OR Mule Deer Unit HEPPNER — Heppner

# OR HEPPNER — TACTICAL ANALYSIS ## Terrain & Access Heppner spans 1,773–5,932 ft elevation across 922K acres with only 35% public land—a significant constraint for DIY hunters. Forum discussion indicates dry conditions in recent years with antelope and likely deer moving to greener areas. Scouting and preseason shed hunting are essential to locate resident bucks. ## Herd Quality & Population Deer herd composition is rated "Good" with buck:doe ratios consistently around 20–24:100 (2021–2025). These ratios support a healthy age structure. The 2025 quality index of 70/100 indicates stable, huntable populations, though the modest ratio suggests most bucks do not...