Steens mule deer hunt

[blacktailaddict]

I'm thinking of hunting Mulies in the Steens unit next year and I'm wondering what kind of experiance anybody has had on that hunt over the last few years. Did you find enough deer? bucks? were you able to find areas to hunt away from other hunters?

[Abalone]

The guys I know that have hunted over there complain about all the ATV's.

One guys draws a tag, he takes Six buddies with him and they ride around on ATV's until they spot something then call him on a radio giving directions.

I have heard a couple of horrors stories regarding this......Like being overrun.

[Tightlip]

i hunted it last year lots of bucks shot the 23rd one i seen my partner and i were done the third morning didn;t see anybody "off" the road 2 for 2 both 4x4's not huge but good bucks missed one sunday that would of went 185 good luck and stay out of the rocks too many cougars up there

[Thehunter]

Glass

[weekender]

Originally Posted by Abalone

The guys I know that have hunted over there complain about all the ATV's.

One guys draws a tag, he takes Six buddies with him and they ride around on ATV's until they spot something then call him on a radio giving directions.

I have heard a couple of horrors stories regarding this......Like being overrun.

My brother in law drew a big horn tag in the steens two or three years ago. As a group, we saw some nice bucks and I'll promise you there is zero change that an ATV could have gotten anywhere near where we hunted. There is alot of country in the steens that is 100% inaccessable to quads.

On the flip side, I'm sure there is more than enough country that quads can drive all over. If you hunt the quadland, you'll probably have problems with quads.

[Abalone]

I'll take your word for it...

I have two people I work with that have similar experiences.

I didn't mean to sound Anti Quad particularly.

Quads are great....

[Salmo trutta]

Originally Posted by Abalone

Quads are great....

Yep!!......especially in the wrecking yard scrap metal compactor!!

[Abalone]

Political Correctness.......

Quads are great when properly employed....

[llama77]

Oh yes, here we go again the EVIL quad, why its mere presence can slaughter a thousand deer!!!! If only they were that effective on Cougars then the deer might have a chance!!!

Why a couple of weeks ago we were up in hells canyon and though I didnt see them, there must have been quads through there because the deer were laying dead by the road by the hundreds and every elk had been scared clear down to the Snake where the cougars were waiting for them.

Its a good thing for the cougars cause if it werent for those quads driving the
Elk down they would have starved!!!!!!

[baltz526]

i know of no area in the steens or surrounding mountains where any vehical is allowed off existing roads on public land

[Limbhanger]

Originally Posted by Salmo trutta

Yep!!......especially in the wrecking yard scrap metal compactor!!

[olblugill]

My son and I packed in with horses south of Indian creek in the proposed wilderness area. It came highly recommended. It was an absolute dead zone. Very little sign. We saw a few forked horns like maybe 2. Tracks were very few and far between. No other hunters because we were way in but avoid that area. I see more deer where I live in West Salem. A big disapointment.

[BrianMaguire]

Originally Posted by llama77

Oh yes, here we go again the EVIL quad, why its mere presence can slaughter a thousand deer!!!! If only they were that effective on Cougars then the deer might have a chance!!!

Why a couple of weeks ago we were up in hells canyon and though I didnt see them, there must have been quads through there because the deer were laying dead by the road by the hundreds and every elk had been scared clear down to the Snake where the cougars were waiting for them.

Its a good thing for the cougars cause if it werent for those quads driving the
Elk down they would have starved!!!!!!

I think you are missing the point, quads ruin hunting not because people kill more game off of them, I would argure they do the opposite, but becasue they ruin a hunt for those of us following the rules. I don't suspect most quad owners care about others but when you hike into an area, often spending hours doing so, only to have some lard arse who has trouble normally lifting his beer, tootle on in on his quad, giving an eternity of warning to elk and deer, well, lets just say it is annoying at best. There is significant scientific evidence that game regard them as something too clearly avoid. If you are in that area that game want to clearly avoid, by no choice of your own, against your will, then there is a problem. So yes, ATV's suck for most of us. I do notice that there is an inverse relationship between the ammount of time spent on a quad and the size of the belly. No clear proof just yet, but there does seem to be a trend.

As for the Steens, I will be there next weekend scouting for antelope then during antelope season. I hope to give a report when I return. About 4 years ago they pulled the last of the cows off of the wilderness area, this should provide better cover for fawns and therefore better deer numbers. I hope it turned the area around. When I hunted it 4 years ago deer were few and far between.

[Limbhanger]

Originally Posted by BrianMaguire

I do notice that there is an inverse relationship between the ammount of time spent on a quad and the size of the belly. No clear proof just yet, but there does seem to be a trend.

That is some good funny right there !

[SlyHawk]

Originally Posted by Limbhanger

That is some good funny right there !

[Rank Amateur]

Maybe we can get a federal grant to study the belly/quad situation???? A couple of million oughta cover it!!!

[ehunter]

You guys is baaad:grin:

Originally Posted by Rank Amateur

Maybe we can get a federal grant to study the belly/quad situation???? A couple of million oughta cover it!!!

[llama77]

I wasnt suggesting people were killing game off quads. Just that the quads themselves by their very existence were responsible for the deaths of the animals.

I found some quad tracks up off the lord flat road a few weeks ago where they werent supposed to be. Only the third set of tracks in about twenty five years up there that Ive seen where they werent supposed to be.

Had I found the quads themselves I guarantee they would be turned in because they closed the road for the majority that only used them on the roads.
I do however believe there was a bit of justice. As we were heading up the road out of Imnaha, a pick up with quads towing a trailer with quads came around the corner way to fast and had to hit the ditch to avoid hitting me!! Pretty good wreck!!! Ripped the axle off the quad trailer.

Cant believe they drove the truck out but they were gone the next day. Pretty sure they were the ones that were off the road on their quads.

Lucky they didint get killed.

I keep hearing about how quads ruin hunts but not once has anyone reported how they turned in the perpetrators. Personally this is just as important as turning in poachers. A poacher can take a way a animal. Ilegal use of quads take away access.

As for the cows being off the wilderness area. Do a check on the boundaries of the wilderness area. you will find that the vast majority of it is above the elevation that the cows ever used!!! (this according to the ranchers) So dont expect any huge increase in deer numbers because of that!!

So blame your poor hunt on the cows or the quads or the supposed lack of feed. Why is it so hard to look at the facts and not see the soultion???

As for overall numbers. It is still dismal compared to pre 93 levels. I was there over spring break for the first time since the late 80s. What I saw was an overwelming lack of deer on the flats from little alvord all the way north past Juniper ranch. We honestly would see large herds of 50 to a hundred deer all over these lower elevations during spring break. This year we saw less than a dozen!!

There are still pockets with good numbers of bucks (compared to other units) There are still very nice bucks there. You just will have to work for them, and have a bit of luck!

Balzt is correct. Most if not all the steens has been a wilderness "study" area for years. Any quad off a road, or any rig for that matter is illegal.

And although there MIGHT be significant scientific evidence that quads should clearly be avoided. I can site plenty of real world events that disproves the "science". Our recent trip to Hels canyon. At least 4 trucks and 4 quads on the rim road and I found fresh elk tracks on top of my truck tracks the next morning. Could be the Elk just got off the "short "bus and didnt realize how much danger they were in!!

Black tail addict. You should regardless of the numbers of deer there hunt tthe Steens at least once in your life.It is beautiful country. Take a good pair of glasses and look under every rock and juniper. youll find as good buck.

[BrianMaguire]

Originally Posted by llama77

As for the cows being off the wilderness area. Do a check on the boundaries of the wilderness area. you will find that the vast majority of it is above the elevation that the cows ever used!!! (this according to the ranchers) So dont expect any huge increase in deer numbers because of that!!

So blame your poor hunt on the cows or the quads or the supposed lack of feed. Why is it so hard to look at the facts and not see the soultion???
.

The area I was alking about is the South Steens, mud creek area. I've hunted it more than a few times since I was a kid. It got pounded pretty heavily. I have not been back since they stopped grazing it. There are quite a few square miles within the wilderness boundry that were grazed. I can't wait to see it now, I suspect it will look like something I have never seen. I have seen some dandy bucks come out of the area. last time we hunted it a guy comming out had a rack laid over the hind quater of his mule with the tines pointed down. It was so wide that it fit over the complete backside. 30" easy. I could not tell if it was a 5X5, only the 4X4 was showing, it could have had brow tines. now that is why people hunt the Steens. Those bucks are there, but they don't get big being dumb.

[WildernessHunter]

Everyone has their way of hunting, be it on foot or in/on a vehicle. I think that a lot of us can agree that we are far more succesful when we get out or off of the vehicle and head into the bush. People who choose to disregard the law and use vehicles where they are clearly not supposed to are ruining it not only for everyone else but for themselves as well! All toll, I will tell you that both the Oregon record mullie and rocky mountain elk were not shot from, on, or anywhere near a vehicle. Just some food for thought.

[blacktailaddict]

Thanks for all the advice and info. I think I will give it a try next year. I hunt hard on foot and remotely as possible so I'm sure I can find some area to suit me and if I can find a nice buck all the better.

[FireCat]

blacktailaddict..the last 2 Post by WildernessHunter and BrianMaguire should shed some light on how to kill a big Mule deer. Now I dont mean to be long winded here but let me tell you a little about hunting the southeastern Oregon areas as many be some on here that have hunted the ares can attest to. I use to hunt exclusively Sheephead Mt, Steens, Trout Creeks, And the owyhee river breaks, you made the statement that "I hunt hard on foot ' Believe me you dont do this in this terrian, In my opinion nor do you hunt with so called "quads".

I have found out to hunt it and hunt it successfully you hunt it on horseback, or you hunt it with a advantage point and glass, glass, and glass. If you choose to hunt it "hard on foot" this country will swallow you up in a hurry, it is vast and distance can be very deceiving.

We would go over 2 weeks before the season open and do nothing but scout we maby would move 2 miles total of 5 just glassing drainage breaks
and shade, shade mainly to start off with just to get our eyes use to looking at the terrian and how the deer lay at different angles doring the hours of the day we may see a ear twitch or something out of place like a thicker stick that shouldnt be there that turns out to be a Horn hooked to other horns that is connected to a deers head. You do not need to put miles on your feet, to be successful over there

The Steens can be rewarding, but I wouldnt hunt this without a horse, That is just my opinion. Just by how the country is over there. I have hunted it once, did ok, but we found other places we liked better.

Like I said before we would go over there 2 weeks before season ,come home a week miss alot of sleep, because of what we seen, then head over a day before the season open. We seen a very nice 3x4 laying in a area , on opening day we passed up, we watch as 4 pickups drove buy got out looked through their Bonoculars, for approx 15 min and got back in and moved on. it was very funny,the Buck was with in 150 yards from them all the time. Now many on here have other styles on how they hunt that country, and that is great, but we didnt get a thing over there for 2 years in a row so we tried this approach and went 4 stright years with big nice 4x4, s and a nice 5x6. When they took off the 4 point only, one of my buddies got killed and the other moved to spain, so I stopped hunting there and stayed on the west side.

[Salmo trutta]

Originally Posted by FireCat

blacktailaddict..the last 2 Post by WildernessHunter and BrianMaguire should shed some light on how to kill a big Mule deer. Now I dont mean to be long winded here but let me tell you a little about hunting the southeastern Oregon areas as many be some on here that have hunted the ares can attest to. I use to hunt exclusively Sheephead Mt, Steens, Trout Creeks, And the owyhee river breaks, you made the statement that "I hunt hard on foot ' Believe me you dont do this in this terrian, In my opinion nor do you hunt with so called "quads".

I have found out to hunt it and hunt it successfully you hunt it on horseback, or you hunt it with a advantage point and glass, glass, and glass. If you choose to hunt it "hard on foot" this country will swallow you up in a hurry, it is vast and distance can be very deceiving.

We would go over 2 weeks before the season open and do nothing but scout we maby would move 2 miles total of 5 just glassing drainage breaks
and shade, shade mainly to start off with just to get our eyes use to looking at the terrian and how the deer lay at different angles doring the hours of the day we may see a ear twitch or something out of place like a thicker stick that shouldnt be there that turns out to be a Horn hooked to other horns that is connected to a deers head. You do not need to put miles on your feet, to be successful over there

The Steens can be rewarding, but I wouldnt hunt this without a horse, That is just my opinion. Just by how the country is over there. I have hunted it once, did ok, but we found other places we liked better.

Like I said before we would go over there 2 weeks before season ,come home a week miss alot of sleep, because of what we seen, then head over a day before the season open. We seen a very nice 3x4 laying in a area , on opening day we passed up, we watch as 4 pickups drove buy got out looked through their Bonoculars, for approx 15 min and got back in and moved on. it was very funny,the Buck was with in 150 yards from them all the time. Now many on here have other styles on how they hunt that country, and that is great, but we didnt get a thing over there for 2 years in a row so we tried this approach and went 4 stright years with big nice 4x4, s and a nice 5x6. When they took off the 4 point only, one of my buddies got killed and the other moved to spain, so I stopped hunting there and stayed on the west side.

Good advice....BTW I like your signature!!

[SlyHawk]

Now just what is wrong with quads? Do they spook game animals-----think not.. What's the difference between driving a quad, and yer +30K$ rig? Maybee I can start a Powerstroke/Cummins noise problem thread? Keep to the rules and everybody can enjoy the outdoors.

[baltz526]

the issue is that the quads are seen miles in from the nearest legal road where i can drive my pickup. they are doing illegal access on the atv's it is these acts of habitat damage inside wilderness study areas that i as a foot hunter have decided to draw the line at. atv's ridden by guys/gals with tags into these areas, are what is driving the hate of quads. clean up these criminals from your ranks and a lot of the hate of quads will fade

[FireCat]

Finlander..Blatz is so correct in what he is saying, Now you made the statement "Do they spook game animals-----think not" lets chat a little about 'TROPHY deer hunting' and 'Just deer huntin"' , now please understand I am not flaming on you, But one must be aware that if one want to hunt Trophy Mule deer, and many that go to these areas do, one must understand the enviroment the TROPHY bucks live in 11 mounths out of the year, before man comes in with his 4x4 pickups and so called QUADS.
Am I am expert NO! and I do not think anyone is, I know some who have killed some big bucks, but also they were made a idiot of on a mistake they made. We have watched through our spotting scopes age difference of deer in times of danger or confusion. And believe me when a trophy Mule deer hears, smells, or sees something that wasnt there during his 11 mounths of peace and quiet. on the look out for what is putting his live in danger, he will do 1 of 2 things trophy Bucks will " get out of dodge" or they will "hunker down". they will not on most occasions, stand up and look around like the forks and smaller 3 points and does will do.

We watched one time ( as I mention above) through spotting scopes, A very nice (3x4) bedded down in the 2:00 pm sun in the shade of 2 old Juniper trees and approx 75 -100 yards from him was 2 does and a small fork when , within 2 hrs time 4x4 pickup came up a dirt road the does and fork jumped up and bounced approx 50 yards and looked back, this Buck was a smart cookie, for the hunters got out looked at the does and small buck, and keept looking in there direction and figured " nothing but does and a fork" this was when we were hunting the Trout Creeks and it was 4PT or better, and this happen 3 other times when the boys would get out look and see the smaller ones and then get in there truck and leave, and no futher than 150 yards the other direction was a very nice 3x4 hunkered down waiting for the right time to excape and he was using the fork and does for his protection.
And another time we seen a nice 4point lying just under a rimrock and trees when 2 boys came up on ther Motorcycles with there guns slung across their back, as they stopped thier bikes the buck snuck like a dog through the Junipers and was gone over the side.

So what I want to say is "Yes" unfimuliar noise to the ears of a trophy buck means one thing and one thing only, and that is "danger".

and to the younger ones it means "what is that" Have I used a quad before? "YUP" i do up on Indian ridge I go approx 2 miles down a washout road that you canot get a large pick up on and then I walk approx 1-1/2 miles to my hunting area, When I kil something I bone it out and pack it 3/4 mile along a ridge and the rest is down hill to my QUAD. one must remember also that sound in the cascades does not carry like it does in the Southeastern part of Oregon.

[SlyHawk]

Originally Posted by baltz526

the issue is that the quads are seen miles in from the nearest legal road where i can drive my pickup. they are doing illegal access on the atv's it is these acts of habitat damage inside wilderness study areas that i as a foot hunter have decided to draw the line at. atv's ridden by guys/gals with tags into these areas, are what is driving the hate of quads. clean up these criminals from your ranks and a lot of the hate of quads will fade

I couldn't agree more!
I was trying to point out that quads don't spook game any more than any other motor vehicle that is moving along any legally open road. I will ad that I have successfully in the past assisted enforcement concerning motor vehical rules.

[BrianMaguire]

Originally Posted by Finlander

I couldn't agree more!
I was trying to point out that quads don't spook game any more than any other motor vehicle that is moving along any legally open road. I will ad that I have successfully in the past assisted enforcement concerning motor vehical rules.

I think that is false. In the Starkey project, I believe they have proven that quads spook game more than a steet vehicle.

[Abalone]

There's nothing more spiritual then being someplace like the Steens Mts.,
Snake river canyon or any other Oregon landscape. It is a pure experience. Regardless of the effect of motorized vehicles have on animals consider the presents of Noisy Motorized Vehicles in an area where you would not expect them ?

How many years and preference points does it take to get a Steens tag ?
How many months do you have to plan and look forward to this Spiritual experience and some Jerk comes blasting through it on an ATV.

That's what I am talking about..

[llama77]

Firecat is mostly right. Though you dont need a horse to hunt all of it. Some parts it might be huge benefit, but vast areas a horse is useless.
I just got a horse (yes salmo, the lord flat closure forced me to get a horse, guides a going to love it now I can go anywhere I want!) and hes not goin to the steens .I taking my quad and driving, and then hunting on foot. You can cover tons of ground on foot, probably more than you should!!!

Hes 100% correct on the glassing. My friend killed a big 3x4 once down there. He spotted it from 600 yards or so and ended up throwing rocks at it at 30 yards so it would stand up. Third rock he hit it and alls it did was raise its head up, far enough to get shot, but it never left its bed.

The anti quad folks also need to be riminded that hunting season is not the only time they are there. The ranchers use them a lot along with the looky loos. So the starkey study would have to be closely scrutinized to see if the same types of activities were included in the study. The study, as we learned from Lord Flat can be skewed by the personal preference of the guy doing the studying!


Brian Mcquire, Yes there were some grazing alottments in the wilderness. But again, a whole lot of the wilderness was never accessable to cattle.

The whole "creation" of the wilderness was a joke!

My prediction is that even if the cover has improved, the deer numbers will still be down. Lets just say there are 5 cougars in the mud creek area, they have to eat X number of deer. Dont you believe they will starve because they cant locate food?

And Baltz , if youre seeing all these quads where they arent supposed to be, are you turning them in? Or is it easier to just complain?

[weekender]

Ifish at it finest...

I hope that the original poster got something out of this before it went to hell in a handbasket.

[baltz526]

if you had not heard i complain a lotand yes i put the bug in the ear of the blm district manager on occasion when i get really wound up or the blm law enforcement. might have even made a call to the state lands manager in the past