Deer Rut Hunts

gedstr · 02-04-2009, 08:26 PM

Why doesn't Oregon have more Deer,Nov 20 Rut Hunts I know it just started last year, 2008 and was very sucussfull ???????? I contacted ODF and
couldn't really get any good answers....

Roguerunner · 02-04-2009, 08:45 PM

For centerfire?

dartonvpr · 02-04-2009, 09:01 PM

They had late bow hunts in several western units for many years. But I don't believe they ever had a late season rifle hunt other than some doe hunts. We even had the "national blacktail hunt". I hunted it for several years, but I left the state for work for awhile and when I returned they didn't have it any longer. Anyone know why they stopped?

Dave Smith · 02-04-2009, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gedstr

Why doesn't Oregon have more Deer,Nov 20 Rut Hunts I know it just started last year, 2008 and was very sucussfull ???????? I contacted ODF and
couldn't really get any good answers....

We could have more rut hunts and higher success rates because of them and probably make alot of people happy....... but for how long? How long could our already poor herds handle that? Then what?

Ol' KL · 02-04-2009, 09:29 PM

I agree with DS.

More rut hunts means fewer hunts. Inevitably they end up going to the guys with the $$$. If they end up making any, your odds will look a lot like the current raffle system...real long. You'd probably also end up with something that looks like the current auction system.

I think we're fortunate enough to have the opportunities we have. Without better habitat and some predator control, it's hard to imagine more opportunity.

There are some nice bucks out there. There tough to get, but at least you have a chance to try.

nehalemguy · 02-05-2009, 05:53 AM

I have wondered if a late rut hunt with limited tag numbers could be used as a revenue generating tool for ODFW projects. Apply normally by controled hunt application, but pay a premium for the tag if you are successful. ????

E

SImudBogger · 02-05-2009, 05:55 AM

because it would be a massacre! Bucks in the rut with a rifle? it doesn't get any easier than that.

thefishslayer · 02-05-2009, 06:07 AM

i had a youth hunt in the rut on the 15 of november. The monster buck gets tons of people shooting at him. He was locked up on a doe, had no idea we were there. If everyone had that tag, the population would drop so fast we would not know what to do

nehalemguy · 02-05-2009, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SImudBogger

because it would be a massacre! Bucks in the rut with a rifle? it doesn't get any easier than that.

Montana and other states do it. How are they able to do this on the scale that they do and still have viable and huntable populations? I agree that to do this in Oregon on a wide scale would be a poor management decision at this time but if our deer and elk populations cannot stand the pressure of a few premium hunts then we really are in bad shape. ?????

E

forkhunter · 02-05-2009, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nehalemguy

Montana and other states do it. How are they able to do this on the scale that they do and still have viable and huntable populations?

E

The deer #'s in Montana are very different than the deer #'s in Oregon. Also, consider the fact that the population of the Portland metro area alone is more than the population of the state of Montana (and MT is much bigger geographically). You also have a large portion of prairie in MT. For those who have never hunted that type of country, it is amazing the amount of game animals in can support.......until a bad winter. And remember that there are a LOT of whitetails in MT. Their populations continue to climb.

chromebright · 02-05-2009, 07:28 AM

I have always thought why not have a rut hunt for most if not all units, but just give out 2-5 tags. No way that taking 0-5 mature bucks from a unit is going to hurt the overall population, but it would do so much to spread out the preference points and provide a real trophy hunting experience that other states but not OR are known for. There are just not enough quality hunts in Oregon to spread out the points and or attract the out of state $$. We end up with a couple units that are very hard to draw for anyone and the quality of the hunt is not even that great.

Extrapale · 02-05-2009, 08:00 AM

Chromebright, I love your idea.

Right now there are not many hunts that excite me, but having the option to apply for a true premium hunt would definitely be cool.

Rank Amateur · 02-05-2009, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nehalemguy

Montana and other states do it. How are they able to do this on the scale that they do and still have viable and huntable populations? I agree that to do this in Oregon on a wide scale would be a poor management decision at this time but if our deer and elk populations cannot stand the pressure of a few premium hunts then we really are in bad shape. ?????

E

You answerred your own question!

Let's get the population back up guys before we start hammering on the big breeders.

gedstr · 02-05-2009, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chromebright

I have always thought why not have a rut hunt for most if not all units, but just give out 2-5 tags. No way that taking 0-5 mature bucks from a unit is going to hurt the overall population, but it would do so much to spread out the preference points and provide a real trophy hunting experience that other states but not OR are known for. There are just not enough quality hunts in Oregon to spread out the points and or attract the out of state $$. We end up with a couple units that are very hard to draw for anyone and the quality of the hunt is not even that great.

leadeyedbugger · 02-05-2009, 09:32 AM

There are 3 centerfire rut hunts i believe....And 2 of them anyways would be excellant trophy tags. So go apply for them, and in 10-15yrs you'll have a great tag with a oppurtunity to take a book buck. Or go buy a smoke pole and start hunting muzzle loader.....There are a few limited opurtunities....Good Luck

gedstr · 02-05-2009, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chromebright

I have always thought why not have a rut hunt for most if not all units, but just give out 2-5 tags. No way that taking 0-5 mature bucks from a unit is going to hurt the overall population, but it would do so much to spread out the preference points and provide a real trophy hunting experience that other states but not OR are known for. There are just not enough quality hunts in Oregon to spread out the points and or attract the out of state $$. We end up with a couple units that are very hard to draw for anyone and the quality of the hunt is not even that great.

thanks for replying i totally agree with your thoughts, why couldn't the state have this draw done in most areas, I know they say its doe per buck population but they don't really know that fact either.Even if there was 5 tags per each unit..., they have all these auctions and raffle drawing to get revenue and i mean revenue and thats good,,
maybe think of the ones who pay the lisences one tag for a fair extra price for this hunt and only allowed one tag in a lifetime ...thanks

Blowing Smoke · 02-05-2009, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chromebright

I have always thought why not have a rut hunt for most if not all units, but just give out 2-5 tags. No way that taking 0-5 mature bucks from a unit is going to hurt the overall population, but it would do so much to spread out the preference points and provide a real trophy hunting experience that other states but not OR are known for. There are just not enough quality hunts in Oregon to spread out the points and or attract the out of state $$. We end up with a couple units that are very hard to draw for anyone and the quality of the hunt is not even that great.

I feel the same as you 2-5 addtional tags per unit, This would surely help with keeping preferance points down, maybe a longer seasons for Deer and Elk for 2-5 hunters per unit. Hunts do not have to take place during rut. I think most are just looking for better quality hunts sometimes that just means less people in the woods..........BS

Blowing Smoke · 02-05-2009, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gedstr

Why doesn't Oregon have more Deer,Nov 20 Rut Hunts I know it just started last year, 2008 and was very sucussfull ???????? I contacted ODF and
couldn't really get any good answers....

I burned up my 12 points for 141c last year , I with the help of ridgerunner We mentor'd a 11 year old girl, she filled the tag opening day. Honestly we saw so many bucks that we could not count or begin to keep track of them all. The biologist said we only saw a sliver of the deer because the snow had not pushed any of them down yet. The silver lining in the cloud with approx 30 rifle tags for rut rifle hunts is going to chew up and use alot of prefence points out of the system and make other units easier to draw. I will also say I was way more then impressed with the Biologists in charge of White River Unit. Because those folks really care about the Animals and hunter oppurtunities, they really have there finger on the pulse of things.........BS

Beamerfish · 02-05-2009, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chromebright

I have always thought why not have a rut hunt for most if not all units, but just give out 2-5 tags. No way that taking 0-5 mature bucks from a unit is going to hurt the overall population, but it would do so much to spread out the preference points and provide a real trophy hunting experience that other states but not OR are known for. There are just not enough quality hunts in Oregon to spread out the points and or attract the out of state $$. We end up with a couple units that are very hard to draw for anyone and the quality of the hunt is not even that great.

This is the time of year when I and alot of other guys are getting their out-of-state applications in for quality hunting opportunities that are very limited in Oregon. Judging by my contributions and the fact that nonresidents have to pay through the nose, this has to be a significant revenue generating tool besides offering some great hunts. Pricing quality tags so only rich guys can afford the is always a concern but seems like money will always have the opportunity to obtain hunt quality. Some kind of preference or bonus point draw is the only way for regular guys like be to get a chance at these things. Even with the cost of the out-of-state applications, it is still way way cheaper than paying the big $$ for an outfitter or landowner tag.