White River Unit - Buck Deer

finner · 05-05-2003, 03:09 PM

So do any of you have experience hunting buck deer in the White River Unit? A buddy and I are looking for something close to home this year and we're thinking that this might be a good choice. We usually hunt the Ochoco unit around Walton Lake and we're tired of only seeing spikes and forks and people behind every tree. We're not road hunters and like to get out and see what we can find. Would appreciate any info you can give me. Not looking for your secret spot, just some general information. Thanks!

Firedog · 05-05-2003, 04:57 PM

I have hunted a couple times and Like it real well, it is more like western Oregon than eastern though. Pretty brushy, A fair amount of nice bucks though. Chased around a couple monsters two years ago when I had tags for that unit. Hard hunt if the weather doesnt come in though. We were hunting over off Old Barlow road. Go over and take a look around, make sure not to end up on the Indian reservation, they don't like that much.

chromebright · 05-07-2003, 09:44 AM

I live in Hood river and grew up Hunting What is now White River. Firedog is right most of it is pretty thick. In fact the deer(atleast until you get to the far east side) may be technically Mule Deer, but they are more of a Black tail Muleys cross. Most of the people who hunt here around town refer to them as Black tails. There are plenty of good bucks but you will find the best hunting behind Mosier on private land. I don't hunt it anymore because I now like open Mule deer country, but with the tags as hard to get as they are I may start hunting around here again. If I hunted it again I would look around the Dufur area going back up HWY 44 towards the mountain.

Bounty Hunter · 05-07-2003, 10:00 AM

There just seems to be so much private land in that area. If someone could get in good with a landowner they would be set.

chromebright · 05-07-2003, 12:34 PM

Bounty Hunter,

You are exactly right. There is a bunch of great land full of deer and elk behind Mosier, but when the signs say "no hunting" they meen NO hunting. A whole lot of enviro types back there. My dad lives there and even he doesn't hunt there. You may have better luck on the farms around Dufur and Friend but I would not count on access to good hunting land. There is a fair amount of land that shows up private on maps but is owned by lumber Companies. You may not be able to drive in but can walk in. You just have to do some research.

STINGRAY · 05-16-2003, 06:44 PM

I've hunted between dufer and Hwy. 35, high prarie is nice because you need to hike in, carefull, the mountains "finger" out and it's easy to get disoriented, and stay out of the water shed, plenty of big bucks...and black bear. Also there is a bow season during rifle!!