Eastern Oregon Residents

[Blacktail_]

As an Oregon west side resident, I have always wondered what eastern Oregon residents do for deer hunting each year? Would drive me crazy to not be able to hunt where I live every year, considering most units of there take at least a point or two to draw, do most people try to get LOP tags to hunt each year or just accept they can’t hunt deer yearly unless they make a trip to the cascades?

 

[Can’tDraw4Shiz94]

Many come over into Idaho and hunt. Not sure about this years new NR draw but, that’s what they used to do according to a buddy of mine in LG

 

[Lowedown]

From my experience it is a mixed bag.
There's the "rifle tag or nothing" crowd who accept they only get their deer tag every 2-5 years, many of whom put in for 2nd-5th choices that aren't even possible to get as such!
Then there are those of us who have learned to draw archery tags 2nd choice in the off years, or come hunt blacktail as a backup while getting an east side rifle tag here and there. Some of us go to Idaho off and on.
There are some who hunt strictly archery or black powder and get the same tags annually.
Every year it gets harder for East side residents to consistently get tags for elk or deer in their areas.
One thing we can all get every year is Cougar and Bear tags....and we should all be filling those more!

 

[BRTreedogs]

There’s lots of things to do besides hunt deer where you live.

 

[Blacktail_]

There’s lots of things to do besides hunt deer where you live.

Yeah I get that, but a lot of people love deer hunting hence why I put my question in the mule deer thread.

 

[Blacktail_]

From my experience it is a mixed bag.
There's the "rifle tag or nothing" crowd who accept they only get their deer tag every 2-5 years, many of whom put in for 2nd-5th choices that aren't even possible to get as such!
Then there are those of us who have learned to draw archery tags 2nd choice in the off years, or come hunt blacktail as a backup while getting an east side rifle tag here and there. Some of us go to Idaho off and on.
There are some who hunt strictly archery or black powder and get the same tags annually.
Every year it gets harder for East side residents to consistently get tags for elk or deer in their areas.
One thing we can all get every year is Cougar and Bear tags....and we should all be filling those more!

Kinda brutal, I feel like people should be rewarded with tags close to home if they live in an area. Obviously can’t hand out the best tags in the state to locals every year but there’s gotta be some better way, would suck to have it get harder to hunt close to home every year.

 

[BRTreedogs]

Kinda brutal, I feel like people should be rewarded with tags close to home if they live in an area. Obviously can’t hand out the best tags in the state to locals every year but there’s gotta be some better way, would suck to have it get harder to hunt close to home every year.

I can get an otc bt tag every year and head over a irritate locals all I want

 

[CC11]

Kinda what you gotta deal with living on the East side. Personally it hasn't affected me much as of late as I spend most my fall salmon fishing if I don't draw tags, along with hunting out of state. This year I'm planning on putting in for a new unit with no points, and probably if I had to guess will end up taking 4-5 points to draw.

 

[Blacktail_]

Kinda what you gotta deal with living on the East side. Personally it hasn't affected me much as of late as I spend most my fall salmon fishing if I don't draw tags, along with hunting out of state. This year I'm planning on putting in for a new unit with no points, and probably if I had to guess will end up taking 4-5 points to draw.

Yeah that’s kinda what I figured, I’d love to live over east but I would miss the crap out of hunting 5 mins away from home every year.

 

[BRTreedogs]

It’s way better living east and driving over a couple times to hunt then live in that west side dumpster fire year round to hunt a little bit

 

[Oregon]

Kinda brutal, I feel like people should be rewarded with tags close to home if they live in an area. Obviously can’t hand out the best tags in the state to locals every year but there’s gotta be some better way, would suck to have it get harder to hunt close to home every year.

It’s a known deal going on 40 years. That’s why so many units are considered opportunity units. Heppner etc. tons of tags. I know plenty of East folks that purposely don’t party hunt apply with family and friends, but all show up at camp with the couple that do draw. Same with elk.

 

[Oregon]

It’s way better living east and driving over a couple times to hunt then live in that west side dumpster fire year round to hunt a little bit

If strictly a big game hunter. Yes. But, a guy who loves everything outdoors, not so much.

 

[Blacktail_]

I can imagine definitely a consideration

It’s way better living east and driving over a couple times to hunt then live in that west side dumpster fire year round to hunt a little bit

 

[BRTreedogs]

If strictly a big game hunter. Yes. But, a guy who loves everything outdoors, not so much.

Whut?
I guess, if you ocean fish or muskrat hunt a lot.
Well ducks.
But I’d still rather spend 25k a year traveling to duck hunt then live west of the cascades ever again.

Is regardless of people. I get claustrophobic over there now.

 

[Oregon]

Whut?
I guess, if you ocean fish or muskrat hunt a lot.
Well ducks.
But I’d still rather spend 25k a year traveling to duck hunt then live west of the cascades ever again.

Is regardless of people. I get claustrophobic over there now.

Congrats!! I truly live in the best public land duck hunting in the entire lower 48. Please let me me know if you want to debate. You will lose. Zero people have it as good as we do.