Ripping a page out of my ripping-off-a-page manual, with the Beaver State’s rifle big game seasons dead ahead, here are how Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists rate this fall’s hunting prospects for deer and elk across the state, courtesy of the agency’s online forecasts:
NORTHWEST COAST – DEER
Black-tailed deer on the north coast (Saddle Mt., Wilson, western Trask wildlife management units) were treated to a fairly mild winter and an average spring with an extended period of warm, dry weather in early May and early June. While deer densities overall are only moderate, good survival of bucks from last year’s hunting season should give hunters a decent chance this year, especially in the Wilson WMU. Generally, deer densities tend to be highest in the eastern portions of these units.
Along the mid-coast (western Stott Mt., western Alsea, north Siuslaw), deer numbers appear to be increasing in various areas. The prevalence of deer hair loss syndrome continues to decrease. Buck numbers in most areas are fair to good. The growth of vegetation has been exceptional this year and the deer appear in good body condition. The best deer hunting opportunities are the central to eastern portions of the Alsea unit and Siuslaw unit; deer numbers decline as one gets closer to the ocean. Both private industrial forestlands, state forestry and federal lands offer deer hunting opportunities. The Stott Mt – North Alsea Travel Management area also provides walk-in hunting opportunities.
Fire season may affect access on both private and public forest lands. Most industrial landowners will restrict access, even on foot, until fire season is officially over. Hunters must contact the individual companies or check the Oregon Dept. of Forestry website for corporate closures. Most landowners were closed to access prior to the archery season.
In 2013, the deer bag limit for archery hunters and hunters with a disability permit has is one buck deer having not less than a forked antler.
SADDLE MOUNTAIN UNIT: Some areas to look at include Davis Point, the lower Lewis and Clark River and the lower Necanicum River in Clatsop County and upper Rock Creek and Clear Creek in Columbia County. While much of the unit is industrial timber land, most timber companies offer plenty of walk-in access in some areas and open gates for dawn to dusk vehicular access in others once the fire season is over.
WILSON UNIT: Clearcut habitat is increasing, with most occurring on private corporate forestlands. In recent years, the amount of partial and clearcut harvest on state forest lands has increased substantially. Areas with recent logging include the lower Wilson River, North Fork Wilson River, Gales Creek, Spruce Run and Camp Olson. Deer populations appear to be on the increase, with good buck to doe ratios.
WESTERN TRASK UNIT: On state forest lands in the western portion, look in the Trask River and lower Wilson River basins. But some of the best hunting is on private timberlands in the eastern portion of the WMU where timber harvest has occurred within the last three to five years. Some areas to consider in the eastern Trask Unit are the upper portions of the Yamhill River and upper Willamina Creek. Hunters looking to experience less road traffic and more walk-in hunting opportunities are encouraged to explore the Upper Tualatin-Trask Travel Management Area located west of Henry Hagg Lake.
NORTHWEST COAST- ELK
On the north coast (Saddle Mt., Wilson, western Trask), elk populations are at their highest densities in the western portions of these WMUs. Bull elk hunting this year should be very good in the Wilson and Trask due to high bull survival from last year’s hunting seasons. Both WMUs have general season archery and rifle hunting opportunities. The Saddle Mountain also had high bull survival from the last three seasons.
Along the mid-coast (western Stott Mt., western Alsea, north Siuslaw), elk numbers are relatively unchanged this year and are lower than management objectives for all three units. The observed bull ratio in the Alsea unit was 10-11 bulls per 100 cows and the ratios were 10 per 100 in the Stott Mt. unit and 6 per 100 in the Siuslaw. The second rifle bull elk season in Siuslaw has a bag limit of one spike bull; the bull ratio there continues to be well below management objectives.
Elk will be scattered throughout the units, with larger numbers of elk close to agricultural valleys. Industrial forestlands north of Highway 20 typically receive lots of hunting pressure, with young tree plantations providing good visibility and some travel management roads providing walk-in access. Forest Service lands south of Highway 34 have considerable numbers of elk, but they are much more difficult to hunt in the thick vegetation and rugged terrain. However, during archery season many industrial landowners will be closed due to fire season and state and federal lands may provide the only access for hunting. Hunters should check with landowners before hunting or check the Oregon Dept. of Forestry’s website for fire restrictions and closures.
SADDLE MOUNTAIN: Elk rifle hunting in this unit is all limited entry, but archery elk hunting is through a single general season; both are managed under a 3-point minimum regulation. Areas with high elk numbers and open habitat include Davis Point, the lower Lewis and Clark River, Big Creek, lower Necanicum River and upper Rock Creek.
WILSON UNIT: Some popular hunting areas are the lower Wilson River, Kilchis River, Cook Creek, upper North Fork Nehalem River, Standard Grade, Spruce Run and Camp Olson.
WESTERN TRASK UNIT: Some popular areas with high numbers of elk and open habitats include Cape Lookout, Wilson River tributaries, lower Nestucca River and the Trask River.
STOTT MOUNTAIN, ALSEA UNITS: Some popular areas to hunt elk in the Stott Mountain Unit include the South Fork Siletz River, Fanno Ridge, Gravel Creek, Mill Creek, Elk Creek, Euchre Creek, and the mainstem Siletz River. Popular elk hunting areas in the Alsea include the Yachats River, Five Rivers, North Fork Siuslaw River, Big Rock Creek Road, Luckiamute River, Airlie, Burnt Woods, Grant Creek, Wolf Creek, Logsden, Pee Dee Creek, and Dunn Forest.
NORTH WILLAMETTE WATERSHED DISTRICT- DEER
Hunters heading to the North Willamette Watershed (Scappoose, north Willamette, eastern Trask and north Santiam Units) will find mixed opportunities for black-tailed bucks this year. A slight increase in post-season buck ratios in the Scappoose will provide a few more mature bucks for hunters while the number of bucks has remained stable in the north Santiam (23 bucks per 100 does) and eastern Trask (18 bucks per 100 does) units and hunting should be similar to 2012.
Deer Hair Loss Syndrome continues to be more prevalent in the Scappoose unit but only spotty in the low elevation lands in the eastern Trask and north Santiam units.
Hunters are reminded to contact local timber companies to obtain updated information because some roads may be closed to access due to ongoing logging operations or road building. Please read and obey all informational signs to ensure continued access to opportunities. The majority of properties in the Willamette Unit are privately-owned and hunters are reminded to obtain permission before hunting on those lands. Hunters headed to the north Santiam have a variety of access opportunities from federal forestland, private timberland and agricultural properties. Hunters should check out the Abiqua Basin Access Area, a cooperative access program between Longview Timber (recently purchased by the Weyerhaueser Co.), ODFW’s A&H program and the Capitol Chapter of the Oregon Hunters Association.
Scappoose Unit: Increased buck escapement from last season and increased fawn survival should result in improved hunting this fall. While younger age class bucks typically make up the majority of the harvest, hunters should also find a few mature bucks to keep things interesting. Hunters should be looking for habitat that has a variety of plant components and associated water sources for deer concentrations. Hunters with access to agricultural lands will find higher populations of deer. Some areas to locate deer this fall include Coal Creek, Baker Point, Peterson Point, Bacona and the upper portions of the Clatskanie River.
East Trask Unit: Deer surveys show a stable buck ratio and opportunities for deer hunters should be average this fall in the eastern portion of the Trask Unit. Some of the best hunting is on private timberlands in the eastern portion of the WMU where timber harvest has occurred within the last three to five years. Hunters wanting to experience less road traffic and more walk-in hunting opportunities are encouraged to explore the Upper Tualatin-Trask Travel Management Area located west of Henry Hagg Lake. Some areas with good habitat include the upper portions of the Yamhill and Tualatin Rivers, Trask Mountain, Baker Creek, and Willamina Creek.
North Santiam Unit: The north Santiam Unit buck ratios remain stable at 24 bucks per 100 does so prospects for those hunters willing to hunt thick cover where deer concentrate should be average this season. Hunters will find a wide diversity of terrain in the unit, ranging from high elevation meadows, thick old growth forests, industrial forestlands and agricultural fields, so a variety of hunting styles can be accommodated. Whether hunters choose to still hunt, set up a tree stand, rattle antlers or conduct deer drives, scouting will be critical for success. Snow in the higher elevations of the Mount Hood National Forest will improve tracking conditions and make deer more visible. Hunters looking to stay closer to home should consider hunting on industrial forestlands where land managers are reporting deer damage to recently planted conifer stands. Some locations to consider include the upper Collawash and Clackamas Rivers, Abiqua Creek, Granite Peaks, High Rocks, Butte Creek, Molalla River and the Abiqua Basin Access Area.
North Willamette Unit: The long hunting season in the Willamette Unit should provide hunters with a very good opportunity to harvest a deer this season. Deer damage to agricultural crops remains high throughout the northern portion of the unit. Hunters are reminded that land within this unit is primarily privately owned. Hunters need to have established a good relationship with landowners to ensure a hunting opportunity. Hunters can find some public land hunting opportunities in the Willamette River Recreation Guide available at Marine Board website; many of the hunting spots are also listed on ODFW’s Hunting Access Map.
NORTH WILLAMETTE WATERSHED DISTRICT- ELK
Bull elk hunting in the coastal units of the North Willamette District should be good in both the eastern Trask Unit and Scappoose Unit due to the improved bull survival during the 2012 hunting season. Bull ratios in the Scappoose Unit (16 bulls per 100 cows) and the Trask Unit (23 bulls per 100 cows) are both above the Management Objective (M0) of 10 bulls per 100 cows. However, overall elk populations in both units are below the Management Objective and fewer antlerless elk tags will be available to hunters. In the Scappoose Unit, elk are more numerous in the timberlands of the northwestern portion of the unit. In the eastern Trask, elk are widely scattered and can be found near agricultural fields and within the private timberlands.
AJ VOSPER SHOWS OFF HIS FIRST ELK, SHOT NEAR ST. HELENS IN THE SCAPPOOSE UNIT LAST SEASON. (BROWNING PHOTO CONTEST)
In the north Santiam Unit, elk populations in the Mt. Hood National Forest continue to decline due to limited forage availability. Hunters will find the majority of elk on the industrial forestlands and agricultural fields at lower elevations. Hunters should concentrate their efforts on these low elevation lands for their best chance of success. Contacting private landowners prior to the hunting season will be the key to finding these elk. Hunters are reminded to always ask for permission before entering private lands.
Scappoose Unit: Good bull escapement combined with improved calf recruitment should mean above average bull hunting this fall. Harvest should continue to be dominated by younger age class bulls but there should be a few additional mature bulls available for the persistent hunter. Hunting opportunities for antlerless elk will be reduced due to the decline in the elk population over the past few years. Hunters are reminded that most of the timberland managers within this unit participate in the North Coast Travel Management Area and hunters should read and follow all posted regulations to ensure continued access. Some areas to consider include Upper McKay Creek, Green Mountain, Bunker Hill and Mount Cedara.
East Trask Unit: Slightly improved bull escapement from last hunting season will likely mean an above average opportunity for bull elk hunters this fall. Bulls will be widely scattered throughout the unit and hunters are encouraged to spend time scouting in order to locate elk before the season begins. Late season antlerless elk hunting opportunities will be reduced due to the decline in the elk population. Hunters that have drawn an antlerless elk tag should still have good success if they can find elk concentrated near agricultural fields and low elevation timber stands. Hunters need to be aware of frequent changes of land ownership in the agricultural-forest fringes and always ask for permission before entering private lands. Hunters wanting to do more walk-in hunting should be looking at the Upper Tualatin-Trask Travel Management Area west of Forest Grove as a good option. Other areas to consider include Trask Mt., Stony Mt. and Neverstill.
North Santiam Unit: Declining elk numbers within the Mt. Hood National Forest will make for poor elk hunting on public lands and hunter success should be slightly below average on lower elevation private timberlands. The 2012 bull ratios (17 bulls per 100 cows) declined from a high of 23 bulls per 100 cows observed in 2011. Hunters heading for the Mt. Hood National Forest will find elk highly scattered and difficult to locate. Scout early and often to be successful there. Places to begin include Timothy Lake, Rhododendron Ridge and Granite Peaks. At lower elevations, hunters should explore the Abiqua Basin, Butte Creek, Upper Molalla River and Eagle Creek.
radio-collared black-tailed deer
SOUTH WILLAMETTE WATERSHED DISTRICT- DEER
Black-tailed deer populations remain below historic levels. There are still deer available but hunters need to hunt hard and smart in order to have consistent success. The bright spot is that surveys last fall indicate that post season buck ratios remain strong with an overall ratio of 31 bucks per 100 does in the District with three and four point bucks accounting for 46% of the bucks observed. This means there is the potential for hunters to take some mature bucks again this year.
South Santiam Unit: The B&B Fire area of the southeast Santiam offers one of the better places to find deer on National Forest land within the District. The burn is getting brushy which is good for deer populations but can make hunting challenging. The southwest portion of the Santiam unit is primarily private lands and hunters should verify the access policy of the particular timber landowner where they plan to hunt.
McKenzie Unit: Finding deer on national forestlands in the McKenzie can be challenging. Hunters should look for areas with recent thinning projects or controlled burns. Some thinning has occurred around the North Fork of the Middle Fork Willamette and in the Scott Creek area west of the Mt Washington Wilderness. There are strong deer populations on Weyerhaeuser property in the Wendling and Fall Creek areas. Access is often limited to specific days and areas. Please call the Weyerhaeuser Access Hotline at 1-888-741-5403 for the latest on hunter access restrictions. Hunters should be aware that the Wendling Travel Management Area is in effect this year and has been expanded north to the Calapooia Mainline Road. The TMA is in effect through the end of general rifle deer season, including the youth extension weekend. This project has increased hunter access with 7-day a week hunting but vehicle travel is restricted to designated open roads. Open roads will be designated with orange road markers in the field. Access may be closed or restricted due to fire danger, management needs, or timber harvest activities. Call the Weyerhaeuser Access Hotline at 1-888-741-5403 prompt #6 for updated information on access restrictions. Hunter compliance is important for this increase in access to continue into future years. The Wendling TMA has been very popular with hunters and experiences a high volume of use. It is estimated that 4597 vehicle use days occurred in 2011 and 3551 vehicle use days occurred in 2012 despite the open period being restricted due to fire danger. Hunters concerned with potential crowding can take advantage of the 7 day a week access to hunt mid-week.
NORTH INDIGO: The northern portion of the Indigo unit constantly has a high buck ratio but can be challenging to hunt. The 2009 Tumblebug Fire is starting to produce forage and deer populations in the area should begin to respond. Outside the burn, hunters will want to concentrate their effort near old timber harvest units or natural openings that provide forage. Deer numbers have started improving on private timberlands southeast of Cottage Grove with recent timber harvest activity. Please call the Weyerhaeuser Access Hotline at 1-888-741-5403 for the latest on hunter access restrictions. Hunters may encounter radio collared deer in the Indigo Unit. Hunters are reminded to contact ODFW if they harvest a radio collared deer.
SOUTH WILLAMETTE WATERSHED DISTRICT- ELK
Expect elk hunting to be similar to recent years. Bull ratios have remained at or above management objective for most areas but hunters need to work hard in order to be successful. Hunters tend to have higher success rates in the coastal units than in the Cascades.
Archery, muzzleloader (200M1), and Disability Permit hunters need to be aware that antlerless elk are no longer included in the bag limit on national forest owned lands in the Cascade units. Please check the 2013 Big Game Regulations for bag limits and season dates for the units you hunt. This bag limit change did not affect lands owned by other entities such as private lands or BLM lands.
Elk populations in the Cascades appear stable to increasing on private lands but decreasing on national forestlands. The result is lower hunter success rates as hunters have a difficult time finding elk on national forestland and have limited access to private lands. All this makes pre-season scouting very important. Hunters are advised to look just outside high elevation wilderness areas for elk as the wilderness areas tend to be lacking in high quality forage. More elk are likely to be found along the higher elevation fringes where past timber management improved forage. Lower elevation private timberland is also a good place to hunt for elk when access is allowed by the landowner. Timber harvest on these lands has increased forage while the motor vehicle access restrictions in place most of the year keeps disturbance low. In areas where access is restricted to weekends only, hunters may want to hunt the private lands during the weekend and move to the national forest to hunt the weekdays.
SOUTHWEST REGION – DEER
COOS COUNTY (west Tioga, west Powers, north Sixes, southwest Siuslaw): Overall deer populations in Coos County appear to be stable with some increase seen in the North Sixes and portions of the Tioga Units. A decreased prevalence of deer hair loss syndrome has resulted in better fawn survival in these areas. Buck survival during last season appeared to be fairly high as well. Hunting prospects are good in all units; however a large percentage of private vs. public lands may limit hunter access in some areas of the Powers and Sixes Unit. Hunters are encouraged to scout early and contact landowners in these areas to obtain access. Hunters are also encouraged to contact private timber companies and ranch owners to ask for hunting access. There is more accessible public land in the Tioga Unit and areas such as the Elliott State Forest may be productive. Hunt for deer in brushy openings, meadows and clear cuts where brush is beginning to grow up. Areas where vehicle access is limited will be the most productive for deer.
DOUGLAS COUNTY (Dixon, S. Indigo, NW Evans Creek, Melrose, SW Siuslaw, E. Tioga and NE Powers Units): Deer populations remain similar to last year with large numbers on the Umpqua Valley floor and lower populations in the Cascades and Coast ranges. Fawn ratios have been good the last ten years, showing good overall deer recruitment throughout the county. Buck ratios are similar to last year so hunters should expect to find a good number of legal bucks if they work clearcuts and other places that have brushy habitats. In addition, mild winter conditions over the last few years have contributed to excellent survival, providing a good deer harvest opportunity this season.
Most property on the Umpqua valley floor is privately owned and hunters are reminded to obtain permission before hunting on private lands. For hunters looking to hunt on private timberlands, don’t forget to check with local timber companies to obtain information on access restrictions related to fire conditions. During the early part of rifle and archery season, hunters should find deer on the northerly slopes, near water and green up areas.
JACKSON, JOSEPHINE, CURRY COUNTIES (Applegate, Chetco, Evans Creek, Rogue, portions of Dixon, and Sixes): The fall deer hunting forecast in Jackson, Josephine and Curry counties looks good. Deer counts have been stable for the past three years with buck ratios remaining strong. Acorn surveys throughout the area show variation in acorn abundance. The spring had less rainfall resulting in reduced brush. Hunting is expected to be average for all of our units. Most deer will be in high elevations through September. Unlike many black-tails, Jackson County’s deer are migratory and hunters are encouraged to hunt high elevations in the first part of the season, switching to mid to low elevations later in the season. Josephine and Curry counties deer population show very little migration and deer can be found throughout all elevations. Don’t forget to check fire restrictions before heading out especially early in the season.
SOUTHWEST REGION – ELK
COOS COUNTY (west Tioga, west Powers, north Sixes, southwest Siuslaw): Early forage production in Coos County was good in most places due to significant and timely spring rains; however an extremely dry summer and the resulting fire danger may lead to large tracts of land being closed to access during early General Bow, Controlled Bow and Youth Controlled hunts. Elk are expected to be in good physical shape because a large amount of feed is available. Elk populations are above the Management Objective in the Sixes Unit and close to objective in Powers. Over the past few years the population in the Tioga has decreased. Much of the decrease was intentional due to populations that were chronically above Management Objective. Surveys done in February indicate the Tioga elk population is now at or slightly below Management Objective. This has resulted in limited opportunities to harvest cows in the Tioga Unit and hunters are reminded that Disability Permit holders and bowhunters can no longer harvest antlerless animals in the Tioga Unit. This change will allow the population to slowly increase towards the Management Objective.
Clearly the most important factor that determines where elk will be found is human activity. Elk can be expected to move to places where vehicle and other human activity are minimized. Road closures are often the best places to find elk on a regular basis. Within these areas, hunting will be best on north-facing slopes in the early seasons. Later in the season, elk often move to south-facing slopes where green-up starts earlier. A particularly productive habitat type to hunt in the Oregon Coast Range is areas where foresters have thinned timber stands. Thinning the tree canopy encourages grass and brush growth on the ground, improving feed quality.
DOUGLAS COUNTY (Dixon, S. Indigo, NW Evans Creek, Melrose, SW Siuslaw, E. Tioga and NE Powers Units): The outlook for hunters this elk season looks to be similar to last year. February aerial surveys found good bull and calf ratios at our close to management objectives. Good escapement from the 2012 hunting season and another mild winter increased elk herd survival. Elk numbers are greatest in the E. Tioga, mid to high elevations of the Dixon and S. Indigo and the perimeter of the Melrose units. Early in the season, some of the local private timberlands are restricting access due to the high fire danger so hunters should obtain more information on any restrictions before hunting.
JACKSON, JOSEPHINE, CURRY COUNTIES (Applegate, Chetco, Evans Creek, Rogue, portions of Tioga, Dixon, and Sixes): Bull ratios remain good for all of our units. February elk surveys showed a decrease in calf ratios. Cascade elk season will be early again this year with the potential to be hot and dry, so it is important for hunters to pre-scout areas for elk. Known water sources or wallows can be good locations to start your scouting activities. Archery hunters need to focus on north-facing hills, in higher elevation or areas of cooler draws where they can retreat into during the heat of the day. Elk populations are minimal in the E. Chetco and the Applegate though some can be found in select drainages in Applegate. Units along the coast have higher elk numbers on private property. Elk in the Evans Creek Unit are primarily found near private properties. There are also lots of elk down low in and amongst private land but gaining access to these properties requires homework early in the season.
A new change for this year for archery, muzzle loader, and disability hunters—the bag limit is bull only (rather than any elk) within national forestlands in the Dixon, Evans Creek and Rogue unit due to declining elk populations.
HIGH DESERT – DEER
Mid-Columbia District (Hood, White River, Maupin, West Biggs): The West Biggs Unit has good numbers of deer and a strong component of mature bucks. Much of the unit is private. The Deschutes and John Day canyons are great public places to find weary bucks, especially later in the season.
The Maupin Unit has great buck ratios and should provide good opportunities at older bucks for those hunters with access to private lands. There is some limited public access within the Deschutes canyon. Having a good map to ensure you know where you are is essentiall.
Buck numbers in the White River are on the rebound, and good recruitment over the past couple years should continue to increase hunter success. For the best chance at harvesting a mature buck, hunters should expect to get away from roads and focus on higher elevation habitats.
Hunters headed for the Hood unit should pay close attention to fire restrictions. Last year, most of the private timber companies in the valley closed their lands due to extreme fire conditions, and this summer may be even worse if fall rains are delayed. Finding open areas with good browse is key to hunter success. Deer activity is typically highest during first and last light.
DEER MIGRATION STUDY: ODFW is conducting a buck deer study in the southern portion of the White River Unit to improve its knowledge of local deer herds. ODFW would appreciate if hunters could report any sightings of these deer. Radio-collared deer in this unit are legal to shoot but return collar and identify location of the kill to The Dalles District office (3701 W 13th Street, The Dalles, OR 97058, tel. 541-296-4628).
Prineville District (Maury, Ochoco, Grizzly): Remember the new travel rules for the Ochoco and Deschutes national forests that went into effect a few years ago. Pick up a motor vehicle use map so you know what’s open vs. closed.
Deer hunters should find decent prospects for a buck this fall. Buck ratios are near or above management objective in all Prineville District units. Rifle buck tags remain unchanged from last year, except for additional tags added to the Grizzly unit. The hot and dry summer conditions may have an impact on hunting success and vegetation quality depending on precipitation this fall.
This buck season is one of the earliest due to the calendar switch. Hunters willing and able to hunt later in the season should find better success rates. Fawn recruitment and body condition is average across all units. Overall, deer populations continue to be lower than desired due to habitat loss and disturbance, poaching, predation, disease and road kills.
The MAURY unit is approximately 65% public lands, with BLM managing most of the public lands available to hunters. The unit does include the Maury Mountains managed by the Ochoco National Forest. The Gerry Mountain, S. Fork Crooked River, Sand Hollow Well and Hampton Butte Wilderness Study Areas are on BLM lands and offer challenging and more roadless hunting opportunities. Archery hunters are reminded that as part of the Mule Deer Initiative (MDI); the Maury unit is now a controlled deer archery unit requiring archers to possess a controlled entry buck tag. Hunters can expect to see larger, older age class bucks as a result of MDI-related tag reductions in the last three hunting seasons. Hunters should expect to see juniper cuts within the Maury unit. OCHOCO unit is approximately 50% Ochoco National Forest, 10% BLM, with the remainder private. The South Boundary and Rager Travel Management Areas (TMAs) are in this unit on Ochoco National Forest lands. Motorized vehicles are allowed, but are restricted to designated roads. Maps for both TMAs are available at portal signs and at Ochoco National Forest and Prineville ODFW offices. Hunters observing illegal vehicle use or any other violations are encouraged to use the TIP hotline (1-800-452-7888).
GRIZZLY is approximately 70% private land so access is challenging. Public lands are mostly on the Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grassland.
Deschutes District (Upper Deschutes, Paulina, North Wagontire, Northwest Fort Rock, Metolius): Spring 2013 fawn ratios were only fair across much of the Deschutes District and these animals are this fall’s spikes and 2-point bucks. Buck ratios are near, or above, management objectives in all Deschutes District units. There should be decent numbers of both mature and yearling bucks available in most units relative to the population size. Management activities including controlled hunting, increased enforcement, disease monitoring and closures to protect wintering habitat have helped bring buck ratios up. Overall, deer populations continue to be significantly lower than desired due to disease, habitat loss and disturbance, poaching, predation, and road kills. As a result, hunter success will probably be lower than the long-term average this year in the Paulina, Upper Deschutes, North Wagontire and Ft. Rock units. Hunter success is expected to be above average in the Metolius unit.
Klamath District (Keno, Klamath Falls, Sprague, SW portion of Ft Rock, West portion of Silver Lake, West Interstate): Following the mild winter, overwinter fawn survival was fairly good; however the fall fawn ratio was lower so there were lower fawn numbers entering winter. For all units, buck ratios are above management objectives and a good component of older age bucks exists. Tag numbers remain unchanged in all units with the exception of the Keno Unit where tags were increased slightly due to a good spring fawn ratio and high buck ratio. Hunters can expect an average year with slightly lower numbers of yearling bucks available due to lower fawn numbers in the other units. Hunters should concentrate efforts in areas with healthy understory vegetation or thinned areas that offer good forage availability adjacent to cover.
Lake District (Warner, Interstate, Silver Lake, southern portions of Beatys Butte, Fort Rock and Wagontire): Buck ratios were at or above management objective in all units. Fawn recruitment was below maintenance in Silver Lake, Interstate, Warner, Wagontire and Beatys Butte, and only slightly above maintenance levels in Fort Rock. The lower fawn recruitment means there will be fewer yearling bucks in the population and therefore hunter success is expected to be slightly below average. At this time, the desert units are very dry and water is limited. Lower elevations in the forested units also are very dry. Without some late summer rains, deer will be foraging on shrubs and hunters should focus on those areas with shrubs in the understory. All of the forested units have had large wildfires which occurred after 2001. These wildfire areas have recovered and are providing good forage so hunters should concentrate effort in the burned-unburned edges. Beatys Butte, Wagontire and South Juniper are all desert units with low deer populations. Hunters in these units should focus on the desert rims with sagebrush or bitterbrush for best success. Remember archery season in the Warner unit is limited entry.
Harney District (Silvies, Malheur River, Steens Mt, Juniper, portions of Beatys Butte and Wagontire): Deer populations are stable throughout the district due to a mild winter leading to good fawn survival over the winter. Buck ratios in all units are at or above management objective with good numbers of younger bucks.
Habitat conditions in the forested areas of the Silvies and Malheur are generally good, but the desert portions will be extremely dry unless we get some late summer or fall rains. The Egley Complex fire in 2006, which burned approximately 140,000 acres in the Silvies Unit, is generally recovering and providing good early stage habitat for both deer and elk.
Deer populations in the Beatys Butte, Wagontire, Juniper, Steens and Trout Creek portions of the Whitehorse unit are all desert units with low deer populations. These units continue to be well below management objectives, but with good fawn recruitment over the last few years there should be an increasing number of bucks in the population. Hunters should focus on the desert rims with sagebrush or bitterbrush for best success. Water is very limited in these units this year due to very little precipitation this winter, spring and summer. Archery hunters are reminded that as part of the Mule Deer Initiative (MDI); the Steens unit is now a controlled deer archery unit requiring archers to possess a controlled entry buck tag.
Malheur District (Whitehorse, Owyhee and Beulah Units): Most of Malheur District experienced an extended cold snap during January that was hard on wintering big game. This cold snap followed an extremely dry summer and fall that caused deer to enter winter in poor body condition. Therefore, fawn recruitment was low throughout the district.
In the Beulah unit, low fawn ratios translates to fewer yearling bucks being available this fall and a decline in hunter success as much of the harvest in this unit is comprised of yearlings. Post-season buck ratios were slightly above management objective last year, so older age class buck numbers should be similar to recent years. Much of the best deer hunting is on public land near the edge of the Malheur National Forest. Other areas within the National Forest that have had recent fires or logging activity can also be productive. With the drought conditions, there will likely be fewer deer in the desert portions of the unit.
For the Owyhee Unit, wildfire and weed invasion continues to have an impact on the ability of this unit to produce deer. Fawn recruitment has been low since 2009 and the deer population is declining, but buck ratios are at or above management objective. For 2012, hunter success was 50% and there was still a good proportion of mature bucks in the harvest. However it is a very challenging unit to hunt as deer are widely scattered in the unit and there is no one area with consistently good deer numbers. The Owyhee Fire also burned 45,000 acres near Owyhee Dam and State Park earlier this year.
East Whitehorse Unit is another difficult unit to hunt if you are not familiar with the unit. Deer numbers are low and they can be widely scattered in the unit. On a more positive note, the buck ratio remains above management objective and hunter success was 58% in 2012 with a good proportion of mature bucks. The major fires of 2012 and the ongoing drought will continue to affect deer hunting in this unit this season. Additional wildfires have burned in 2013.
Trout Creek Mountains: The Holloway Fire burned most of this unit in 2012, except for the Oregon Canyon and Sherman Field areas. Hunter success increased slightly in 2012, likely due to the loss of some hiding cover. Since the fire, the higher elevations have had decent vegetation recovery despite the drought conditions and the deer seem to have summered well. Reports from people scouting the unit indicate this might be a good year to have a Trout Creek tag. It is still unclear how this deer herd will respond to this fire over the longer term.
HIGH DESERT – ELK
Mid-Columbia District (Hood, White River, Maupin, West Biggs): Elk numbers in the White River and Hood units are near the management objective and will be found scattered in small groups throughout the units. Herd numbers have been slightly increasing annually with fair bull numbers. However, heavy cover makes harvesting a bull challenging. Most mature bulls are found at higher elevations, especially during the first season. Many hunters choose to hunt the second of the two general seasons. The second season is longer, with a greater chance of winter weather to improve hunting conditions and success. Bull elk hunting in the Maupin and West Biggs also is general season, but the animals are almost exclusively found on private lands. Gaining landowner permission in that area could result in a successful hunt. The White River Wildlife Area has fair numbers of elk and is open to public hunting; remember fire restrictions are likely in effect during archery season.
Prineville District (Maury, Ochoco, Grizzly): Elk populations are just below management objectives and bull ratios are quite variable in all three units. Elk are in good body condition and highly mobile across their range. Depending on weather conditions, hunters should expect to find elk on north-slope drainages and high elevations during archery season and more scattered during bull seasons.
TINA CLOWERS ARROWED THIS GRIZZLY UNIT SPIKE EARLIER THIS SEASON. BIG BRO CARL LEWALLEN REPORTED IT WAS HER FIRST ELK. “SHE SAID SHE’S NOT A TROPHY HUNTER AND WOULD HAVE SHOT A COW ELK BUT WAS VERY EXCITED TO TAKE A SMALL BULL. SHE HAS SAT IN A TREE STAND FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS AND HASN’T SEEN ANYTHING AND DECIDED TO HIT THE GROUND HARD AFTER 4 HOURS OF WALKING AND CALLING SHE CALLED IN THIS SPIKE BULL TO THIRTY YARDS WITH A PRIMOS HOOCHIE MAMA LAUNCHING HER PINK MUZZY 100 AND HER 27IN BEMAN ICS 500 ARROW FROM HER BOWTEC HEART BREAKER SEVERING MAJOR ORGANS WITH A TEXTBOOK SHOT WHILE SITTING ON THE GROUND BENEATH A TREE. THE ELK WENT ONLY 50 YARDS BEFORE DYING.”
(BROWNING PHOTO CONTEST)
The Maury and Ochoco units offer the best opportunities for bagging an animal on public land, while the Grizzly unit is mostly private land where access can be difficult. Ochoco unit rifle hunters are reminded the Rager and South Boundary TMA motorized vehicle restrictions will be in effect. Maps of those areas are available on ODFW’s website and from ODFW and Ochoco National Forest offices. A majority of cow elk tags have been eliminated in the Ochoco unit on public land due to declining elk populations on national forest. New private land hunts for the Ochoco unit are intended to increase elk use on the national forest and eliminate elk staying on private land throughout the seasons. Elk bow hunters must also have a controlled Maury Unit deer bow tag (used/unused) to hunt elk in the Maury Unit.
Deschutes– Upper Deschutes, Paulina, north Wagontire, north Fort Rock, Metolius): Paulina and Fort Rock unit bull ratios are down slightly this year. Relative to the number of elk, branch antlered bull opportunity will be decent in the Paulina and East Fort Rock units. Herds are at relatively low densities and cover a lot of country, so hunter success is typically low.
Elk numbers continue to grow slowly in the Cascade units. The Upper Deschutes, Metolius and West Fort Rock units are managed under the general season ‘Cascade’ hunt. Elk densities are moderate, but hunter densities are high in the roaded portions of the Cascade units. For solitude, seek more remote wilderness and roadless areas in the Cascades. Persons with a “Disability Permit” are limited to a “legal bull” bag limit in these Cascade units this year.
Elk numbers in the North Wagontire (High Desert hunts) are quite variable due to large movements these animals make. The elk are most consistent in their daily patterns near alfalfa fields. Hunters are advised to select their target animal carefully when elk are in open country, and in large herds, to try and avoid wounded animals or multiple animals being hit.
Harney District (Silvies, Malheur River, Steens Mt, Juniper, portions of Beatys Butte and Wagontire): Elk populations in the Silvies and Malheur River units remain at or above management objectives and bull ratios are similar to previous years with good numbers of adult bulls available. Both units offer good hunting opportunities for elk. The Egley Complex fire in 2006, which burned approximately 140,000 acres in the Silvies Unit, is generally recovering and providing good early growth for both elk and deer.
Elk densities in the Steens, Juniper and portions of Beatys Butte and Wagontire (High Desert hunts) are low. Elk movement can be quite variable, as they will travel long distances in short periods of time, making hunting difficult.
Malheur District (Whitehorse, Owyhee and Beulah Units): E Beulah is an elk de-emphasis zone. Tag numbers are high with numerous long seasons to keep the elk population under control. Success rates are poor without access to private lands. Whitehorse and Owyhee units are part of the High Desert hunt area. Whitehorse unit has very few elk. An increasing number of elk have been observed in the northwestern portion of the Owhyee unit. These elk are often observed in large groups and very nomadic which makes them difficult to locate consistently.
Klamath District (Keno, Klamath Falls, Sprague, SW portion of Ft Rock, West portion of Silver Lake, West Interstate): The Cascades offer the best opportunities for elk hunting. The Cascade Area west of Highway 97 is a general season tag. Bull ratios are above management objective and some older age bulls are available. Best prospects are in the Keno and Fort Rock Units. Elk numbers are lower in the eastern part of the county, and seasons east of Highway 97 are limited entry. Overall population trends are stable to slightly increasing in some areas but below population management objectives like much of the region. Archery hunters will have a bull only bag limit in all units with the exception of the Fort Rock unit east of Highway 97 where an either-sex bag limit is in effect.
Lake County District (Warner, Interstate, Silver Lake, southern portions of Beatys Butte, Fort Rock and Wagontire): Bull ratios are at or above objectives but elk densities are very low. Elk numbers are generally higher in the Silver Lake and Fort Rock units then in units further south. All rifle elk seasons are limited entry with a bull-only bag limit. Archery seasons are general with a bull-only bag limit in Silver Lake, Interstate and Warner. Fort Rock unit is a general season with an either sex bag limit. Hunters wishing to hunt elk in Warner, are required to possess a limited entry deer tag.
NORTHEAST – DEER
BAKER DISTRICT: Sumpter, Keating, Pine Creek, Lookout Mt. wildlife management units: Over-winter survival was good in all units with over-all fawn numbers up from last year. Buck ratios are still at or above management objectives. The body condition of animals should be excellent with the early summer rains producing forage later than usual.
GRANT DISTRICT: Deer populations in Grant County continue to be below management objectives. Grant County experienced a dry summer and warm fall last year which lead to slightly lower than normal fawn ratios going into this winter. Some late rains did help produce decent fall green up in the valley. This winter was average temperature wise and slightly drier than usual. Adult and fawn survival over winter was good; however the lower number of fawns going into winter produced an average fawn crop. This spring has been warm and dry and the district appears to be in a drought situation again this summer. Buck ratios are hovering right around management objective.
Remember the Murderers Creek-Flagtail Travel Management Area begins three days prior to archery season now (rather than three days prior to rifle season).
HEPPNER DISTRICT: Heppner, Fossil, East Biggs, southern Columbia Basin wildlife management units: Deer in Heppner are stable to slightly increasing and buck ratios are good. Adult deer survived the mild winter well but fawn survival was down from last year. Hunters should expect decent hunting throughout the unit.
The Fossil unit deer numbers are also stable to slightly increasing. Public lands hunters can work the old Wheeler Burn, which is still producing a fair number of deer and is historically a good spot.
LONGTIME FOSSIL UNIT HUNTER BUZZ RAMSEY BAGGED THIS NICE MULEY THERE LAST YEAR WHILE HUNTING WITH SON, WADE. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
The Columbia Basin and East Biggs deer herds are stable. If you can find access to private land in the Columbia Basin or John Day River Canyon, you should expect decent hunting.
The summer has been very hot and dry and unless conditions change, early season hunters will want to focus on areas of good forage and water.
UNION DISTRICT: Starkey, Catherine Creek, East Mt. Emily, portions of Sled Springs, and Wenaha wildlife management units: Deer in Union County survived the winter reasonably well this year. It’s likely to be a good year for hunter success. Deer appear to be in excellent physical condition due to high quality forage produced by a very wet spring. Buck ratios are up slightly in Starkey, about the same in Catherine Creek and down slightly in East Mt. Emily. Fawn survival through the winter was 77% or higher in the units mentioned above. The Catherine Creek unit continues to be well under our target population objective; East Mt. Emily and Starkey are at or above population target levels. Buck ratios (bucks per 100 does) are 17 in the Starkey, 16 in Catherine Creek and 12 in East Mt. Emily Hunt units.
UMATILLA DISTRICT: Walla Walla, Mt. Emily, Ukiah, eastern portion of Heppner, northern Columbia Basin: Hunting should be average. The winter and spring were dry, but rains in June helped to mitigate some of the looming drought effects. Ukiah and Walla Walla are good places to get a buck as numbers are good. West Mt Emily has traditionally had bigger bucks, but some recent population declines have reduced buck numbers. While deer continue to persist in good numbers in the Blue Mountains, the deer factory that was the Tower Fire (Ukiah unit) has come to an end; populations have shrunk naturally along with forage.
WALLOWA DISTRICT: Wenaha, Sled Springs, Chesnimnus, Snake River, Minam, Imnaha: Despite a relatively mild winter, deer numbers are still low in all units with this past year’s fawn survival lower than desired. Predation on adults and fawns continues to hold deer populations well below management objective levels. Hunters can expect to see fewer yearling bucks this year, but adult buck ratios have remained stable in all units. There should still be opportunity for older age class bucks for hunters willing to spend the time and effort.
NORTHEAST – ELK
BAKER DISTRICT: Sumpter, Keating, Pine Creek, Lookout Mt. wildlife management units: Elk herds in Baker County came out of the winter in good shape. Bull ratios are at or near management objective for all units. Calf ratios are stable throughout the units, with the highest in the Lookout Unit. For the best chance at tagging an elk, get as far away from roads as possible, perhaps by hunting in one of the cooperative Travel Management Areas.
GRANT DISTRICT: Most elk populations are at or above management objectives in the Grant district units. Calf ratios were lower at the end of the winter than they were last year, except in the Desolation unit, which experienced higher calf recruitment this year. Because of the higher calf recruitment in the Desolation unit, elk hunting may be better than the past year. For the rest of the district, expect an average year for hunting. Due to the dry conditions, elk will be focusing on areas of good forage at least early in the fall.
Remember the Murderers Creek-Flagtail Travel Management Area begins three days prior to archery season now (rather than three days prior to rifle season).
HEPPNER DISTRICT: Heppner, Fossil, East Biggs, southern Columbia Basin wildlife management units: Hunting should be similar to last year. With another good calf ratio last spring, the population continues to expand. Bull ratios are slightly above objectives and ODFW is starting to see some older-age class bulls. Bull ratios in Fossil are above management objective, but calf ratios are still down.
UNION DISTRICT: Starkey, Catherine Creek, East Mt. Emily, portions of Sled Springs, and Wenaha wildlife management units: Elk hunting should be above-average in the Starkey unit with an increase in calf survival over last year. Catherine Creek unit hunter success should be up due to a slightly elevated population. Prospects for the East Mt. Emily unit are expected to be better than average due to an increase in calf survival and bull ratios.
Elk in the Starkey and Catherine Creek units came through the winter in relatively good condition. Starkey is just below population management objective and Catherine Creek is well above the objective. Bull ratios (bulls per 100 cows) are 9, 12, and 13 respectively for the Starkey, Catherine Creek and east side of the Mt. Emily units. These bull ratios are either the same or up from the previous year. Calf ratios (calves per 100 cows) are 26, 29 and 28 respectively for the Starkey, Catherine Creek and east side of the Mt. Emily units. These calf ratios are all up from the previous year.
UMATILLA DISTRICT: Walla Walla, Mt. Emily, Ukiah, eastern portion of Heppner, northern Columbia Basin: Mt Emily and Walla Walla continue to offer very high quality branch bull hunting for those hunters lucky enough to have a tag. Heppner is another bright spot; calf ratios are up. However, it will be a tough year for spike hunters in the Walla Walla and Mt. Emily Units due to what biologists believe is continued high predation. The Ukiah unit has improved in the past two years where ODFW has been thinning cougar populations. Calf ratios have been higher in the last two years than in recent years and will provide more spike bulls for harvest. The unit is not at desired recruitment levels yet, but is moving in the right direction for more spike bull harvest.
WALLOWA DISTRICT: Wenaha, Sled Springs, Chesnimnus, Snake River, Minam, Imnaha: Elk numbers continue to increase slowly in most units. The past year’s district calf survival was low, averaging 19 calves per 100 cows. Predation on elk calves continues to hold calf recruitment at low levels. Hunters can expect to see fewer yearling (spike) bulls this fall. Most units have good numbers of branched bulls and hunting success should be good. The Wenaha Unit population is still below management objective level, and spike hunters can expect low success.