Miller Island Fire and Deer Hunting

[Rugergunsite308]

Driving back to the wetside through the gorge on Wednesday after deer hunting rifle opener on the eastside, I noticed that Miller Island close to the Dalles was on fire. This got me thinking about a couple things:

1. I've heard stories of people hunting the island back in the day and doing ok. I've also read that all islands in the Columbia are closed to hunting except for waterfowl hunting below the high water mark, which would mean a person couldn't legally hunt miller island. If I'm wrong I'd appreciate the education. I'm getting my info from page 89 of the big game regs.

2. Could the miller island fire have started from a hunter? Or if they were breaking the rules and hunting where they weren't supposed to, then I believe the correct term would be poacher. 

I hope I'm wrong on all accounts and someday I could hunt miller island. 

[Skywagon_185]

Miller Island has some awesome bucks!  Back in my flying days I used to observe a lot of deer there.  I knew someone who boated out there to hunt and foot cited.  I was able to land on the southwest side but only to look at deer.

[Limhangerslayer]

It’s open to hunting and gets hunted hard.  Plus the tribe hunts it all winter

[Rugergunsite308]

Thanks limhanger, I couldnt find anywhere that says its open but maybe that helps cut down on the riffraff. My normal spot got swallowed up by Tract D and is now part of the Yakima nation. Ran into a guy there who had been stopped and checked by the rez cop and told he can't hunt big game there anymore. Long story short, I'm looking for new places to hunt.