Mule deer hunts in Eastern Oregon in 2026 will be structured based on herd ranges, not wildlife management units, state Fish and Wildlife Commission members decided Sept. 12.
WMUs have been used to structure Oregon’s big game hunts and collect population data since the 1950s. Based on conventional wisdom about animal distributions and movements at that time, WMUs were used primarily for managing hunter distribution. Easily recognized landmarks and socio-political boundaries were used as boundaries…