Mill Creek Watershead

Abalone · 08-07-2003, 08:49 AM

Did anyone draw a Mill Creek Tag for 2003 ?
Did anyone bag an Elk at Mill Creek last year ? 2002.
My friend at work Drew a tag after Six years of trying.
He is hoping his Dad tag a life time trophy before he retires his gun.
Any advise about this Unit ?

TheRogue · 08-07-2003, 09:42 AM

I had this tag in 2001.

Got there on Thursday afternoon. Drove the road, saw 7 branch bulls in the few places we could see down into the unit. Largest was a 350-class 6x6, also saw a nice 6x7. These were all in the Oregon side of the unit, on the ridgetops.

Thursday night, the wind blew HARD. 40+ mph, lots of blowdown, and it was warm. Did not see a single elk on Friday, sat on the viewpoints and glassed most all day.

Opening day, had a skiff of snow, walked the ridge trails, no tracks, sign, etc. Know of two small bulls killed in the gully bottoms opening day.

Spent the next three days pounding the brushy north slopes. Chased around a small group in a brush patch, never saw them, didn't smell like a bachelor group of bulls.

Gave up on day five, after seeing 4, that's right, FOUR branch bulls out in the open on the Washington side, feeding their way around, during the middle of the day. Did I mention that the Washington tag runs the same time, and is about 3 times the area, with the same amount of tags as Oregon, and includes much more good elk country?

Probably won't build up points for that unit again, especially when I was hunting on my own.

Still have my maps for the unit, I'd be happy to pass them along.

TR

Abalone · 08-07-2003, 10:42 AM

Maps ? Sure. Can I email you ?
My cousin is a retired Game Warden OSP. He told me a few years ago someone got a tag for Mill Creek and had the Idea of bagging a Seven point. He passed over several Six point bulls until the
last day when he decided to go ahead and shoot a Cow. So he did, He got a Ticket for shooting the
first moose killed in Oregon Since the 30's. I read your post that you wrote after that hunt.
Sounds frustrating. My Brother in law hunted there some years ago. He shot a Six point at 100 yards and his son shot a six point at 600 yds. 300. Win. Mags.

My friend is researching it and is trying to learn as much as he can. He Dad is getting long in the
tooth and this may be his last big hunt. I hope it pans out for him, they are really nice folks.

Thanks

horseskull · 08-07-2003, 05:37 PM

I saw those moose the year before one of them was killed. They was in the Walla Walla unit at that time, there was 2 of them.
I hunted Millcreek in 93. Killed a real nice 7X7 in the bottom of Paradise Creek on the OR side. Saw several other nice bulls. Steep country. I haven't applied there since the packers haven't been working the unit. I don't have pack animals and packing an elk out of that hole would take days.

TheRogue · 08-07-2003, 11:27 PM

ifishrogue@hotmail.com

TR

Abalone · 08-08-2003, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by horseskull:
I saw those moose the year before one of them was killed. They was in the Walla Walla unit at that time, there was 2 of them.
I hunted Millcreek in 93. Killed a real nice 7X7 in the bottom of Paradise Creek on the OR side. Saw several other nice bulls. Steep country. I haven't applied there since the packers haven't been working the unit. I don't have pack animals and packing an elk out of that hole would take days.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">HorseSkull: You live in Sherwood. My friend lives in Sherwood. Do you know the Ringers ?

Gun Rod Bow · 08-08-2003, 04:50 PM

Hey Horseskull,

I happen to know a pretty decent packer who lives in Sherwood, he took up a bow a few years ago and may be coaxed into some packing help.

BTW, Good to meet you today Abalone!

[ 08-08-2003, 05:54 PM: Message edited by: Gun Rod Bow ]

horseskull · 08-08-2003, 06:30 PM

Abalone

on't know any Ringers.
RGB: I been hunting with the bow for the last 4 years. Nothing like bulging them in. Also the weather is a whole lot better.

Abalone · 08-11-2003, 05:39 AM

I Occasionally hunt with a bow and I agree bulgling in a big bull is pretty darned exciting.

Nice to meet you too Gun Rod Bow. I met someone Saturday at the Koler's that says he fishes with you a lot. I nice young man that wants to be a game warden when he grows up. I think he would make a good. Nice kid !