muley huntin

N2HNTIN · Apr 19, 2014

This is pretty bad but I am a non-RES. and have 18 deer points, been waiting for Juniper but now I don't know, have plenty of time to scout and can hunt the whole season, any of you locals have some input about this, all input would be greatly appreciated.

bobberdown · Apr 19, 2014

White River late hunt if you don't mind a big blacktail

440sixpack · Apr 20, 2014

I'll second that. best deer hunt in the state.

Like most mule deer hunts Juniper isn't what it used to be.

Stay thirsty my friends

huntindad4 · Apr 21, 2014

Only thing I would ask is if you have a kid or two or a good friend or two to share a trip with on a lower quality (deer wise) unit.

Most people are looking for a way out of the OR game. It's so bad and probably won't be better in 10 years. If I was sitting on 18 points I would draw a 6 point unit with two of my kids and hunt in a place where scenery and an experience would be the priority.

Or hunt blacktails.

Bill

People who work for a living are quickly being
overwhelmed by people who vote for a living.

bonepicker · Apr 21, 2014

I'm not sure how many points you need but I think you have enough for most hunts. I'll go a different direction here, in my opinion, a big blacktail is like saying Jumbo shrimp

, yeah big compared to other blacktail maybe, but not compared to a good muley. If you have wanted to hunt Juniper for a long time, I say hunt it. The fact is that there are really no units with tons of huge mule deer bucks but there are still good deer out there in almost every unit. If you have the time and motivation and want to hunt a big buck, pick a unit and go for it. You may leave empty handed but that is trophy hunting for you. If you aren't wanting to work your tail off or if you just want a deer, hunt a blacktail unit.

440sixpack · Apr 21, 2014

Depends on your definition of big, big in Oregon is a 4 point anymore. sure a few nice bucks are taken, and someone wins the lottery too.

I think it's easy to underestimate how hard it is to trophy deer hunt in Oregon for hunters who've hunted other western states. it is logical to think with 18 points you should expect a high quality hunt, but that just isn't the case.

Stay thirsty my friends

oneaway · Apr 22, 2014

I would do the White River late hunt as well, but that's just me.

N2HNTIN · Apr 23, 2014

>This is pretty bad but I
>am a non-RES. and have
>18 deer points, been waiting
>for Juniper but now I
>don't know, have plenty of
>time to scout and can
>hunt the whole season, any
>of you locals have some
>input about this, all input
>would be greatly appreciated.

N2HNTIN · Apr 23, 2014

Woops on the accidental post. Anyways its a darn shame that Oregon has changed, I can remember back when it was a great state to hunt mulies, we used to kill some tremendous bucks in the day. All of the input so far has been helpful, I have killed some great Blacktails in the past,so I am really shooting for a mule deer hunt. Is their any rumors of Fish and Game making any changes in the future, or possibly opening some new hunts. I also hear talk about the Metolius archery hunt, anybody have any feedback on that hunt. I am a avid archer hunter also, but not a purist,I rifle and muzzleload also, whatever creates the best opportunity to be successful.

oneaway · Apr 23, 2014

If I had your points I would look at
White River rifle Nov 15-26.
Metolius #1 bow Nov 8-30.
Mt. Emily rifle Nov15-26.
Juniper muzz Nov 29-Dec 7.

Remember nothing is guaranteed, just my opinion?

bonepicker · Apr 23, 2014

I've never hunted it but that Juniper muzzleloader tag might be exactly what you're looking for. There are some good bucks in juniper, they can be few and far between but I have sheds to prove that they are in there. Good luck with whatever you choose.

orion23 · Apr 23, 2014

LAST EDITED ON Apr-23-14 AT 12:45PM (MST)[p]you could probably kill as big of a blacktail as you would a muley, given the muley quality. granted the blacktails are probably benchlegs, but there are some hawgs in there.

Travis

Willametteriveroutlaw · Apr 23, 2014

>Woops on the accidental post. Anyways
>its a darn shame that
>Oregon has changed, I can
>remember back when it was
>a great state to hunt
>mulies, we used to kill
>some tremendous bucks in the
>day. All of the input
>so far has been helpful,
>I have killed some great
>Blacktails in the past,so I
>am really shooting for a
>mule deer hunt. Is their
>any rumors of Fish and
>Game making any changes in
>the future, or possibly opening
>some new hunts. I also
>hear talk about the Metolius
>archery hunt, anybody have any
>feedback on that hunt. I
>am a avid archer hunter
>also, but not a purist,I
>rifle and muzzleload also, whatever
>creates the best opportunity to
>be successful.

There are some huge bucks that come out of the late metolious hunt..

lostinOregon · Apr 23, 2014

White river rifle and don't look back,

Rkich

tchoate3 · Apr 24, 2014

pm sent

Buckhunter1 · Apr 24, 2014

Dont put n for the benchlegs. Im trying to draw with 17 points. BH1

oneaway · Apr 24, 2014

Can't believe I'm saying this, but orion23 is spot on.

Hiker of the Woods · Apr 25, 2014

White River rifle hunt dates changed a couple of years ago I believe. Not in the prime time like it was before.

tagsoup · Apr 26, 2014

If I had your pts I would apply for either Juniper or White River.

"Go hunt for meat at Walmart."

JB148 · Apr 26, 2014

I would hunt either one. I have seen pictures of 2 bucks off the White River Unit a couple of years ago. Both the bruisers were monsters.One was high 180's the other around 200. That doesn't mean it will be easy or their tied to every tree. The main thing in what ever hunt you apply for is an adventure to remember.JB

bobberdown · Apr 27, 2014

Not sure the Fish and Game Dept. will give a Non Res. tag for White River only 10 tags, max of 5% to non res. Good Luck

N2HNTIN · May 1, 2014

Thanks a lot to all the feedback on this post, a lot of folks really like the white river hunt it seems. Looking through the stats for the last several years Juniper seems to have a little lower success rate but all the animals are 4 pts. Metolious has a crazy high success rate for a archery hunt, maybe because of the long season, also shooting a lot of 4 pts. Like was stated on a previous post, whatever hunt I decide to try to draw it will be a new place to hunt and should be able to see some cool country. Been reading some of the other forums and some folks are talking about paying trespass fees for metolious ranches down in the lower country, does anybody have any feedback on this or know anybody with info. about this. Thanks.

440sixpack · May 1, 2014

The Metolious hunt has produced some good bucks in the past and will again. for all practical purposes this is an edge of town hunt, stay at Eagle Crest and play some golf between hunting hours chasing town deer. not my idea of hunting but to each their own.

If a quality experience is what you're after then Juniper may be your best shot, but as a NR 18 points gives you a 45% chance of draw . and remember, there are lots of 140" 4 points taken so don't assume you're looking at booners.

A good point was brought up about White River, there may be no NR tags.

From a pure quality standpoint taking the country you're hunting into account the Trout Creeks would be my choice. as hard to draw as it is the hunting isn't impressive, but there are some big bucks , very few hunters and fantastic textbook mule deer country . miles from a town that amounts to anything.

Stay thirsty my friends

bonepicker · May 1, 2014

I think it really comes down to what you want. Are you looking for a big mule deer regardless of cost and area? Probably Metolious is your best bet (though not assured by any means). Are you just wanting a 4 point, with a chance at a big buck and willing to put alot of time and energy into getting a buck? Juniper, Steens, Trout Creek. Rut hunt? Juniper Muzzleloader. Steep and deep country? Owyhee. Wilderness high country? Murderers Creek. There are alot of options and I would say just figure out what you are looking for in a hunt and then go give it your best and enjoy yourself.