Archery Bow Hunt

[jschainsaw]

If you could archery hunt elk in Oregon what unit would you try for? General ect. Keep in mind that we all know about Wenaha, Mt. Emily ect. but what about some easier tags or would you just go general?

[steelhead22]

Originally Posted by jschainsaw

If you could archery hunt elk in Oregon what unit would you try for? General ect. Keep in mind that we all know about Wenaha, Mt. Emily ect. but what about some easier tags or would you just go general?

General.

As long as my dad and brother could go...I don't care what unit.

[tailchaser]

I thought the fishing threads were in a different area?????

tc

[CamoHunter]

That depends on what you want.
There is alot of variety of terrain to consider. Also the amount of other hunters. Do you like access to roads or wilderness...
one size does not fit all

CH

[elkthumper]

.................................... .......:lurk:

[mtn300]

I would personally hunt the spot where you seem to find elk but can't kill them. BIG RED comes to mind !! Desolation best unit in oregon so many elk that every archery hunter in the state hunts there. We are going to murders creek, or snake river !

[Crayfin]

You'll find Murders Creek loaded as well--the easily accessed parts anyway

[Mossyhorn]

I'll be completely honest with you...and not to sound like a total ****** but at this point I won't tell anyone the unit I hunt. I know that sounds lame but I have hunted this particular area for the last 8 years. The first year there, there was no one. It was like this for quite a few years, then there were a few more, and a few more to the point that I ran into a person almost every single day on a 10 day hunt more than a mile into the woods. Guys had treestands packed in and bugleing there butts off till no end, I'm talking every 3-4 minutes a bugle would sound off. I went and dug the map out and found a new place even further in and in more rugged terrain.

I use to tell people the area that I hunt but no longer. It will be only a matter of time that people find the new area I have found. It's like the Eagle caps, cameron hanes told everyone in the world about it, even showed them video. Now I don't personally hunt there but hear from a lot of people that do, that it has become as busy as outside the wilderness in a lot of places.

I think you may have a hard time getting people to cough up areas because archery hunting has become so popular and there are more and more guys out in the woods. There are even more and more hunters getting into the woods and out of the trucks because they're trying to emulate all the hardcore bowhunters out there. They've seen the results of working harder and getting out of the truck.

My advice, is to read anything you can. Look at stats on ODFW's page, pic a unit and go learn an area, stick with it and sooner or later you'll find a little area of your own.

[beardbuster]

Originally Posted by Mossyhorn

It's like the Eagle caps, cameron hanes told everyone in the world about it, even showed them video. Now I don't personally hunt there but hear from a lot of people that do, that it has become as busy as outside the wilderness in a lot of places.

That's a fact! I was expecting a great wilderness hunt with my daughter and run into numerous hunters. Too many people in the Eagle Caps and I won't be returning soon. I went home and starting doing my homework for this year.

[hill shooter]

Hebo

[Jedcraft]

Either pay in dollars or effort for a decent secluded spot.

[huntinfool]

Originally Posted by Mossyhorn

I'll be completely honest with you...and not to sound like a total ****** but at this point I won't tell anyone the unit I hunt. I know that sounds lame but I have hunted this particular area for the last 8 years. The first year there, there was no one. It was like this for quite a few years, then there were a few more, and a few more to the point that I ran into a person almost every single day on a 10 day hunt more than a mile into the woods. Guys had treestands packed in and bugleing there butts off till no end, I'm talking every 3-4 minutes a bugle would sound off. I went and dug the map out and found a new place even further in and in more rugged terrain.

I use to tell people the area that I hunt but no longer. It will be only a matter of time that people find the new area I have found. It's like the Eagle caps, cameron hanes told everyone in the world about it, even showed them video. Now I don't personally hunt there but hear from a lot of people that do, that it has become as busy as outside the wilderness in a lot of places.

I think you may have a hard time getting people to cough up areas because archery hunting has become so popular and there are more and more guys out in the woods. There are even more and more hunters getting into the woods and out of the trucks because they're trying to emulate all the hardcore bowhunters out there. They've seen the results of working harder and getting out of the truck.

My advice, is to read anything you can. Look at stats on ODFW's page, pic a unit and go learn an area, stick with it and sooner or later you'll find a little area of your own.

It was Camerons concern that his honey hole would be slammed with people, but he says just the opposite has happened. Even after all the talk and video nobody showed up.

[beardbuster]

I disagree. I personally witnessed too many people in the Eagle Caps where we were this past season.

I think Cam may have stated that no one has showed up back up just how tough it can be. I am pretty sure that since he has become extremely busy with other hunts, he has only been able to hunt the eagle caps a couple times for a few days in the past few years.

Its rugged, but it isnt stopping too many people who are after the ulimate experience.

[Mossyhorn]

I talked with an archery shop owner down in K-falls, he hunted the Imnaha side of it with llamas I believe. This was a few years ago now. He was so frustrated with the amount of people that he ran into. He said something to the effect of there being more people in the wilderness than outside of it. In addition, didn't Cameron say he hunts like 17+ miles back in there? All someone like that has to do is name a place and put it onto a video. Same thing with the rubies in Nevada, after they did that video of that hunt I heard it turned into a zoo.

[switchback00]

hunting over east, wilderness area or not has become a zoo! for now ive given up on the journeys east and stuck close to home here in the cascades and coast range. ive scored on two blacktails and one cow elk in the last 3 years hunting west of the mountain and have been encountering way less people in my new found honey hole. animals have still been hard earned and usually harder to scout and keep track of, but it sure beats elk talking with humans!

[mtn300]

Head for steep and deep country. Need to borrow you uncles horses and I will take mine we will head into the back back country hells canyon.

[jschainsaw]

I need to find a spot that I can get away from the 503's

[jschainsaw]

I would put money that Cam rarely sees people back there-

[beardbuster]

If I was to hunt it again, I would do a couple things differently.

1) I would hunt with someone who is willing to cover plenty of ground.
2) Map a place to start and stop that are miles apart
3) Work out a deal with a packer to bring the meat out
4) Stay away from the pack trails as much as possible

I saw lots of ground that I bet held excellent hunting. I was dying to check it out. I'll head back someday, possibly in 09 and do this hunt. This year I am hunting closer to home (Cascades). I realized when I was driving home from last years hunt that I am passing an awful lot of animals right under my nose and seeing very few hunters.

[huffmad]

I hunt the eagle caps and every year we see more and more people. It is getting old. I hunt Idaho every year and maybe see one group over two weeks.

As far as Cam saying he hunts 17+ miles in that is . There is no place that far in. Also this fall I ran into a guy that was scouting out an area for elk and I asked him how he found out about this area, he told me he had read Cams book. He was only about 2-3 miles away from were Cam hunts and I told him so. So his area is getting hit just like all of the rest of our areas.

[switchback00]

unlike eastern oregon, you step 5 feet off a road in the coast range or cascades your probably the only round head in the drainage.

[Mossyhorn]

Ya, I always thought that sounded a little ridiculous saying he was 17 miles back in there, the wilderness isn't that big! I know there's a lot of zig zaggin to do but that's a long ways. I just don't agree with how eastmans, especially Cameron has p!mped certain areas. Just like the Eagle caps, it's pretty hard to deny that because of his videos it attracted a lot of people. For what? To make a few bucks, and now he doesn't hunt it that much anymore, well what about all the other guys that have hunted there for years and learned it and worked hard just to have a flock of people come in because someone hocked the area on a video. After that it was the Rubies in Nevada, do you think he's going back there now? Look how many times they have plugged that area into ads, books, magazines, videos, and tv shows. Now it's on to Blacktails and in his newest video or tv show (saw the clip on his web page) In the clip it shows him hunting the three sisters wilderness, it says hey I'm hunting here. If that were my hunting spot I'd be ticked, there's no need to name where your hunting. Sure it's a big area but it doesn't matter. All people need to see is a place and a big buck or bull and a big being taken by a pro and they are going to say, "hey if Cam's hunting there, it must be good, I'm gonna go there" Not to bag on him too much, that's not my intent but you shouldn't name places on a video or magazine to make a few bucks and screw the regular guys that hunt there regularly.

[Gun Rod Bow]

Originally Posted by tailchaser

I thought the fishing threads were in a different area?????

tc

Joke bomb...funny.

[Eagleclaw]

jschainsaw,

Like Mossyhorn stated... I've hunted a few units and told people the area's i hunt... i won't do it again on a open forum but if you PM me i might share a couple area's that I've done well in.

Desolation is a good unit but lots of people.. if you put some time in and find a area that doesn't get much presure you'll find elk. My experience with this unit is the farther you get off the roads the less hunters you'll find. Im not saying you won't run into hunters. If you like riding ATV's this is the unit for you... lots of road hunters.

[jschainsaw]

This has gotten out of hand- I'm not looking for someones secret spot. Now we are ragging on Cameron because most of us can't do what he does. Like you guys are saying- get off the road 50 yards in Western Oregon and you won't see many people. So why do you all come over here.

[mtn300]

:shocked::app lause: Now that was funny

[marked trail]

Chetco. The biscuit fire's flames are out for 6 years. It won't get any better. Go for a trophy Rosie!

[Little Fish]

jschainsaw,
I don't hunted the oregon coastal range, but I'm guessing its like the coastal range in Washington. You can't step off the road because the brush is so thick you won't be able to go anywhere. When I have hunted the coast here in WA, the best bet was to walk in behind closed gates on timber company land.
LF

[NeverGuess]

Sad to see people baggin' on Cameron, 503's, whatever. If you don't want people coming to hunt where you do, the first step might be to stop talking about it on the internet. If you ask about a good spot and someone tells you, are you suprised if other people take notice and check it out as well?

It called PUBLIC land for a reason. We all pay taxes and have a right to go there, no matter what side of the state we live on.

In any unit you hunt, there are areas that require more work to get to, where you will find less people and hopefully more elk. Those little "pockets" are everywhere. You don't need 10 square miles to yourself to have a good hunt. Get off the internet and up on your feet to find 'em.

[switchback00]

Jschainsaw

People go over east from here because of the terrain mostly. Not many willing to hit the brush and skin up their knees anymore for a roosevelt. plus i think people go east because they or their family has for years. many friends of mine go east and all head that way because its more open and terrain is a lot more flat compared to the western half of the state save for the eagle caps and elkhorns to name a few ranges. dont worry bout the eagle cap overcrowding though, its a fad and will run its course and people will lose interest in it after they get sick of fighting the crowds. its a sad day when that many people are so lazy they have to read a book to find a place to hunt rather than doing a little scouting of their own and most likely having a much more enjoyable and SUCCESSFUL hunt!

[whtelk]

GET OFF THE NET AND GO SCOUT!...it is only 7+ months away....You have to get out and find your own! Not trying to bum you gut this is just plain absurd. Get out there. Look around, hike , take notes, FIND IT ON YOUR OWN.
You will certainly have more satisfaction.

[switchback00]

Originally Posted by whtelk

GET OFF THE NET AND GO SCOUT!...it is only 7+ months away....You have to get out and find your own! Not trying to bum you gut this is just plain absurd. Get out there. Look around, hike , take notes, FIND IT ON YOUR OWN.
You will certainly have more satisfaction.

[switchback00]

one big myth that i have found to be exactly that, is that the elk over here are always in the bottom of the nastiest canyons that are grown over with bryars and reprod and underbrush. Definatly not true unless overhunted or too much pressure pushes them out. i like the roosevelts because they dont usually run very far when spooked. they are a lot like humans in that they will pick the easiest route of travel in their territory. they are lazy until the pressure gets out of hand.