THE FOLLOWING IS A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
All northeast Oregon Access and Habitat (A&H) access areas are closed to public access due to wildfire.
The A&H access areas affected are M.R King Ranches, Troy Ranches, Iron Mountain, Virtue Flat, Foster Ranch, Glass Hill, Owsley Canyon, Bear Creek, Carman Ranch, Harshfield Ranch, Divide Ridge, Heppner Regulated Hunt Area, Social Ridge, Four Mile, and Bunker Hill. Learn about hunting access on private lands through ODFW’s A&H program.
Additionally, the Upland Cooperative Access Program (UCAP) lands that allow year-round Welcome to Hunt access are closed to access.
Closures are necessary because firefighting resources are currently unavailable to respond to new fires in Oregon and other states. National and Northwest Fire Preparedness Levels remain at Level 5. Extremely dry fuels and unstable atmospheric conditions mean any new fire could quickly escape initial attack, with no additional resources available to respond.
This is a developing situation, and additional A&H access areas in other parts of the state could also close if conditions worsen. ODFW is hopeful conditions will stabilize and allow access to be restored prior to the start of archery season on Aug. 29, but closures will remain in place until fire danger decreases and firefighting capacity improves.
“Given the limited resources and extreme fire danger across northeast Oregon, these closures are essential to protect the safety of our cooperating landowners and the landscapes they steward,” said Travis Schultz, ODFW Access & Habitat Coordinator. “We deeply value their partnership, and taking proactive steps now helps ensure the A&H program can continue supporting access opportunities for years to come.”
ODFW follows fire closures closely before hunting seasons open. The agency will reach out to hunters when there are major impacts to their season to let them know of their options. Hunters should have a valid email in the ODFW licensing system so they can be contacted. Learn more including ODFW policies on tag refunds and point reinstatement at https://myodfw.com/articles/hunting-and-fire-danger-oregon.
For questions related to UCAP closures, contact the Heppner Office at 541‑676‑5230. For questions about A&H closures, contact the La Grande Office at 541‑962‑1838 or the A&H coordinator at 503‑947‑6087.
