Bull of the Woods and Opal Creek

Beeatease · 03-09-2007, 05:26 PM

Has anyone here or know someone who has hunted these two wilderness areas in the past 5 years?

If so opinions....good, bad, indifferent......

Thanks

Steelie Ben · 03-09-2007, 07:49 PM

I hunted Bull of the Woods last year during archery season, way to many hikers to feel real good about it. There is great timber up there to roam in but I personally have better success outside the Wilderness.
Ben

sliverpicker · 03-10-2007, 04:20 AM

I scouted the BotW years ago when there were alot more deer and elk up the Collawash/Clackamas drainages then there is now. Back then it was like a dead zone in a wildlife haven. Very little feed for deer and elk.

Weren't even that many earth muffins in there back then!

Beeatease · 03-10-2007, 05:39 AM

I need to find a decent place somewhat close to home.......

I saw some blurbs about Opal Creek on Portlandhikers.com and it does look overgrown.

I'd hate to be draggin' a deer back down a trail only to be verbally (if not more) abused by hikers.

I think I'll walk in during April or May just to see and I'll take the camera.

Thanks

Rank Amateur · 03-10-2007, 09:09 PM

Pack a black gun, they will all duck for cover.

Beeatease · 03-11-2007, 07:05 AM

Yea, they probably would.....but I'll be packing a bow.

The more I think about it, walking down the trail, with my bow and a deer wouldn't be so bad.....

I earned it!

SandyRiverFisher · 03-11-2007, 07:34 AM

I hunted the area two years ago. Saw a few elk tracks, but no elk. Quite a few blacktail does and fawns running around, and one small forkie buck. The hikers werent any problem for me, and the only time I was able to stalk up to within shooting distance of a group of deer was on a hiking trail.

Dave Smith · 03-11-2007, 08:54 AM

Beeatease- I have been scouting alot lately trying to find a place also. I have found some areas in the NF, but outside the wilderness area that the roads have either been removed or washed out. These were appealing beause I thought I could get in on foot or bike and be fairly alone, however, they all have ATV superhighways going in. What is appealing about the wilderness areas is that they are foot traffic only. I have been trying to find areas with some light penetration in the NF, but nothing great so far. What has surpised me is the deer living in the dense, even mature forests. However, the wilderness areas, so far, still don't seem to have as many deer as the NF areas outside the wilderness areas- go figure. I will keep you posted- it has been slow going for me- I really don't know who could or would help me so I'm doing it the old fashioned way- he he. Dave

Irish Pennant · 03-11-2007, 09:24 AM

For the past few years I've hunted the south end of the unit for the second season deer archery. I also like to hike around up there in the spring and summer. I know a guy that hunts the area exclusively for deer and elk and he's had a tough time of it the past few years.
The good is that it's close to home and I'm learning the area. I'm finding sign and a few glimpses. Like others have said, it's over grown but if you can find a place to move around you will find sign. I don't see too many people up there archery hunting and there's a good reason for it. There's better places.