Unit 68
WHITEHORSE
High-desert basins and rimrock breaks with sparse timber and challenging water conditions.
Hunter's Brief
Unit 68 is vast high-desert country dominated by sagebrush flats, volcanic rimrock breaks, and scattered mountain ranges. Elevations stay mostly below 5,000 feet across the majority of the unit, with only small pockets rising above 6,500 feet. A decent road network provides fair access to key staging areas, though water sources are limited and often require knowledge of springs and reservoirs. The terrain rewards hunters willing to glass from distance and navigate broken country methodically.
- Compact: under 200 sq mi
- Moderate: 200 - 800 sq mi
- Vast: over 800 sq mi
- Few: under 25%
- Some: 25 - 60%
- Most: over 60%
- Limited: under 0.7 mi/mi² (backcountry)
- Fair: 0.7 - 1.5 mi/mi²
- Connected: over 1.5 mi/mi² (well-roaded)
- Flat: under 20% mountains
- Rolling: 20 - 55%
- Steep: over 55%
- Sparse: under 20%
- Moderate: 20 - 50%
- Dense: over 50%
- Limited: under 0.3% area
- Moderate: 0.3 - 2% area
- Abundant: over 2% area
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Terrain Deep Dive
Landmarks & Navigation
Key navigation features include the prominent Alvord Desert basin, visible across vast distances and useful for orientation. The Sheepshead and White Horse mountain ranges bracket the unit's western flank and offer glassing vantage points. Notable rim systems like the Tule Springs Rims, Dry Creek Rim, and Big Antelope-Pole Creek breaks provide breakup in otherwise open country.
The Hole-in-the-Ground crater and scattered basins (Whitehorse Valley, Rim Basin, Drummond Basin) serve as geographic anchors. Higher summits such as Red Mountain, Catlow Peak, and Willow Butte function as distant references for route-finding across the open basins.
Elevation & Habitat
Most of Unit 68 sits in low-desert sagebrush country below 5,000 feet, with gradual elevation gains toward scattered mountain ranges that top out under 8,400 feet. Vegetation is sparse across the majority—open plains with minimal forest cover characterize the landscape. Where higher elevations and terrain permit, juniper and mountain mahogany appear on ridges and slope faces.
The habitat is primarily low-desert shrubsteppe with isolated pockets of pinyon-juniper woodland at higher benches. Vast open flats alternate with rimrock breaks, volcanic features, and canyon systems that provide modest topographic relief.
Access & Pressure
Fair road density of 1.19 miles per square mile means a web of maintained and rough tracks crosses the unit, connecting staging areas near Rome, Jordan Valley, and Andrews. Most vehicle access follows natural drainages and bench lands rather than crossing open basins. While roads exist, the unit's vast size and sparse population means pressure concentrates near trailheads and known water sources.
Remote basins and rim country can feel empty despite the accessibility infrastructure. The relatively flat, open terrain makes off-road travel feasible for those with high-clearance vehicles, but distances and lack of cover limit its tactical advantage.
Boundaries & Context
Unit 68 encompasses nearly 4,900 square miles of southeastern Oregon high desert, anchored by the Alvord Desert to the east and bounded by mountain ranges including the Sheepshead, White Horse, and Oregon Canyon ranges. The unit sprawls across a vast, sparsely vegetated basin-and-range landscape with scattered volcanic peaks, rim systems, and canyon breaks. Public land dominates at over 90 percent, providing reliable access throughout most of the unit.
The terrain's sheer size and open character mean distances between water and cover are substantial, requiring strategic planning and route selection.
Water & Drainages
Water is the limiting factor across Unit 68. Perennial streams are scarce; main drainages include Catlow Creek, Willow Creek, Trout Creek, and various intermittent washes. Reliable water sources cluster around springs (Borax Hot Springs, Alvord Hot Springs, Red Mountain Spring, Buckskin Spring) and scattered reservoirs (Oriana, Red Mountain, Buckskin reservoirs, Jimmy Spring Reservoir). The Alvord Desert's eastern margin is particularly water-scarce. Hunters must plan routes around known water points or carry sufficient supply.
Late-season hunting can be especially challenging as secondary water sources dry up, concentrating animals around reliable springs and reservoir margins.
Hunting Strategy
Unit 68 supports elk, pronghorn, bear, mountain goat, bighorn sheep, and mountain lion across distinct habitat zones. Pronghorn dominate the open desert basins, using vast sagebrush flats and benches year-round; early-season glassing from ridges and careful stalks across open country work well. Elk concentrate near higher benches and rimrock breaks where limited tree cover provides shade and travel corridors; water sources funnel them into predictable movement patterns.
Bighorn sheep utilize steep breaks and rim systems, particularly around the Tule Springs Rims and Pole Creek breaks—optics-heavy hunting from distance is essential. Mountain goats favor the steepest rimrock and cliff systems. Bear use canyon breaks and brush-choked drainages.
Success requires patience, good glass work, and the ability to move long distances between water sources and bedding areas.