White River Unit

finner · 09-18-2003, 06:49 AM

Well, we're headed over to the White River unit this weekend to do some scouting. Anyone familiar with the "White River Game Management Area" near Rock Creek Reservoir? Can we hunt the area? Is it walk in only?

Rip'N'Lips · 09-18-2003, 07:04 AM

Finner-

I am planning on doing the exact same thing... I am sort of familiar with the area, but have never hunted out there. Plan to scout hard on Saturday and then again next weekend..

I had the same questions on the "Game Management" area... also, any ideas on where to find a good map with the BML marked?

I should be in a Burgundy F-350 with 3 kids... honk if you see me...

Rip'N'Lips

finner · 09-18-2003, 07:11 AM

This is also our first time hunting over there. We'll be scouting on Sunday. I have a map that a friend gave me of The Dalles and Wasco County (Pittmon's Map). Perhaps we should compare notes next week....
Good luck and hopefully you find an area with a big boy with your name on.

finner · 09-18-2003, 02:16 PM

This link describes the WR Game Management Area.
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/ODFWhtml/...hiteRiver.html

Rip'N'Lips · 09-18-2003, 08:18 PM

So according to that, it looks like it is open to hunting... do you agree???

Rip'N'Lips

steelhead22 · 09-19-2003, 06:38 AM

I'll be hunting White River also. 3rd year for me. My first year I took a very nice 4x3 blacktail

. You can hunt the management area, and there is some pretty good hunting in there. Be ready for PLENTY of hunters opening day (my self included), so when you scout look for two or three spots, most likely your first choice is someone else's also. This happened to us the day I took my 4x3. Drove to our #1 spot early opening morning, "OH NO! There's a rig there!" Head to the #2 spot, take a seat in the spot I had picked out, 3 hours later, buck on the ground. Oh yeah, went to that same spot the next year, sitting on the stand 1/2 after light, here comes 4 guys still hunting, or making a drive

, right through the area I'm hunting :depressed: . So, lesson of the day, if you have the means, get to the most remote area of this unit as possible, if the deer aren't there the first day you can bet the pressure will push them there the second day, and your hunt won't be ruined.

finner · 09-23-2003, 12:31 PM

Well we took a look around Sunday. Awfully dry over there, so hopefully we'll have some weather roll in. We took a look around the game management areas, but it's hard to tell what to expect until we get out early in the morning and have lots of hunters walking around. If it stays dry it might be better to stay up in the thicker areas, although I don't really like hunting that type of terrain. I couldn't believe how dry Rock Creek Res. was....

chromebright · 09-23-2003, 02:31 PM

I live in Hood River and have been bow hunting in White River all season. I have a rifle hair tag for elk so I am only hunting deer. We started down low behind Mosier near my dads house. Similiar country to the Game management area. Not a ton of deer yet around the oaks, but the acorns are starting to fall so that may change. LOTS of deer up high. And lots of bucks. You may want to look around Fir Mountain all the way to HWY 44. A lot of this area may show up as private on maps, but it is county and timber company land which is open. The problem is that most of the deer are hanging in the old reprod. To thick to really glass into, but I have been seeing bucks around the edges in the morning.

If you want any more info send me an email.

[ 09-24-2003, 07:32 AM: Message edited by: chromebright ]

finner · 09-25-2003, 07:27 AM

Chromebright - You have mail.
Thanks - Todd

chromebright · 09-26-2003, 08:23 AM

I got a couple messages, but have been super busy so I have not replied. Sorry guys. I am just going to post what I know here because I don't really have any secret hot spots and except for bow hunting when I don't draw a rifle tag out east I don't even hunt White River.

I can tell you where there are lots of deer. I will even tell you exactly where I have been bow hunting, but be forwarned this is thick country and if you like open country deer hunting, like me you may be frustrated

Take HWY 35 out of HR going up towards MT Hood. About 3-5 miles up look for a road on your left called Fir Mountain RD. Just stay on this road until it turns to gravel. About .5 to 1 mile after it turns to gravel there is a Y in the road. If you go to the right you can work your way all the way back to hwy 44. I have not been hunting up this way this year, but I know there are lots of deer. Just need to go up and look. Maybe around the power line?? If you go to the left it turns into Husky Rd. Just when you get to the top of the hill you will be at the head of Rock Creek. This is where I have been hunting. There are Lots of deer in there. They are in the old clear cuts in the mornings. These clear cuts are to grown up to sit and glass into at least the ones with all the deer. If I was rifle hunting and had a few guys I would do drives through these. I am sure you could get some bucks to come out. Lots of little bucks in there and I even saw a big boy. He peeked his head out of the brush at about 20 yards looked me in the eye and pulled his head right back into the brush. Nothing I could really do by myself.

steelhead22 · 09-26-2003, 09:01 AM

WOW! chromebright thanks for the info. That's the same country that I took my 4x3 blacktail in a couple of years ago. I like hunting the eastern part of the unit, but so does everyone else. So, since blacktail hunting in thick country is kind of my forte anyway, I try to stay in the west of the unit where the country is thicker and there is way less people. I'll check out the area your recommending. Thanks again for the info.

SH22

chromebright · 09-26-2003, 09:07 AM

Just to avoid any confusion. When I say the head of Rock Creek I don't mean Rock Creek as in Rock Creek reservoir. It is the Rock Creek that goes to the North into Mosier.

finner · 10-06-2003, 02:43 PM

Anyone have any luck over the weekend? Hopefully you found more deer than we did....

Buck50 · 10-06-2003, 02:52 PM

The GMA is a good area with lots of deer. But also lots of hunters. Put on your good walking boots and get away from the roads. There's lots of good country (some very steep). Check out the cool drainages.
While turkey hunting I've found several nice sheds, so I know there are some respectable bucks out there.

steelhead22 · 10-06-2003, 07:10 PM

Check out my Hunter ethics thread. Tells the story of my morning today. Aside from that, no bucks. Saw a few does, an elk, ridiculously huge bear sign, 3 bobcats, 50 or so turkey and about 20 antelope. All in all, a very fun hunt even though it didn't produce any meat this weekend. Maybe I'll head back next weekend and get a little bit farther off the roads. Anyone else have any reports?