Trout Creek Traditional Hunt

2LEYS · 02-15-2004, 08:39 PM

Are there a lot of nice bucks this area? If I was to do it I would need a partner to go with. Maybe not this year but I would definetely go next year. My sabatical is due that time of year.

I saw some pictures on the web but there were only a couple. If anyone has any or knows where some are email me them or post the link here. It looks like some pretty country. Would love to hunt it.

Also in the Murder's creek unit there is an area that is traditional only for the first week. Is this area very productive? This unit is for Elk and deer.

[ 02-16-2004, 01:24 AM: Message edited by: 2LEYS ]

BrianMaguire · 02-16-2004, 09:13 AM

There are very nice bucks in the area. Would really need to scout the area before you hunt. I have always wanted to do the hunt by I like my Martin Cougar a little too much. The draw is a gimme for the traditional bow hunt, in fact you can get it as a second choice and not loose preference points (probably the way to go). It takes something like 10 preference points to draw the 10 or so tags for rifle so the deer are not hunted heavily. I always thought that a good tree stand in aspens over a remote (Pack yourself in) water hole would be the way to go. Dream about a 30" rack kill with a bow. P&Y for sure.

sliverpicker · 02-16-2004, 05:13 PM

The deer in the Trout Creek and other areas in southeast Oregon took a hard hit in the winter of 1992. Some areas have recovered so to speak, but the Trout Creek Mountains really haven't. There's still some nice buck's available, but nothing like it was 15 years ago. Add the increasing cougar population to the mix and it doesn't bode well for full recovery any time soon. I think ODFW made it traditional archery to provide a token hunting opportunity. It might be a quality hunt in the form of remoteness, but you won't see lots of deer.

sliverpicker

Ras · 02-16-2004, 09:34 PM

Did I hear someone mention cats and the Trout Creeks at the same time??? Reminds of a hunt we were talking about a couple of months ago :grin:

A traditional Trout Creek hunt is about as challenging a hunt you can ask for in this state; hot weather, scattered deer, cats, and a stick-flinger. The bucks are there, not like they used to be, but there are still some racks running around in that sage. And, the country is purty nice too!!!

Ras

sliverpicker · 02-17-2004, 04:04 AM

I've been waiting to see some success photos from the 1st annual ifish cougar hunt. Did it fizzle?

I have caught some nice little Redband trout from the headwaters of Trout Creek, but that was back in the 80's when the area had plenty of water, and Burns had waves lapping at it's doorstep.

It's also interesting to locate big ole' Aspen trees that have the names and dates of Basque shepherds carved in them. Some date back to the 1890's if I recall.

sliverpicker

billc_sbio · 02-17-2004, 06:03 AM

I was fortunate enough to get drawn to hunt there in the mid 80s on the limited draw rifle hunt.

I ended up wasting most of opening morning after I heard a shot over the hill, then saw a buck running towards a large clump of brush. I snuck up on the brush only to find NOTHING! A few minutes later I stumbled onto the dead buck a "medium" sized 4 point, that had been gut shot!

My buddies and I spent quite awhile salvaging it and getting it back to camp and trying to find out WHO had shot it. Seeing as there weren't very many hunters in our area, we stopped at a nearby camp and found the slob hunter sitting with his buddies swigging down some brewskies. We had him come over to our camp and collect his buck.

In the meantime one of the gals from our hunting party had bagged a 4 point and it was off to help her bring her's in.

Later that afternoon I did manage to bag this buck with a single shot from my .270 Win. caliber rifle at some distance. It wasn't the biggest deer there, but still respectable.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/...9723mkwmnEoeoc

Funny thing is some people have ALL the luck! That same gal and her husband got drawn for Trout Creek again the NEXT year! She had a great shot at a nice 5x5 Buck when the Factory ammo for her rifle failed to fire with a loud "click" that spooked the buck and it ran off! :shocked:

After this time we heard that populations of deer in general and big bucks in particular had really declined...have never heard if it's ever recovered!