Owyhee

bullskin · May 16, 2014

I read bone picker's response to N2HNTIN, and he (you) described the Owyhee hunt as "steep and deep"-my cup of tea, exactly, while my knees still fold in the right direction. I have never explored this country, and imagine it to be antelope, or even sheep and horse country, rather than deer habitat. Apparently I was wrong. What is the deer habitat there like? Are there resident summer/fall animals, or is this primarily winter range? I might have to check this out.

440sixpack · May 17, 2014

Plenty of good deer habitat, just not many deer. like all of eastern Oregon.

It's a big unit, you can find about anything you'd expect in SE Oregon and most of the deer are there year round. much of it is very remote and access can tough in wet weather.

If you hunt deer there take your shotgun, the chuckar hunting is better than the deer hunting. season usually opens the second weekend of deer season .

This area is in an extreme drought , that's not going to help anything.

Stay thirsty my friends

bonepicker · May 20, 2014

I am continually surprised at where I find deer (and don't find deer) on the high desert. I have never hunted the Owyhees for deer but I have for other stuff and there are deer in there all year round. However, as 440 said, there are not alot and they are scattered. They can be bunched up in the winter but usually pretty spread out in the fall. The essential in that country during deer season is water of course and that has been in short supply the last few years. It is a huge unit so there is some variety in the terrain you encounter. There are some big plateaus and some nasty canyons and alot of sage. I think it would be a fun unit to hunt for deer but it would be tough and would take quite a few years to really get to know it. It would be worth a few days of scouting just to see if you even want to hunt that country. Even a trip like the week before deer season this year would give you an idea of the country and what you would see if you were to apply in the future.

OLDHORNHUNTER · Jun 19, 2014

what part of the Owyhees are u talking about hunting ??

wildfin · Jun 19, 2014

speaking of owyhee i just drew the ant. tag, have not been there but looking forward to a lot of room to roam.

bullskin · Jul 13, 2014

I would be open to any part of the unit, but especially that country with hills, drainages and boulder piles that provide shade as well as the opportunity to glass. I am still good for three miles in and out on rough terrain.

elkliver · Jul 14, 2014

LAST EDITED ON Jul-14-14 AT 06:50PM (MST)[p]I really don't think a lot of that country is that steep. a lot of rim rocks and steep slides but not like hitting a snake river canyon. and most steep hillsides have a draw on either side you can work your way up and then sidehill over above the rimrocks. I would call it more "broken" country than steep.

Deep, YES remote and Rough, yes. steep parts yes but that just makes for good hunting . I wouldn't mind drawing a Ram tag there as we have seen quite a few deer hunting

basspimp64 · Oct 7, 2014

does anybody know a good starting point my brother lives in grants pass oregon and only has until Saturday to hunt and he does not know where to start any help would be appreciated

wildfin · Oct 7, 2014

hunted ant. in august and saw a group of 10 bucks, one was at least 180+ near private on the south west corner, another 2 small 4xs along succor creek and after I got my goat I spent lots of time and miles just touring the unit for a couple days and that was the only deer I saw.