Drawn 2nd. Season W. Murders Crk.

stick flicker · 07-10-2005, 07:52 AM

It took me six points and I finally am going on a rifle elk hunt after bowhunting for the last six years. I would have preferred to bowhunt but work has taken me to Alaska for the season so this years special so I decided to spend the points so to speak. I got to scout the central and north east section of the unit this June.I saw three nice bulls. One in the 300+ range the other two smaller 5 points. Some of you might remember the post of my scouting trip with the mushrooms and picture of the Aldrich Mountains.
For now I am pouring over my maps looking for saddles, connecting ridges, and the steepest nastiest looking slopes around. All I can do is dream for the time being. Anyone else draw this hunt thats an Ifisher? I plan on hunting solo w/backpack and tent and spending the nights in the feild. Kind of a get back to the wild hunt.

baltz526 · 07-10-2005, 08:13 AM

in 2002 we had 18deg below zero for two days in eastern oregon durring second season, so go with a backup plan. we froze our butts off in a 15x20 wall tent with the wood stove going and one in our group got frost bite on hands and feet, go prepared if backpacking the back country.twice as much food as you think you will need tent that will take 2' of wet heavy snow sleeping gear that will realy work down to 0deg or lower. i have been collecting the gear for doing spike camp hunting out of the main camp like you plan on doing solo. i have everything but the bag rated to zero small enough to pack. i'll be in the steens this year so if i can collect enough camp mates and the bag i might do it this year. good luck in the w murders creek.

Rank Amateur · 07-10-2005, 08:29 PM

I'll second that, Aldrich is over 6,500 feet. We hunted a first season quite awhile ago, we had to put the lettuce in a cooler without ice to keep it from freezing, didn't work, we had true iceberg lettuce!!

We had the sheep herders stove roaring, but the snow in the corner of the tent was still there when we left 7 days later!

stick flicker · 07-11-2005, 07:23 AM

Wow ,sounds like its alot colder that time of the year than I predicted. I was thinking 35+ would be average. I was thinking of hunting at higher elevations but maybe I will be spending more time down in the flatter 1500ft. elevation stuff. Little warmer!! Do you think the flats in the Cougar Mountain area might be the place to check with the first season drawing people into the high country and over looking the flater areas?? With temps that cold the elk are still probably hot.

oregonmuley · 07-11-2005, 09:07 AM

Stick,
Sent you a PM, Also I will say again what everyone else has said, it gets really cold up there, colder than anyplace I have ever hunted. Not sure why but it does, we have had everything freeze up, water, food, people! Anyway, great place but man 2nd season can be tough.
Frank

TheTexan · 07-11-2005, 10:46 AM

Try this LINK

Look at some of the historical data for the area. I was over in East Murderer's Creek this past weekend for some scouting. (I'll post a report with pictures later.) We found a weather station and looked it up on the web this morning. You can look at historical or current data.

Good Luck and let me know if you have problems with the site.

sliverpicker · 07-11-2005, 02:39 PM

During the 1991 archery season we killed this bull on an 85 degree day. By the time we got it packed out and back to camp it was too late to get into John Day and find a locker. Since it was only getting down to 55 degrees at night in camp I drove down to the Sproul Ranch on the edge of Bear Valley to see if they had a walk-in cooler at the ranch. They didn't, but said we could the hang the elk in the tack barn for the night. I said it was too warm, then jim told me it was getting down to 10-12 degrees every night there at the ranch. So we put the meat in the tack barn!!!

Over in that country the lower creeks and meadows typically get colder, the ridgetops will stay somewhat warmer as the wind keeps the air stirred up. The lower sage is usually colder then the higher timber country at night.

sliverpicker

stick flicker · 07-11-2005, 04:16 PM

Nice bull. Thats the kind of animal that I would like to get a shot at broadside at 20 yrd. with a .300 mag.

Real nice dark looking horns. Man 1991 those were the days I was still in high school chasing tail and girls were all I could think about. Things sure change don't they. Now I am chasing elk and trying to get away from my wife

:grin: :grin:. Temp wise that makes a bit of sense cold air sinks and warm air rises but then what about the freezing level?

baltz526 · 07-11-2005, 05:05 PM

if you are going to packin just go prepared and listen to the nws pendelton and have a backup hunt plan i did not want to get you not to go, just be prepared. an informed wildeness hunter is an alive hunter now just get your gear together

sliverpicker · 07-12-2005, 03:09 AM

I have to get to work, but I'll PM you something tonight.

sp

Rank Amateur · 07-12-2005, 07:45 AM

That would be true during the bow season, but not during the rifle season. Trust me, you will seldom have shirt sleeve weather on the mountain during the elk season.