OREGON'S 2023 DEER APPLICATION OVERVIEW

Note: The application deadline in Oregon for all species is May 15, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. PT and all applications must be submitted online or at a license sales agent.

NEW FOR 2023

There’s not many changes to the 2023 season this year, but a couple smaller items have been added below. Oddly enough, license and tag fees have stayed the same, which is rare in today’s world.

Antlerless opportunities

Remember that GOHUNT has Draw Odds for all female species.

STATE INFORMATION

To view more important information including a state overview of Oregon’s rules/regulations, the draw system, draw odds and license fee go to the Oregon state profile. It also includes an interactive map where you can research unit boundaries and data on a unit by unit basis

Important dates and information

* Tag fees only required if you are successful in the draw.

SNOWPACK IN OREGON

2023

Oregon snow water equivalent as of April 27, 2023. Source: NRCS

In 2023, Oregon has seen winter and spring conditions like most of the western U.S. In terms of the current snowpack, every portion of the state is well over 100% and most of the state is greater than 150%. It was in dire need and, just like its neighboring states, it’s much appreciated. This should work wonders for the feed needed to keep these animals healthy through the summer and into the fall seasons.

2022

Oregon snow water equivalent from April 26, 2022. Source: NRCS

CURRENT DROUGHT STATUS

2023

Oregon drought monitor status as of April 25, 2023. Source: US Drought Monitor

The drought outlook has shown a massive improvement since this time a year ago. I would expect this to get better at least for the next month or so, with the expected runoff. The very central part of the state is still in the most need of water, but way better than last year. Going into the hunting seasons of 2023, I would expect to see a big improvement on antler growth and overall herd health.

2022

Oregon drought monitor status from April 26, 2022. Source: US Drought Monitor

THE OREGON DRAW SYSTEM

Understanding the draw

Oregon’s deer draw works on a preference point hybrid system. There is both a preference point and a random draw portion. Out of the total tags, 75% are allocated to the highest point holders who apply for any given hunt and the other 25% are randomly allocated with no weight given to the number of points that you have. On the random side of that draw, every applicant is on a level playing field for those tags. Note: if there are only three or less for any particular hunt, there will be no random tags available.

Another thing to consider, is understanding the tag distribution between residents and nonresidents. 95% of the tags are allocated for resident applicants and the remaining 5% are allocated for nonresident applicants. It’s not very generous for the nonresident pool, but there are plenty of hunts with enough tags to satisfy the hybrid draw system (75/25). Meaning, that in most cases, there’s always a chance.

Preference point only

If applicants wish to build points only, then they can apply with the point only code as their first choice. In this scenario, applicants will use the point saver code 199 for antlered deer and 699 for antlerless as their first choice. If, by chance, you miss the main draw, preference points can be purchased from July 1 through Nov 30.

Choices

Oregon will allow applicants to enter five hunt choices. Every applicant's first choice is considered before moving to an applicant's second choice, so on and so forth. Preference points are only purged if an applicant draws their first choice. There is no waiting period for reapplying for deer if you drew a tag the previous year.

Group applications

Oregon will allow group applications for deer of any size. A group application will have their points averaged and will round up to the next whole number if the average is .51 or above and down to the whole number if the average is .50 or below. A group application is treated as a single application where, if selected, all applicants will receive a tag provided there are enough tags to satisfy the size of the group. If there are not enough tags, no one on that application will receive a tag.

Purchasing tags and tag return

If you are successful in drawing a tag, you have up until the day before the earliest hunt starts to purchase the tag. Once you have purchased the tag, you cannot return the tag for a refund. If you draw your first choice, your preference points will be purged so make sure you actually want the permit you apply for.

Oregon's premium hunts

In addition to the regular controlled hunt drawing, Oregon offers a separate draw for hunts that they call premium hunts. This is a completely separate hunt drawing that allows tag holders to hunt extended season dates with any weapon. These hunts are 100% randomly drawn each year and there are no preference or bonus points attached to the application. There is no resident or nonresident quota. Standard application fees exist and the applicant can apply for five different choices on their application. They are only allowed to apply once per species (hunt code).

OREGON'S 2023 MULE DEER BREAKDOWN

Oregon manages their mule deer hunts heavily skewed towards opportunity. Trophy hunts are few and far between and the opportunities to hunt a mature buck are slim. For nonresidents, those hunts are even more rare given that the percentage of good tags is so low. Overall, the state has an average buck-to-doe ratio of 20:100 and we hope that the much needed moisture this year will start the much needed uptrend in herd population.

If you live in a neighboring state and are looking for an opportunity to hunt mule deer, Oregon still offers decent odds. Hunters just need to have their expectations in check and understand that the opportunity to hunt and harvest a deer are decent, but the chance at a big buck is not likely to happen.

Hidden Gems in Oregon

If you are looking for a hidden gem, your best bet is to consider applying for one of the archery controlled hunts. These seasons are still fairly new and can be drawn with little to no points. Also, if you have access to private land in the eastern/northeastern part of the state, that would greatly improve your chances of finding a mature buck with one of these less coveted tags.

The other method in locating a hidden gem is with resources like Filtering and Draw Odds. It has never been easier to locate a unit that fits your individual goals. You can pour over information like trophy potential, draw odds percentages, buck:doe ratios and a percentage of 4 point or better per hunt and unit. You can also explore the muzzleloader and rifle hunts. There are many other hunts that offer decent odds with good trophy potential.

MANAGING POINTS AND EXPECTATIONS

What can I expect with 0 deer preference points?

Residents

Out of the 126 hunts available to residents, 55 could have been drawn with no points. Archery hunts in Unit 55, 51, 64, 67, 68, 70 and 71 are good options with good trophy potential. Rifle hunts in Units 40, 43, 44, 45, 48 and 57. all have 100% odds with no points and harvest success rates are 20% or more. With those available options, the public land percentage is lower than most.

Other options include archery hunts in Units 32, 40, 41, 43 and 44. Those areas offer the opportunity to draw a tag, but are limited in the amount of public land. Those can be great hunts if you can find access, but without it those can be tough areas to hunt.

The other option, if you have no points, is to take a swing for the fence approach. Remember, with Oregon’s draw system, a portion of the tags are randomly allocated. Even if you have no points you still have some chance to draw the best tags.

Nonresidents

There were 32 controlled archery hunts that had 100% odds at zero points. The best options with the most public land would be Units 34, 41, 51, 60, 63, 68, 71 and 73. Those units all have a harvest success of 21% or more. From the table above, there are also rifle hunts that nonresidents can draw with no points. You might consider Units 48 and 57.

What can I expect with 5 to 6 deer preference points?

Residents

The early archery hunt for Unit 70 is one of the most intriguing options within this point range with a slim chance of drawing at six points. The Unit 74 - Warner (north Warner) archery hunt is another good option. The best muzzleloader hunts are in Units 41/42, 72 and 75. Rifle hunters should consider Units 39, 46, 63, 67 or 72.

Nonresidents

The Unit 74 - Warner (north Warner) hunt is the best archery option, but has now moved out to about seven points to draw. Muzzleloader hunters should consider Unit 72. Rifle hunters can research Units 39, 46, 63, or 72.

What can I expect with 10 plus deer preference points?

Residents

Unfortunately, with 10 points, applicants are in no man's land. The best archery hunt available would be the 70/71 early archery hunt. When looking at the best archery hunts, those are going to be in the Unit 39 late hunt (22 points), 65 (15 points) and 70/71 early (11 points).

Some of the better options near the 10-point level are for the muzzleloader hunts. Unit 32 was drawn with 11 points, Unit 68 was drawn with 12 points.

Nonresidents

The best controlled archery hunt within the 10+ point range is the August 70/71 hunt, which was 100% at 13 points. Beyond that, the majority of archery hunts are pretty wide open to draw for nonresidents. The Unit 67 and 68 rifle hunts are also good units that were drawn between eight and 10 points.

Check out your draw odds here

OREGON'S 2023 COLUMBIAN BLACKTAIL DEER BREAKDOWN

Oregon’s blacktail populations are doing well and most of the units are offering general season over-the-counter (OTC) tags for both archery and rifle hunts. There are also some limited quota controlled hunts for archery, muzzleloader and rifle hunters. Oregon does not have a blacktail deer management objective based on population. Obtaining an accurate count on the Columbian blacktail deer in the coastal states has proven near impossible using normal counting practices as the dense vegetation makes it very difficult to see and count deer populations. Instead, the states are left to conduct on-the-ground surveys and assess hunter success year after year to make adjustments in the number of permits allocated annually. The state herd is somewhere around 300,000 to 350,000 total deer with an average 28:100 buck-to-doe ratio.

Note: There are four units that have established herds of mule deer as well as blacktail. Those units are 30, 31, 41 and 42. Be aware that blacktail bucks harvested from those units would not qualify for B&C.

MANAGING POINTS AND EXPECTATIONS

I have 0 deer preference points. What can I expect?

Residents

Residents had five hunts that could have been drawn with no points. Those hunts are archery Units 21/22/23/24, muzzleloader Units 23 and 25 and rifle Units 16/19/21/22/30/31 and 42. Harvest success for the archery and the muzzleloader hunts are relatively good for those units.

Nonresidents

Nonresidents had five hunts that could have been drawn with no points. Archery Units 21/22/23/24, muzzleloader controlled hunts in Unit 23 and 25 and rifle hunts in 16/19/21/22/30/31 and 42.

What can I expect with 5 to 6 deer preference points?

Residents

Every hunt is available except for muzzleloader 21/23, rifle 21/23, 41 and the late Unit 42 hunt. Some of the more interesting options might be muzzleloader 21, 28, 41/42 or rifle in Unit 15 and 41/42. All of those hunts required two or three points so you will be giving up a few points to draw those. The hunts that cannot be drawn required nine, 15 and 22 points in 2022. Applicants can either decide to cash in their points and go hunting or stay in it for the long haul.

Nonresidents

If you want to burn your points and go hunting, the archery hunt in Units 21/22/23/24 and 31 took two points. For muzzleloader, Units 19, 21, 23, 25, 27 and 41 are all attainable with five preference points. The early rifle 41/42 hunt required three points.

Several of the best hunts (41 late rifle, 42 late rifle) are likely to require 24 points or more going into 2023. Unit 28 muzzleloader required 14 points, which was likely the best hunt if you are in the 13 to 20 point range.

Check out your draw odds here

OREGON'S 2023 COLUMBIAN WHITETAIL DEER BREAKDOWN

Oregon has the only delisted populations of Columbian whitetail deer in the world. Although there are whitetails scattered up and down the Pacific Northwest, the southwest corner of Oregon holds populations of approximately 2,000 deer. There are very few tags available each year and that is the reason that these units can be rather difficult to draw.

OREGON'S 2023 NORTHEASTERN WHITETAIL DEER BREAKDOWN

Oregon has a decent population of whitetail deer in the northeastern portion of the state. There are 21 units that offer a chance at a whitetail buck although there are very few hunts/tags that are species specific. Generally, the tags for those units are valid for either a whitetail or mule deer. We will cover the whitetail specific hunts below. Trophy potential is generally average; however, there are a few bigger bucks taken each year.

Use Filtering 2.0 for more information about these units and others that have established herds of northwestern whitetail deer.

The four units that likely have the best trophy potential are 54 - Mt Emily, 55 - Walla Walla, 56 - Wenaha and 57 - Sled Springs. All of those units have 130”+ trophy potential. Tags for the better trophy potential units are valid for any buck with visible antlers.

Check out your draw odds here

199 - buck deer point saver

699 - antlerless deer point saver