Heppner Elk Hunting

kodiakfisher · 08-12-2002, 02:20 PM

I will be spotting for some friends this year. This will probably by my friends last year Elk hunting 70 years old and health deteriorating. Anyways I have been pretty lucky the last four years so I have been invited to help out. The have cow tags.

I would like any and all comments of sincerity. I have no interest in ever hunting here again but would like help getting this guy a shot at an elk. I know none of you are going to tell me your secret little wallow that has been holding elk every year for the past twenty but if I had some help on areas to not waste my time on and maybe a 10 mile area to start in I would be very grateful. UTM coordinates would be great :smile: .

The person winner with the best tip gets two pounds of the best pepperoni. Voget meats in Canby. Winner to be announced week of November 11. Come on let the tips start comming.

ladtrips · 08-12-2002, 05:22 PM

I learned to Elk hunt with family in the Hepner unit. I have not hunted it for a few years now but........... A nice place to camp is in Divide wells campground. It's a central location fro a lot of areas. We hunted Taylor creek, Silver creek, and 5-mile creek. For the older hunter these areas are fairly flat (as Elk country goes) There are numerous roads surrounding them for ease of getting your animal out. Tribble creek is another one. If you look on any unit map you'll find these areas easily enough. Divide wells is south off the 58 road. 58 road runs from Ukiah and Hepner. It's a nice road and there are good roads into the campground for Trailers as well as tent campers. The areas that I listed tend to be a travel route for the migrating Elk so you get a chance at locals as well as travelers. If nothing is found in those areas try moving out to the breaks of the John day river just north of Jericho creek. Some of the breaks have been purchased and are now private but there are still some places to hunt out there. Good luck and I hope your friend scores and hope its not his last.

ladtrips · 08-12-2002, 05:23 PM

Oh yea. FYI Vogets is in Hubbard but they do have good meats.

08-12-2002, 05:40 PM

I only know the area around Tupper Bute and that isn't a good place for an older hunter.

kodiakfisher · 08-13-2002, 08:18 AM

How far is it from the camp to the John Day breaks? Thanks for the tips. I think the weather is going to dictate the migration but I would think that by November the migration should be well under way or be done. This older guy that I'm hunting with is probably going to glass from the truck and once his son and I spot the elk try and get into position to take a shot. I'll even bump them real easy too him if it seems like it could work. Since I won't have a gun what other choice do I have, sneak up and scare them to death. Maybe sneak up and tell them we have you surrounded come out with you antlers up hehehe.

His son and I will be the one walking canyons and glassing for elk. Being in an area were there are resident elk along with a migration path sounds great thanks for the input.

Wang · 08-13-2002, 10:40 AM

Hunted Heppner for years. Head up above Cutsforth Park and stay on the highway towards Ukiah. Any of the road closures in that area or around Penland Lake will hold plenty of animals. A good drive would be around Black Mtn. Also we have killed a few animals in the Divide Wells area.

Email me and I will be a little more specific on road numbers as Im at work and will need to look at a map.

Also look at the Madison Butte area.

kodiakfisher · 08-13-2002, 02:17 PM

I've heard some people mention the breaks of the John Day can someone be more specific on how to get there and how to hunt it.

I know the breaks are the canyons heading down to the NF of the John Day but how do you get there? Are the elk moving up or down in the morning?

Doug E

Wang · 08-13-2002, 04:22 PM

Ill get you some road numbers in the next couple of days. Some good roads to drive out up there. Very steep terrain for the most part. I have spent some time out there for bulls but never during a cow season.

08-13-2002, 06:31 PM

W A N G,

What gives with **** ? Why astrics?

Do you hunt the Scukum Creek area?
We usualy are about halfway between Tupper Corall and Tupper Guard Station on the south side of the road, just east of the power line crossing.

[ 08-13-2002, 07:34 PM: Message edited by: Keta ]

gorge_fisherman · 08-13-2002, 11:40 PM

We have hunted around divide well for about 12 years. Plenty of elk and the terain is not bad which my dad likes, but if this is the late season cow tag he has and not the hair tag. You may have to look down lower. Even by the end of general second a large portion of the cows and calves have been pushed down by hunting and the weather(if it is starting to snow). If the weather has started to turn by then I would definatly think about looking lower. Either down by the breaks of the John Day or Down by Willow creek as you head out of heppner.

kodiakfisher · 08-16-2002, 08:14 AM

Bump to the top! **** pretty much has the pepperoni locked up. I've never know hunters to give up so easy are we just going to let him walk away with the prize?

Again thanks for the help that I've gotten

ladtrips · 08-23-2002, 01:01 PM

Sorry I haven't replied, Iv'e been
Antelope hunting. The John day breaks are about 1 hour drive time from Divide wells. The way we hunted was south east of divide wells towards Jericho creek. I don't hav a map of the area handy but I know they are all on there. Another area on the breaks is Potamus point. Pretty rugged country. I've seen lots of Elk but it's huge country. Stick to the area around divide wells for easier hunting. Good luck.