Lake Owyhee Deer Hunting

[Killertraylor]

I drew a deer tag for the Owyhee unit. I've fished over there when I was a kid, but it's been 15 years since I've been there. We used to go down Leslie Gulch and camp down there. I'm taking my 23' North River over to run up and down the lake. Anyone know if the water is high enough to launch from the state park there? I've heard that guys hunt there by going out on the lake at dusk and seeing where the deer are watering and then hunting those areas. I'm concerned that the water level might not be high enough to run around in the lake in my boat and I'm wondering whether it might be better to take a skiff. We're going to be staying at the state park. If anyone has any information to share I'd sure appreciate it. We only have 1 deer tag, so we won't be doing too much damage to the herd. Thanks in advance.

[GutshotApe]

Killer - A few years ago, a week after deer season I think, I ran my jetboat in Owyhee Res from the state park all the way up to the head of slackwater looking for a place to camp & hunt birds. A lot of others had the same idea [img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img] and just about every canyon and draw had people camped there. Quite a few others using Leslie Gulch and Dry Creek for base camps and boating to likely spots. Launching shouldn't be a problem since the state park ramp was built to accomodate most water levels. Good luck.
GutshotApe

[GutshotApe]

Killer - Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that when I was there Owyhee Res. was down at least 50' - 60' below full pool and there was plenty of water for boating except for the very head of the lake where the last 2 or 3 miles was a big mud flat with the river braided out over it - too thin to run. But you shouldn't have any trouble navigating the remainder.

[Killertraylor]

Thanks, Gutshot. I talked to a guy at the state park this afternoon and he said the same thing about the mudflat - I wonder how far past Leslie Gulch that is? We used to boat down to a hot spring past Leslie Gulch a few miles and I'm not sure if we'll be able to get to it.
I'm kind of hoping they open chukar season when deer season opens so we can shoot a few, but it sounds like there might be a lot more people around if they do. I hadn't thought of camping along the lake somewhere, but probably can't swing it as I'll have my pregnant wife with me and she'll need the creature comforts of restrooms, running water, and comfortable beds. Is there a channel to follow when running the lake? Is it marked? I'm just concerned about getting into shallow water or hitting rocks beneath the surface. That's some jagged country and I'd guess there are some pretty nasty rocky peaks just under the surface. If anyone else has any suggestions, I'd sure appreciate them as well. Thanks again, Gutshot for your helpful information.

[GutshotApe]

Killer - When I was there the head of slackwater was about 8 or 10 miles above Leslie Gulch. If you look at a map, the mudflat began just above where the lake bends to the west. Atlas of Oregon Lakes says the lake is 117' deep at the dam and averages 83' deep with 4% shoalwater (at full pool). There are no channel markers that I recall except near the launch - just stay away from the sharp ridges that come down on the inside of bends. I doubt if there are any underwater peaks very far offshore at any lake level since it is a dammed river canyon. And, yes, camping along the shore is doable but it is totally unimproved, dry, dusty. The water was covered with thick algae bloom when I saw it. You will find thickets of burr bushes growing in the exposed parts of the drawndown lakeshore. I would guess you'ld need to get there a day or two early if you wanted to camp in one of the relatively few decent spots other than the campground - but those are also probably the best bets for deer? Take your hiking boots, canteen & snakebite kit - its rough country.
[img]graemlins/program.gif[/img] GSApe

[Mojo]

Killer T,
You got mail.