Steens Mule Deer

Any advice is welcome. I keep getting the advice to hunt up from Mann Lake towards Kiger Gorge, but I always like a few options. Anyone think Little Blitzen, Big Indian or the others are worth the effort. Big area for the limited amount of scouting that is available.

This will be a pack in hunt too. Go hard for 3-4 days then come back to out to replenish.

That's where everyone else will be. been about 10 years since we packed in there and the deeper we got the more hunters we found.

Tough unit to find a nice buck in, but as good as any in SE Oregon anymore. good luck.












Stay thirsty my friends

Thanks for the heads up. Hopefully we can get away from some people, but the concern would be anyone with horses of course. We are using leg power, haha.

I think most people use horses in there I know it's the only way I'd do it. there used to be an outfitter pack hunters into a few areas too but I'm not sure if he still does.

If it were me I'd look hard at the east face and up north . lots of guys avoid the east side because it so rough but I'd bet the biggest bucks will hang in there. I see them there even during the rut so you know they're in there earlier.

Towards Diamond has less deer and less hunters. two biggest bucks I've ever seen in the unit were just laying out in the sage flats up there.







Stay thirsty my friends

Caden,

We just returned from a 5 day scouting trip in Steens. We saw 16 nice bucks in 1.5 days of scouting, 3 of which were already 180 class bucks so I am guessing them to top out in the high 190s and even maybe break the 200" mark. I would just head anywhere, except the "popular" drainages.

Best advice I could give you, do your scouting, and when hunting season rolls around be in as good as shape as you can and glass more then you hike. (already be hiked back into your area of course)

Anyone that tells you there are not many bucks or no big bucks has not spent much time in Steens in recent years. The government trapper/houndsman has reportedly take out over 50 cats from Diamond to the top of the mtn. This is in the last couple of years.

We will have horses and mules in there with us, but we plan on hunting many areas that we cant get horses into as well. I don't think there are any "magic honey holes", its just great mule deer country, so hunt hard, glass long hours and you will find a shooter.

Let us know if you need a buck packed out, as we will have the horses and mules in camp with us. Good luck!

PS: DONT EVER HEAD TO THE STEENS MTN IN JUNE, UNLESS THE BUGS AND MOSQUITOS DONT LIKE YOU! WE ABOUT GOT CARRIED AWAY LOL

Some of the best news in the Steens is that they have been taking a fair number of cats out of the unit. They have taken 20 a year for the last 3 years and should be doing the same this year. Granted, they could probably take 40 a year out and there would still be an overpopulation problem.
We will be hunting there this year as well. Was over there in April and there was practically no snow whatsoever on the top.