Anybody been to the Trout Creek Mt.'s lately?

WildHawg · 09-21-2002, 06:04 AM

Anybody out there who hunted Trout Creek Long Bow or who has hunted there before with a rifle willing to share any tips? Been twice to scout, and have seen 1 monster (30-32" with a kicker!!) and a real nice one (28" and as tall as wide). One on Oregon Canyon Mt's and one in the Trout Creeks. Lots of people over there on the 7th-11th. Anybody care to share info with me? I am so PSYCHED!!!! I've waited nine years!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks in advance, 'Hawg.

[ 09-22-2002, 12:42 PM: Message edited by: WildHawg ]

WildHawg · 09-23-2002, 05:41 AM

bringin' it back to the top in hopes of a reply before I leave thursday.

Bait O' Eggs · 09-23-2002, 08:53 AM

Wish I could help you, but have only been in the area once. I enjoyed watching some hot babe play frisbee in the alvord desert naked :shocked: :shocked: My wife thought the spotting scope was a bit much

Good luck and post a pic of the big one you bring home.

WildHawg · 09-23-2002, 02:15 PM

Thanks for the luck Roy. I'll do my best!!

tailchaser · 09-23-2002, 02:30 PM

I was over in the southern region (steens and nearby) and did notice some trends you might want to explore while over there.

1. It's hot as haities over there right now so the old rule of finding water definitely applies. However, we saw a lot of deer around 9-10 am getting drinks at local water holes, so don't think that the morning hunt is over come an hour after daylight. We found most of the big bucks heading up the canyons right after daylight coming from water holes consistently also. Most of the time around a mile away.

2. We also found a lot of bucks bedded on rimrock areas this year also. However, they were sitting just back from the top of the rimrock looking over everything instead of where I usually find them under the shelf.

3. Probably the best thing to do however, which you might already know is watch over the canyon that leads to a heavily timbered north slope. Get the wind in your face and you should see a lot of good bucks. Be on that high spot at daylight because the monsters will only be seen 1/2 hour into morning and 1/2 before dark.

Good luck and post some pics for us.

tc

Bait O' Eggs · 10-10-2002, 07:39 AM

Wildhawg - I have been waiting to see the heaviest biggest buck posted here. How did it go???

I hope you didnt pass up several 28 inch bucks looking for a 34 incher and then came home empty. :whazzup:

Did you get a chance to sit in the hot springs at the Alvord desert with some cold barley pop??

Tell us the story good or bad.

WildHawg · 10-12-2002, 05:56 AM

Roy,
are you some kinda psycho...er, psychic?? On opening morning we hunted an area much lower than most everybody else. We had seen a 30 + inch 4 by 5 with a cool cheater there on Sept 8th, and were hoping he'd still be home. He was.
My partner worked from the north of the butte, while I came up from the south to a saddle where I'd be in position to shoot at anything trying to sneak out. On my way in, I spotted 6 bucks feeding on bitterbrush right on my path to my saddle. It was still fairly dark, so I sat down and watched them do their thing from about 150 yards. Saw a fork play fighting with a three point, while the others fed oblivious to my presence. Another guy who had teemed up with us was working the bedding areas below the rims, also from the south. The bucks fed off, and I worked my way to my glassing position just a little later than I wanted to.
After about 30 minutes, I hear 2 shots coming from the north, when my radio lights up with chatter about the big one. They missed him, and thought he was headed right where I was sitting. I stayed put and glassed...whoa!! there he was!!! He was one shelf lower than the other hunter, and by the time I got my rifle shouldered, he was gone. Knowing which way he went, and figuring I could run around the butte and still get a shot as he sidehilled, I left my spot and bolted to the other end of the rim. I catch my breath, and see the six little to medium bucks (one 24" 3x4) all looking over their shoulder, while the lower hunter is oblivious to their presence.
Yeeehaa!!!! I got 'em right where I want 'em.
Just then, the hunter below me rips off a shot. I'm still watching for Mr. Big, when the six bucks bolt, and the radio crackles "he's going through the saddle!!!!" CRAP!!!!!!!!! So I abandon my position and bolt 200 yards back to the saddle. Just as I crest the hump, a big beautiful 3x4, probably about 28 wide, 16 tall, and thick horned, stops right in front of me (maybe 30 yards), and looks back over his opposite shoulder for a good 5 seconds. I raised my rifle, and tickled the trigger, but stopped short. I looked at him again, and was sure he wasn't the really big guy. Pretty quick, he trotted over a little hill. Wanting to make sure said buck was not the one I was looking for, I watched him go from about 100 yards til he dissapeared at about 500. Coulda killed him six ways to Sunday, but I let him go. Mistake. Saw quite a few other bucks, but nothing over 22-24 until monday of the second week, when we found a group of bucks (3) that soon kicked up a buck I believed to be the one I passed on opening day. Hiked our butts off straight up, then sidehill to get where he was going. By the time we arrived, he was nowhere to be seen. There was however a fat 3x3 which, as it was day 10, I opted to harvest for the freezer.
Woulda, coulda, shoulda...
In hindsight, I can't regret too much, as I made a conscious decision to hunt the big boy. That opening morning buck sure would have been a dandy for the wall though!!
Overall a great experience. We camped at 7413 feet in a grove of Aspens, hunted as high as 8100 feet, saw lots of future potential, got snowed on, and discovered a patch of snow left from the previous winter which had hung on all summer. Amazing country. Not sure I'll wait 9 more years to hunt it again, but I'll guaranty I'll visit soon.
Oh yeah--almost forgot the high point of my visit to the Trout Creeks. While Sage Grouse hunting and scouting on September 7, at around 10 am on a cloudles day, we had a meteor sail directly over our heads, then burst into fragments which slowly faded away. It was so bright it was incredible. I heard it before I saw it, believe it or not. It left a trail in the sky for miles. What a privelege to see.

Wak · 10-12-2002, 06:56 AM

Have you been putting in for that tag 9 years?

[ 10-12-2002, 07:57 AM: Message edited by: Wak ]

Bait O' Eggs · 10-15-2002, 08:40 AM

You did the right thing, when you have a very very hard to get tag, you hunt the trophy.

Sorry you didnt connect with the big boy.

Thanks for the story.