Welcome
With eight northeastern big game units located either partially or fully within its borders,
Grant County is a popular spot for bow and rifle hunters. Controlled hunting seasons are
staggered throughout the year. Tag drawings determine when and where hunters may hunt. There
are controlled seasons for bighorn sheep, Rocky Mountain goat, black bear, pronghorn antelope,
deer and elk. There are also general seasons for deer and elk bow hunting, and black bear and
cougar hunts, and anglers have the option of fishing in numerous local rivers, lakes and ponds.
old was discovered in Canyon Creek in
June 1862. The towns of Canyon City
and John Day were born during this time,
with Canyon City named as the county
seat when Grant County was established
two years later, in October 1864. Grant
County was formed from parts of Wasco
and Umatilla counties, and was named
for Ulysses S. Grant. Grant was assigned to help protect the
early settlers in Oregon in the 1850s before becoming famous
for leading the Union Army to victory in the Civil War.
Prairie City is 13 miles east of John Day along the John
Day River. It is near Beulah, Northside, Malheur, Desolation
and East Murderers Creek units.
Dayville is on Highway 26, 32 miles west of John Day.
The Northside, Murderers Creek and Ochoco hunting units
intersect at Dayville, and the area is popular throughout the
state for deer, sheep and elk hunting, as well as upland game
birds.
Mt. Vernon is 8 miles west of John Day on Highway 26.
The area has premier mule deer and Rocky Mountain elk
hunting.
Monument, on the North Fork of the John Day River, is
approximately 60 miles northwest of John Day and 120
G
miles southwest of Pendleton. The area is known for its
fishing, hunting and whitewater rafting.
Seneca is 26 miles south of John Day. It is a popular
jump-off spot for the Murderers Creek, Malheur and Silvies
units. The area is great for pronghorn, Rocky Mountain elk
and mule deer.
Long Creek is about 45 miles north of John Day on
Highway 395. This area is known for trophy mule and
whitetail deer, along with Rocky Mountain elk.
To learn more about how the area was developed, visit
any of the museums in the county, including the Ranch and
Rodeo Museum in John Day, the DeWitt Museum at Depot
Park in Prairie City, the Grant County Historical Museum in
Canyon City and the Kam Wah Chung Chinese Heritage
Museum and Visitor Center in John Day.
For more information on the county, check out the Grant
County Chamber of Commerce at 301 W. Main St. in John
Day or online at www.gcoregonlive.com, or call 541-575-
0547 or 800-769-5664.
Grant County borders eight counties, more than any other
county in the state of Oregon. It’s a great place to unwind
and get back in touch with nature. You’ll find the pace slow,
the people friendly, the scenery spectacular, and, hopefully,
the hunting successful.
On the Cover:
Published by the Blue Mountain Eagle 2018
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Copyright © 2018 Blue Mountain Eagle
All rights reserved. • EO Media Group
MyEagleNews.com
Cash Madden, 10 years old,
harvested this buck with his
bow, taking advantage of the
mentored youth program.
An exciting morning started
with his dad and brother
calling in a six point bull,
having a bear come within 30
yards of them, then finishing
the morning hunt placing an
arrow perfectly into his first
archery buck.
PHOTO COURTESY MICHAL MADDEN
Inside:
OL’ ORNERY .........................................................................................6
SIGHTING IN ........................................................................................8
TASTY HUNTER RECIPES ..................................................................10
LOCAL HUNTERS PHOTO GALLERY........................................5 & 23
GUIDANCE FROM ABOVE AND BELOW .......................................14
OLD RELIABLE ...................................................................................17
BLACKPOWDER ANTELOPE............................................................21
EMMA’S FIRST HUNT ........................................................................24
A POEM: HIS CAMO’S IN THE CLOSET..........................................24
2018 HUNTING OUTLOOK ..............................................................26
Advertiser Index
TO GRANT COUNTY
In the heart of Eastern Oregon
1st Choice Auto Body......................................................................................................12
Andy’s Plumbing & Sports...............................................................................................9
Austin House Café & Store ............................................................................................18
Blue Mountain Chiropractic.........................................................................................25
Blue Mountain Hospital .................................................................................................27
Boyer’s Cash Store.............................................................................................................18
Burnt River Market............................................................................................................25
Depot RV Park.....................................................................................................................22
Clyde Holliday & Bates State Park..............................................................................22
Dale Store .............................................................................................................................20
Dayville Café........................................................................................................................18
Dayville Mercantile...........................................................................................................25
Duke Warner Realty .........................................................................................................18
Eastern Oregon Realty.......................................................................................................9
Ed’s Sinclair & Mobil .........................................................................................................13
Ferguson Surveying.........................................................................................................20
Gardner Enterprises............................................................................................................7
Grant County Chamber of Commerce....................................................................16
Grant County Economic Development.....................................................................2
Grant County Fairgrounds & RV Park .......................................................................12
Grant County Snowballers............................................................................................12
Grubsteak Mining Co.........................................................................................................7
Hodgen Distributing..........................................................................................................4
Huffman’s Select Market................................................................................................22
John Day Auto NAPA.......................................................................................................16
John Day Hardware True Value .....................................................................................4
John Day Polaris.................................................................................................................19
John Day River Trading Post.........................................................................................12
John Day River Veterinary Center..............................................................................25
Len’s Drug................................................................................................................................4
Les Schwab Tire Center...................................................................................................28
Mills Building Supply.......................................................................................................20
Mobile Glass ........................................................................................................................20
Morrow & Grant County OHV Park ..............................................................................9
Mossy Oak Properties Cupper Creek Land Company......................................16
Nydam’s ACE Hardware ....................................................................................................7
OK Garage ............................................................................................................................18
Oregon Trail Electric Co-op .............................................................................................9
Pioneer Feed........................................................................................................................11
Prospector Ice.....................................................................................................................13
Russell’s Custom Meats & Deli.....................................................................................12
Silvies Valley Ranch...........................................................................................................22
Snaffle Bit Dinner House ..................................................................................................7
Southfork RV Park .............................................................................................................25
Stage Stop Motel & RV Park..........................................................................................25
Subway ..................................................................................................................................13
T&H Automotive .................................................................................................................7
Timbers Inn & RV Park.....................................................................................................12
Thomas Orchards..............................................................................................................20
Wildcat Basin Outfitters..................................................................................................20
GRANT COUNTY HUNTING JOURNAL 2018 • 3