Oregon mule deer hunt boundaries changing in 2026

[deepandsteep]

If mule deer quality and population are going to improve in OR, there has to be significant tag cuts. It's that simple. Having done some deep dives on the new boundaries and rationale for deer in OR, I don't forsee any improvement given their proposed methodology. Anyone remember the Mule Deer Initiatives put out there some years ago now? Didn't improve anything. There is still plenty of solid deer hunting in OR, one just needs to be a resident to pull the darn tags.

 

[IdahoBeav]

There is still plenty of solid deer hunting in OR, one just needs to be a resident to pull the darn tags.

You can get into some good deer hunting in Oregon as a NR.

 

[Baddog]

If mule deer quality and population are going to improve in OR, there has to be significant tag cuts. It's that simple. Having done some deep dives on the new boundaries and rationale for deer in OR, I don't forsee any improvement given their proposed methodology. Anyone remember the Mule Deer Initiatives put out there some years ago now? Didn't improve anything. There is still plenty of solid deer hunting in OR, one just needs to be a resident to pull the darn tags.

I’m not saying you are wrong but I kinda disagree. We need real predator management and winter range improvements. Both unlikely so the easy button is less hunting. But Oregon isnt killing any does to speak of so maybe less tags improves quality a little bit but probably not population much.

 

[Odell]

I interviewed the mule deer coordinator with ODFW the other day. It was super interesting and I think there's some cool stuff coming down the pike. A good change for a state who's hunters (and deer) probably need it.

Jaden,

I appreciate the interview. You do a great job and I am now subscribed.

However, I heard you being positive about 'cool stuff' like breaking out whitetail. I heard the biologist hedging and saying "we'll see" For Oregonians we know this means 'probably not.'

I also didn't hear anything about why the last mule deer plan was a massive failure, and why some of the areas described as not changing, (Steens, Trout Creek) are in absolute ruin and how anything is going to change. I wish I could be positive about anything involving Oregon game management but from spring bear to late season Elk, almost everything is in steep decline and there are no reasons to be optimistic. Changing the lines on a map won't make a dent. I am cashing out this year, hope to draw my unit and then I will just hunt my backyard every other year and watch it get worse and worse.

I saw a wolf in my area of White River. They are now regularly seen on Tygh Ridge and outside Dufur. Sadly, there is no reason to be excited about anything in Oregon except for the fact that maybe a lot of people are moving away.

 

[Jaden Bales]

Jaden,

I appreciate the interview. You do a great job and I am now subscribed.

However, I heard you being positive about 'cool stuff' like breaking out whitetail. I heard the biologist hedging and saying "we'll see" For Oregonians we know this means 'probably not.'

I also didn't hear anything about why the last mule deer plan was a massive failure, and why some of the areas described as not changing, (Steens, Trout Creek) are in absolute ruin and how anything is going to change. I wish I could be positive about anything involving Oregon game management but from spring bear to late season Elk, almost everything is in steep decline and there are no reasons to be optimistic. Changing the lines on a map won't make a dent. I am cashing out this year, hope to draw my unit and then I will just hunt my backyard every other year and watch it get worse and worse.

I saw a wolf in my area of White River. They are not regularly seen on Tygh Ridge and outside Dufur. Sadly, there is no reason to be excited about anything in Oregon except for the fact that maybe a lot of people are moving away.

Hey @Odell I appreciate you listening and your feedback here.

I suppose I've never seen an Oregon that was anything but bleak for folks who were hunting it hard before I got old enough to hunt. Whenever I've hunted elk and mule deer and bears in Oregon these last 10-15 years, I always see animals and usually some decent ones. I rarely have hung a tag on them, and certainly want to see numbers turning around, but I hear you if you've seen the hayday and are comparing to then - it probably is discouraging.

As far as the whitetail stuff is concerned - I think there was some information he couldn't really commit to, like offering more and new opportunities for whitetail where they're doing well. Between the new Grant Co archery hunt in 2024, and three new late muzzleloader hunts in Wallowa County in 2025, I just am excited for some new opportunities for hunters to get after a species doing well.

Can't speak to southern Oregon from personal experience, but enough big boys show up through the grapevine that folks are spending gobs of points to go down there.

Regardless, feel free to PM about any specifics and I'd be happy to share. Again, I totally am not discounting your disappointment with Oregon - I understand I'm in the minority by being optimistic here.

 

[PLhunter]

I’m not saying you are wrong but I kinda disagree. We need real predator management and winter range improvements. Both unlikely so the easy button is less hunting. But Oregon isnt killing any does to speak of so maybe less tags improves quality a little bit but probably not population much.

Road kill is massive as well. The Malheur river zone and 97 zone are littered with carcasses. Near my house in Redmond I pass a new dead deer every week or so on my way to drop my kids off at school. Predator management, managing development, fencing (growing up in Utah and spending time in idaho 4-5 strand was everywhere) in Oregon there must have been the sale of a lifetime on mesh field fencing. Mom can go over, baby can't), and most of all reducing road kill is needed.

 

[BRTreedogs]

Road kill is massive as well. The Malheur river zone and 97 zone are littered with carcasses. Near my house in Redmond I pass a new dead deer every week or so on my way to drop my kids off at school. Predator management, managing development, fencing (growing up in Utah and spending time in idaho 4-5 strand was everywhere) in Oregon there must have been the sale of a lifetime on mesh field fencing. Mom can go over, baby can't), and most of all reducing road kill is needed.

They used to run a lot of sheep here.

 

[PLhunter]

They used to run a lot of sheep here.

Need to do some serious fencing work.. Every dang property is sectioned off. In the spring I see fawns running frantically in the heat up and down fence-lines trying to get to mom.

 

[cweaver9]

Just saw this from ODFW:

Eastern Oregon Deer Hunts | Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife

Hunters should be aware of potential changes coming for deer hunts in Eastern Oregon in 2026. Hunts will be structured based on Deer Herd Ranges, not WMUs, to reflect mule deer biology and allow for more accurate monitoring and management. Use this map to compare new Deer Herd Ranges vs Wildlife...

myodfw.com

Sorry if it’s old news; didn’t see a post in it already.

Looks like they will be aligning hunt boundaries/tag allocations with actual deer herds, which makes sense. Although there is basically no legal doe harvest in E OR, so hard to imagine this will have that much impact on overall mule deer population health.

Article trys to downplay it, but there will obviously be some changes to, and uncertain about, how long it takes to draw tags in certain areas.

Cue complaining about ODFW, predators, and the good ole days of mule deer hunting in OR…oh wait, this is Rokslide not Ifish.

thanks for the info