Steens mtn rifle deer hunt

chewette · Jul 15, 2014

I am looking for some general advice for deer hunting the Steens. My brother has asked me to assist on the hunt and I have never been in that area. Does anybody have any advice or could point me in the right direction for researching access,deer habits, etc?

Thanks in advance!

silverlake176 · Jul 15, 2014

I'm not familiar with the Steens but I would start off by calling the local wildlife biologist. Then start scouting as much as you can.

chewette · Jul 15, 2014

>I'm not familiar with the Steens
>but I would start off
>by calling the local wildlife
>biologist. Then start scouting as
>much as you can.

Thanks! I will try to give them a call tomorrow. Would you happen to know what's the usual diet for the deer in that area?

oneaway · Jul 16, 2014

I've spent some time on the top end, but it was all early season. Anyway a majority of the deer I saw was out past the towers. Saw a few bucks in wild horse basin. Saw a few bucks out past pike creek off the east face. I did see a great buck in Big Indian as well.

chewette · Jul 16, 2014

>I've spent some time on the
>top end, but it was
>all early season. Anyway a
>majority of the deer I
>saw was out past the
>towers. Saw a few bucks
>in wild horse basin. Saw
>a few bucks out past
>pike creek off the east
>face. I did see a
>great buck in Big Indian
>as well.

Nice. Thanks for the info. Do you know if Big Indian or Little Indian are accessible to glass from the ridges? I was thinking about hiking down from the top. Also, is there much pressure in these areas? I don't mind hiking further to get away from the pressure.

oneaway · Jul 16, 2014

The further you get away from the road, the less pressure you will have. I stayed up high and glassed low or opposite ridges. I never actually hunted deer in there, so that is probably why I saw deer. Lol. If you had two trucks, you could park one low and take the other truck up top, then hunt down the east face. Not bad going down, sucks going down and back up.

440sixpack · Jul 16, 2014

There are a few nice bucks but it's a tough hunt anyway you slice it. deer numbers are still way down, even during the rut while chuckar hunting it's rare to see a quality buck.

It's been years since I had the tag but I spent a few days in there with my brother in law a couple years ago. I would hunt the northern part towards Diamond or the far southern part if it were me. too many yahoos in big indian and little indian.

Stay thirsty my friends

chewette · Jul 16, 2014

>
>There are a few nice bucks
>but it's a tough hunt
>anyway you slice it.
>deer numbers are still way
>down, even during the
>rut while chuckar hunting it's
>rare to see a quality
>buck.
>
>It's been years since I had
>the tag but I spent
>a few days in there
>with my brother in law
>a couple years ago. I
>would hunt the northern part
>towards Diamond or the far
>southern part if it were
>me. too many yahoos
>in big indian and little
>indian.
>
>thanks for the heads up on the yahoo's.
>I'm definitely trying to avoid running into people on every hillside.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Stay thirsty my friends

markrifleman · Jul 16, 2014

RE: Steens mtn rifle deer

Chewette, Yes I have hunted steens Mts. back in the late70s and thru the 80's and did ok. Get away from easy access of the Loop rd. and hunt close to the private to the north ,lots of pockets that might hold a few decent bucks still. But as everyone knows deer numbers are down; make sure you scout the East rim area that over look's the Alvord Desert,dam steep and not for faint of heart. Do lot's of glassing early,and late eveing! Make sure you drive around on Alvord Desert side and glass up the canyons and rim's. Good luck on the hunt. mark

chewette · Jul 17, 2014

RE: Steens mtn rifle deer

Thanks for the info. Do you think it is reasonable to put out trail camera's on water sources?

Wanted · Jul 18, 2014

RE: Steens mtn rifle deer

There's water all over the Steens, even in a dry year.

I've had the privilege of hunting the Steens for Mule Deer 3 times, 2000, 2002 and 2009. It is a really rewarding, fun hunt. I can't wait to go back!

baltz526 · Jul 19, 2014

RE: Steens mtn rifle deer

Make sure everyone has a cougar tag and kill every coyote you see. If you do not have a deer tag, Pack a shotgun with Buckshot. I would not hunt the north end. That is the area I know well.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------support your local guzzlers. OHA life member,lapine oregon

chewette · Jul 19, 2014

RE: Steens mtn rifle deer

>Make sure everyone has a cougar
>tag and kill every coyote
>you see. If you do
>not have a deer tag,
>Pack a shotgun with Buckshot.
>I would not hunt the
>north end. That is the
>area I know well.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------support your
>local guzzlers. OHA life member,lapine
>oregon

We will definitely do our part with the coyote population!