North East Trask

[Robert]

Anyone have some advice for areas to scout in the North East Trask unit for elk? My dad and I got tags for there and need to start scouting soon. The season starts January one and I cant wait. :smile:

Thanks Robert

[maggot]

Well..weyerhauser has been pretty busy up there....gate was closed all summer. The maze of roads has been added to.....you might want to get up there and familiar yourself with all the new cuts and roads..my advice...get deep in the canyons.

[biederboat]

Robert,

I "guided" two friends on this hunt last year, one was lucky enough to get the tag again this year. While I can't give away the honey-holes, I will tell you that land owners here are generally not as receptive as they are in the Jewell area hunts. Nevertheless, I would approach a few in the fringe areas (adjacent to timber lands) and be willing to offer them some steaks. Also, don't give up. The elk are where you find them and they may be there one day and not the next even though nothing has spooked them. Make sure you know the boundries, I saw people hunting off of them and notified proper authorities. Also, Stimpson land will be open on some of those weekends and their usual road closure (green dots) is OFF.

Good luck, I consider Roosevelt cow at the top of the venison food chain for Oregon game mammals!

Biederboat

[Robert]

Thanks for the help. :smile: Where they outside of the hunt area or private property? Are there any good areas to find a place to camp?
Do the elk like the clearcuts early and late or is that just some kind of myth?

Thanks Robert

[biederboat]

Robert,

One elk was behind a locked gate of private timberland (no permission needed), about 2:00 PM in the middle of a clearcut. It was a helluva packout. The other was in an easily accessible area (but not a clearcut, sort of an "open area" next to timber, no permission needed) during the snow. Had to drag it about 50 yards to the truck. :smile: Having hunted quite a few coast cow seasons, I will say this (and I mean it to apply during Dec-Feb coast cow hunts): If there's nothing to chase the elk out of the clearcuts, they will STAY in the clearcuts. I've found them there any time of the day. If they're not there they WILL go there during the night. Now, if they've been shot at, harassed, etc. they will likely leave at first light but not necessarily BEFORE shooting hours. Now, I'm not sure where they go if they're not in the clearcuts as hunting these areas (woods, canyons, etc.) in January can be a little "challenging".

If you put in your time, you'll get the tags filled, it's a great hunt. As far as camping, you can camp on any BLM land but I'm not aware of any campgrounds in the area except in the motorcycle area up high (Brown's camp or whatever it's called). Is there one near Hagg Lake?
Good luck,
Biederboat

[Robert]

Thanks for the great information. Do you have to walk in a long ways on the gated roads?

[biederboat]

On the one that we got the elk, about a mile but it was down a nasty clear cut after that.

Tell you what, if it's the last two weekends of the season and you're having no luck, call me at home, 503-292-4590. I'll at least try and see if you're hunting in the right areas and maybe point you to something better. I have a Melrose doe tag good from 1/4 to 1/19 so I may be gone one weekend in there.

Fair enough?
Biederboat (Mark)

[Robert]

Thanks for the help. If I cant get an elk in the first two weeks I will call you.