Thoughts on the Redmond area?

I'm thinking about moving to the Redmond are from Southeastern Montana and was curious how the hunting was. I know it won't be as good as Montana but are there some decent general areas? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks

Oregon can have some great hunting. I moved to Oregon 11 years ago from Idaho. I didn't put much effort into it at first and traveled back to Idaho each year. Once I got the hang of the draw system and learned some areas, I found as good if not better then Idaho. The issue here is getting through the point system. I hunt mostly for meat and elk is our primary target. You can draw cow tags every year or bow hunt OTC in areas that you can harvest either sex. As far as the deer hunting goes it is way down from what you are used to. But there are still plenty of places to go hunt. What are your likes for hunting? Bow , Riffle, Muzzy, Upland bird, migratory? Lots of great fishing here too. Taxes suck but that is a hole different topic.

DZ

Thanks for your response. I hunt pretty much anything I can but I'm most concerned about being able to chase elk with my bow. I don't care if I get to chase huge bulls I just want to be able to hunt every year. Do you have do deal with a lot of people in the general areas? I have to pay state income taxes in Montana so that tax thing won't be anything new.

I'm about 20 miles east of Redmond. it's a nice area to live, the growth has been unral for the last 20 years but it's still okay .

I've hunted SE Montana and you're in for some major changes, crappy deer hunting and lots more hunters. that said the elk hunting isn't bad.

Put it this way, don't move here for the hunting. but I doubt that's why you're moving, if it's for economic reasons Dechutes county is red hot.










Stay thirsty my friends

Redmond/Bend is surrounded by good hunting. It is also the most populated area east of the Cascades. I would say you need to go at least an hour or 2 north, south or east to really get away from the casual hunting crowd. If archery elk is your main focus, you are in luck! Oregon has some great general archery hunting. What I have noticed in the last few years though is that the casual hunters are making it harder to get bulls to come in to calls because they do some stupid things. A few examples, I heard and eventually saw a guy sitting on his 4 wheeler (in full camo and face paint, and a camo 4-wheeler) driving 200 yards and bugling, driving another 200 yards and bugling, etc. for several miles, watched him go right by me. I know the elk saw him just like I saw him and of course they were going to be wary of bugles from then on. Another guy was walking out in the wide open, bugling away, even if an elk were coming to him they would see him in a second. Again, all he was doing was teaching the elk what a hunter bugling sounds like. I think close to Redmond you're going to run into those kind of things, but if you just get away from the easy access you'll have some good hunting.

Haha aren't people amazing? I never thought people could be that dumb but I see the same thing in Montana. I'm glad to hear that Oregon has some good opportunity. It would be a no brainer for me but I just found out I drew a mt goat tag in Montana.

I live in Redmond. Local hunting is tough. Hard to find the seem between ground that is over hunted by the masses and the private. Some of the good elk units have gone to draw for archery. That concentrates general season hunters on closer local units. I hunt 2.5 hours east. Even there crowds have spoiled some good hunting. You can scrap out animals. Just difficult. Send me a PM when you get here. I would be willing to help you get started.

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If you bow hunt you can find some decent hunting with in a 3 hour drive east or west. If you rifle hunt plan on hunting areas with about a 4-6% success rate if you want to hunt annually in OTC areas, they are all west of HWY 97. There are no OTC rifle opportunities for deer or elk east HWY 97. The average controlled deer/elk hunts take 1-6 years to draw depending on which unit you apply for. Obviously the better units take longer to draw.

Thanks for all the information. I was about to accept the new job when I found out I drew a Montana mt goat tag. Needless to say my plans of moving got put on the back burner. Thankfully my girlfriend understands. Thanks again