Whitehorse, Oregon

Predominantly open, flat-to-rolling high-desert basin at roughly 3,800–4,500 feet elevation, interrupted by several mountain ranges and rimrock complexes reaching up to approximately 7,400 feet. The Trout Creek Mountains, Sheepshead Mountains, and Oregon Canyon Mountains rise steeply from sagebrush flats, featuring sheer basalt rimrock faces and cut drainages. The Alvord Desert — a dry alkaline playa — sits along the southwestern boundary of the unit near the Beatys Butte and Alvord Peaks area. Numerous wilderness study areas (Table Mountain, Wildcat Canyon, Twelve Mile Creek, Bowden Hills, Fifteen Mile Creek, Mahogany Ridge, Upper West Little Owyhee, Red Mountain) restrict motorized travel across large portions of the unit. The Owyhee River drainage cuts through the north.

Public land is approximately 90 percent of the unit, managed by BLM Burns District Office (Harney County portions) and BLM Vale District Office (Malheur County portions). There is no National Forest within the unit. Primary paved access routes are US Highway 95 (bisects the unit north-to-south and forms part of the northern boundary), State Highway 78 (northern boundary from Follyfarm to US-95 junction), and State Highway 205 (western edge). Whitehorse Ranch Lane is a key interior road connecting US-95 to SR-205. A network of BLM dirt and gravel roads extends into the interior; high-clearance 4WD is strongly recommended. No motorized vehicles are allowed within the multiple wilderness study areas (Table Mountain, Wildcat Canyon, Twelve Mile Creek, Bowden Hills, Fifteen Mile Creek, Mahogany Ridge, Upper West Little Owyhee, Red Mountain), which require foot or horse travel. The Fort McDermitt Indian Reservation near the Nevada border is closed to public hunting. Private land is minimal but concentrated on valley floors around ranches.

Dominated by big sagebrush, rabbitbrush, and other low-desert shrubs across basin floors, with native bunchgrasses and forbs. Mountain mahogany, western juniper, and serviceberry appear on rocky hillsides and ridgelines. Aspens occur in isolated pockets at higher elevations. Riparian corridors along Twelve Mile Creek, West Little Owyhee, and other drainages support alders, cottonwoods, and willows. Sage-steppe predominates across the unit, with montane shrub communities on elevated terrain and almost no conifer forest. The Trout Creek Mountains support the densest mountain shrub habitat, which provides critical summer and transitional range for mule deer.

Mule deer are the primary big game, with resident bucks concentrating in the Trout Creek Mountains and Sheepshead Mountains during summer and fall. Rocky Mountain elk occur in the unit but are largely migratory, moving in from Idaho's Owyhee Mountains as weather deteriorates — resident elk are sparse and widely dispersed. Pronghorn are present across sage flats and basin terrain. California bighorn sheep inhabit the Sheepshead Mountains (northern Unit 68, Hunt 568) and the Beatys Butte/Alvord Peaks area (southwestern Unit 68, shared with Units 69–70, Hunt 570). Black bear range through the unit with spring controlled hunts offered; fall general season is OTC statewide. Cougar are present and may be hunted year-round via OTC tags subject to zone quota limits. Chukar, sage grouse, and other upland species are present across sagebrush habitats. Rocky Mountain goat: listed in hunt series on ODFW unit page but no active 2026 goat hunt found for Unit 68 in eRegulations.