Copyright © 1995, Don Baccus
All images copyright © 1995, Don Baccus
Mule deer are extremely common throughout southeast Oregon. They often bed down or take cover in willow thickets during the day, and come out in great numbers at dusk. Steens Mountain is especially known for having a large population four-point or better bucks. In spring and summer, when the mountain is still deeply covered in snow at higher elevations, mule deer are found in large numbers in the Malheur Refuge.
Mule deer hanging out on the Refuge are quite tolerant of people and can be easily photographed from the car. Light levels are quite low at dusk, of course, but herds often wander close to the road and short lenses can be used.
In fall, bucks become very wary and of course one should dress in bright colors when meandering through deer country in hunting season.
Just east of Refuge Headquarters on the Narrows-Princeton Road seems to be a favorite hangout for mule deer. They are also especially thick in the willow stands and grassy meadows on the Refuge near P Ranch, and along the Center Patrol Road just north of there.
