opinions wanted on deer

smackdown · Nov 15, 2015

Howdy,

I posted a while back on Mount Emily late deer, I have 19 NR points now and am a bit of a loss on what the heck to do with them. I have been putting in for 154C but sounds like it is hard to find a buck over 170", after waiting this long you want a good hunt with at least a chance to see a gagger. It looks like there will be a NR tag offered in 2016 and there is one guy that has the same number of points I have that has been applying.

My other choice would be to go for White River, how many points is that hunt taking? Sounds like there has been some really good bucks taken on that hunt.

Or split my points with my two boys who are 16 year old twins and love to hunt. They have 2 points each so we have 23 total to split, or 7.66 as an average. Not really enough for the Steens or another decent deer tag.

Sorry, rambling a bit. Trying to plan my 2016 and not sure what do yet.

Thanks much for any input!

Togwotee · Nov 15, 2015

There isn't a deer hunt in Oregon worth the points you have, that's just the sad truth of it.

So what are your options? if it were me I'd stick with White River , but you're right you're not going to get a monster muley you're looking at mule deer - blacktail crosses and blacktail. in reality B&C considers them mule deer so you're just hunting sub par mule deer. still, the best hunt in the state. as far as points it's hard to say, I think there is just 1 NR tag every other year .

Mt Emily sucks. I know 2 guys who've had it and one ate his tag and the otrher shot a dink the last day.

If you really want a giant classic mule deer your odds are low at one in the Trout Creeks but you can draw the tag. either this hunt or the Juniper muzzle loader would be my top picks. Juniper being 2nd.

You're in a tough spot, Oregon just isn't producing quality deer in any number anywhere. my wife has 16 residident points and she's looking at the same depressing picture you are.

Put it this way.I'm a B&C official measurer and I live in eastern OR, I've only scored 3 deer in the last 3 years. and I haven't scored one that made book in 6 years. if that gives you an idea of the deer we're producing these days.

Stay Thirsty My Friends

smackdown · Nov 15, 2015

This is good information, I need to hear this and I appreciate it. I can't say its uplifting though, pretty depressing. What do you think of the steens? Or any of the NE units? Steens are Pretty country and my boys would be pumped to just bag a decent buck. We would have to wait a year or so though, I think it is taking 8 or 9 NR points. We don't mind hiking hard if needed and packing out. thanks a lot.

ryno_19 · Nov 16, 2015

So think it depends on what you are wanting out of our points. A fun hunt or a chance at a Big Deer. Why I say that is many guys throw out score like its the benchmark. A lot of guys cannot tell the difference between 160" and a 180", are we scoring B&C or are we going SCI? I know of some great mule deer this year 28"-30" bucks that wouldnt score over 165" (bad forks, big 3x4's etc...) but they were beauties,and I am betting unless youve hunted 100's of mule deer, 95% of us would pull the trigger on them...There were some great ones posted here! Either way I would look at what your goals are and go from there.

If you want to spend it with your boys and have a longer season, go with the split and hunt the general season. If they are going with you anyways then look at hunts with few tags during the RUT, muzzlelaoder or early season and I am sure you will have fun.

I have 15 points for deer and I should draw my tag next year (cross my fingers!). I decided to go with this hunt by going up the last couple seasons for a weekend during the hunt and scouting during the hunt, What better way to learn it! Well worth the time since I wont be going in blind. Am I going to shoot a monster, not likely in B&C book but in my book I have a good chance! I am going to see bucks everyday and enjoy the hunt that I waited 15 years to draw. Chances are I will have a chance at a 165" buck if we want to look at score but I know that I will see a "shooter" buck in my book. I look for a buck that turn me on....If you had a nice heavy horned 24" 4x4 with big eye guards in front of you would you shoot? Those are the things you should ask yourself.

Do you want a hunt where you see lots of deer or a hunt where you see limited deer but a chance at a giant? No hunts are guarantees even in other Western States, and much to what many folks say, there are big deer in Oregon, maybe not if you judge by score but there are big deer.
Just some food for thought... Good luck whatever you decide!
Dan
www.hunts4two.com

Togwotee · Nov 16, 2015

Dan, It kind of sounds like you're saying to reach your goals you should lower your standards. that's true but he has a lot of points so the goal should be set high. you can always lower your standards during the hunt.

You asked about the Steens, it's has potintial and that potential seems to be improving , but it has a ways to go. the Trout Creeks are just to the south so it's the same type of hunt just with less hunters. I know of a few bucks taken there this year any hunter would be proud of. it takes more points than the Steens for a reason, but it's still a tough hunt.

The NE units can produce big bucks but none of them are worth the points you have. not by a long shot.

If you're into muzzle loaders look at the Juniper hunt , it's no slam dunk but you can hunt the rut and some good bucks can be found . the NE whitehorse is to weather dependent I hear sob stories on that one all the time. stay away from it.

Like most states the point required to draw tells you most of what you need to know. it's just in Oregon the prize is not as grand.

Stay Thirsty My Friends

ryno_19 · Nov 16, 2015

Togwotee, I hear what your saying. I am not saying lower your standards but to know what your standards are and goals. There isnt a hunt in Oregon where a 180" buck is a slam dunk ,hell there arent many in Colorado that are slam dunks. However there are a lot of great hunts that most folks would have a ball on and go away happy. Just my 2 cents. Trout, Juniper would be my choices with that amount of points, not only because they have potential for large deer but few hunters. Steens is good but you will have neigbors. Just comes down to how you determine what is worth the points, Inches in the book, rut hunts, low hunter densities, seeing lots of deer....
Dan
www.hunts4two.com

smackdown · Nov 16, 2015

Thank you gentlemen for the input, as you know, building points for this long ads a little pressure to the game. You want to use them wisely because its a big expense and I am 51 years old....I may think about the Juniper muzzleloader, not sure yet. I need to figure if my kids can take off next fall with school and sports. I of course want to share my points with them if possible but if it doesn't work out, I have been a good dad and they have had quite a few good hunts and will have more, I am passing on our outdoor tradition to them and they love hunting and fishing. Anyway, if I go with the Juniper or the Mt. Emily, I have a couple of buddies that will go with me if I want help, which I am sure I will. My buddies wife just shot a bull this year in the Juniper unit and he knows it pretty well. He says not a lot of deer but a pig once in a while. I appreciate the opinions.

Togwotee · Nov 16, 2015

The thing to remember about Juniper is some nice bucks wonder off the refuge during the rut.

Sharing your points will basically knock you down to a ho hum hunt. it just won't work.

I hear you on the points, I have them all over the west and when you get to the upper end it's a lot of pressure. you won't ever be where you are again. at least with Oregon you can't go that wrong because there aren't any great choices.

Stay Thirsty My Friends

smackdown · Nov 17, 2015

I just want to shoot one like this....

Togwotee · Nov 17, 2015

Well that shouldn't be a problem. I thought you were looking for a big one.

That in Oregon?

Stay Thirsty My Friends

smackdown · Nov 17, 2015

X2 on the California side, might have migrated in from the Interstate unit in Oregon, or just been a cagey old buck that lived in the garden until the rut started. shot last week with a governors tag.

bonepicker · Nov 17, 2015

This is an awkward spot for you for sure. The deer are not doing all that well but it seems like things are not getting worse at this point, just not getting better very fast. But I think it varies from unit to unit. If you're limited to the two options of hunting by yourself or hunting with your boys, I would definitely say hunt with your kids. Put in for Steens until it happens (one or 2 years it looks like according to the odds?) If it has to be 2016, just pick the best hunt you can get with 8 points each (I think ODFW will round your points up)
The other option that I would toss out there would be for you to cash in your tag this year (2016) on one of the top hunts that you mentioned (personally I lean toward the Juniper Muzzleloader)and put your boys in for a pointsaver. Then put them in for a 2017 tag for an easier to draw unit with terrain that you like. One that might be good in 2017 would be the Murderer's Creek unit. There was a huge fire up there on the Eastern half this year and there should be some great habitat in there in a few years. Time will tell if that will be any good next year and the year after. Just some more options to think about!

bonepicker · Nov 17, 2015

Also, I know that JB148 had the Juniper Muzzy tag last year, you might check with him and see how he liked it.

smackdown · Nov 17, 2015

I sure appreciate the information. I will do some more research and make a decision by draw time, it is always on my mind what to do with all these points, been doing a number of other states as well. Its a crazy game we play!

Togwotee · Nov 17, 2015

Forget Murderer's Creek I've hunted my whole life including the last 2 years. it isn't even worth the 2 points it takes.

In theory the fires should have made it better. it has not. The Shaketable fire was 7 or 8 years ago and there are very few deer in it. the Southfork fire last year burnt some of the same country again as well as new . it had very few deer this year.

In the past this unit was off the hook. even in the 90's it was better than most. today it's just depressing. I will say it does seem like it isn't getting worse, not that it has much room left to fall.

Stay Thirsty My Friends

manny53 · Nov 19, 2015

LAST EDITED ON Nov-19-15 AT 03:43PM (MST)[p]>Forget Murderer's Creek I've hunted
> my whole life including
>the last 2 years. it
>isn't even worth the 2
>points it takes.
>
>In theory the fires should have
>made it better. it has
>not. The Shaketable fire was
>7 or 8 years ago
>and there are very few
>deer in it. the
>Southfork fire last year burnt
>some of the same country
>again as well as new
>. it had very
>few deer this year.
>
>In the past this unit was
>off the hook. even in
>the 90's it was better
>than most. today it's just
>depressing. I will say it
>does seem like it isn't
>getting worse, not that it
>has much room left to
>fall.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Stay Thirsty My Friends

I was in mudrerer crk a couple week ago trying to find my kid a bull, we seen more deer this time around, seen a buck close to 30 he was a fork, seen 7 mature age bucks that were forks now that really a turn off...

http://www.monstermuleys.info/photos/user_photos3/9237image.jpeg

smackdown · Nov 22, 2015

I was told by a very reliable source that the buck was taken in X2 but a lot folks on MM are saying X5A. Either unit can produce a monster. I didn't hear the width of the buck but did hear it scored in the 240's. Has anyone heard more information?

Thanks