends (opened Aug. 1). Cougar stays open all year unless a zone hits its quota.

  5. Spring bear controlled hunt applications are due, the first big draw of the year.

  6. Controlled hunt applications are due for deer, elk, pronghorn and other big game. All Eastern Oregon deer is controlled, so this is the deadline that matters for a Central Oregon muley trip. Book outfitters before this, not after.

  7. Draw results. In 2026 they came out June 12. Send your hunt number to your outfitter the same day.

  8. Archery elk and western Oregon archery deer open (Aug. 29 in 2026). Under the 2027 rules, the general archery elk tag no longer includes antlerless elk in the West Cascades.

Don’t get cited

Oregon rules people miss

01

Hunter education

Required for anyone under 18. Take an online course, then a $10 in-person Field Day with live fire. Find Central Oregon dates on ODFW’s class registration site.

Source →
02

Youth hunter orange

Hunters 17 and under must wear a hunter orange hat or outer garment, visible from all sides, when hunting big game or upland birds with a firearm. It’s smart for everyone else too.

Source →
03

E-tags still need a physical tag

If you tag through the MyODFW app, log in and switch to offline mode before you lose signal. After you validate, write the confirmation number, your name, ODFW ID, birth date and harvest date on flagging or duct tape and attach it to the animal.

Source →
04

Report every tag, even with no animal

All deer, elk, pronghorn, bear, cougar and turkey tags need a harvest report. For hunts ending by Dec. 31, the deadline has been Jan. 31. Deer and elk hunters who miss it pay a $25 penalty on next year’s license.

Source →
05

No centerfire rifle without the tag

During some deer and elk seasons it’s illegal to hunt with a centerfire rifle in a unit where you don’t hold a tag, even for coyotes. ODFW flagged this in its October 2026 Central Oregon report.

Source →
06

Stop at CWD check stations

If you pass a chronic wasting disease check station while carrying game, you must stop. You can’t bring deer or elk heads or spines into Oregon from other states.

Source →
07

Wolves are protected here

Wolves in Deschutes County are federally listed as endangered. The Upper Deschutes pack had nine wolves at the end of 2025, and the Metolius pack ranges mostly in Jefferson County. Coyote hunters: be certain of your target and report wolf sightings to ODFW.

Source →
08

Private land means permission

You need permission to hunt private land. Landowner Preference (LOP) tags are only good on the registered property, and a landowner can give half of the buck or bull tags to non-family hunters. Ask ranch outfitters whether your hunt uses one.

Source →

The ground

Central Oregon’s public hunting country

Where locals hunt on their own, and where permitted guides take clients. Always check fire closures and travel management maps first.

Ochoco National Forest, Oregon
U.S. Forest Service, Public domain

Ochoco National Forest

The Ochoco, Maury and Grizzly units east of Prineville: elk, mule deer, bear, cougar and turkey. ODFW recommends Maury and Ochoco for cougar because of their larger public land and easier access. Travel management limits motor vehicles on some roads.

Ochoco NF →
Deschutes National Forest, Oregon
Dougtone, CC BY-SA 2.0

Deschutes National Forest

Cascade elk around Crane Prairie, Wickiup and Davis lakes, and Paulina and Fort Rock country to the south. The Fox Butte and Walker Rim travel management areas apply through the late season.

Deschutes NF →
Fort Rock + Christmas Valley, Oregon
fritzcat, CC BY 2.0

Fort Rock + Christmas Valley

Sage flats, lava and old lakebed southeast of Bend, part of the Deschutes National Forest and BLM high desert. It’s pronghorn and mule deer country, mostly by controlled tag.

Lakeview BLM →
The White River canyon near Tygh Valley
Bobjgalindo, CC BY-SA 4.0

White River Wildlife Area

ODFW’s 29,480 acres near Tygh Valley, managed for black-tailed deer and elk, with the highest wild turkey numbers in northern Oregon. A parking permit is required, and part of the area closed for fire in summer 2026.

ODFW visitor guide →

Base camp

Where to stay and stock up

Bend is the airport and supply run. The hunt usually starts from one of these towns.

  • PrinevilleOchoco, Maury and Grizzly units, Crooked RiverThe last real grocery, fuel and butcher stop before the Ochocos.
  • MadrasCrooked River Grassland, Gateway Canyon, MetoliusAn hour north of Bend. Good motel base for bird hunts.
  • MaupinSage Canyon, Lower Deschutes chukar countryA river town with a few lodges. Book early during steelhead season.
  • SistersMetolius, Cascades wilderness, pack tripsTrailheads and outfitters for Cascade elk and deer.
  • La PineUpper Deschutes, Paulina, Fort RockThe southern jump-off for Cascade lakes elk and high desert pronghorn.
  • PaulinaSouth Ochocos, Blue Mountain RanchTiny ranch community with very limited services. Fill your tank in Prineville.

Central Oregon pack list

After the shot

Meat care, processing + donating

Early seasons here can hit the 70s by afternoon. Get the hide off and the meat into game bags and shade or ice within hours, not at the end of the day.

Redmond Smokehouse

353 SE Railroad Blvd, Redmond

Deer and elk cut and wrap with fat and bone disposal included, plus summer sausage, pepperoni and brats (20 to 25 lb minimum per flavor) and jerky (10 lb minimum). Open Mon to Fri 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sat 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Game must have a tag confirmation number or they won’t take it.

Call 541-548-5575Details

Central Oregon Butcher Boys

2525 NW Ritches Ln, Prineville

A USDA-inspected Prineville butcher close to the Ochocos. It’s one of the shops whose game cut-and-wrap is accepted for food bank donations.

Call ahead in rifle season. Shops fill up fast in late October and November.

Call 541-447-0334Details

Donate meat through NeighborImpact

Central Oregon’s food bank takes game meat year-round if a state-licensed butcher processed it (no home processing) and it’s less than two years old. Out-of-state game counts, and NeighborImpact may help cover cut-and-wrap costs when it has funding.

Call 541-548-2380How it works

Before the deposit

Vet your outfitter in 10 minutes

Oregon requires anyone paid to guide on land they don’t own to register with the Oregon State Marine Board, with insurance and first aid/CPR. Guiding on National Forest or BLM land also needs a federal special use permit.

Search Oregon’s guide lookup

Local help

Hunter resources in and around Bend

ODFW Bend officeBuy licenses and tags, get regulations and ask about units.61374 Parrell Rd · 541-388-6363 · 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.Hunter sight-in days at COSSACentral Oregon Shooting Sports Association’s big range east of Bend opens to the public for ODFW sight-in weekends in September, including lead-free ammo days.Membership range the rest of the yearRedmond Rod & Gun ClubA public range with rifle, pistol, trap and sporting clays, good for practicing on clays before bird season.See our firearms training guideOregon Hunters Association chaptersBend, Redmond and Ochoco chapters run banquets, habitat projects and youth events, and they’re a good way to meet hunters who know the ground.Statewide group with local chaptersMentored Youth Hunter ProgramKids 9 to 15 can hunt with a licensed adult mentor before taking hunter ed. Registration is free.From ODFW

Road trip

Beyond Central Oregon

When your tag or species takes you farther, here’s what each corner of Oregon is known for, with drive times from Bend.

Sources

Official links worth bookmarking

ODFW big game seasonsOfficial 2026 dates, deadlines and tag salesmyodfw.comODFW Central Area hunting reportWeekly conditions from the Prineville and Deschutes districtsmyodfw.comEastern Oregon Deer Hunt AreasInteractive map of the new 2026 deer boundariesmyodfw.com2026-27 game bird forecastChukar, quail, pheasant, grouse and waterfowl outlookmyodfw.comOregon hunting regulations (eRegulations)The full rulebook onlineeregulations.comFind a legal outfitter guideOregon State Marine Board guide lookuporegon.govCWD: what hunters can doTesting options and the out-of-state carcass rulesmyodfw.comHunting private lands (A&H)ODFW’s Access & Habitat programmyodfw.comOchoco National ForestClosures, travel management and mapsfs.usda.govDeschutes National ForestFire closures and road statusfs.usda.govOregon Hunters AssociationBend, Redmond, Ochoco and Lake County chaptersoregonhunters.orgOregon Outfitters & Guides AssociationMember hunting outfittersoregonoutfitters.org

FAQ

Guided hunting questions

How much does a hunting license and tag cost in Oregon in 2026?

Residents pay $39 for an annual hunting license, plus $33 for a deer tag or $56 for an elk tag. Nonresidents pay $193 for the license, $500 for deer and $660 for elk. Controlled hunt applications are $10 each, and many Eastern Oregon hunts require one.

Do I need hunter orange in Oregon?

Only if you’re 17 or younger and hunting big game or upland birds with a firearm. You then need an orange hat or outer garment visible from all sides. Adults aren’t required to wear it, but it’s a good idea on busy public land during rifle seasons.

Where can I get my deer or elk processed near Bend?

Redmond Smokehouse in Redmond and Central Oregon Butcher Boys in Prineville both handle game. Bring your tag confirmation number and call ahead during November rifle seasons. You can also donate professionally processed meat to NeighborImpact (541-548-2380).

Are there wolves where I hunt in Central Oregon?

Yes, in parts of it. ODFW tracks the Upper Deschutes pack (nine wolves at the end of 2025) and the Metolius pack, mostly in Jefferson County. Wolves here are federally protected, so identify your target carefully when calling coyotes and report sightings to ODFW.

Can I book a guided deer hunt near Bend without a tag?

No. Since 2026, every Eastern Oregon deer hunt, archery and rifle, is a controlled hunt drawn by lottery. Apply by May 15 (May 15, 2027 for next season), then book an outfitter whose ground matches your Deer Hunt Area.

What is the easiest guided hunt to book from Bend?

An upland bird preserve. Gateway Canyon Preserve north of Madras is about an hour away, and Sage Canyon near Maupin and White River in Tygh Valley are about two hours. Preserves run under their own permits and can usually book a specific weekend.

How much does a guided hunt cost in Central Oregon?

Published examples: preserve pheasants at Gateway Canyon cost $40 to $45 a bird plus a $25 access fee. Blue Mountain Ranch’s semi-guided pronghorn hunt is $2,000. Battle Creek lists big game hunts at $3,500 to $5,800. Multi-day private-ranch elk hunts in Central and Eastern Oregon can run well above that. Ask what’s included.

What changes in 2027?

ODFW adopted the 2027 big game regulations in September 2026: similar seasons and tag numbers with calendar shifts, and antlerless elk removed from several West Cascades bag limits, including the general archery elk tag. Printed regulations are expected in late November 2026.

How do I know an outfitter is legal?

Oregon requires paid outfitter guides to register with the Oregon State Marine Board, with insurance and first aid/CPR. Search the board’s Guide Dashboard by name or activity. Guiding on National Forest or BLM land also requires a federal permit, so ask which ones they hold.

Is chronic wasting disease in Oregon?

It hadn’t been detected in Oregon as of ODFW’s latest guidance, but it’s in Idaho, Washington and California. If you pass a CWD check station while carrying game, you must stop. Bringing deer or elk parts with brain or spinal tissue into Oregon from other states is illegal.

Can I hunt bear or cougar with dogs or bait in Oregon?

No. Oregon bans both for black bear and cougar sport hunting.

Checked October 13, 2026. Seasons, quotas, closures and outfitter availability change. Verify your hunt with ODFW, the land manager and the outfitter before you travel. More outdoors: archery ranges + classes, firearms training, Oregon CHL guide, outdoor recreation.

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