Anyone from NE Oregon?

[ScottP]

My wife and I have applied for jobs in the Lagrande, OR area.

I was hoping there was someone out there who lives and hunts there and would be willing to share some general info. If this longshot works out, I'd like to have a better idea what we are getting ourselves into in the outdoor area. I have never been to the state of OR.

What are the elk and deer populations like nearby? Can one hunt them every year with bow and/or rifle? Other notable big game/small game hunting nearby?

I know I'm likely very spoiled here in CO where I get 2 elk tags/year, and a good shot at deer and pronghorn archery tags as well. all of this is 30min from my door... so it may be crazy to think about leaving even for career upgrades!

any info on the area would be much appreciated!

 

[Brittany Chukarman]

I live about 80 miles from Lagrande. We go there a couple times a year for shopping. It's a nice town. There's a lot of N.F. over there. Except for a few units archery for deer and elk is otc. All rifle deer and elk is draw except for a general spike season in some units. There are whitetails in that area also. Lots of bear. There's a wildlife area right outside of town with pheasant and waterfowl. Real good chukar country is a 1.5 hr drive. This site is a good reference for draw odds https://sites.google.com/site/oregontags/. Good steelhead rivers not to far and the Snake River reservoirs are great warm water fisheries.
Anything I can help you with I'll try.

 

[T Bone]

My wife's family comes from there.

Nice place for the outdoorsman.

One of the best days of steelheading was on the Gran Rhonde river. Crazy good.

Best of luck!

 

[ScottP]

Thanks for the replies. I like me some steelhead fishing, that would probably be the biggest bonus about changing locales.

 

[ERSS]

Spent a year going to college in LaGrande, a long time ago. Then my oldest daughter spent a year there also just a few years ago. Great country locally and short drive to more amazing country. Eagle Cap wilderness is very nice. NE of LaGrande, up around Troy is kind of an outdoorsmans dream area. Good hunting out toward John Day as well. I agree with the Grande Ronde comments as well.

 

[Ultrahunter]

Here's a video clip a friend emailed me taken just out of lagrande.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv2Ab2zvG7k&feature=youtube gdata player.

looks like there's still a few elk running around there. I grew up in Union, that valley will always be special to me. Good luck with the job search!

 

[dan.kirkpatrick]

you have good gen archery elk and deer out around lagrande area,,,limited draws for rifle except a few 2nd season elk units,,,good spring bear within 100mi,,,it might not be as good as colorado but n e oregon is one of my mainstays for huntin ore as a resident that is the best corner IMO.

 

[ScottP]

Thanks again everyone for your input. Doubt I'll be bored if we do end up moving that direction.

Some really nice bulls in that video!

 

[ScottP]

I'm reviving my thread, as my wife has gotten a job offer in Pendleton, and we must decide this week. So help me out!

Anyone have any insight on Pendleton and surrounding area? How is it for living? Any close outdoor stuff to do after work? etc. Can you live in a cool place within reasonable commuting distance? I know that the big game hunting info is about the same as those who have graciously posted above about La Grande. So that is good that it isn't too far from deer and elk.

thanks a bunch!

 

[Steelhead]

I'm jealous of your location for the hunting, not sure it'll hold a candle to CO. PM me and I'll give you some hunts to put in for. I wouldn't be too high on the 2-4 pound "steelhead" in the GR although you will be a lot closer to the coast where the real steelies live!!

 

[Brittany Chukarman]

Pendelton would still give you easy access to the Blue mountains for big game. It's 54 miles from Legrand over the Blues. There's pheasant & waterfowl hunting on the plains but access may be a problem. Puts you closer to the Colombia, salmon,steelhead, walleye and smallmouth. Mckay resv close to town has warmwater fish. Closer to the coast, salmon, rockfish, lingcod,crabs, razor clams. Round Up week is busy.I have Pendelton fishing clients who book for the Round Up weekend just to get out of town. The town itself is ok. Has the old historic section and newer expansion. Plenty of services. We've been over there twice to see medical specialists. Could you make a trip over before committing to the job?

 

[ScottP]

Pendelton would still give you easy access to the Blue mountains for big game. It's 54 miles from Legrand over the Blues. There's pheasant & waterfowl hunting on the plains but access may be a problem. Puts you closer to the Colombia, salmon,steelhead, walleye and smallmouth. Mckay resv close to town has warmwater fish. Closer to the coast, salmon, rockfish, lingcod,crabs, razor clams. Round Up week is busy.I have Pendelton fishing clients who book for the Round Up weekend just to get out of town. The town itself is ok. Has the old historic section and newer expansion. Plenty of services. We've been over there twice to see medical specialists. Could you make a trip over before committing to the job?

There are definitely tradeoffs involved for sure. Right now we live 65mi and at least one mountain pass from any real services or medical facilities, so of course the big game hunting is awesome. However, waterfowl and upland bird is lacking and of course no seafood. Winter is 8 months long almost, and I only like skiing for 5 of them.

Unfortunately, its a govt. job, and she was offered it yesterday and now they want a decision this week! I doubt I can pull off a short-notice road trip. I've been relying on google earth and all the photos to get a feel for the area - and all the great info I have gathered from all of you thus far.

 

[ScottP]

I'm jealous of your location for the hunting, not sure it'll hold a candle to CO. PM me and I'll give you some hunts to put in for. I wouldn't be too high on the 2-4 pound "steelhead" in the GR although you will be a lot closer to the coast where the real steelies live!!

Thanks Steelhead. I'll shoot you a PM.

 

[ScottP]

Well, if you were wondering... we chose to move to Pendleton. So I'll be roaming some new country in the coming months+seasons. Thanks to everyone for helping out with the information.

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

Brownlee Reservoir (near Huntington) is about 1.5 hours from LaGrande and has some insane channel catfish fishing in the summer months. The fish are very predatory and you can fish them with more active fishing methods. We are headed over from our home this summer.

There is walleye fishing around Rufus on the Columbia River.

You can hunt OTC archery for elk and deer in several units.

 

[idnative1948]

A little South, fishing, camping in the Anthony Lake area. Strap on your backpack from there and come up over the hills North of Sumpter to our cabin and we would run you back over the hill.

 

[ScottP]

A little South, fishing, camping in the Anthony Lake area. Strap on your backpack from there and come up over the hills North of Sumpter to our cabin and we would run you back over the hill.

That area looks amazing! I may take you up on your offer next summer. We are also backcountry skiers (more nordic, but some tele), so I've been checking out anthony lakes area already. Looks like a great place to own a cabin.

 

[idnative1948]

Will send you a couple of pics tomorrow of some lakes in that area.

That area looks amazing! I may take you up on your offer next summer. We are also backcountry skiers (more nordic, but some tele), so I've been checking out anthony lakes area already. Looks like a great place to own a cabin.

 

[ScottP]

Will send you a couple of pics tomorrow of some lakes in that area.

Awesome, thanks!