Oregon Resident Mule Deer Hunting info

[Huntnpack 2]

Currently sitting on 11 resident points & plan on cashing out in the next year or two. I’ll be 70 next year, so wanting to go soon. I’ve been researching for a while. Wondering how guys did this year & in which units you hunted. I plan on putting some boots on the ground scouting. I can still get out and do backcountry hunts, & prefer that type.
Either Rifle or Archery.
Kinda wanting some more current information & experience from others.
Any help would be appreciated.

Thx.
HNP

 

[Blacktail_]

SE Oregon is torched I’ll tell you that

 

[Huntnpack 2]

SE Oregon is torched I’ll tell you that

I hear ya on that one ! I understand my odds of killing a good buck are slim & seeing or killing a Trophy are very low. I’m still able to go & hunt hard, & I feel a hunt in some new country & the opportunity to be out there doing what I enjoy will be worth the effort.

 

[Blacktail_]

I hear ya on that one ! I understand my odds of killing a good buck are slim & seeing or killing a Trophy are very low. I’m still able to go & hunt hard, & I feel a hunt in some new country & the opportunity to be out there doing what I enjoy will be worth the effort.

Yes sir! I would take a look at the new zones, the reshuffling of everything is going to change a lot so the points needed to draw an area could change drastically as well.

 

[Huntnpack 2]

Yes sir! I would take a look at the new zones, the reshuffling of everything is going to change a lot so the points needed to draw an area could change drastically as well.

Ya… I agree . I won’t know #of tags allocated or draw odds this year right? Maybe have those numbers next year?

 

[Blacktail_]

Ya… I agree . I won’t know #of tags allocated or draw odds this year right? Maybe have those numbers next year?

#of tags is released in the lasted big game regs that got released. Yeah draw odds will probably take 2-3 years to re-dial.

 

[Oregonmuley]

Although the units/hunt areas will be changing next year if you look at the new hunt areas decide on one that includes the unit you maybe had in mind to hunt. In looking at the new map, my old unit I hunted most is now part of AD-01. How many points to draw- who knows at this point.

Back to your post - what type of country do you want to hunt in? Sage or big canyons or alpine? Answering that should help narrow down where to go

 

[Huntnpack 2]

I’m hoping to get some feedback from guys that were recently successful either harvesting or seeing bucks & which units they hunted.
Then I could get busy scouting the ground to help me determine which unit to put in for.
I’m not picky on terrain although steep terrain I’d be fine but slooow.
I don’t have an ATV or SXS….
I do have all the Backpacking gear to get in to some less traveled places.

IDK …. Just gathering info.

 

[Blacktail_]

I’d say find a unit you can draw that you like the landscape of and go from there. People have good/bad experiences in good/bad units. I had an ochoco elk hunt ruined from some jackasses on an atv blowing up the forest in a travel management zone.

 

[Huntnpack 2]

Ya…. I’d prefer to hunt off the beaten path.
I can’t do knuckleheads !!

 

[Griffdawg97]

I would pick a unit you can scout the most and know the best! There are still a few good bucks out there in units just takes some time to
Find them. Defiantly low deer numbers around


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[IdahoBeav]

There is no telling yet how the new units system will play out for points, but with the old units, 7-18± points is no man's land- more points than are needed to get most hunts and not enough to get the premier hunts or catch the point creep on them.

If I were you, I would go with a point saver in '26 (or play the 25% pool for a premier hunt if you are a resident). In '27 you can review the point summary reports and look into sharing your points with friend(s) or family that have far less points than you do, putting the average for the application somewhere around 4-6 points, which (per the old units) would get most hunts for you.

I cashed in 12 points in 2023, covering for my dad and his buddy that had a total 6 between them. The app averaged out at 6 points. My dad and his buddy were able to essentially jump ahead 3 years in line.

 

[PLhunter]

I’m hoping to get some feedback from guys that were recently successful either harvesting or seeing bucks & which units they hunted.
Then I could get busy scouting the ground to help me determine which unit to put in for.
I’m not picky on terrain although steep terrain I’d be fine but slooow.
I don’t have an ATV or SXS….
I do have all the Backpacking gear to get in to some less traveled places.

IDK …. Just gathering info.

Getting a buck in a lot of areas shouldn’t be too big of problem. Success rates are high in many Oregon units. However, getting a good mature buck seems particularly difficult here. Are you a resident or nonresident?

 

[Blacktail_]

Getting a buck in a lot of areas shouldn’t be too big of problem. Success rates are high in many Oregon units. However, getting a good mature buck seems particularly difficult here. Are you a resident or nonresident?

Said he’s a resident in the chain title, at least I’m assuming that’s what was meant

 

[Huntnpack 2]

Getting a buck in a lot of areas shouldn’t be too big of problem. Success rates are high in many Oregon units. However, getting a good mature buck seems particularly difficult here. Are you a resident or nonresident?

That’s very true, that and I’m in no man’s land with 11 resident points. Lots to think about.

 

[PLhunter]

I’d say find a unit you can draw that you like the landscape of and go from there. People have good/bad experiences in good/bad units. I had an ochoco elk hunt ruined from some jackasses on an atv blowing up the forest in a travel management zone.

The local populous that uses the ochoco mountain area is the scum of the earth. I’ve never loathed a group of people like I do them. I hunted it for elk archery a few seasons. Cool area but the littering, off-road abuse, and poaching/spotlighting was more than I could handle.

 

[PLhunter]

Said he’s a resident in the chain title, at least I’m assuming that’s what was meant

Shoot I looked in the post for it but missed the title!! Thanks! Sorry OP.

 

[PLhunter]

That’s very true, that and I’m in no man’s land with 11 resident points. Lots to think about.

Do you have experience hunting deer or elk in any of the units you’re curious about?

I have hunted a unit in se Oregon twice and have a friend who hunted an adjacent unit this last year. We’ve tagged out every time but biggest buck was probably 150ish. Biggest seen was probably 165ish.

You’d have more than enough points even with the changes. It’s remote and lovely country a sxs would be nice but not mandatory. We have done okay there but never connected on a true trophy buck. Idahobeav brings up good points but the reality is going to stay the same. You’re in no mans land. If retired and able I think that even though those SE units have been decimated by poor grazing practices in the past, they are worthwhile if you can put in some serious time to scout. They’re a long drive from anywhere. At 70 I wouldn’t wait and see. Get out there because if you really like a hunt you’ll have to wait at least 4-6 years to draw it again.

 

[Huntnpack 2]

. My thoughts exactly.

Do you have experience hunting deer or elk in any of the units you’re curious about?

I have hunted a unit in se Oregon twice and have a friend who hunted an adjacent unit this last year. We’ve tagged out every time but biggest buck was probably 150ish. Biggest seen was probably 165ish.

You’d have more than enough points even with the changes. It’s remote and lovely country a sxs would be nice but not mandatory. We have done okay there but never connected on a true trophy buck. Idahobeav brings up good points but the reality is going to stay the same. You’re in no mans land. If retired and able I think that even though those SE units have been decimated by poor grazing practices in the past, they are worthwhile if you can put in some serious time to scout. They’re a long drive from anywhere. At 70 I wouldn’t wait and see. Get out there because if you really like a hunt you’ll have to wait at least 4-6 years to draw it again.

I’ve only hunted in a few eastern units but not really ones I’m interested in for Mule Deer.

If I retire this year it would probably be at the end of the year. At my current job I’m pretty much able to take all the time needed. And currently funds wouldn’t be a concern.

My quarndry is I’m not familiar enough with the other units & can’t scout em all, so I need to narrow it down some & get busy.

 

[PLhunter]

. My thoughts exactly.


I’ve only hunted in a few eastern units but not really ones I’m interested in for Mule Deer.

If I retire this year it would probably be at the end of the year. At my current job I’m pretty much able to take all the time needed. And currently funds wouldn’t be a concern.

If you have family or friends that hunt but don’t have points have them join up as long as the average is 5 or above. Even with the changes you’re likely to draw many units I’d be interested in if you can get that average.

If that isn’t your situation I recommend hitching your application to someone with established experience in an area that’s willing to trade guiding or at least detailed unit information for your points.