Oregon Success Rates

[Kumacub]

I was looking at Oregon as another opportunity to hunt Deer and Elk. Based on harvest reports for blacktails; is there a reason that Oregon has 30% higher average for harvesting blacktails over Washington? I was looking at most of their public land areas on the west side mainly. From what I understand mule deer are draw only.

Does anyone have any insight on this or hunt both states to compare what is going on? Is it a lack of harvest reporting in WA, lower deer population, too many predators, etc. Just trying to learn some more (Inexperienced hunter, 2 years, no harvest yet.) Just looking at public data to hopefully learn more.

[Crunchy]

Not sure why that is.  Less population less hunters?  I've been hunting Oregon for nearly 20 years straight.  Well I think I missed one year.  The hunting pressure just seems a lot less at least on the east side.  Never hunted the west side

[Humptulips]

I never hunted in Oregon but I trapped the Coast for a number of years 2001 to I think 2011. Hardly ever saw a deer. Seemed like there were quite a few elk. Lincoln County mostly Yachats to the Nestucca in Tillamook County but also Vernonia to Astoria. Lots of cougar.

[Woodchuck]

Not sure why that is.  Less population less hunters?  I've been hunting Oregon for nearly 20 years straight.  Well I think I missed one year.  The hunting pressure just seems a lot less at least on the east side.  Never hunted the west side

Everything in eastern Oregon is draw only, residents included.

[elkboy]

I think it may have to do with more naturally open forests and woodlands in the Willamette and the interior valleys of SW Oregon, which makes deer a little more visible. More oak as well, which really benefits deer. Also, Oregon has a lower human population amd population density than Washington.  Less hunting pressure, and it seems to me Oregon has paved over less of its farmlands and low elevation forests than Washington has, conserving the forest/farm landscapes that deer like.  Just my 2 cents.

[kselkhunter]

The number of hunters for deer between Washington and Oregon are not that much difference.   Oregon had 103,000 modern firearm hunters vs. 98,000 for Washington last year for statewide numbers. 

Looking at blacktail only, the Northwest zone of Oregon is similar to Washington in terms of harvest statistics of blacktails.   The blacktail general season harvest numbers in Oregon are skewed by the southwest zone.   I grew up in the southwest zone, and honestly there are simply more deer down there than in the northwest zone.  I've hunted both Oregon and Washington over the past 4 decades, and yeah there are just more deer down in that southwest zone than there are in northwest zone or in western WA.  Not just by seeing deer, but what I've observed in terms of fresh deer scat and trails in OR and WA.     

~40K hunters harvested ~11K blacktail bucks in the Northwest zone of Oregon
~29K hunters harvested ~11K blacktail bucks in the Southwest zone of Oregon

Some of those Southwest zone numbers are skewed by harvests on private land.  Much of that 52% success rate in the Melrose unit is private land harvests. Melrose is Roseburg area and only 16% public land....lots of deer taken off farmland there.   Similar story for Sixes unit which is 29% public land and 55% harvest success.  I took my first buck out of Chetco unit 40 years ago, and that unit is 47% success rate on 82% public lands.   Much more open territory than traditional blacktail forests.   It's more dry terrain, think madrone trees and wild rhododendrum bushes. 

If you were wanting to hunt Oregon for blacktail I'd focus on the southwest zone.  Chetco, Applegate, Evans Creek, Powers, Dixon, and north section of Rogue units.  If you can get private land access then Melrose and Sixes are very good, and the ranches I used to work in the Applegate unit used to have some large blacktail bucks on them but getting farmers to grant access there is harder these days. 

Also, Oregon has a 5 week general rifle season for blacktails which the longer season helps the harvest stats.  Stretching into early November, and you can get them in rut that last week of the season sometimes. 

[Kumacub]

The number of hunters for deer between Washington and Oregon are not that much difference.   Oregon had 103,000 modern firearm hunters vs. 98,000 for Washington last year for statewide numbers. 

Looking at blacktail only, the Northwest zone of Oregon is similar to Washington in terms of harvest statistics of blacktails.   The blacktail general season harvest numbers in Oregon are skewed by the southwest zone.   I grew up in the southwest zone, and honestly there are simply more deer down there than in the northwest zone.  I've hunted both Oregon and Washington over the past 4 decades, and yeah there are just more deer down in that southwest zone than there are in northwest zone or in western WA.  Not just by seeing deer, but what I've observed in terms of fresh deer scat and trails in OR and WA.     

~40K hunters harvested ~11K blacktail bucks in the Northwest zone of Oregon
~29K hunters harvested ~11K blacktail bucks in the Southwest zone of Oregon

Some of those Southwest zone numbers are skewed by harvests on private land.  Much of that 52% success rate in the Melrose unit is private land harvests. Melrose is Roseburg area and only 16% public land....lots of deer taken off farmland there.   Similar story for Sixes unit which is 29% public land and 55% harvest success.  I took my first buck out of Chetco unit 40 years ago, and that unit is 47% success rate on 82% public lands.   Much more open territory than traditional blacktail forests.   It's more dry terrain, think madrone trees and wild rhododendrum bushes. 

If you were wanting to hunt Oregon for blacktail I'd focus on the southwest zone.  Chetco, Applegate, Evans Creek, Powers, Dixon, and north section of Rogue units.  If you can get private land access then Melrose and Sixes are very good, and the ranches I used to work in the Applegate unit used to have some large blacktail bucks on them but getting farmers to grant access there is harder these days. 

Also, Oregon has a 5 week general rifle season for blacktails which the longer season helps the harvest stats.  Stretching into early November, and you can get them in rut that last week of the season sometimes.

I only have OnX with WA and ID. Is most of that private land farmland? Or forestry/logging companies that allow permits like up here in WA Weyhauser etc. If you don't mind me picking your brain. Just trying to plan for the season and expedite my hunting skills as much as I can.

[kselkhunter]

I switched from OnX to Basemap (out of Seattle) for that very reason.  Cheaper to get all states on Basemap, and same data.  I like the Hunting layer for Basemap too.

I'd suggest sending a PM for more details. 

For Northwest Oregon, there are private timber lands that you can get access to with a fee.  But there are also private timber lands that participate in Oregon's Access Habitat program that allow you to hunt that timber land as long as it's not fire season.   If you want to hunt Oregon, definitely get the OnX for the state and research which area you want to go.

https://myodfw.com/articles/hunting-private-lands-access-habitat-program

Examples:  Melrose is mostly private farm lands (although some private timber lands too).  Sixes is mostly private timber lands (Hancock, etc.), some of which allow access, and some farm lands. 

[TitusFord]

Doing forestry work on the west side of both states we see far more two-point or better bucks out in the open in Oregon. Seems like they don't hide in the super thick stuff like they do around home.
We also find WAY more buck sheds in Oregon than in washington. Hard to say if there's more bucks or if they just have different habits than in Washington.

[kodiak06]

I doubt there's a 30% success rate in Oregon for blacktails BUT, the stats are skewed since spike deer are legal and people shoot them. I'm talking general season units and not draw units btw... If I were a Non-resident I'd find another hunt to state over Oregon personally. There's definitly not more hunters on the Wa side than here. I'd say it's pretty equal and I do hunt both so I speak from my personal experience.

[Bucks2Ducks]

I doubt there's a 30% success rate in Oregon for blacktails BUT, the stats are skewed since spike deer are legal and people shoot them. I'm talking general season units and not draw units btw... If I were a Non-resident I'd find another hunt to state over Oregon personally. There's definitly not more hunters on the Wa side than here. I'd say it's pretty equal and I do hunt both so I speak from my personal experience.

Then you should know that people also love to shoot spikes in WA.
Also here is 3x as many residents in WA, so I would say there is def more hunters in WA