Molalla Tree Farm Hunter Success - Saturday and Sunday, Oct 4 & 5, 2008

Don Becker · 10-04-2008, 05:54 PM

As you may be aware from this thread, I worked with the ODFW CWD volunteers this weekend at the Molalla Tree Farm.

As I did at Stimpson's last year, I asked the successful hunters if they would like for me to post-up their pictures here on Ifish. These names and photos are posted here with the express permission of those hunters.

SATURDAY, by the time we closed the station at about 5pm, we had a total of 6 bucks come out: A very nice 4-point, a very nice 3-point with eye guards, a total of 3 forks and one "spork."

Sean Merritt

Troy Drennen - - - now, this is what it's all about. 'Nice young man of 12, 'first hunt, 'first deer with Dad and Grandpa.

Monty Foust

Interestingly, as many members as we have, nobody I spoke with had heard of Ifish - - - when they come here to see their pictures, who knows, we may add a few new ifishers.

Congratulations to all of you and thanks for letting us take samples for ODFW and for letting me post your pictures here. Don

loper · 10-04-2008, 07:26 PM

Thanks for posting those great pics

osulogger · 10-04-2008, 07:30 PM

Great pictures and thanks for volunteering Don! That 4 pt. is very symmetric and is a brute!!! Very nice looking 3 pt. as well for the young lad!

From the Land of Big Sticks,

Osulogger

Blacktailfiend · 10-04-2008, 07:55 PM

They got a couple of nice bucks there. That 4 point has a cool lookin rack...

Wheels · 10-04-2008, 09:44 PM

Geez Sean..........Nice Buck........Congrats!!!! Hey Matt...............is that your neck of the woods? I work with Sean, the guy who got the four point................He was pretty stoked about the hunt the day he left. That is a dandy. I will hopefully be able to get my paws on that rack..........maybe even get a tape on it. Later, Wheels.

P.s. I thought I was gonna formally meet you the last week of the archery season...............Rich said you'd be around???? Wheels.

Art Vandeley · 10-04-2008, 11:43 PM

Go Longhorns!!! Sweet Pictures, thanks for sharing.

Mitch

Don Becker · 10-05-2008, 05:28 PM

Sunday

George & Luke Youngberg

Joshua Welle

And, the double-header: Ryan Johnson & RC Benson

Don

Eagleclaw · 10-05-2008, 05:34 PM

those are some nice looking bucks but that last 4x4 is a dandy

Don Becker · 10-05-2008, 05:48 PM

Eagleclaw, I probably should have snapped a couple of other pictures of that one. It really is a dandy. In fact, they both are. What you're calling a 4-point is actually a 6x5 . . 'like I said, better pictures . . . . but, we didn't want to hold folks up too long. We needed to get the sampling done and let them get on their way home to take care of their deer.

'Not a great count at the station this year but, as you can see, 'some nice critters. And, yes, that 6x5 and some of the others were already showing signs of swollen necks. Don

fisher22 · 10-05-2008, 06:02 PM

Swollen necks this time of year. Ya got to be kidden me. I don't smoke , but I'll smoke what you're smokin'

spottedhawk36 · 10-05-2008, 06:31 PM

nice bucks on both days saturday and sunday, are most of you taking these deer out of clearcuts? you aways of the main gravel roads parked and walking in?

merrile · 10-05-2008, 07:05 PM

stop making it look so easy!

Don Becker · 10-05-2008, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fisher22

Swollen necks this time of year. Ya got to be kidden me. I don't smoke , but I'll smoke what you're smokin'

'Surprised me too . . . others there didn't seem to think it a bit early

. . . . 'some definitely did have swollen necks, though. Don

Don Becker · 10-05-2008, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spottedhawk36

nice bucks on both days saturday and sunday, are most of you taking these deer out of clearcuts? you aways of the main gravel roads parked and walking in?

You may have misunderstood. From my inquiries, I don't think anyone you see pictured here is an Ifish member. So, I'm uncertain who might answer your questions unless I may have inspired them to sign-on. Anyway, there were a lot of folks in there, lots of "reports" of folks sticking to the roads and several people that told us they were busting the brush. That's the best help I can offer . . . as you know, I was there for other purposes. 'Hope that helped a little, anyway. Don

Don Becker · 10-05-2008, 07:21 PM

Hey, btw, who was the ifisher that stopped-in and introduced himself today? 'Old guy memory, you know . . . Don

huntntrap · 10-05-2008, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Becker

Hey, btw, who was the ifisher that stopped-in and introduced himself today? 'Old guy memory, you know . . . Don

huntntrap good to meet you would have liked to talk but you were busy.

Don Becker · 10-05-2008, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huntntrap

huntntrap good to meet you would have liked to talk but you were busy.

Hey, there, thanks. 'Sorry 'bout the left-handed handshake - - 'right one was bloody?

Yes, busy at the time but, if you weren't in a rush, I wish you could have stuck-around a bit . . . things went "dead" again after I got the samples from those two. Anyway, thanks so much for stopping-in and saying "hi." Don

Charlie Storey · 10-05-2008, 09:31 PM

Re; comments about swollen necks

Mature bucks never really loose their big necks. They may shrink a little in the off-season, but it comes back again right away in the Fall. Its one way to guess the maturity of the buck while on the hoof. If the base of the neck is about as big as his chest he's as big as he will get. If he's got a "stove pipe" neck he's got some growing to do.

spottedhawk36 · 10-05-2008, 09:35 PM

interesting, never knew that about the neck size.

ghost grizzly · 10-06-2008, 07:49 AM

Great Job on all who scored this past weekend up there.

In reality it wasn't really a "zoo" as some here had posted it would be.

I think they had a pretty good plan on keeping vehicles off the main road in the morning.

The fellow at the gate told me that opening day they let 500 people in and there was only 6 bucks killed. That's less than 1% success.

The only negative thing I had happen to me and my son was that some one drove a nice loud diesel pickup right past us as we were walking up a dead end road into a clear cut. Our rig was parked at the bottom of the road. But I guess I was too nice by not blocking the road.

Idahoan · 10-06-2008, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghost grizzly

Great Job on all who scored this past weekend up there.

In reality it wasn't really a "zoo" as some here had posted it would be.

I think they had a pretty good plan on keeping vehicles off the main road in the morning.

The fellow at the gate told me that opening day they let 500 people in and there was only 6 bucks killed. That's less than 1% success.

The only negative thing I had happen to me and my son was that some one drove a nice loud diesel pickup right past us as we were walking up a dead end road into a clear cut. Our rig was parked at the bottom of the road. But I guess I was too nice by not blocking the road.

Maybe they didn't realize it was a dead end road.....just trying to find the good.

spottedhawk36 · 10-06-2008, 11:12 AM

this is the place where you need the 250 dollar permit correct? to hunt it.

Lefty · 10-06-2008, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spottedhawk36

this is the place where you need the 250 dollar permit correct? to hunt it.

Yup

spottedhawk36 · 10-06-2008, 11:18 AM

So how many elk where seen up there this weekend? is this only open on the weekends to hunt?

Don Becker · 10-06-2008, 11:54 AM

Spottedhawk36:
I do not recall anyone we spoke with saying they saw elk. Some said they saw some sign, some said they saw none and a couple said they saw lots of elk sign.

Everyone:
Please do not hijack this thread to argue your perceptions of the merits, or lack thereof, of fee hunting. That IS NOT what this thread is about. There are other threads on that subject or you may start one of your own. With no axe to grind one-way-or-the-other, I will offer, for those that might be interested in knowing more about Weyerhaeuser's program is up there, send me a private message and I'll reply with an information source for you.

Don

ORsouthpaw · 10-06-2008, 12:12 PM

Wow, some of those bucks are pretty impressive. espcially the big boy in the double header photo. Makes me think I probably should have coughed up the 250.00 to get in.

Will you be up there next weeked also? If so I'd like to see any additonal pictures that you take as well (with the hunter's permission of course) Thanks for sharing Don!

Don Becker · 10-06-2008, 12:30 PM

Actually, no. Until the spotlighting surveys, later on, I'm done volunteering for OFDW for this year . . . 'time for me to go hunting, myself. (On public land.)

But, the checkstation will be there. The pictures above are all that I took. Don

Don Becker · 10-06-2008, 12:33 PM

It has occurred to me that, perhaps I wasn't clear-enough about my role out there. I was there as an ODFW (Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife)volunteer and have nothing to do with Weyerhaeuser other than the proximity of the ODFW check station. Don

Basskit · 10-06-2008, 02:08 PM

Pay $250.00 to hunt in an area with 500 other guys for a 1% success rate. No Thanks.

ghost grizzly · 10-06-2008, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basskit

Pay $250.00 to hunt in an area with 500 other guys for a 1% success rate. No Thanks.

Welcome to ifish....nice first post! (yes I am being sarcastic)

1% success on the first day with a driving wind and probably very little scouting and a lot of lost folks just trying to figure the place out. I would bet there were not too many people down on the Trout Creek or Pine Creek areas of the farm.

BTW there is a walk in area that had barely a soul in it. Just drive to Lukens Creek or Dead Horse and head across the river and up.

Also I seen one 5 point bull with a couple of cows up off of the Airstrip.....and I ain't telling exactly where!

Don Becker · 10-06-2008, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basskit

Pay $250.00 to hunt in an area with 500 other guys for a 1% success rate. No Thanks.

And, what part of my post #25 above, about not hijacking this thread, didn't you understand?

Don

huntinfool · 10-06-2008, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghost grizzly

Welcome to ifish....nice first post! (yes I am being sarcastic)

1% success on the first day with a driving wind and probably very little scouting and a lot of lost folks just trying to figure the place out. I would bet there were not too many people down on the Trout Creek or Pine Creek areas of the farm.

BTW there is a walk in area that had barely a soul in it. Just drive to Lukens Creek or Dead Horse and head across the river and up.

Also I seen one 5 point bull with a couple of cows up off of the Airstrip.....and I ain't telling exactly where!

Trout Creek had a bunch of rigs out there and Pine Creek is all grown up except for 1 cut, which had a bunch of trespassers (non-payers). Dead horse had at least two rigs parked at every time I tried it, and Lukens Cr has no clearcuts until you get to the top, which is like 5+miles of straight up hiking.

Not trying to hi-jack the thread Don, but a bunch of us that hunt up there don't really like seeing the publicity your adding to the mix.

And who was spotlighting the clearcuts while waiting for "go-time"? While we were sitting in line around 5:30, parked one the hill just below airstrip mainline, someone? pulled out a spotlight and was shining the surrounding clearcuts.

Don Becker · 10-07-2008, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huntinfool

. . . Not trying to hi-jack the thread Don, but a bunch of us that hunt up there don't really like seeing the publicity your adding to the mix. . . .

Okay, so let me get this straight. Because I try to do something nice here and happen to mention the name of a ~100 square-mile area that is widely known to be located within a game management area that produces some of the nicest blacktails in Oregon; an area that, by someone else's calculations contains (on hunting weekends) more than 1 1/4 vehicles per square mile and maybe as many as 5 people per square mile, and with what has been pointed-out as a fairly dismal opening weekend "take," I deserve a bashing for giving-up your secret little honey-hole.

Don

huntinfool · 10-07-2008, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Becker

Okay, so let me get this straight. Because I try to do something nice here and happen to mention the name of a ~100 square-mile area that is widely known to be located within a game management area that produces some of the nicest blacktails in Oregon; an area that, by someone else's calculations contains (on hunting weekends) more than 1 1/4 vehicles per square mile and maybe as many as 5 people per square mile, and with what has been pointed-out as a fairly dismal opening weekend "take," I deserve a bashing for giving-up your secret little honey-hole.

Don

I guarantee that before people could drive in-yes it was a secret honey hole. And 100 square miles it is not-not even close. There are more people in there now than in some controlled hunt area's. I hardly think I bashed you, but if you're thin skinned.................

nakoa · 10-07-2008, 06:46 AM

thanks don

AnnaDraMoss · 10-07-2008, 06:57 AM

Through last week I had anxiety thinking of what a circus of hunter's and rigs driving Molalla was going to be.
Really not as bad as it could have been, and not bad at all. I had nothing happen up there that set me off.
Heck Saturday I saw 34 deer, no buck's though. But the bucks I've seen over summer while scouting highly impressed me.
How many times can you say you saw 34 deer in a day. Not even in Eastern Oregon in some places.
We have been hunting Weyerhauser's Callapooia tree farm out of Springfield for 30 years with good success, and I dont remember seeing as many deer there in a weekend as I did this past.
It' only going to get better as the season goes on.
Thank you for starting this thread.
Don, was that your red jeep cherokee with the ifish and OHA sticker's on the back window? If so, I'll call out your name next time I see that rig.

osulogger · 10-07-2008, 07:05 AM

Don,

Thank you for volunteering your time to do what you are doing. Don't let the little comments get under your skin; I don't think you drew anymore attention to this area then what has already been drawn to it. To say that the Molalla Tree farm was a hidden gem is like selling beach front property in Arizona. It's been known for years, it's just made more accessible now.

Thanks again and hopefully you'll be posting more big buck pictures!

From the land of Big Sticks,

Osulogger

Don Becker · 10-07-2008, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnnaDraMoss

. . . Don, was that your red jeep cherokee with the ifish and OHA sticker's on the back window? If so, I'll call out your name next time I see that rig.

Yes, that was mine and, Saturday, I drove my wife's blue Jeep Cherokee, without Ifish and OHA stickers. But, I won't be there again this year . . . 'got some hunting of my own to do. Thanks for the support. Don

Don Becker · 10-07-2008, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huntinfool

I guarantee that before people could drive in-yes it was a secret honey hole. And 100 square miles it is not-not even close. There are more people in there now than in some controlled hunt area's. I hardly think I bashed you, but if you're thin skinned.................

Bash/criticize call it what you may and perceive me as thin-skinned if you like, my actions here are not responsible for enough extra folks in there to be of any affect at all, if any. I personally have never hunted in there. But, I am aware it has been a most popular area since long before I was even born, nearly 62 years ago. No problem, though, 'need a scapegoat, my skin is thicker than you may think. If you would like to go back and read my posts here, you'll see that all I've said that could account for your comments relate to my having mentioned the physical location of the checkstation . . . public information. We were there to do sampling for ODFW and anyone from anywhere was free to bring-in their critter for sampling.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nakoa

thanks don

Quote:

Originally Posted by osulogger

Don,

Thank you for volunteering your time to do what you are doing. Don't let the little comments get under your skin; I don't think you drew anymore attention to this area then what has already been drawn to it. To say that the Molalla Tree farm was a hidden gem is like selling beach front property in Arizona. It's been known for years, it's just made more accessible now.

Thanks again and hopefully you'll be posting more big buck pictures!

From the land of Big Sticks,

Osulogger

Thanks for the support. Don

Basskit · 10-07-2008, 08:42 AM

Not trying to highjack the thread, just commenting.

Thanks for the warm welcome.

CombinationLicense · 10-07-2008, 08:43 AM

LOL! No good deed goes unpunished Don - thanks for helping out with the CWD check station and posting up those great pics.

"CL"

Don Becker · 10-07-2008, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basskit

Not trying to highjack the thread, just commenting.

Thanks for the warm welcome.

'Coming right on the heals of my having asked that it not be taken there . . . well, anyway, I do welcome you to Ifish. Thanks for joining-up. Knowing most of us lurked for awhile before joining, maybe you are aware of this but, in case you aren't, the members usually enjoy seeing an introductory post by new members telling a little about themselves and sharing a hunting or fishing story. We'll be anxiously awaiting yours, when you are aready. Welcome aboard and 'sorry I was a bit grumpy. Don

Don Becker · 10-07-2008, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CombinationLicense

LOL! No good deed goes unpunished Don - . . . . . .

"CL"

Yup! Where's that smiley-face with me smacking myself on the forehead with the heel of my hand?

Don

sandman · 10-07-2008, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CombinationLicense

LOL! No good deed goes unpunished Don - thanks for helping out with the CWD check station and posting up those great pics.

"CL"

Wish we had more guys like you don!Thanks for the pics!I used to hunt up there,but got tired of the crowds

Basskit · 10-07-2008, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Becker

'Coming right on the heals of my having asked that it not be taken there . . . well, anyway, I do welcome you to Ifish. Thanks for joining-up. Knowing most of us lurked for awhile before joining, maybe you are aware of this but, in case you aren't, the members usually enjoy seeing an introductory post by new members telling a little about themselves and sharing a hunting or fishing story. We'll be anxiously awaiting yours, when you are aready. Welcome aboard and 'sorry I was a bit grumpy. Don

Thanks Don for the opportunity to introduce myself, but I think I will back out so as to not highjack your thread. Maybe some other time.

Between Ghost Grizzly and yourself, I feel warm all over.

loper · 10-07-2008, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Becker

Okay, so let me get this straight. Because I try to do something nice here and happen to mention the name of a ~100 square-mile area that is widely known to be located within a game management area that produces some of the nicest blacktails in Oregon; an area that, by someone else's calculations contains (on hunting weekends) more than 1 1/4 vehicles per square mile and maybe as many as 5 people per square mile, and with what has been pointed-out as a fairly dismal opening weekend "take," I deserve a bashing for giving-up your secret little honey-hole.

Don

Nope, you deserve applause for giving up time you could be hunting to volunteer in a program that benefits all hunters.

The pic of the kid with his first deer is awesome.

sandman · 10-07-2008, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basskit

Thanks Don for the opportunity to introduce myself, but I think I will back out so as to not highjack your thread. .

Too late,you already highjacked it.Maybe next time you could think before you type

Don Becker · 10-07-2008, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basskit

Thanks Don for the opportunity to introduce myself, but I think I will back out so as to not highjack your thread. Maybe some other time.

Between Ghost Grizzly and yourself, I feel warm all over.

Oh, yea, not here . . . like I said, when you're ready . . . do a post/thread of your own. Don

Don Becker · 10-07-2008, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loper

Nope, you deserve applause for giving up time you could be hunting to volunteer in a program that benefits all hunters.

The pic of the kid with his first deer is awesome.

Thanks and, yes, that young man and some of the others is kind-of what it's all about. I don't have a son to hunt with and I failed to interest my daughter. The first picture of that four-point is, of course, the trophy among the ones we saw and

to Mr. Merritt for that. But, I think we all have a soft spot in our hearts for any young person, successful on his/her first hunt with a nice critter and with Dad and Gramps right there . . . . 'pretty special! Don

Chrome Bumper · 10-07-2008, 10:08 AM

Great pictures, thanks for volunteering.

klr kut · 10-07-2008, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by osulogger

Don,

Thank you for volunteering your time to do what you are doing. Don't let the little comments get under your skin; I don't think you drew anymore attention to this area then what has already been drawn to it. To say that the Molalla Tree farm was a hidden gem is like selling beach front property in Arizona. It's been known for years, it's just made more accessible now.

Thanks again and hopefully you'll be posting more big buck pictures!

From the land of Big Sticks,

Osulogger

Yes it was a hidden gem it went from walking in and seeing 1 or 2 people to 500. It's riunied.

ORsouthpaw · 10-08-2008, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klr kut

Yes it was a hidden gem it went from walking in and seeing 1 or 2 people to 500. It's riunied.

It was a hidden gem only up to the point that Weyco, Oregon Live and the Oregonian all announced to the world that it would become a pay to access area. Don's post is not new information and as a former hunter of the area I enjoyed seeing the photo's. Personally I agree with you that the area will be ruined in a few seasons. If your still hunting it... Good Luck!

brokenaxle3 · 12-26-2010, 09:47 PM

Going through some old posts, found this guy.

Any new thoughts on if mololla has been ruined.

Pictures of bucks taken out of there? A few more can't hurt.

huntinforshoes · 12-26-2010, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brokenaxle3

Going through some old posts, found this guy.

Any new thoughts on if mololla has been ruined.

Pictures of bucks taken out of there? A few more can't hurt.

The permit system is no longer.

Orelk6x6 · 12-26-2010, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brokenaxle3

Going through some old posts, found this guy.

Any new thoughts on if mololla has been ruined.

Pictures of bucks taken out of there? A few more can't hurt.

I'd say it "kinda" back to normal. Hunting pressure is definitely greater than before the permit system was put in place. I guess that's to be expected as A LOT of people who had previously never heard of the area were introduced through those permits. That said, now that people have to walk or ride in again, the pressure is significantly decreased.

In my mind, it's pretty well "ruined", but that's because I was hunting there long before the word got out. Oh well, moved on to MUCH greener pastures.

huntinfool · 12-27-2010, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orelk6x6

I'd say it "kinda" back to normal. Hunting pressure is definitely greater than before the permit system was put in place. I guess that's to be expected as A LOT of people who had previously never heard of the area were introduced through those permits. That said, now that people have to walk or ride in again, the pressure is significantly decreased.

In my mind, it's pretty well "ruined", but that's because I was hunting there long before the word got out. Oh well, moved on to MUCH greener pastures.

What I did find this year though is I came across alot more people further into the area than I have before when it was walk in only. My honey holes are no longer.

brokenaxle3 · 12-27-2010, 04:21 PM

I figured. Doesn't matter what kind of attention an area gets, news segments, paper articles, forum mention, an extra rig or two, or a slightly intoxicated slip of the tongue. (not me of coarse)

I've had "friends" notice my rig at a gate a few to many times and all of a sudden it's their favorite spot too.

I finally gave up getting mad\irritated. I may have lost a "secret" spot but somebody (or somebody's) else gained one. Grrrrrrr! Anyhow, the more people that are successful at hunting, the better off our sport\hobby\pastime\ has the potential to be in the upcoming, changed decades.

Besides, hunting the same area years in a row makes it too easy. When i get bumped out of an area, i consider it a challenge to find the next great spot.

huntntrap · 12-27-2010, 04:36 PM

I won't say it's ruined but definitely more pressure.

klr kut · 12-27-2010, 06:52 PM

It has sure lost alot of its pristine, and the pressure is alot more now.