Oegon Bick Buck units

[STUACE]

Thanks for reading my first post here.

I have 9 Oregon deer rifle points. My hunting partner, my cousin, has 12. We have been patiently waiting and we are getting close to a top shelf big buck hunt. Maybe a few years out depending on the unit. What I need to know is what units have the biggest deer. I can name the usual suspects. Or, just go by the theory that the more points it takes to draw, the better it is. But, that's not always true.

So, deer hunters. What units are trending upwards???

Thanks

 

[Tim McCoy]

Which species are you targeting, Mule, Whitetail, Blacktail or Columbian Whitetails? I assume your points are for buck deer hunts, not antlerless?

 

[STUACE]

Thanks. Details right? Mule deer bucks.

 

[STUACE]

And yes, I am a resident.

 

[Timberstalker]

Unfortunately I don't think there are any Mule Deer units on an upward trend in Oregon, not even the ones that take 17 points to draw.

 

[Tim McCoy]

You are unlikely to have anyone give you what you seek, but you can dig around and get it for yourself. What I'd do is review the info on this site if you have not already; https://sites.google.com/site/oregontags/ . Then call a few biologists to get an idea of what areas may be trending up. Some units have been seeing better populations, and that generally means more tags and more bucks. The population surveys are available on line. You ought to be able to ID a few prospects, if not the name areas you already know of. My personal tendency is to find out of the way pockets in a good unit, vs try for a top unit tag. With the idea of being able to go back in 3-6 years, not 15-20. All you really need is some age on the bucks and good ones will follow.

Since you are relatively close, I might scout a few areas I'm interested in, maybe in mid-Nov to see what's moving around. There are no slam dunk 170+ public land mule rifle deer hunts I know of in OR, but there are plenty of units with 170+ deer on public land, if you can find them. We've taken a buck almost at 170" and seen some dandy's out of the NE units of late, including seeing several 180+ and a 200+ others harvested. I don't spend as much time SE as I used to, but that is often an under appreciated area for big bucks, and I am not referring to Steens or Trout Creek.

There is not a good answer to your question about the rifle unit with the biggest bucks, as far as I know, it can happen anywhere. But the known name units are a good start. The web site I shared gives you an idea with % of 4pt. +. Not definitive, but helps. If you archery or muzzleloader hunt, or have a ton of antlerless points, you have more big buck options in OR. There are big bucks here, despite what you often hear, just not nearly as many as a guy may see in CO, WY, etc. If you want to go guided, there are several outfitters producing great bucks of late too.

 

[Timberstalker]

You have surplus points for any ordinary rifle hunt, you may be able to leverage the surplus points in trade for info on an area.

 

[STUACE]

You have surplus points for any ordinary rifle hunt, you may be able to leverage the surplus points in trade for info on an area.

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[STUACE]

Sure! I'll even through in my Antelope points and my sisters phone number.


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[The Deer]

Sure! I'll even through in my Antelope points and my sisters phone number.


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Timber Hunter gave you some solid advice you came asking a question he gave you one of the best answers. There is no magical unit that holds a ton of deer or more than the other Timbers advice was solid. If you don't like it your best course of action is go find a unit and scout it best of luck

 

[halfslam]

"Trending upwards???" That hasn't happened in Oregon since the 80's.

 

[dmandoes]

i might be able to help u out, but i need pics of ur sister first.

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

As others have said, you have been given some solid advice. I had max points in 2009, 16 points at the time, could draw any tag in the state and still couldn't find any mule deer tags worth burning them on, so I used them on a top shelf blacktail tag and enjoyed one of my most memorable hunts. My son currently has 13 points and will likely do the same thing.

You are really in "no man's land" with 9 points. More than you need for most 100 series tags, and yet you have a very very long wait for the high demand tags.

With 5 points in Colorado, you can draw a better tag than pretty much any 100 series draw tag in Oregon.

 

[ore hunter]

southeast corner generally has the most record book entrys,,trout creek will take a lot more than 9 pts though.

 

[conibear]

You passed some top shelf buck units 4 points ago, it's all about scouting and glassing. A good Oregon buck can come out of any unit, don't waste years of hunting in the hope of tagging a hypothetical buck. My 2 cents.

Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[WapitiBob]

A good Oregon Buck is a forked horn.

 

[badgerbob]

Don't think you can look at the numbers, pick an area, and go kill trophy. Won't happen. There are some great bucks in Oregon, but you will work for them. Gather every shred of info. you can. Locals, Wardens, Biologist, Here, Stats, ect.. Pick an area that "looks good on paper". Get out there and now is not too early. If nothing else just drive through it. Do some shed hunting, anything that helps you to get to know the area. Set some trail cams. If it starts looking not so good switch it for another. Point is by hunting season you need to know the area like the back of your hand and hopefully have good bucks spotted. I like to have at least 3 plans in mind for first day, just in case other hunters or something else spoils first choice. Every year I see 180 plus bucks during bow season. They are easier to spot then so if you rifle hunt it is of great importance that you get out there throughout the summer and early fall. Once the velvet is gone they aren't as easy to spot. Point is if you just start hunting without proper prep. you will more than likely be hunting where the big ones aren't. Good luck, maybe I'll see you out there. BB

Oh yea, as previously posted, you past up some good hunts several points back.....

 

[conibear]

Don't think you can look at the numbers, pick an area, and go kill trophy. Won't happen. There are some great bucks in Oregon, but you will work for them. Gather every shred of info. you can. Locals, Wardens, Biologist, Here, Stats, ect.. Pick an area that "looks good on paper". Get out there and now is not too early. If nothing else just drive through it. Do some shed hunting, anything that helps you to get to know the area. Set some trail cams. If it starts looking not so good switch it for another. Point is by hunting season you need to know the area like the back of your hand and hopefully have good bucks spotted. I like to have at least 3 plans in mind for first day, just in case other hunters or something else spoils first choice. Every year I see 180 plus bucks during bow season. They are easier to spot then so if you rifle hunt it is of great importance that you get out there throughout the summer and early fall. Once the velvet is gone they aren't as easy to spot. Point is if you just start hunting without proper prep. you will more than likely be hunting where the big ones aren't. Good luck, maybe I'll see you out there. BB

Oh yea, as previously posted, you past up some good hunts several points back.....

badgerbob nailed it, have a plan. You can take a great buck (for Oregon) out of a 3 point unit with a plan, and leave the Trout Creeks with nothing but flat tires without one.

 

[Micah S]

Oregon has some decent bucks but they are at far fewer numbers then other states because the herd is managed for a lower buck to doe ratio them other states. If you are looking for 1 hunt that's great look at the late season hunts. If you want to kill big bucks every year get private land or hunt the timber.

 

[Timberstalker]

Not sugar coating it, Oregon sucks for mule deer hunting. There is no reason to think anything over three or four preference points is going to help you kill a big buck. The best way to kill a good buck in Oregon is to sit in a tree stand over salt every general bow season.