have fun in that zoo!!!! :flag2:

 

Umm ok, this is not how i wanted the thread to go. I guess im in a different mind set then some. I would prefer to hunt a crowded area hard every year and have the chance at a good buck, rather than apply for 10 years to have the chance at a good buck. Thats just me though.

 

This is my favorite unit to deer hunt... Been hunting there since I was a teenager. While I am not successful every year, I am probably more successful than most. And, I would have even more success if I chose to take younger bucks. But I really like trying to find the big boys.

Without giving away any honey holes, I have had the best success simply getting to a high vantage by first light and glassing the open sage brush pockets that are surrounded by heavy timber. The other thing I look for is good stands of mohagany trees. If you are hunting in a group, get in those mohagany stands and push through them late morning or early afternoon and see what your group can push to one another. If you are hunting alone, crawl through and you might sneak up on one bedded down. Altitude doesn't seem to mean much when it comes to deer hunting for me. I find them high up in the hills and clear down near the dessert. And most importantly, don't let a little pressure from other hunters bother you. I've filled my tag the last three times I deer hunted over there with a nice four point each year. All in the 20"-25" range. Two of them I harvested in an area that I hiked into as hunters from another group were hiking out. Plus, I don't know how many times other hunting groups have pushed animals in front of me. In fact, the largest buck I have ever taken was pushed in front of me by a group of hunters that were apparently hunting two ridges over from me.

BTW... If you've seen some decent bucks chukar hunting, perhaps you'll want to start there. Deer definately seem to like to bed at the base of rim rock hill sides. Good shade and covers their back trail. Good luck! Unfortunately, my group did not draw our deer tags this year.

 

BTW... If you've seen some decent bucks chukar hunting, perhaps you'll want to start there. Deer definately seem to like to bed at the base of rim rock hill sides. Good shade and covers their back trail. Good luck! Unfortunately, my group did not draw our deer tags this year.

Yea I was planning to start in a area I'm somewhat familiar with. I've spent all my time in the southeastern part of the unit. I've never been up north, around the malheur nf area.

 

There are areas in the unit With low pressure. You just have to put boot miles in.

 

Well I talked to the local biologist, she directed me from Calaminty Butte south to King Mt. area. I've never been in this part of the unit, so hopefully I can get a weekend of scouting in to check this area out.

 

Lol...must be a recording, same thing told to me few years back! Go where u wanna hunt...no one place in that unit really better than the next.

 

No it can't be true! Lol, that's interesting.

 

We hunted antelope in that unit last year and we saw a few good bucks in the 20"-24" range. We scouted in July and hunted the second season. Most of the muley bucks we saw were in the transition zone between forest service ground and BLM or BLM and private. It makes sense though because it is more open.
We talked with a few different people and the cats have done a number on the deer in the area north of hwy 20. We hunted the unit for deer a few times and the numbers from then to now are way down. We saw one night going into archery camp a group of over 200 does and fawns in a small alfalfa field!
I hope you have a good hunt! I do like the area alot, just wish it had more deer.

 

emmagator,

That unit is fun, it has changed over the last several years though. I have hunted it for probably 15 years, mostly because we could draw it almost every year and worst case we missed a year. There are a lot of small bucks, more in the heavy treed areas. The sage is the place for the large bucks. No secret there, glass early and catch them bedding. If you have a few guys, doing a push thru the sage and brush works well. We have taken several 30" bucks and left many. We have also seen a huge increase in cats though and some of the honey holes have dried up. When I say we have seen them, I don't mean tracks, I mean the cats themselves. I was hoping to deer hunt there this year, but ended up putting in for points due to hunting another state. Its been 3 years now since I hunted it, we passed on MANY small frame bucks and left with nothing. I also had the fun of watching a buck grow over three years into a nice looking 4 pt, but my guess is he is gone now.

In regards to areas, we have hunted just about all areas of the unit, my favorite is out east (fewer but bigger), or the south end if you can find a patch of public land. Hunt hard and wise and you will find them.

 

Just wanted to give an update on our hunt. My brother in law got a small 3 point. We saw lots small bucks. And one absolute monster, biggest mule deer I've seen on hoof while hunting. A solid four point, just an awesome mule deer. Spotted him first at about 850 yards. Got within 500yrds and contimplated at shot, i have a shooting system capable of that distance, but decided to try and get closer. Came up over the last ridge about 300yrds and couldn't find him again, he basically vanished. We spent the rest of the week trying to locate him, with no luck, so my dad and I ended up going home with empty tags. But it was such a fun hunt. I'm a west sider, so that open sage brush country,glassing, and spot and stalk hunting is awesome. As other had said lots of hunters, and fairly difficult to get away from the roads in the area we were in, due to a spider web system of 4 wheeler roads. It was also disappointing seeing several hunters driving right through the sage brush, on no roads at all. Especially with the fire danger during the season. All and all, i would hunt that unit again anytime.

 

After that report I would say you had a successful trip!

 

I have never hunted either of the these units and am looking at both for next year. Which one do you think would be better to hunt Interstate or Malheur for deer? I have 1 point so neither would be a 100% chance draw but I like the looks of both... Just some thoughts would help.

 

I am unfamiliar with the Interstate unit. The thing about the Malheur river unit is that it is so freaking big, alot of country. The area we hunted was a more popular area and there were quite a few hunters, but we saw bucks and one monster. Im talking a class of buck that guys save up 15 points to see, so their out there. And the Malheur river unit is almost a draw every year or every other year. I will be putting in again next year. If i draw again im going to try and get a solid week of scouting in and find a good spot with less roads and hunters, which i think is possible with the size of this unit. I have a feeling that there is alot of area that doesnt get alot of hunting pressure. We hunted the southeast part of the unit. Wide open sage brush country, with a few junipers mixed in. I know alot of guys hunt the northern part of the unit, in the Malheur national forest. After my trip, i would reccomend this unit to anyone. That being said, i would say any of mule deer units hold big bucks, just have to find them. Where we hunted we could have shot a buck every day, but my dad and i were after something a little bigger.

 

My father hunted it, not sure where they were at but I think it was down fairly low in the sage? He snapped a pic of two bucks the day before season, both were studs. One was easily the biggest I gave ever seen in Oregon. Non typical with a drop tine and all. Had to be well over 30 wide and heavy as all get out. Sorry I didn't contribute to the thread just thought it is good to know there are some wall hangers in there.

 

Thats okay, we can just simply start a thread on a different unit, the ifish crosd falls for this switch and bait quite regularly!

How about the Silvies unit, ghat will grt em distracted!
Or maybe the Beulah, after seeing the sheds my buddy found in there on their deer hunt this appears to be hot unit!

 

LOL! Theres good deer in every unit.

 

Do not apply for fort rock! No deer in the unit at all. 100 times more than Malhure, but look elsewhere.

 

Speaking of which, how did your hunt go?

Was looking forward to reading your report, but never saw one.

 

Fort Rock has tons of big bucks!!! The best time to scout is in 3-5 weeks. Bucks everywhere. Best unit in the state!!!! HUNT Fort Rock!!!! TONS of MONSTERS!!!!!!!!!!

ray: :applause::meme::thisbig::wink:



Disclaimer: this information is for the state wide raffle deer hunt.]

LOL

 

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