Opening Weekend Bow

Rauly · 08-30-2003, 08:46 PM

Does anyone have updates.

I was able to get out this morning with a friend till about 8:00am, we didn't see any elk but it sure was a nice morning on the north coast. I think he may have gotten one because he is not home yet and he went for an evening hunt by his house.

I drove to Seaside this morning after my hunt and saw a white Toyota PU heading east. I thought that thing looks weird coming at me. Man it was 8 legs in the air above the cab and 2 nice branch bull racks hanging at the tailgate.

Lets hear some reports.

Rauly

Lured In · 08-31-2003, 05:45 PM

Tilla and Fishalot are off in the woods flinging sticks as we speak. Looking forward to their report when the get back.

cjk · 08-31-2003, 07:44 PM

Went out this morning along the coast, but didn't see a thing. Hope someone is having better luck than I am.

Catch 22 · 08-31-2003, 10:34 PM

Hunted out of Ukiah this weekend. Saturday, we only saw a few on our walk back to camp and it was way too dark to take a shot. However this morning we had a herd of 30 or so come by us in a hurry. Then a half hour later another small herd of 4 came from the same ridge. They all went by us 60-80 yds out and through the pines. :depressed: . So we couldn't get a shot at any of them. Good day for seeing elk, bad day for results though. Very dry out there still. Made stalking impossible. Still better than mowing the lawn though.

tailchaser · 09-01-2003, 12:36 PM

It was an eventful weekend for us, but in the end there wasn't any meat to be had. Opening morning had us in front of three spikes and two cows in the middle of the road that we couldn't get around to get to the big bull in the back of the clearcut, bugling and ripping up trees. So we let them slide in the morning watching thier every move and where they went to bed down. That evening we waited around 100 yards from them as they were bedded waiting for the bull to come within range. Well during that time we had a bobcat, bear, and baby cougar walk around us. Then they fed into a steep canyon that didn't have food or water in it instead of using the same cat road they've been using for weeks??

So they survived again.

We chased several other hurds on sunday to no avail before coming back to this group last night and this morning. The big bull was still bugling and we played the game for 45 min. or so after dad and I spooked a bull and a cow in the clearcut earlier and I did a 1/4 mile sprint uphill at odark:30. [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img] Nothing like getting the heart pumping early. But the big bull just wouldn't leave the cows enough to get into our range, and dad wasn't about to chase him into the canyon they bedded down in. So we're going to give them a few days and head back in mid-week.

That's our report, lots of fun, but no shots. Oh yeah the best part is we didn't see another hunter all weeked.

tc

[ 09-01-2003, 08:31 PM: Message edited by: Rauly ]

local_hooker · 09-01-2003, 04:31 PM

went out for six hours saturday morning saw lots of sign but no elk.. found a good rubline down a small ridgeline towards a creek bottom (4 fresh rubs) unloaded some salt and apples there.. will be back with the tree stand next week. Very dry in the saddle Mtn. unit.

LH

Bait Bucket · 09-01-2003, 05:38 PM

It's too damn hot to hunt much of anything. I can't help with the bow hunting but dog and I got out looking for some grouse. We never saw or flushed any but we got into a nice covey of Mountain Quail. I nailed two on the flush then picked up three singles. That was enough for me. I'll take a mess of quail anytime. I'll look for grouse again in the morning.

nitrobass · 09-01-2003, 05:52 PM

TC, give me a shout..

"Eventful" would describe the last 3 days near Ukiah. I've never seen so many quads and dirt bikes in my life, if I never see another one thats good by me. Not all were hunters either, just loud folks out tearing up the trails. Its a strange feeling walking out of a canyon and seeing 6 quads go flying by you. Wish I had thought to carry a blunt or two with me.

Lots of guys were out walking too which caught me by surprise. Friday I hiked in and located a decent bunch, then got on them saturday morning. Passed on a cow at 15 yards(hope that doesnt come back to haunt me), and some other good looks from 30-60 yards. Unfortunately I had horns on my mind and didnt let any arrows fly. Got into elk 4 times saturday and no shots. A buddy of mine missed a cow saturday. Sunday was more of the same but I did manage to bugle in a couple of guys from Portland. Came right up the trail where my dad and I were waiting for them.

Left them and found a small bunch feeding under us so I set my dad up on a saddle and went way under them to push them up. Almost worked too, they crossed just up from him. Sunday night I hiked in and packed out my dad's tree stand.

Talk about people though...whoa! The highlight of that part of my weekend came this morning when we were looking for deer from my dads truck. Some idiot comes down the road and has to pass us on the right and this guy sticks out his head and shouts "We arent in Europe!"....Classic! I felt like reaching out the window and saying "hi" back to the guy. Its nice knowing those types dont taste elk too often.

Going back in a couple of weeks. Now its on.

[ 09-01-2003, 06:53 PM: Message edited by: nitrobass ]

buckgtr · 09-01-2003, 07:55 PM

All I have to say is never leave your bow in the truck! Where should I start? Friday I had just enough time after work for a short power scout. Went to an area where I had seen two branchers with a 9 cows last week, I am glad I did. People driving around everywhere on 4 wheelers, are you kidding me! the night before opener, what are they thinking? This is on the coast not eastern oregon.
Well plan B for Sat. morning. Sat. I headed to an area where I had seen a small bachelor group of bulls two weeks ago. A long hike later I was back at my truck. No animals spotted but did find a great area with lots of fresh sign. I also found a great area for stand and I just happened to have one in my truck. After a quick bite back in town I headed back around 1:00 to place my stand. This is where a hard lesson was learned. I always bring my bow with me when ever I leave the truck no matter what, but know! for some reason I left it this time. Quick run in place my stand and get out, that was the plan. Well I got to the area I wanted to hang my stand and was rounding a corner staring up into the tree tops and heard something to my left on the old dirt road ahead of me. I glanced up and I was face to face at 25 yards with a huge 300 class 6by6 Roosie (Dream bull, you know the one!). Are little stare down lasted only seconds and he was gone. What the !@#$%% this didn't just happen. I know! I'm stupid but what can I do now?
Well the excitement didn't stop there. I took a shower, descented and added a little cover elk scent and headed out to my stand I arrived at 5:00. Wind was perfect. As time went buy I was counting the minutes till that magic hour,6:00 nothing, 7:00 nothing 7:30 nothing 7:45 what was that? I heard a branch snap behind me. Another branch snapped, Oh ya! here they come. 7:55 looked behind me through the dense brush and all I saw and heard was alders swaying back and forth with that thrashing that only a bull could be making. Are you kidding me! there are mult. alders being thrashed. It's getting late (8:00)I can barely see my sight pins. Let's get it on! I am ready. The thrashing quits and here they come, out steps a 5#5 at 35 yards but it is to late, I can't shoot I can't see my sight pins. That is not the end of it, right behind him another 5#5 bull and then two more branch bulls proceed to file past me broad side. I could see them through my bino's (Swarovski) but there was no way I was risking a shot.
That's enough for now, you know where I will be next weekend. I will let you know what happens. Wish me luck I need it. Good Hunting.

P.S Never, never, never leave your bow in the truck.

tailchaser · 09-01-2003, 08:16 PM

Well Nitro, sounds like the cascades of old for you. You can come down this weekend and shoot that bull if you want to. I need someone young and dumb enough to go into that friggn canyon he's in. The old man didn't like it too well when I was bugling and said lets get down to that saddle above him. Considering it was 300 yards down on your back to that point he wasn't too excited about it and said go ahead. Without a wingman to shoot while I was calling is pretty tough. I know you're extreme enough for it.

I have one guy coming this weekend but there's plenty of bulls in this area for two of you. I won't be shooting anything unless it's pushing top 10 for the books to pass up my pack trip up NE. I'll be in touch in the next day or so.

.........well just had a buddy call while I was typing this and he shot a big 5x6 tonight that we were watching last week. He thumped it about 20 min before dark so he let him go for the night and will go back in the morning hopefully not far from the shot. Looks like I might be packing tomorrow night. He called to see if I'd go with him and I was snoozing off the morning hunt and didn't hear the phone ring. Oh well. So I might have some of the first pictures tomorrow. This is the second bull that they've got this weekend, lucky suckers.

tc

Bait O' Eggs · 09-01-2003, 08:59 PM

Got to our favorite hunting grounds and found where they built a trail right thru the middle of it and all but put up neon signs inviting the whole world into out playground

Lots of hunters headed into a canyon that we usually have almost to ourselves, so we dumped into another hole and didnt find much sign. I did get less than 20 yards from a branch bull that I didnt know was there until he ran.

Sunday we dumped into our favorite hole and right off found a herd of elk that we played with all day. They were feeding across the hill in timber and we tried to get ahead of them. I would have made it to the perfect spot, if I didnt run into a huge pile of blow down right before I got where I needed to get. As I stand on one side of the blowdown, the elk fed across the other side at 75 yards. Saw a 3 point and spike and several cows. One of the most vocal herds I have ever ran into. I couldnt shoot the 3 point due to range, but did film him on the camcorder for over 5 minutes at 75 yards. Finally they fed off, so we pursued and I got into the middle of the herd, Had the 3 point at 40 yards a tree in the way, as I moved to get my shot a cow pops out at 20 yards and stares me down for 10 minutes. Can you hold still for 5 minutes with a fly on your ear [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img] Finally the cow fed off and another one pops out and then a calf. I could have easily taken several cows or the calf at less than 20 yards but they finally did a slow run as they knew something wasnt right. We caught up with them again and we tried to call them back to us. Called a calf about 15 feet from my buddy and it winded him and ran. Caught up again and got a good count on the herd, 32 with 2 spikes and 2 three points. They went over the ridge and after talking all day, they just shut up and we couldnt locate them. As we sat next to a log eating lunch. We tried to imitate the vocal elk we had been listening to. Having just heard as much elk talk as you could for a a few hours we were eating lunch and practicing to sound like the herd. As silly as it sounds I put 2 calls in my mouth at once and so did my buddy and we made a ton of racket. [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img] We were about done chasing this herd as we didnt know where they went and their were tracks going everywhere. As we sat there trying to sound like a large herd with both of us blowing 2 calls (this was a first for us

) I look over my shoulder and another 3 point came out of nowhere and was standing 25 yards behind us.

The other 3 points were in full velvet and this one was polished off. It ran and we started calling again as we got our releases back on and picked our bows up. (nohting like not being ready) It came back so it must not have gotten a good look at us, and my buddy stuck it right in the rump at 30 yards. It took a step as he shot. We tracked it probably about 3/4 mile and I thought we had lost it for a while. We were finding a drop of blood every 20 or 30 yards. Finally it jumped a log and started bleeding again (arrow still in it). We found it laying in the trail after a very tough track. So we got a nice 3 point after a long day. Spent most of today packing to get it out.

[ 09-02-2003, 06:30 AM: Message edited by: Bait O' Eggs ]

Myles · 09-01-2003, 11:51 PM

Went to my spot Sat. morning and saw a herd of about 8 on the ridge. I headed down where they usually end up but two other hunters spooked 'em before I could get there. Spooked a doe on the way out that night.
Sunday no elk, just chased a doe around for a while but could'nt get a clean shot. Back to my truck to change locations, ended up changing a tire instead so home I went.

myles

Hoosier Daddy · 09-02-2003, 07:23 AM

Saw no elk, 3 deer, 1 bunny, a couple coveys of quail, and freaking LOT of grouse. Hiked my butt off, but still haven't hit a good elk area.

Oh, and it was a little on the toasty side too......

Gun Rod Bow · 09-02-2003, 09:17 AM

Gotta love those Texas Heart Shots Roy!!

They usually work, I know from experience :shocked:

Well, the canyon that we'd seen all the elk in while scouting was vacant except for deer, a 16" antelope buck, and a ton of stupid wild horses.

Snuck a little mulie, got to 34ds, knocked, drew, leaned and was just splitting my pins when he looks over and sees me...game over.

Called in a bull Monday am, one of those 30 minute set ups, walk out and see the late arival still sneeking in

. He barked at us 3-4 times and tried to figure out what we were. We snuck into cover and called him into 60 yds but he hung up and lost interest. Just a raghorn, but fun.

Cookin lunch and gettin ready to head home and a bear walks by...turn off the stove... my buddy runs to get in front of him..and well, another stinky bear goes down on what was supposed to be an elk hunt.

Good area, going back. I love these reports. Good luck guys!

outdoor.spec.ops · 09-02-2003, 01:23 PM

We went out to the LaGrande Area and saw elk all three days of the weekend, and got one cow after a heck of a battle.

We had 4 guys set up 50 yards apart, waiting for the herd to pass. Well, as always, they came through in a new place, and all split up. Two cows came by the upper guys, and severl cows and a nice herd bull were coming down towards me, at the lower end of the guys. Just as the big bull was nearing range, WACK, and I spun around to notice two cows hauling tail, one with a bad limp. I could tell it was a bad shoulder shot, and tried to get another arrow in it, only to miss. I did however turn the elk back up the ridge and towards the old timer in our group. I last saw him on the hill silouetted against the horizon, at 10 yards of the elk. Thankfully he got a good hit on her, and we didn't loose the animal. I never got my bull, but it was still a good trip. I was impressed by the old timer, he got two arrows in the wounded elk within 40 yards, shooting a 1970's bow, with fingers, and no sights. He made a great anchor man in our group.

Tilla · 09-03-2003, 12:46 PM

Had a great extended weekend, no meat, a few arrows short.
When am I ever going to learn not to sit in the middle of the trail! Got trapped twice!

Bait O' Eggs · 09-03-2003, 01:59 PM

Here is a pic of the 3 point my hunting partner got Sunday and we spent most of Monday packing. Should have been a 4 point but he didnt grow a brow tine.

When I saw forks in the top I thought he was a 4 until I looked closer. :depressed: Sorry for the pic size, my resizing software is on strike.

outdoor.spec.ops · 09-03-2003, 02:02 PM

We were actually in the town of North Powder, what a classy place. The motel was cheap, and they did have gas at a reasonable price. It was hot though.

Lepper · 09-03-2003, 08:18 PM

hey special ops.. that's my old stompin grounds!! I have hunted all over there!
dave

greenbuttskunk · 09-03-2003, 11:47 PM

I was out near N. powder and it was dead. hiked my butt off through the elkhorn range and found few animals other than a nice bruin under my tree stand. Frustrating 5 days, but some really pretty country! wish it was cooler out though, the sun was relentless!

outdoor.spec.ops · 09-04-2003, 09:30 AM

I didn't know you were a hunter Dave. Next time I plan on going over that way I will get ahold of you, pick your brain, and see if you want to go along. If I go again, I think I will wait until the 2nd or 3rd week of the season when the critters talk to you more.

byteme · 09-04-2003, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by local_hooker:
went out for six hours saturday morning saw lots of sign but no elk.. found a good rubline down a small ridgeline towards a creek bottom (4 fresh rubs) unloaded some salt and apples there.. will be back with the tree stand next week. Very dry in the saddle Mtn. unit.

LH

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Sounds kind of like baiting to me!

bullhunter29 · 09-07-2003, 02:00 PM

hey lepper i grew up in powder email me we might no each other bullhunter29@aol.com

local_hooker · 09-08-2003, 05:07 AM

BYTEME - Yep it sure does. We can bait deer in Oregon, just not bears. We can hunt bobcats with dogs, just not lions. Kinda wierd but I don't make the rules.

Are there still as many elk in the manns creek area as there were eight years ago when I lived in Payette???

LH

SLEDDER · 09-09-2003, 06:28 AM

Arrowed a chocolate boar while bear hunting in Northern Idaho. Average bear for Idaho measured 5.5 ft. square.

byteme · 09-09-2003, 09:16 PM

Local, If it's legal, do it. I hunted Manns Creek for the first and last time about five years ago. My buddy took me there and rolled his four wheeler. Spent the rest of the weekend getting it out.

The elk are still there but with any pressure they head to private ground or sagebrush. One of the few areas the wolves have'nt found yet. Buddy doesn't hunt there anymore--bad juju!

local_hooker · 09-11-2003, 03:41 PM

good to hear there are still some elk there..I used to go in on the Jenkins creek side west of weiser, I never hunted elk, just hunted water and waited for elk to come to me... All the ranchers I ever asked were very cool to bowhunters, but never cared for a bunch of rifle shooting around there cattle. My family has had a cabin at Bear for about fifty years and I spent alot of time there too. I'm trying to move back to Boise in the next few years...can't wait!

LH