Opening weekend reports

birdhunter · 09-30-2001, 09:58 PM

So the opening weekend of deer season wasn't a smashing success for me. Not too surprising I guess. W/ a full moon on the third and clear skys, the deer weren't out much during the day. Hunted between Tiller and Days Creek in Southern Douglas County. Saw probably 40 deer this weekend and not a single one of them had antlers. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Might have had something to do with the local element. We got to our first hunt at 5:15 am and waited in the truck for it to get light enough for us to glass a likely clear-cut we had scouted out before. About 5:30 another truck starts coming up the road at the bottom of the clear-cut. They stop and out come the spotlights. 2 of them: one for each window I guess. [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img] I was pretty ******. They were only 500 yrds away, but because of the way the roads wind about, we were over a mile away. Still we started up the truck and gave chase. Ran them out, but never did get the license plate number. Called OSP, but w/out a description there wasn't much they could do. Spotlighting deer on opening morning. I mean, come on.

The rest of the weekend was a bust. Tons of people out there. We'd hike in closed roads only to have ATV's buzz past us. Tried some drives through some likely stands. Kicked out plenty of deer, but not one buck. It was very hot and dry so I'm sure that didn't help. Talked to a lot of people and never even heard of anyone shooting a buck. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

Kind of gave up on deer and went after birds. Ended up with 6 ruffs, 2 mt. quail and a silver gray squirrel for the weekend. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] Not a total loss I guess.

Didn't plan on opening weekend being a great success for blacktail. All the people and poaching kind of left me with a bad feeling. Oh well, still got another month or so. Wait till the weather turns and they get stupid. Anyone else do any good? Someone must have nailed something over in Eastern Oregon, right? Let's hear it.

MoJet Driver · 10-01-2001, 05:32 AM

I didn't have the problem with the spotlighters but the lack of blacktails with horns was an issue.

Hunted the west side of the White River unit. The deer sure weren't where they were last year. The drought must of caused them to rent U-Hauls and move. Also I located a surprising amount of coyote activity. One was so active in mid-morning he caught one of my 30-30 slugs. If the fawns survived without water, I've got a feeling the song-dogs have been eating well.

Finally ended the weekend pretty much the same, visual contact with does and grouse. I should have brought a shotgun. On the way home, saw several rigs with horns coming back from the east side. At least somebody got lucky.

fishuntr2 · 10-01-2001, 06:06 AM

Bagged a 3-pt. opening day towards dusk under an apple tree. Was hunting above the Forest Grove watershed. The deer has a white-tail rack and the tail is part brown at the base but all black for over half the length of the tail. Figure its a hybrid/cross. Because of the heat I boned out the animal and got 76 lbs. of meat sitting in my fridge. I plan on starting to cut steaks and grind hamburger tonight. Wife wants the fridge back!! At least 2 bucks were taken off the clearcut above my house out Vernonia way, the first one opening day around 11:00! The next day 1 was shot in the same area at 10:30! The deer were moving late morning.
Bob

Bait O' Eggs · 10-01-2001, 06:41 AM

Birdhunter, at 500 yards you would think that the atomic element pb at a high speed would make the spotlighters think twice [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

I hunted the cascade range between Sweet Home and Sisters. Me and just about everybody else in the state it seemed like. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Saturday I took off for a very remote meadow on a high peak. I would guess there is a 90% chance of not finding a deer. But if a deer was there the odds would be extremely high it would be a wall hanger. I walked with a flashlight for about 1.5 hours so I could be there at daylight. I love watching the sun rise from a high mountain peak after a nice cardio workout. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] I did jump a deer that left the area out of my sight. I heard it run, but could not get to anywhere that I could see the direction it ran. I did watch about 30 elk with a couple nice bulls for a while. Heard another elk bugle at a couple hundred yards.

After hunting the area without seeing a deer, I headed over to the locked gate I planned on walking into Sunday. I find 5 vehicles still parked at the gate. This road is 4 miles long and contains 4 clearcuts of medium size. I figured it would be the same on Sunday and decided to go find another place to hunt. Everywhere I went there were multiple vehicles in each area. I ran all my favorite roads and found nothing but lots of people and one little doe. I could not get away from people no matter where I went. At dusk I just headed for home and did some work around the house on Sunday. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] Just to many people in the area I went to.

I never heard a shot fired all day.

Nothing worse than getting behind a Chevy Celebrity doing 5 miles per hour down a logging road with a gun out each window. They wouldnt let me by them, and it was a couple miles before the road split and they went the other way [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

1 blue grouse and 2 ruffled grouse were seen though, I take the shot gun next time [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

I think it will be the coast range next weekend.

bait boy · 10-01-2001, 07:49 AM

I'll post a quick note for Cap'n Dan and Kao. They both went east Thursday to set up camp for saturdays opener and do a quick scout of the area. well long story short by 9:00 am two small bucks and the hunt is over.

blackdog · 10-01-2001, 12:12 PM

Hunted the east side in the Columbia Basin unit (our family has been lucky to have private land access here for over 45 years now) and we did well. I missed an easy shot at a nice buck opening morning (calculated my bullet drop from where I first saw the buck, 550 yards, and was still thinking 'hold 12 inches high' when I finally shot from 275 - clean miss over his back [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img] ). I was able to redeem myself Sunday morning with a clean, one shot kill on a nice 20" wide, heavy 3 pt. as he was heading into the hills to bed for the day. Overall, all four in my family came home with meat in the coolers. Nothing huge, but any trip shared with family and deer on the ground is a success in my book [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

HOGTIDE · 10-01-2001, 06:33 PM

Proud to report that I saw absolutely nothing, hunting the upper reaches of the Nehalem River. All timberland gates were closed so it was entirely a 'walk-in' show...which is actually kinda neat cause not many folks like to walk in. Hit about 3 major unbothered clearcuts and still couldn't even get a doe to jump. My ol' feet and legs got tired. Headed back to rig about noon. A perfect day weather-wise, but not many critters jumpin' around.

A little time...A little cool weather. It'll come around. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Fishing Eddie · 10-02-2001, 10:58 AM

A friend and I had tags in the hood unit, he was able to connect on a forked horn in the first hour of opening morning I was not so lucky, didn't even get to see a deer all weekend. Did get to see my first bear in the wilderness Looked very healthy and very fast. Had a great time with Texas Rig out in the woods with good company is always a plus! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

Rauly · 10-02-2001, 12:39 PM

GetBit, Row for Fish, myself and a friend had a good opening morning. 1 4x3, 1 3x3, 2 fork x spikes by 11:00 am opening morning. So 4x3x3x3x2x1x2x1= pepperoni,sauage,burger and lots of backstraps.

Firedog · 10-02-2001, 01:29 PM

We hunted the White River unit and were into Deer all weekend but nothing with horns.Saw one of the biggest does I have ever seen as she stuck her head out of some chaparel and I was sure a head that big had to have horns but no such luck as I watched her trot off into the brush. Did a lot of walking and plan on going back up before the season closes. Did shoot one ruffed grouse and saw a few other ruffs and a couple blues. Hopefully we can get a bit of rain before then and get this full moon to hide behind some clouds.

MoJet Driver · 10-02-2001, 05:27 PM

The is a God! Someone finally took pity on this soul and gave me some top (shhhhh)... top secret info on where a neophyte like me can up the odds.

Hopefully we'll be able to continue this discussion on a 'Second Weekend Report' thread.

Tough part will be getting my partner out of bed earlier, only to make him climb up one side of a mountain to go half way down on the other side.

I'd give anything to be 18 again.

moman · 10-02-2001, 11:12 PM

I hunted wheat above the breaks of the Deschutes east of Dufer (W. Biggs). Shot a 3X on opening morning that dressed w/o head/legs at the butcher at 100#. Not a bad morning. However, scouting the remainder of the day with my partner, we saw a total of 8 more bucks, 7 of which were bigger than mine and one with a 28 spread if it was an inch. Through my 10X40s in looked enourmous. But I had already blown my chance for a bigger buck. I'd say the W. Biggs population is pretty healthy.

RJ · 10-03-2001, 06:41 PM

howdy all ,I shot this buck sunday the second day of the season in the malheur R unit

HarpMan · 10-03-2001, 06:50 PM

WOW, Very Nice... Folks in Newport will like that one...

RJ · 10-03-2001, 07:20 PM

thanks plunker not to sound greedy but I was hopein for a better buck but to pass on him was not an option with the weather conditions the way they were.I hope to see some more pics of other members success

Bait O' Eggs · 10-03-2001, 08:15 PM

Nice buck RJ (that looks like successful horn hunting to me)

I am already missing hunting east this year. I am settling in on the idea that I will have to probably settle for a little fork in some overgrown coastal clearcut.

I hope it rains a little so I get the pain over with and prepare for some eastern elk hunting.

Fish Hunter · 10-04-2001, 06:31 AM

RJ, Nice buck. I took a second to check out your website. Looks like you make good use of your time when your out, lots of good buck and bull pics. I plan to try your kabob recipe soon. Keep the pics coming!

local_hooker · 10-04-2001, 03:52 PM

I missed the opener on saturday, but headed to the white river unit monday night, and by 0900 tuesday morn I killed a 22 in. 4x2 kinda weird to see such a big fork on one side w/4 points on the other. I hunted elk there last year and saw several large bucks, so I was jacked to draw it this year. Like the others above said, there was not as many animals in the area this year?? I saw 2 4pt.s, and a 3pt., all larger than the one I killed, I just couldn't get a clear shot at the others.

I got a digital photo that won't seem to load, as soon as I can get it to work I'll post it.

sean

[ 10-08-2001: Message edited by: local_hooker ]

Trick · 10-04-2001, 05:54 PM

Man, what a tough year on the eastside. I just got back a couple hours ago after 5 days of hot, dry, miserable conditions in the Desolation unit. I passed on a spike and fork opening morning. Third day in I spotted a nice 4+ buck but it was too quick for me and my partner. Passed on a spike this morning and came home empty. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

80+ degree days, 15% humidity, full moon and very crunchy conditions made for tough days. I jumped 20+ animals that I could never identify as either a doe or buck. Seen over 250+ deer in 5 days and couldn't put a descent set of horns on any of them.

Yesterday morning I jumped two animals that I figured for does and as soon as I got my binocs on them I seen a descent 3-point. I pulled the rifle up and lost it around a corner. I ran up the corner to see if I could get another chance and I thought I had it behind a tree. I was waiting for it to poke its head out and about that time my partner pops off a shot. I had my gun on the wrong set of deer and that little bugger cut in above me. At least one of us came home happy.

I seen some nice bucks killed but all-in-all there were alot of empty camps. In our camp group we had 10 tags and only two filled as we left this morning. The rest of the group is going to hit it through the weekend. Every one was passing on forks and spikes for the first few days but most had lowered to forks or better as of today.

Maybe next year...

RW · 10-08-2001, 10:13 PM

Way to go Rauly, GetBit and Row for Fish! Now Rauly does that mean the next time we go fishing you are bringing the sausage, pepperoni and cooking us up a burger for lunch?

I head out this weekend for the opener of pheasant, looking forward to it. I will let you know how I do. RW

Fish Hunter · 10-09-2001, 09:09 AM

Local Hooker, I wonder if that nice buck you shot was regressing. I hear that older bucks will revert back to big two points as they get older. Are the teeth worn down and muzzle gray? That might explain the rack. The taxidermist doing a buck for my wife aged it looking at it's teeth. He estimated it at 12 yrs old , on the decline. Keep those photos coming!

Rauly · 10-09-2001, 09:25 AM

Thanks RW. I'm sure I'll have some pepperoni and sauage for the next trip, but first the Antelope and elk have to be mixed in with the deer. Hope we get them. Good Luck with the birds.

RJ · 10-09-2001, 09:18 PM

nice buck hooker my family spent 2 seasons hunting the white river unit we killed some dandy bucks in there. hey that canyon looks a lil' like fifteen mile creek hmmmmm [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

local_hooker · 10-10-2001, 08:37 AM

not 15 mile, but close, next canyon south.

birdhunter · 10-10-2001, 09:03 AM

Jordan Creek? Oh man I love that whole E. side of the mountain. High Cascade tag baby. I camped and hunted out of Badger Lake for a week last season. I've killed bucks out of 8-mile canyon before (and a cougar!). I love to hunt down lower on Jordan Creek by Postage stamp for silver grays and deer. Used to be able to keep trout in it too. Some good holes in there if you're willing to hike. Good spot to fill a late season cow tag too. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

No turkeys though, so stay away this spring. Nope, not even one. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Congrats

[ 10-10-2001: Message edited by: birdhunter ]