Oregon Mule deer sucsess

[Archery King]

Hey guys and gals i drew Steens Mt mule deer archery!  Its a long trip down but i plan to make as many scouting trips as possable!  If anyone has any info or advice i would love to here from you 
 
Unit 169R  August 25 to september 25

[MtnMuley]

Great unit.  Tough dates.  Could end up being the hunt of a lifetime.

[Elkstuffer]

Get up high and glass. That time of year it will be 100+ degrees at mid day. I'd look for some water holes off the beaten path that have a lot of deer sign at them and build or set up a ground blind. Setting up a trailcam would tell you whats coming in also. Good Luck.

[Pueblo]

That time of year it will be 100+ degrees at mid day. I'd look for some water holes off the beaten path that have a lot of deer sign at them and build or set up a ground blind. Setting up a trailcam would tell you whats coming in also. Good Luck.

I'm sure that there are places on Steens where this might work, but this is really spot and stalk territory as the many seeps and creeks make access to water very easy and does not drive deer to use the same waterhole.  There is a variety of terrain: low foothills dominated by juniper, creek bottoms with aspen, broken canyon lands with mahogany clusters on the ridges, Aspen forests, deep glacier cut gorges and the steep broken basalts cliffs and draws of the east slope. There are deer in all of the habitats, but I think the classic Steens hunt for Archers is found away from the roads in the higher elevations of the various gorges.  The bucks will be in their bachelor groups and will generally not be in the Aspens.  They’ll feed at night into the lusher, greener areas and then seek a daytime bed on a barren protected slope using mahogany, rocks, or small brush patches for shelter from the sun…often on some really steep stuff.

As far as the heat goes, it may be 100 at the valley floor, but it rarely gets over 90 up on the ridges…still hot enough to make you seek shade. This is an ideal situation as the bucks, once bedded tend to sit tight for a stalk and you get the added benefit of a strong thermal.  That being said , back in 2009 the winds howled and the temp was moderate for the first week of the season.  In 2010 it snowed on the second day. 

You should drive down and take a look as it's really great country and you need to perceive the scale of it and understand what roads are open and closed.  Up high there aren't many jeep trails open to travel, and down low they're mostly private. You can hunt Steens without backpacking, but lots of foot mobility is key.  Good luck!
 

[Arteman]

Was wondering if there is any good advice on the Pine Creek hunt for Mule Deer with modern rifle.  I applied based off the Oregon Tag Guide on my percentage in odds of drawing with the amount ot points I had, plus the percentage of public lands to hunt.  Thinking I would never draw in Washington this year I figured if I drew Pine Creek I would take floaters off work to scout it, and vacation to hunt it.  I drew a Washington Bull permit also so now that takes priority with all my time to scout, and hunt, etc.  Id like to still go to Pine Creek for a weekend at least, and maybe two, and won't be picky if I get a chance to fill the tag.  Other than maps, and Google Earth ill be going in blind to hunt it.  Thanks for any help.