Heppner Unit Hunt

BlackfeetFF · 10-06-2003, 10:14 AM

Hunted the Heppner unit this year on a ranch near Spray. Guy in our party shot at one, but missed. Only saw 3 bucks, but saw a lot of Does. Upland birds must have had a great hatch this year, Quail, and grouse are thicker than i've ever seen them before. Ran into a covey of quail every draw i would walk down. Ill be there again next weekend, hope others did better than me.

Lepper · 10-06-2003, 07:28 PM

HEY!! what RANCH!?? I use to live there...

Email me.. Would love to swap stories!!
Daweston@earthlink.net

BlackfeetFF · 10-07-2003, 08:48 AM

Its a ranch located right off the highway goin to heppner. You drive past spray and then take a left and then about 3 miles you pull to the right. Its right across the street from where the cemetery road is. Its a good area because there are rimrocks (which are public) then there is good timber, then there are some good fields where we usually see a lot of deer. I forgot the owner of the ranch's name, but he is a great guy. My grandfather has been hunting it for years when the previous owner was there. He always tells me stories about the good ol days when the bucks were thick and BIG! Ive been huntin this area for awhile now, so I would love to get some advice or share stories with ya!

BrokeItOff · 10-07-2003, 09:13 AM

My wife's family owns a ranch right there, about 6000 acres plus significant leased ground from the Forest Service. Be real careful where you hunt because the ranchers have gotten pretty protective of property because of cut fences and general vandalism. Also be careful because some of the "public" land may be leased, and have cows on it. Be sure to ask before going on there.

Good luck with the birds, I may have to make a trip over there, too. :grin:

blackdog · 10-07-2003, 01:50 PM

BrokeItOff - I am curious as to what you meant by this statement:

Quote:

Also be careful because some of the "public" land may be leased, and have cows on it. Be sure to ask before going on there.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">If you're talking about Forest Service or BLM land where someone has the grazing rights leased, I'm not sure I understand your statement. I'm not sure what the percentage is, but I imagine there's a TON of land that has the grazing rights leased. Spinning your wheels trying to find out who has the grazing rights and calling them before going would not only be a monumental waste of time, but completely unnecessary. The fact there's cattle grazing on public land in no way precluded anyone from hunting there.

Now if you're talking about true deeded land, then that's another, completely different story.

BrokeItOff · 10-07-2003, 02:08 PM

You are absolutely correct about it being public ground... however when I go to hunt and I know it has somebody's livestock on it I try to find out who it is an call them.

It is a courtesy thing. I grew up in an area where there was a lot of ground in lease, and we always tried to check with the leasee. I don't waste a ton of time on it but I do make an effort.

10-09-2003, 12:42 PM

JR,
We spent one night and hunted all day above you on Tamarac Mt.

Spent the rest of the time walking on the tops and saddles of some bigger peaks further north.

Not much pressure, both on the roads :depressed: or further back in. We only saw other hunters in the woods three times for a total of four people. I wish there was more pressure to get the bucks moving.