I am a youth hunter who drew a premium tag for the hood unit in Oregon. I am trying to get a good buck, and I’m not sure where I could go that would get the job done. Because I’m aware of this tags value I wanted to ask if anyone had any information or spots to check out? Also I’m really hoping to make it a velvet buck.
Aedon T
How much hunting experience do you have? Do you have a drivers license or have someone to take you up to the unit?
By the way Welcome to Ifish!
By the way Welcome to Ifish!
I have the research, maps, and willingness to pass along what I've experienced on your late season tag.
Couple of nice bucks from that unit. First two pics are of a nice big buck I took on later hunt, but not what I had a fantasy about. Big bodied even without an ounce of fat, scarred up from start of rut. Had doubts I would do better and made executive decision to try to close the deal which obviously I did. Second buck by another hunter. It was maybe another step up. Been some studs taken that are in another class above both. Don't know about finding either one during the early hunt. I'd push as late as you can.
How far are you willing to pack one? I hunt the Santiam mainly, but have spent many days scouting the Hood. Spent some time hunting early season bucks with a bow a few years back before the season dates shifted later. Didn't connect but I've seen some great deer in that unit.
You have an incredible opportunity and if I had that tag I would be focusing my effort more in August than November as well.
If I had to boil my advice down to two words: Hunt high.
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You have an incredible opportunity and if I had that tag I would be focusing my effort more in August than November as well.
If I had to boil my advice down to two words: Hunt high.
I Have not hunted the hood unit but years of hunting and if I had your tag I would be internet scouting for high country areas that burned in the last 2-6 years, and then get out there and glass and when you think you have glasses enough glass more. find well used game trails and get cams up. burned areas offer good glassing and good feed for the animals they seem to love it
Just did a quick search and Im not seeing a lot of fires in that unit like other units I hunt, good luck on your hunt can't wait to see some pictures
There is plenty of burn area on Hood. Many of those fires are now over 15 years old but the growing season is much shorter at such high elevations. Certain pockets are still productive areas to scout.
Like another poster suggested, don't get too hung up on the exact coordinates of bucks. Find some glassable country up high and put your optics to work. The biggest bucks in that unit are very visible in August and you will have the opportunity to hunt them before archery hunters access a lot of that country and start pushing animals around.
Look for diversity. Like areas where alpine or subalpine meadows meet burn area. It's not difficult to locate big deer in that unit in the summer. It's just very difficult to kill them after the velvet comes off, which is when most of the hunting opportunity is.
There are plenty of big deer in the lower elevations as well, in spots where the habitat is good enough they don't need to migrate, but I think the very biggest bucks are migratory.
Like another poster suggested, don't get too hung up on the exact coordinates of bucks. Find some glassable country up high and put your optics to work. The biggest bucks in that unit are very visible in August and you will have the opportunity to hunt them before archery hunters access a lot of that country and start pushing animals around.
Look for diversity. Like areas where alpine or subalpine meadows meet burn area. It's not difficult to locate big deer in that unit in the summer. It's just very difficult to kill them after the velvet comes off, which is when most of the hunting opportunity is.
There are plenty of big deer in the lower elevations as well, in spots where the habitat is good enough they don't need to migrate, but I think the very biggest bucks are migratory.
I would recommend being entirely candid to receive the most trustworthy advice...........there are many on here that have successfully taken literally dozens and dozens of bulls, bucks, bears, and what not. Age and passion can provide that. Most of us also remember the earliest days of success and failure. There is obviously luck involved, but most of it is experience as preparation met opportunity. Failure is as good a teacher as success. You seem to be invested. There are people that 'go' hunting and there are people that are 'hunters'. A big difference. If you fall in the latter, just do it the right way and perhaps you will experience success more often than failure. A lot of things have to coincide. Eagerness and committment are good signs. Just keep them in perspective.
Have you been up glassing some of the high country yet? NOW is the time. As has been said, locating bucks during the summer can be relatively easy. Once the shed their velvet, it's a whole different situation. They'll be by far more timbered up and much harder to find. Find a good one now and get him killed before he sheds.
Long premium season. Learn the area while you hunt and log big buck track locations. You should be able to cover first and second ruts. Last week of October and again last week of November, or whenever experienced people for that elevation say they are. Hit those weeks especially hard. Good luck, and have fun!
You will find in life it's better to just own the mistake and say sorry then to try to deflect or shift blame. people tend to not want to help when they feel people are genuine or are just out for themselves. I still wish you good luck on your hunt
I'd wait until early to mid November when the rut kicks in...my son killed a whopper of a bench leg in the dalles watershed, on a youth hunt a couple years back.
IDwolfHunter
IDwolfHunter
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