OR Mule Deer Unit STEENS MTN — Steens Mtn

# Steens Mountain Tactical Analysis **Terrain & Access** High-elevation range (4,000–9,670 ft) with 72% public land, offering diverse habitat across expansive country. This is a large unit with room to find pockets away from pressure, though elevation and terrain require solid fitness and navigation skills. **Herd Quality & Population** Buck:doe ratio declined sharply from 38:100 (2024) to 18:100 (2025), signaling tighter competition or reduced survey sample—a concerning one-year drop that warrants skepticism. Earlier years (2021–2023) showed strong herd composition (29–32:100 typical), suggesting the herd has underlying quality but current year data is unstable. Trophy ceiling exists: Harney County (100% overlap)...