gobeavstate
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Going back up to the Steens for the first time in a LONG time. Super pumped, know it’s not was it used to be but word is it’s back on the upswing. Any thoughts or experiences? Gonna be fun regardless!
Steens muleys
- Thread starter gobeavstate
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Riverfish1
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My 12 year old son got a Steens Mountain mule deer tag this year. We've never been there. I've been doing some e-scouting, and it looks like big country—in many ways, it's intimidating and hard to know where to even start. Does anyone have any recommendations?
Riverfish1
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Thanks. I thought Steens was one of the best units in Oregon, but I am hearing a lot of different opinions.
huntindad4
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It is. The state of the mule deer herd in Oregon is grim.
Riverfish1
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Which is really unfortunate. It sounds like Oregon does not do a good job managing it. I am a new hunter and do not know all the history of mule deer in Oregon. I am hoping we will continue to have good hunting opportunities.
muleylover
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There is not a tag in the state of Oregon worth the points it takes to draw. The Steens is epic and holds historical mystic. The good old days are gone, enjoy the country and enjoy the hunt. Can't help you on any tips or tricks, get away from the roads, spend a lot of time behind the glass. and you can always turn up a monster. The Genetics are there even if the numbers are not.
It used to be. Then a 4 pt. or better rule for many years really messed things up. Followed on by years of drought and out of control Cougar predation. Started to come back a bit a few years back, but more drought. Last couple years have had good moisture, so hopefully it will come back some again.
Mossyhorn70
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I hunted the Steens last year and had put a lot of thought into whether I should apply or not. As a kid, I spent a bit of time down there, fishing and hiking. Always wanted to hunt it. Life took me elsewhere and I kept saving preference points. I cashed in 19 non res points and boy do I regret it. I’m still depressed thinking about it. I am still struggling to get over the whole thing. Sounds stupid but I spent two decades if points on a tag that I never saw anything bigger than a dink three point.
I hunted the whole season minus the last day. Covered a ton of ground, I killed a mountain lion on the first day. Saw tons of bighorn sheep, antelope, etc, but never a decent buck.
Dealing with private access on the east side is a pain. The landowner of the Alvord is an oddball. Makes it harder than it needs to be to access the mountain. Good luck getting a 12 yr old on a buck in that unit. It’s tough country.
I hunted the whole season minus the last day. Covered a ton of ground, I killed a mountain lion on the first day. Saw tons of bighorn sheep, antelope, etc, but never a decent buck.
Dealing with private access on the east side is a pain. The landowner of the Alvord is an oddball. Makes it harder than it needs to be to access the mountain. Good luck getting a 12 yr old on a buck in that unit. It’s tough country.
Riverfish1
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Thanks. You sure do not paint a great picture. 
bullskin
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and it's still a crap unit
kickerbuck
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Every unit in Oregon is crap for Mule Deer and the Steens is no exception it sucks as bad if not worse than any unit considering the habitat and potential!
Riverfish1’s son has a 2024 tag, ergo the resurrection of the thread.
2018 Steens buck. Best they saw, and they are experienced hunters.Thanks. You sure do not paint a great picture.
NPHunter
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Deer numbers are on the upswing in some areas of Oregon, steens has a lot of big cats but a lot are also killed by Gov. trappers due to private land conflict. I would probably be looking for older deer on the fringes of the private lands because of that reason if I had the tag.
Mossyhorn70
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Myself and some other hunters did see a couple nice bucks on the Alvord and Mann ranches. But they were solidly on private and knew it. I saw a guy wait for days hoping one would come off. No reason for those bucks to leave.
