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psyclones
Guest
I just got picked for Unit #66 Malheur River. Anybody ever hunt that unit and know of a good starting point. I live in Washington and it took me 7 year to get a tag for Oregon. Thanks Monte
oregonmuley
Very Active Member
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PS,
If you have amap, look for the town of Juntura, try going east of town and you will find some deer - few and far between unless you have access to private but there are deer. #2 try going to Drewsey, again wide open sage but you will find deer. If you like some trees, try the north end of unit, towards the Malheur/Murderers Creek boundary. This area has some nice deer, but you really need to be good or lucky to find them. Good luck though, its been a wet year and things look really good.
Frank
If you have amap, look for the town of Juntura, try going east of town and you will find some deer - few and far between unless you have access to private but there are deer. #2 try going to Drewsey, again wide open sage but you will find deer. If you like some trees, try the north end of unit, towards the Malheur/Murderers Creek boundary. This area has some nice deer, but you really need to be good or lucky to find them. Good luck though, its been a wet year and things look really good.
Frank
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Hawkk33
Guest
The hills east of Juntura are steep as hell man. Some areas are private as the guy mentioned but the unit itself is a big one so you should find something shootable.
lostinOregon
Very Active Member
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Always hunted the other side (north-Beulah) and found the bucks in that STEEEEEEEP stuff. You can find the forks driving the roads but the big boys are in the steep, inacessible stuff. Good luck, it will be 80 degrees, hot and miserable.
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psyclones
Guest
Thanks for the info. 80 degrees in Oct? Hope not. I do plan on looking for something larger than a 2 point. I can shoot those all day here. Talked to the Wildlife Bio and he seemed pretty tight lipped on the info, dont really know why. I was thinking about doing some scouting in Aug and Sept. Do the deer there have a seperate winter/summer range? I sure would love to hook up with someone else thats a solo hunting that area, I cant seem to talk anybody into comming with they all want to hunt 
I did order some maps from both BLM and the forest serice. Is there any GreenTrail maps for Oregon?
Thanks everyone
Its not the always the destination its how you act reaching it.
I did order some maps from both BLM and the forest serice. Is there any GreenTrail maps for Oregon?Thanks everyone
Its not the always the destination its how you act reaching it.
LAST EDITED ON Jun-22-05 AT 10:26AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Jun-22-05 AT 10:12?AM (MST)
psyclones, I'm from Washington too, and I think the Green Trail maps are only a Washington thing. What you need is the USGS topographical maps. I have a map program called Maptech Terrain Navigator and with it I can print out my own maps. I got it a couple of years ago for $140 and it covers all of Washington and Oregon. I hunted mule deer in Oregon last year and it really was a big help. When you go scouting, use a GPS and save waypoints and tracks, and then at home you can transfer those onto the maps.
Also, I'm curious why it took 7 years to draw that permit. In 2004, everybody with 2 points (including non-residents) drew the Malheur River permit.
psyclones, I'm from Washington too, and I think the Green Trail maps are only a Washington thing. What you need is the USGS topographical maps. I have a map program called Maptech Terrain Navigator and with it I can print out my own maps. I got it a couple of years ago for $140 and it covers all of Washington and Oregon. I hunted mule deer in Oregon last year and it really was a big help. When you go scouting, use a GPS and save waypoints and tracks, and then at home you can transfer those onto the maps.
Also, I'm curious why it took 7 years to draw that permit. In 2004, everybody with 2 points (including non-residents) drew the Malheur River permit.
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psyclones
Guest
I was putting in for other areas not just that area. I couldnt go Moose hunting in Oct so I filled out all 4 slots and that was my 3rd choice. A friend told me last year that it seems easier to draw a tag having 0 points and I will be waisting my time saving up points for that real prime unit since non-residents receive so little tags, and since I spent so much $ in trying to get a tag I need to make the most of it. I'm not as lucky as allot of people that get to hunt all over Gods country every year. I wish Washington would do something like what they do in Oregon. To many darn hunters on the East side. Thats why I hunt the soggy West side. First time Mule Deer hunter, and not much experience at it anyway always pay for a combo Deer, Elk, Bear, and Cougar even though I never hunted anything but deer. I hope to change that soon. Had kids at a young age, they didnt like hunting so I didnt go for about 12 years and now tring to get back into it @ 41. Its not the always the destination its how you act reaching it.
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psyclones
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Hey Bob, ok here you go this is the order I put them in for:1st choice 168A Trout Creek, 2nd choice 167 owyhee unit, 3rd choice 166 Malheur River, 4th choice 172 Silvies unit. That is how I wrote it down after I filled out my request, and the postcard and online says 166 Malheur River unit. So I dont know what could have happened. Its not the always the destination its how you act reaching it.
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psyclones
Guest
You know how little the space is they send I could have screwed it up who knows? All I know is I need to find out about that area so I have a decent chance to get a quality Muley. Thanks for the concern Bob.
Well, it sounds like you're filling out the application the same as you would a Washington application. Oregon's draw is done differently. On your Oregon app the first choice is the only one you're going to have a chance of drawing, unless you put down a 2nd choice that has more permits than the number of 1st choice applicants (which wouldn't include any of the ones you applied for.) So...the question is how did you get Malheur River if you had it down as a 3rd choice? I just don't know. If you filled out the application correctly, then somehow the ODFW screwed up. Not that it matters, because you seem to be glad to draw the one you got. But, it really is a waste of 7 points (if that's what you had.)
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psyclones
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LAST EDITED ON Jun-23-05 AT 00:34AM (MST)[p]Knowing me I could have filled it out wrong done that before here. I hope it wasnt a waste of points. I plan on hunting the steep hard stuff and set up a camp up there. Hopefully Oct wont be to bad of weather so I can pack kinda lite. Hopeing to find somebody else thats a single or talk one of my friends to come with me for the week, that way I'll have some help. I'm going to make the most of it even if I dont get a Trophy the experience will be worth it. Never hunted Oregon before. But you know what? I still have 4 points for Elk and Antelope for next year. And this was the first year I filled out all 4 parts. Most of the time I did one unit or points only.
And this was the first year I filled out all 4 parts. Most of the time I did one unit or points only.The only reason I said it was a waste of points is that it should have only taken 2 points to draw, and you said it took seven years to draw. But, the thing is, if you did in fact draw it as a 3rd choice, you should not have lost any of your points. That's how the Oregon system works. You only lose your points when you draw your first choice.
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bigbulls
Guest
Psychlones,
As Bob D. said, you wouldn't have lost your points if you drew as your third choice. I would try to figure out as quickly as possible what is going on. If you did draw as your third choice, then you will have 8 points for next year, and Oregon made a big mistake in your favor.
As far as your hunt goes. I can tell you right now that the weather forecast will be in the 80's, it always is. Winter range, or the rut will not be a factor. If you plan to do a scouting trip, do it during the archery season, that unit gets a lot of bowhunting pressure, and your only chance of finding a quality buck during daylight is to find areas where the bowhunting pressure was light. If you do not have excellent glass, buy some, it will be as valuable as your rifle. Be up early and hunt all day. Open country bucks will have to move a little bit in the middle of the day to find shade. Bucks bedded down can sometimes be invisible to spot, so that time that they get up to move beds in the afternoon may be your only chance. Dont expect to see a lot of deer, numbers are on the decline, and I would not hold out for a 30" buck, however YOur chances are good of finding a solid four point in the 23-25" range.
Good Luck, it is beautiful country, and is unlike anything you will find in Washington.
As Bob D. said, you wouldn't have lost your points if you drew as your third choice. I would try to figure out as quickly as possible what is going on. If you did draw as your third choice, then you will have 8 points for next year, and Oregon made a big mistake in your favor.
As far as your hunt goes. I can tell you right now that the weather forecast will be in the 80's, it always is. Winter range, or the rut will not be a factor. If you plan to do a scouting trip, do it during the archery season, that unit gets a lot of bowhunting pressure, and your only chance of finding a quality buck during daylight is to find areas where the bowhunting pressure was light. If you do not have excellent glass, buy some, it will be as valuable as your rifle. Be up early and hunt all day. Open country bucks will have to move a little bit in the middle of the day to find shade. Bucks bedded down can sometimes be invisible to spot, so that time that they get up to move beds in the afternoon may be your only chance. Dont expect to see a lot of deer, numbers are on the decline, and I would not hold out for a 30" buck, however YOur chances are good of finding a solid four point in the 23-25" range.
Good Luck, it is beautiful country, and is unlike anything you will find in Washington.
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psyclones
Guest
Can you say DUMB A$$. I wrote it all down wrong. I called ODFW today because I was worried about what Bob was talking about and sure enough they said I had the Malheur unit listed 1st. Thats about enough to make me cry. I wanted that trout creek mtn area for the past couple of years and to make some stupid mistake like that. I might have to go down there and see if they still have my hand written copy I mailed in to double check. For the past 6 years I only been putting in for the 168A hunt or preference points only. The first time I fill out 4 spots I BONE HEAD IT. Oh well what can you do. Like I always tell my kids when they screw up "Get use to it your not perfect" Its not the always the destination its how you act reaching it.
I called ODFW today because I was worried about what Bob was talking about and sure enough they said I had the Malheur unit listed 1st. Thats about enough to make me cry. I wanted that trout creek mtn area for the past couple of years and to make some stupid mistake like that. I might have to go down there and see if they still have my hand written copy I mailed in to double check. For the past 6 years I only been putting in for the 168A hunt or preference points only. The first time I fill out 4 spots I BONE HEAD IT. Oh well what can you do. Like I always tell my kids when they screw up "Get use to it your not perfect" Its not the always the destination its how you act reaching it.IdahoBugler
Active Member
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psyclones,
It's times like these your thinking you screwed up but go out and enjoy the hunt you got. You never know, I'm sure there's a toad out there waiting for you in Malheur. Good luck and I hope you shoot a big one.
Later,
IB
It's times like these your thinking you screwed up but go out and enjoy the hunt you got. You never know, I'm sure there's a toad out there waiting for you in Malheur. Good luck and I hope you shoot a big one.
Later,
IB
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psyclones
Guest
I will post pictures even if its a spike. and if I smoke like youngbuck it might look like a trophy.Its not the always the destination its how you act reaching it.
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psyclones
Guest
LAST EDITED ON Jun-23-05 AT 11:09PM (MST)[p]Joking I'm pretty serious in my hunting. Not too serious though. I just love being outdoors. If I get one great if not oh well I will enjoy myself cus Im not at work, or in traffic,in the big noisy city. Its not the always the destination its how you act reaching it.
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horseskull
Guest
Drew that unit several years ago. Mad when I was informed that we would have to miss the opener because of some wedding. Went the next week and scored big time. 3 for 3, 2 small bucks and the wife took a 4pt that scored 185. Down in the Stinking Water mountains.
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psyclones
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Stinking Water Mountains? What and where is that? I hope to score a 4 pt that would be AWSOME. Send me a PM on some great areas please. Thanks Monte Its not the always the destination its how you act reaching it.
Big bulls has some good info for sure, but the area is huge and does not get hardly any archery pressure in the desert portion they are generally in the timber to the north. The stinkingwater mountains is juniper sage country and kinda rugged with alot of ROCK. It is no secret and is very busy during rifle season, but as usual if you get away from the roads and work hard there could be a hog there. The mountain is bordered by private in alot of places so beware some of these guys are kinda stinky about tresspassing.
This area is my backyard, Burns,OR
This area is my backyard, Burns,OR
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psyclones
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Thanks for the info. I'll be contacting landowners soon. Its not the always the destination its how you act reaching it.
Not sure you will have any luck with the landowner thing, probally a waste of time. You see most the landowners around here are as excited about deer hunting as we are. They all have lots of landowner tags, family and friends hunting there property. And non local hunters is kinda a sore subject in Harney county. And then there is the leased property that is a dominant factor these days, landowners just don't dole out permission these days. You even have to pay to hunt sage rats in alot of places. But Im not trying to discourage you, there is plenty of public ground with equally as good hunting.
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psyclones
Guest
All I heard about the unit is not good. Sounds like it will be a challenging hunt for me. Looking at the map it looks like its all mountains and not much else. Trying to find that high mountain meadow to set up camp in and hunt. Hopefully I will have a horse by then. Thanks Monte Its not the always the destination its how you act reaching it.
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Hawkk33
Guest
Come ready to walk, spot and and stalk and you will be fine. Do your homework with ODFW, see if they can point you in the right direction. Be up early spotting, during the day if you want to roast you can try to hunt but deer will be bedded. Oh yeah, this area is known to have a few rattlers so be cautious.
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psyclones
Guest
Sounds allot like my old stomping grounds The great and wonderful NEBRASKA. Rattlers make a good campfire dinner Its not the always the destination its how you act reaching it.
Rattlers make a good campfire dinner Its not the always the destination its how you act reaching it.
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psyclones
Guest
LAST EDITED ON Jun-27-05 AT 07:42PM (MST)[p]Has anyone ever floated the rivers in this unit hunting Mule Deer? Or would that idea be a waist of time? Its not the always the destination its how you act reaching it.
HunterHarry
Long Time Member
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I am going to try to float it with this lady.
I think she guides in the area.
I think she guides in the area.
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psyclones
Guest
Now thats some TASTY advice Does she guideIts not the always the destination its how you act reaching it.
Does she guideIts not the always the destination its how you act reaching it.Desertflinger
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Nice!
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psyclones
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I'm going to do my leg work. Just trying to narrow it down to some 5-6 areas to scout. Driving 12 hours and looking at such a large area would not be very good to me. Its not the always the destination its how you act reaching it.
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psyclones
Guest
Thats the best news I heard yet Its not the always the destination its how you act reaching it.
Its not the always the destination its how you act reaching it.
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Hawkk33
Guest
Not even 8, you can do it in 6 1/2 if yo come across the interstate through Yakima. I hope you have maps out your are looking at to get an idea of the topography.
