The Dalles Watershed?

Bubba · 09-26-2002, 10:34 AM

I was successfull this year in drawing The Dalles watershed tag for Elk which is a hair tag! I was wondering if anyone has ever hunted this unit and if so do you have any helpfull info?

Thanks Ryan.

Lured In · 09-26-2002, 12:09 PM

Bounty hunter...you're on the hunting board....did I miss something? :whazzup: [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img]

chummer · 09-26-2002, 12:41 PM

Hello?... McFly?...Anybody home?

Bubba · 09-26-2002, 12:43 PM

Yes im here

Bounty Hunter · 09-26-2002, 01:10 PM

:blush:

Oh.

Well then.

Carry on.

(No wonder I couldn't find any good URB updates....)

24 on/ 48 off · 09-26-2002, 07:52 PM

I hunted it last year. I am out of time, but I will post some information about it tomorrow. :smile:

--spud-- :smile:

Bounty Hunter · 09-26-2002, 11:00 PM

Nope try the hunting board though.

Bubba · 09-27-2002, 07:47 AM

Thanks i would realy appreciate that, I hunt that area every year for elk and dear, but you cant actually go into the watershed to hunt unless you draw a watershed tag. That whole watershed is completely new to me as far as terrain.

Tilla · 09-27-2002, 10:00 PM

I know that some historical results were not that great for bow season.

24 on/ 48 off · 09-28-2002, 12:36 PM

OK,

Last year I hunted the watershed unit and had surprisingly poor results. Our camp only scored one spike, but we saw several branch bulls- just couldn't get on them.

We hunted on the south side of FS road 44, which is not too steep and has many good hiking trails. We had snow opening morning which indicated a LOT of elk movement, most were headed North towards the FS road.

Make sure you check in with the watershed folks each day and you will recieve a special vest you have to wear. You must also check out each day.

If I were to do it again, I would hunt from the FS road and move South, thus meeting the animals which were headed North.

On day three, hunt the North side of the FS road.

--spud-- :smile:

[ 09-28-2002, 01:37 PM: Message edited by: 24 on/ 48 off ]

Bluwrt · 10-03-2002, 06:32 PM

We had four tags last year. Killed two cows. The wife and I hunted everyday and over most of the watershead. Beautiful hunt. There is really no way to scout it other than the outskirts. Get some good maps.
We saw deer in the rut. Actually saw two bucks clash horns. Like I said it is a beautiful hunt even if you dont't get a Elk.

Big Willie · 10-04-2002, 06:26 AM

Well, I am a bowhunter, and we hunt that area the first weekend for deer. I put in for the watershed elk bowhunt for a few years until ODFW cancelled the hunt. I guess, after talking with a biologist from The Dalles, in the 5-6 years of the hunt only 4 cows and a spike bull were taken. Or something like that. I have seen branch bulls driving around the edges on RD 17 and 44. Why there wasn't more success is a mystery. It looks very rugged in there and the steep canyons were not being hunted is my best guess. There has to be some huge bulls, finding them might take a while. They still might me rutting so a cow call might come in handy. Good luck, tell us what happens!
Gary

Bubba · 10-04-2002, 08:00 AM

Well so far it sounds like i will start my hunt on the south side of FS road44 in the high country of the watershed. My father in law and I were up there this last weekend hunting Deer and we scouted around a bit and saw a lot of ELK sign coming in and out of the watershed, seemed to be all up in the high country though. Theres an area that is up high called Dog River, I think that will be my first hunt although the terrain seems to be steep I think it will produce my best chances of at least seeing some Bulls. About two seasons ago my father in law and I saw a herd of about 30 Elk in which about 25 were bulls run straight into the watershed from the high country, it was amazing i have never seen that many bulls in one bunch there were huge branch bulls all the way down to spikes. And last year during the season in the early morning we heard a bunch of bulls right on the edge of the watershed in a clearing bugling and cows were calling and we could here horns clashing, then the sun came up to where you could actually see something and they were all gone, nothing but elk sign everywhere. This year hope to see that same heard but in the watershed since that seemed to be the way they were heading.

bassfishingnw · 10-04-2002, 11:39 PM

Hey BUBBA,

My first tip for you is to actually get off the GRAVEL ROAD to hunt! :grin:

You might see some more critters that way!!