NE Whitehorse Muzzleloader

excavator · Nov 5, 2011

I have ten points built up and am looking to burn them. I was thinking about this hunt but don't know much about it. If anybody has information about the quality or lack therof of this hunt, I would love to hear about it.

Thanks,

Excavator

440sixpack · Nov 6, 2011

My wife has 11 points and I've looked into it for her.

It sounds like a tough hunt, lots of country and LOW der numbers. if you don't get weather to push them in from Idaho they say it can be a bust. sad when deer from another state are what you need for a decent hunt in Oregon.

baltz526 · Nov 6, 2011

I know the area very well "IF" you draw a tag next year, i'll share my scouting info. I might have the oportunity to be in the hunt area next year before the muzzle loader tag, if i draw the tag i'm thinking about. Like mentioned it is a weather dependant hunt to some extent. But if there are doe the bucks are close. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------support your local guzzlers. OHA life member,lapine oregon

baltz526 · Nov 6, 2011

PS: it is not a 10 point hunt, i would call it a 3 point value that might take 10 to draw. I would not waste 10 points on it.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------support your local guzzlers. OHA life member,lapine oregon

excavator · Nov 7, 2011

Thanks for the feedback guys. It sounds like I should think long and hard before I burn ten points on this hunt. I guess I am not sure where a guy should use ten deer preference points in the state of Oregon.

440sixpack · Nov 7, 2011

If you don't have over 14 you might as well have 2. there isn't much difference.

orion23 · Nov 8, 2011

>If you don't have over 14
>you might as well have
>2. there isn't much difference.
>

well put!

you might think about a late blacktail hunt in the hood unit. some toads in there.

Travis
www.RidgelineOutdoors.com
Blacks-Creek Pack Dealer
Havalon Knife Dealer

baltz526 · Nov 8, 2011

with 10 points you can apply as a party leader with another guy and hunt the steens i believe. the other guy might need a couple point.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------support your local guzzlers. OHA life member,lapine oregon

bonepicker · Nov 9, 2011

I was thinking the same thing Baltz. If you find a local that has some knowledge of the area, you could go in together and draw Steens or a number of other very good units, he could help you out and it would increase your chances of getting into a good buck. With 5 points each (10 split between 2 people) you can draw most units. And 10 still doesn't guarantee a really tough unit like the Trout Creek Mountains, etc. I think it takes 11-12 points to draw that one. You could hold out a few more years for one of the "premium" hunts (which I'm not sure are much better than many of the 5-6 point units from what I've heard)
Excavator: what kind of hunt are you looking for? Big buck (and how big is "big"), or several to choose from, easy access (if you can't get around well), high country/alpine hunting, sage/rimrocks, or are you set on muzzleloader, etc. Somebody here may be living near or is very familiar with an area that you'd like to hunt. May be worth a try...

excavator · Nov 10, 2011

Bonepicker,

I would say that I am looking for a unit that has a reasonable possibility of producing a 180 inch gross deer. Maybe that's not realistic for Oregon? As far as access gos, the steeper the better. I am still relatively young, and tougher access usually (everything else being equal) means better hunting. As far as weapons go, I would say that all options (rifle, muzzleloader, bow) are on the table. I do bowhunt, but that is a good gig for seeing but not necessarily for killing.

What area are you from?

Excavator

bonepicker · Nov 16, 2011

LAST EDITED ON Nov-16-11 AT 12:49PM (MST)[p]Sent you a pm. Here's my buck from this year.

He's 165" and obviously no one can guarantee a buck of this caliber or better even if they were an official outfitter. I saw several good bucks and plenty of small ones in the unit I hunted. I got this one with my boys (4 and 6) and I know that there are others out there still. I don't know about The chances at a 180"+ buck though...

excavator · Nov 16, 2011

That's neat that you could take a good buck with your two boys around. My son (11) and my daughter (15) killed their first bucks (blacktail) with me this year and that pretty much made my season.

Excavator

bonepicker · Nov 17, 2011

It is 10 times more fun to get an animal with your kids, I'm excited for the day when my boys can get their own.

300wbymann · Nov 23, 2011

has anyone heard how anyone has done on the n.e. whitehorse hunt this year?

baltz526 · Nov 24, 2011

I did help someone with some scouting info, but i have heard no report season ends the 30th---------------------------------------------------------------------------------support your local guzzlers. OHA life member,lapine oregon

treedagain · Dec 5, 2011

sweet buck

tchoate3 · Dec 12, 2011

I would not burn 10 points on this hunt, I had it 6 years ago. The best buck I could find was a 22" 4x4 it only took 5 points to draw then. I know some guys who had it this year, they all killed 4x4 bucks, but the biggest was about a 145". I havent heard of a big buck taken there since i drew it, and it wasnt the one I shot!