Ochoco Results

moman · 10-28-2002, 02:14 PM

I'm curious to find out how any Ifishers did in the Ochocos. We hunted from Cottonwood Wed-Sunday and didn't get a shot off although we were "in 'em" everyday. It appeared that most of the availble tags were all in this area (Spanish Peak), surprising given the size of the unit. We saw a few big bulls in several camps but overall very little. Those that were killed had a similar story: "he just walked out in front of me..." I would guess the larger parties did well given the very dry conditions. With our small party we had a difficult time tracking and had too few people to drive. I saw no sign of any large herds, what I saw and what sign I saw indicated small pods of 4-8 animals. The most interesting event: listening to a guy beam on the radio to his party about the TWO bulls he had just killed and directions on how to find him. OSP, were you listening?

So, how did you do? After hunting the Ochoco for the first time, I'd like to go back but I'd need another plan, presumably a bigger party and order a few inches of snow. Was I just unlucky with the weather?

Bait O' Eggs · 10-28-2002, 07:50 PM

I know your pain, I hunted that area last year with a rifle and had hoped for snow and had summer like conditions also.

I have a theory about Cottonwood and not a lot of bigger herds in the area. 2 years ago a group of 8 hunters went in there and filled 8 tags, and the year before another party of 8 other hunters filled 7 tags. All bulls were branched. This is in addition to what everybody else killed. 15 branch bulls that I know of in 2 years from one drainage doesnt leave many bigger bulls to drag their cows into the drainage when they herd up. Cottonwood is one of the few areas you can spot and stalk which is more effective hunting than walking aimlessly around hoping to bump into an elk. For a couple years now Cottonwood has been poor hunting and I think it will be poor for several years to come. I know smaller bulls will be pushed into this area with time, leading to a replenishment one of these days. I still love the Ochoccos, but I had to move my hunting area a little to find more elk on a regular basis.

NWRedside · 10-29-2002, 02:47 PM

I just got back on Sunday from the Hunt, didn't get anything. I had the same observations as you guys on the small herds, 4-8. largest herd I saw was 7 cows. We hunted all over the place from camp watson down to wind creek. All I saw were cows, about 18 total for me personally. Very frustrating conditions with the weather. Our camp of five got skunked out. We stayed on the road 38 below spanish peak, along with everyone else.

MasterCaster · 10-30-2002, 06:51 PM

I hope there is a little snow on the ground before the 16th of Nov. :grin:

Just cant beat that cow hunt to put meat in the freezer.

Jon :smile: :grin: :smile: