Click on the desired unit below to read a review.

Catherine Creek
Deer and elk numbers have been declining in this unit for years, due to poor management. Draw only elk and deer hunts for rifle, but OTC for archery equipment. Lots of roads with good access. Some areas up high with little access and less pressure. I would say about 60% pubic lands. Don't expect any monster bucks or bulls. If your hunting elk don't pass them up you may never see one again. Unit holds very very few mature bucks on public ground. Must get permission or pay trespass fee to hunt lower private ground and I still wouldn't hold my breath. Unit is lacking some serious gentics. All and all a easy physical hunt but like I said don't expect to see alot of game!! Hunt hard and you might get lucky?? -Aaron

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Hepner

Plenty of little bulls around, and many larger bulls coming of age now that they have mainly been hunting spikes in the are for a number of years.  decent success ratio.  terrain for all levels of hunters.  steep closed road areas to easy walking!   excellent areas to pack in for a very quiet hunt.  whether you want to pack with an elk cart of go further with pack horses.  number of hunters are dwindling do to the next generation of hunters that wants to sit in a truck rather than get out and find the deer and elk.  a few cougers have been seen and shot in the area but not an abundancy of cats.  plenty of big bucks and small fish! - Jamie - schwaby1952@msn.com

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High Desert

Hunted the High Desert unit for Elk in 06'.  Lots and lots of area, like 7 units to hunt.  Elk are scattered, about 2,000 head, from what the biologist says.  I found them in the Steens.  Tough hunt, giant draws and tons of juniper.  NEED AN AIRPLANE. There is some road access, some glassing points. In 10 days 5 hunters found 50 animals. No 6 point bulls.  Ended up shooting a cow.  Tastes great.  Private is best.  Some big ranches control access to lots of country.  Alfalfa fields have the elk this time of the year. Post rut hunt.  The elk are constantly on the move in the steens.  I tracked elk in fresh snow all day and never saw an animal. - Scott

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Keno

This Unit is an area that can seem to be very weak or fairly strong as far as its deer numbers are concerned. There is a lot of ground and not a ton of animals but when you find them they usually are concentrated. This unit has mulies on the far eastern edge of the unit but most of the deer are a mix between mulies and blacktails aka (benchlegs). There is a late season archery opportunity that is your best bet when trying to take a mature buck from the area. A lot of the big bucks in this unit roam solo until the late season so your odds will be greatly increased. The terrain varies from big timber to sage flats to junipers and reprod. Covering ground and finding sign is your best bet when determining where to hunt. They will rub trees a little but not as much as coastal blacktails. Rattling/calling, spot and stalk, and still hunting are the preferred methods i like to use. Tree stands could also serve some good use but most of the area is kind of open and most of the deer dont have set trails they travel a ton but there are a few. The biggest bucks i have seen out here range from the 24-26inch 150-160 class but hold a lot of blacktail characteristics, they are an awesome animal to hunt. Most of the mature bucks you will see are basket rack bucks. I have only seen a few that are true hogs. If you donate your time to the rut and cover ground you should have a good hunt. Matt Starley - starleym@ohsu.edu

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Minam

I would have to say 10-15 years ago Minam unit was the place to elk hunt. Some road acesss, but most of unit sits in the Eagle Cap Wilderness. Beautiful country to hold elk, but the numbers are just not there anymore. Use to take 2 to 3 years to draw the tag, but anymore it can be drawn with 0 points. Must say something about the herds. Almost a must have horse hunt. Most of the good hunting is about 8 to 10 miles in the backcountry. If you're a hard core DIY some good bulls can be had with OTC archery equipment. You never know, you might get lucky and find that bull over 300". I wouldn't waste my time with hunting deer in the unit. Have only heard of a few bucks (2) in the last 10 years worth talking about. Try your luck in the draw else where. - Aaron

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Mt. Emily

Mt Emily has some great elk hunting, IF you can get the tag. We've been seeing some +380" bulls the last few years. Overall elk numbers are declining, while the total amount of BIG (+350") bulls is on the rise. Last year my client and I chased a 380" bull for 4 days. ONLY negative about this unit, is spike hunters are hunting at the same time as trophy bull hunters. But if you get on private land or hunt deep away from the roads, you will be hunting alone. Worth waiting for this bull tag!!! Or buy a guaranteed Outfitter tag from one of us Outfitters that has the tag. This changes from year to year.

Deer in Mt Emily are declining fast! Dont know if it's due to cougars, wolves or what, but it is nothing like it used to be. Would not waste my time applying for the first season buck tag. With that said, the late rut hunt was good last year. The rut was late, but we shot the 7x7 buck right as the rut was just getting going. Monster bucks come up out of hell holes to find does, so just be patient! Feel free to contact me about this unit, as I guide in it a lot. --Bob bob@bluemountainadventures.com

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Pine Creek

Unit has everything from above timberline to winter range elevations. Seeking out the big bucks? Go above timberline early in the season and glass the rock slides and rim cliffs. Very low deer numbers, but patience is the key to success. Glass the magical hours of the day. Don't expect to see many buck over 170", but all around good high country experience. Little hunting pressure due to low tag numbers. - Aaron

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Snake River

From the Photographer to the Hiker to the Big Game Hunter, the Snake River Unit will have it all. This is one of the most breath taking areas in the North West. The view into Hells Canyon is a sight to see. I have spent time on pack trips with my parents elk and deer hunting in the unit. I have not hunted elk or deer in the unit for sometime. I still find myself on the opener of the fall bear season and also going with someone that has a spring bear tag. I still see the quality and the numbers but it does take some scouting trips and a couple bags of pain reliever pills. YOU MUST BE IN SHAPE. This unit has the perfect setting in my opinion. The main hells canyon runs north and south which allows more sun in the winter months and the drainages that run west to east coming from the higher elevations provides a good winter area for big game. These animals can move to the river where the snow levels are at a minimal and a good carry over of animals will make it to the next year. Those of you that will read my post will probably get tired of reading this and I guess that is to bad but you must have good optics. Your day will be getting out into the canyons and glassing for game. If you have horses or another type of pack animal, that would be a bonus. Make sure that you are on your game with your horsemanship because when they take a wrong step they will usually not stop rolling until they hit the bottom. I have seen it and had to leave the remains.

This unit is not for the weekend warrior folks. You will do some hiking and cussing but it will pay off. I recommend that you bivwack into the breaks of the canyons and spend a couple of days at a time in each canyon. This is how we used to hunt it and we were very successful. I am giving you the most extreme places to hunt. There are also some areas on top that are not has hard and will still pay off. If you do decide to hunt in the extreme areas and bivwack over night, try out the packs from Blacks Creek. I would recommend the Alaskan or the Canadian. I have used both packs and seen the high quality that is put into them. Good luck to all that take the venture and God Bless. - Dusty Bourasa - R/L Pro-Staff

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Starkey

Starkey is a very popular unit for elk hunters. Its not what I would call a "trophy" unit. However we are taking a few +330" bulls out of there each year. It is getting some big bulls running around. However the Biologist and I are disagreeing on elk numbers. I am in it alot, elk are not even CLOSE to what it was just 10 years ago! He says winter fly over counts show same numbers! I say NO WAY! Then we agreed that there is VERY few elk on public lands now, and that most of the elk numbers are all on private ranches. High archery hunting pressure in this unit. If you hunt hard, get a couple of miles from roads or gated roads, you can find some great elk hunting.
Bob - bob@bluemountainadventures.com

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