Saddle Mt. Unit-Second Season

Motofish · 10-24-2003, 12:03 PM

Anyone hunting this unit? I have 3 point or better tags and don't know the area very well. I need advice on road access and huntable terrain. I'm not asking for anyones secret spot, but would like to narrow my options down a bit. I'm heading out to scout this weekend and any advice is appreciated.

Quote:

"Success is a very effective deodorant"

Rip'N'Lips · 10-24-2003, 12:16 PM

I have hunted out of Jewell a bit in the Beneke Creek area, but it is in no way a "secret area"... there are tons of people there for deer so I expect way more for elk. Rather than driving logging roads, I would try and find areas off of 26 that you can hike into. Pull over and start walking. There will be elk shot in clearcuts opening morning, but they will high tail it to the thick area. Beating the brush would be my advice.

Rip'N'Lips

Norm · 10-24-2003, 12:16 PM

The Lewis & Clark mainline should be open between Saddle Mtn road and Seaside. If it was me I would hunt between mainline and 26. The elk in that area are very spooky of cars, they will head into timber if they hear a car within a mile. With the mainline open there will be a ton of roadhunters driving the roads

.

Alligator · 10-24-2003, 07:26 PM

Fishin,

check your email and get a map and I'll call you.

Les

Maddie'sDaddy · 10-25-2003, 11:48 PM

We hunted that unit two years in a row , the first year the crowds were there but the second year it was outragious, we would scout many different areas and think cool, we found a new spot, get up at three so we could be the first there and low and behold half of portland had the same idea.

Lots of big groups of hunters who think they own that unit and dont care if you were there first. So my advise would be to find any area that is well off the beaten path and hike in or you might as well expect to have lots of company. IMO Very next year we got our Mid Coast Valley tags and scored a real nice 5x4 broken tine bull, with alot less crowds.

Mr. BrownTrout · 10-25-2003, 11:49 PM

My money is on the tidewater area, seen some very big bulls there in the past.

Bait O' Eggs · 10-29-2003, 12:23 PM

When you head up Beneike creek from the town of Jewel (if you can call it a town

) make sure you get out of the refuge before you start hunting :shocked: :shocked: :shocked:

Plenty of elk in the area, you can take Beneike creek over the top and drop down Big Creek and come out at the hatchery. I assume the gates are open ???? :whazzup: ???

I have seen a lot of elk on the Big Creek side in the past and think that is part of the saddle mountain unit, though I am not positive.

Good luck

Motofish · 10-29-2003, 11:54 PM

Thanks for all the tips. I scouted around the Saddle Mt. area Sunday off L&C mainline and am starting to get the picture. I saw alot of Elk sign in between the mountain and Saddle Mt road but suspect the elk will be chased into Saddle Moutain State Park in the first 20 minutes of the hunt. I'm going to scout the Tidewater and Beneke Creek area this weekend.

Mr. BrownTrout · 10-30-2003, 10:13 PM

Yes big creek is still in the saddle mtn unit. Another area to try is, as your going up the main line, before the dam on the lewis and clark river there is a road that heads up the hill just past a steel bridge, go up the hill and then you will break out into some nice hunting grounds. Don't take the lower road, go uphill. Good luck.

Jeremy · 11-07-2003, 03:20 PM

Looks like the Benke tract is closed during Elk season does anybody have any info on this closure?
from ODFW Big Game Regs page 94:

10, 12 Jewell Wildlife Meadows (Clatsop Co)

The Beneke Tract is open to hunting only during game mammal and game bird seasons. EXCEPTION: The Beneke Tract is closed to all public entry during any open Saddle Mt Unit elk season.
The Humbug Tract is open to hunting only during game mammal and game bird seasons.
EXCEPTION: It is unlawful to shoot firearms and bows from or across open fields during any
open Wilson Unit elk season. All areas posted as �Refuge� are closed to public access.

Motofish · 11-07-2003, 04:01 PM

Jeremy,

I've been trying to figure that one out myself. I scouted the area last Sunday and near as I can see the Beneke track is just north of the Elk preserve. There were signs along Beneke Rd. indicating the closure, but they seem to stop a couple of miles north of the actual preserve. It's not clear what the actual border is, but I was planning on calling this week. I saw the most deer hunters in this area and 4 deer just driving. There was ~80 ELK in the meadow (two harvestable 3 points) of the preserve and I think they bed down in the Beneke track area so it makes sense they don't want us in there.

Jeremy · 11-07-2003, 09:16 PM

keep me posted. i am heading up there monday to do some scouting maybe i will stop by the office they have up there if there is one and see what they say. Are you hunting alone up there? I am planning on going up there most mornings of the week of the 17th and maybe evenings if the mornings arent productive. send me an email my address is in my profile.

Motofish · 11-10-2003, 05:49 AM

Jeremy,
I scouted the Vernonia area along the Columbia Mainline and I think I'll hunt that area as much as possible. I saw some pretty fresh sign there and some excellent ELK habitat. The C-mainline is only open on the weekend due to logging activity. I'm going to tent camp at the Big Eddy Camp grounds 11-14 thru 11-17.

Jeremy · 11-18-2003, 08:17 AM

Anybody out of the woods yet???