Willamette Tag

hrbassin · 11-13-2008, 12:23 PM

Ok, I've been hunting all my life on the east side, but now that school brings me to the willamette valley I plan on hunting, you guessed it, the willamette valley next year. Now, reading through the '09 regs I found this willamette tag. Am I reading this right? 6 months, hair tag? Is that fair? So you can legally take two bucks in one season if you draw this and buy a western general tag?

Just like to get my stuff straight.

Mark

fishinpox · 11-13-2008, 12:25 PM

You are correct sir!

hrbassin · 11-13-2008, 12:27 PM

Goodness.......

You guys are spoiled.

Mark

hunt2much · 11-13-2008, 12:34 PM

Thats a big ten-four!!! Hunted it for years before everyone and their sister decided to start hunting it... There even was a 800 series addt'l deer willamette tag for a few years. So you could get 3! But way back in the day it used to only open on the same a general and went til Nov. 30th. But it was perfect. I used to get either a 600 or 800 every year and sometimes both. Now everyone applies for it and I'd say only 80% have places to hunt. Because you see posts on here and craigslist and elswhere " Drew a willamette Tag...Help... Need place to hunt". BS! It takes like 2-3 yrs to draw it now! End Rant. But yes you are reading the regs correct. The only thing I dont know is can you shoot em all on the same day? I killed a nice BT one year and an almost as nice of buck was with him and didn't leave when his buddy flopped over, I contemplated it, but didn't shoot, because I didn't know for sure if you could harvest 2 deer in a day? I'm pretty sure that with turkeys you have to wait until the next day... But really have no clue and was happy with the buck i took.

Matt

The Bloodletter · 11-13-2008, 12:45 PM

I would suggest you start today on making contact with local land owners. On Paper the Willamette Unit looks like a great deal but if you look at a map it's almost entirely private land. Very frustrating unless you know the right people. Good luck!

rrust1 · 11-13-2008, 12:50 PM

Funny. A similar post occurred a few weeks back (1 or 2). Lots of irritated land owners in the unit don't like us "landless" folk taking their tags.

I know for a fact there is public land to hunt. Google it, it's there. I shot a fork last year the day before the Super Bowl. It is a great tag that affords students like me a long season to hunt around exams.

Good Luck!

fishinpox · 11-13-2008, 01:26 PM

Nothing wrong with busting two deer in one day. Once the 22nd starts I'm hoping I can find a buck who's dumb on love, shoot the doe, then shoot the buck!

Cliff · 11-13-2008, 01:28 PM

What school are you going to?

bigamefisher2 · 11-13-2008, 01:34 PM

I don't know that it would 2 to 3 years to draw the tag. I usually get it every other year, but last year and the year before, I drew it, I also know someone who got it last year and the year before with no points. This tells me the draw system is a bit flawed. Like everyone has said though, do your homework, find the public land, and look for private that you can gain access to. I have a chunck of heaven that I hunt in this unit. It's private, but I like it that way.

stlhdrgrn · 11-13-2008, 01:34 PM

Anybody remember when there were 10000 tags issued for the willamette hunt. My first thought when I saw that in the 70's was they dont want any deer left in that unit.
I called in and put two bucks in the freezer a few years back. It was nice to draw every year.

Now 10000+ people put n for 3300 tags

woodsy188 · 11-13-2008, 01:35 PM

Like everyone says - find some huntable land first.

My parents have 10 acres of huntable land in the unit and it still feels a little small if the amimal is anywhere near the edge of the property.

loper · 11-13-2008, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hrbassin

6 months, hair tag? Is that fair? So you can legally take two bucks in one season if you draw this and buy a western general tag?

From the draft Oregon Black-Tailed Deer Management Plan dated April 17, 2008 (the bold is mine

):

There are no Benchmarks for the Willamette WMU which is designated as a deemphasis zone for deer.
This designation is applied to this WMU because 99 percent of the land is in private ownership and damage from deer is a significant problem.
The deemphasis classification allows for more latitude in managing deer populations particularly related to damage problems.

"Fair"? There are no restrictions on who may put in for 615. However, it may be the case that there are people uninterested in driving a couple hundred miles (or more) to hunt in the rain in January in a unit they are unfamiliar with.

On a a broader note, the question of "Is that fair?" was answered by the ODFW Commission this way:
2005 - Antlerless deer seasons were modified to reduce opportunities for hunters to harvest multiple deer. This reduction was primarily addressed by eliminating the 800 series hunts.

death roe · 11-13-2008, 01:48 PM

whats even cooler was a few years back you could get two willamette tags and kill a total of three bucks in one year

man i wish they still did that

hrbassin · 11-13-2008, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cliff

What school are you going to?

I'm in Corvallis, going to Oregon State.

Mark

DTSportsman · 11-13-2008, 02:34 PM

Research, research, research. There is a decent amount of public land, and LOTS of accessable private land you just need to dig into it.

Good Luck and have fun, I've drawn the tag 6 times and have killed 5 deer over an 8 year period.

hawg boss · 11-13-2008, 03:56 PM

I talked to one of the biologists for this unit a couple years ago and he said they don't want any deer in the willamette unit due to damage.

If this is the case ther should not be a limit on the number of tags they issue. It should be a 100% draw! Everyone who applies should get a tag. A lot of people will not find a place to hunt, but that is the case now. Consider those tag fees as donations to odfw.

The way it stands now they reduced the tags, & eliminated the 800 series, but extended the season to 6 months. I doubt if very many people are still looking for their first deer in Jan, or Feb.

Oregon Sportsman · 11-13-2008, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hrbassin

I'm in Corvallis, going to Oregon State.

Mark

Mark, when you draw that tag, hit me up. I'll help you out with it for sure. I have one this year, and am looking forward to some more hunting! Now if only I could convince my wife it's a good idea for me to be hunting instead of helping with our newborn...

Allan

DTSportsman · 11-13-2008, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oregon Sportsman

Mark, when you draw that tag, hit me up. I'll help you out with it for sure. I have one this year, and am looking forward to some more hunting! Now if only I could convince my wife it's a good idea for me to be hunting instead of helping with our newborn...

Allan

Take the newborn with you, the Deer may think it's a fawn Bawl

, and come runnin'.

Bluefinn · 11-13-2008, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hawg boss

I talked to one of the biologists for this unit a couple years ago and he said they don't want any deer in the willamette unit due to damage.

If this is the case ther should not be a limit on the number of tags they issue. It should be a 100% draw! Everyone who applies should get a tag. A lot of people will not find a place to hunt, but that is the case now. Consider those tag fees as donations to odfw.

The way it stands now they reduced the tags, & eliminated the 800 series, but extended the season to 6 months. I doubt if very many people are still looking for their first deer in Jan, or Feb.

The 800 series was elimited due to the fall in blacktail numbers due to the hair loss diesease.The deer in this area seem to be on a comeback now.If you do not have a place to hunt then don't put in for the tag maybe I will get one then.

hrbassin · 11-13-2008, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oregon Sportsman

Mark, when you draw that tag, hit me up. I'll help you out with it for sure. I have one this year, and am looking forward to some more hunting! Now if only I could convince my wife it's a good idea for me to be hunting instead of helping with our newborn...

Allan

I will for sure. Let me know if you want any help bustin' brush this year, I'm always up for bein' out in the woods.

I've got 3 points saved up in the 600 series, so its a pretty sure deal next year.

Mark

hawg boss · 11-13-2008, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluefinn

The 800 series was elimited due to the fall in blacktail numbers due to the hair loss diesease.The deer in this area seem to be on a comeback now.If you do not have a place to hunt then don't put in for the tag maybe I will get one then.

I was just saying that their goal is to have very few deer in the Willamette zone. I don't agree with that, but if that is their goal, they should not limit the amount of tags. It's just like their policy on invasive species, they say they dont want them, but they set limits, and size restrictions on some of them (Bass).

97trapper · 11-13-2008, 07:32 PM

two words for this valley hunt,,boat and shotgun with buckshot and hit the river

Oregon Sportsman · 11-13-2008, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hrbassin

I will for sure. Let me know if you want any help bustin' brush this year, I'm always up for bein' out in the woods.

I've got 3 points saved up in the 600 series, so its a pretty sure deal next year.

Mark

You're set then bud! The buck I shot a couple of weeks back was in the Willamette unit during that season. There is plenty of oppurtunity in this area, as well as further North. Nothing like holding that tag in your pocket and having sure-fire excuse to walk away from studying and school on a rainy weekend to unwind in the woods...