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Posts Tagged ‘elk hunting’

My Best Camping Season Ever

08 Nov

Hunting is a fickle passion.  Just when you think you have mastered it's secrets, a season like the one I just experienced rises up and kicks you in the teeth.  Unlike my hunting partner, pictured above with his Colorado elk, I was not so fortunate.  I should have known trouble was brewing when we failed to draw elk tags, AGAIN, in our home state of Oregon.  Undaunted, we planned our Eastern Oregon mule deer hunt and hooked up with a top notch Wyoming outfitter for another late season muley hunt.  Well, needless to say, two hunts later my freezer is still empty and there is a nice 4-point Oregon muley who lived to see another year.  Although I was unsuccessful, this season reminded me of several important lessons including:

 

1.  Be Humble:

Even the best of hunters is going to go through dry shunting guides,hunting outfitters,bear hunting,moose hunting,whitetail huntingpells.  Remember this after you have harvested that 350" bull elk, because as surely as you forget it, the hunting fates will take it upon themselves to remind you.  When you are on the peaks of your hunting success, remember that there is typically a valley just on the other side.

 

2.  Be Gracious:

Everyone has hunting partners that they hunt with year after year.  As evidenced above, my hunting partner Greg had a much more successful season than myself.  Remember to be excited for someone else's success, as well as your own.  If you can't relish in your partners success, you might soon find that your hunting party has been reduced to a party of one!

 

3.  Be Optimistic:mule deer hunts,hunting mule deer,hunting guides,hunting outfitters

I missed an opportunity at a nice 140"-150" class muley in Eastern Oregon because I got cocky and forgot how quickly hunting situations can change.  Watching this buck approach from 200 yards out to within 50 yards of my spot, then just as quickly catching my scent and disappearing in the opposite direction was, at the time, heart breaking.  But then I remembered that I will back in this same spot next year, and so will that buck. And maybe, on our next encounter, the hunting gods will smile in my direction.

 

4.  Be Thankful:

The thing that most non-hunters don't get, is that hunting is not only about harvesting that trophy elk or mule deer, but rather it is about the fellowship of your hunting companions, the opportunity to commune with nature, and the ability for a person to reflect on the important things in life.  So whether it has been a banner year for you in all your hunting endeavors, or like me all you will be eating this year is "tag" soup, remember that time in the field is a gift.  Savor it.

 

Until next time, Happy Hunting.

 

 

 



 
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Elk Hunting in Oregon – Location, Location, Location

07 Dec

hunting guides,hunting outfitters,elk hunting,british columbia

Like many states, trying to figure out Oregon's myriad elk hunting seasons and locations can cause any normal hunter to throw his hands up in despair.  To confuse matters even more, Oregon is one of the few states that has both Rocky Mountain Elk and Roosevelt Elk hunting available.  So before you can apply, you need to know which species you are hunting, and that will help you wade through the limited draw system.  Here is a quick overview of elk hunting seasons in Oregon:

1.  Cascade Bull Elk:

This is the earliest season in Oregon and is considered a "general season" meaning to limited entry in to this area.  This is one of the most unique elk hunts because it is conducted in the Cascade range of Oregon which splits the wet coastal western side and the arid, high desert region of the eastern.  Also unique because you can find both Rocky Mountain and Roosevelt elk in this area and both are legal to take.

 

2.  Rocky Mountain Bull Elk:

Consisting of both a general season and a "controlled hunt", these hunts are conducted simultaneously in different units within Oregon.  The limited entry areas are those hunting units east of the Cascade Mountains and typically entails a variety of habitat.  The northeastern units are very rugged with deep canyons bordering the Snake  and Grand Ronde rivers.  The southeastern units consist of high desert units with juniper cover and sagebrush.  The General season areas consist of a very few units in the north end of the Cascade Mountains running to the Columbia River.  This is Rocky Mountain elk territory as indicated by the name of the season.  This season usually begins the last Wednesday in October and runs for five short days.

 

3.  Coast Bull Elk:

This is our Western Oregon elk hunting conducted in the Coast Range of Oregon from the Columbia River in the north to the California border in the south.  This is a general season with the exception of a few units, so anyone can hunt elk during this season.  You must know which units are "controlled" units however, because they are intermingled with the general season units.  Hunt these units if you are looking for monster Roosevelt Elk. This is a split season beginning in mid- November and running for four days.  Then it resumes again in late November for another seven days.

 

4.  Rocky Mountain Extended Season:

There is one special season in Oregon which runs from late October to early December and is conducted in the Columbia basin area of Oregon.  This is a general season but consists mostly of private land, so public access is very difficult.  Home to Rocky Mountain elk, hunt this season only if you know a landowner who will let you hunt his land.

 

Confused?  I don't blame you.  The main thing is to determine what type of hunting you prefer.  Rocky Mountain elk primarily live in the drier, more open areas of Oregon, while the Roosevelt elk primarily live in the lush rainforests of the Oregon Coast Range.  Either way, Oregon has the second largest elk population in the U.S. at around 120,000 elk, so get your gun and join us this fall.

Remember, time in the field is a gift…..savor it!

Until next time, Happy Hunting.

Bob Russell

 
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Posted in Hunting blogs

 

Black Bear Hunting – Methods and Madness

21 Nov

hunting guides,hunting outfitters,black bear hunting,whitetail hunting

Black bear hunting is one of the most rewarding hunts available to the avid hunter amongst us.  With healthy populations ranging from coast-to-coast and from Canada to Mexico, almost everyone has an opportunity to pursue these bruins.  How you go about your black bear hunt is a totally different question.   There are several different methods for hunting black bears including:

1.  Hunting over bait:

This method is very popular in portions of Canada and the eastern United States.  It requires a hunter to be patient and be familiar with the size of black bear that they are after as you are likely to see several black bears every day.  Typically, there is a "king of the hill" at most bait sites if you are patient enough to wait for him.  You will know he is close when the other bears at the site become anxious and may leave for no apparent reason.  Get ready, your chance to harvest a monster bear may be just minutes away!


2.  Spot and Stalk:

Like any spot and stalk method, the secret to success in bear hunting using this method is to find a high vantage point where you can glass a potential feeding area for black bears.  Typical areas you want to glass are grassy meadows, open clear cuts or cut blocks, berry patches and south facing slopes in general.  Early in the year, black bear will mostly be grazing on grassy meadows as they come out of hibernation and are looking to replenish their lost fat reserves.  Concentrate in these areas early in the year  for your best success.


3.  Hound Hunting:

Black bear hunting behind a well trained pack of hounds is one of the most exciting, and physical, methods of hunting bruins.  From the first bay of the hound, indicating they are on the scent, to the final treeing of the bear, this method of hunting black bear is an adrenaline filled rush.  Unfortunately, due to the anti-hunting crowd, this method of hunting has been outlawed in some states.  If you are interested in this type of hunting, remember you must be in top physical condition.  Once the hounds are on the scent, there is very little time for breaks or resting.  Try it and you will be hooked for life.


4.  Still Hunting:

Like any still hunting, this can be a very challenging method of bear hunting, but can still produce success in those areas that are brushy and offer only small openings to glass.  Use this method when you are hunting in timbered regions.  This method can be effective during the spring seasons when bear are busy replenishing fat reserves and not quite as wary as other times of the year.


5.  Calling:

Use predator calls in conjunction with either your spot and stalk hunt or your still hunting.  During deer and elk calving season, black bear are especially susceptible to fawn calls.  Calling is most effective once you have located a bear and are trying to get him  in to range.  There are several good electronic calls on the market.  Or be brave and get a predator call from any sporting good shop and let'er rip! The best part of this type of bear hunting, is you may have an opportunity to harvest other predators including coyotes, fox, bobcats, and cougars.  Keep an eye open, as most of these predators will sneak in on you and be closer than you expect when you first spot them.


If you have any other methods of bear hunting, please feel free to add them in the comment section.  If you are interested in a black bear hunt, check out our top quality bear outfitters.  You will never regret the decision to add a bruin to your trophy room.

Remember, time in the field is a gift…..savor it!

Until next time, Happy Hunting.

Bob Russell

The Hunting Broker



 
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Posted in Hunting Guides & Outfitters

 

The Longest Season….the “Offseason”

03 Nov

hunting exotics, texas exotic hunting

You have just finished up that successful spring bear hunt.  The spring turkeys have been cleaned and put away in the freezer for Thanksgiving.  Mule deer and elk seasons seem an eternity away and you can't even begin to think about whitetail season.  So, instead of suffering hunting  withdrawals, head to Texas during the "offseason" for the following options:

1.  Aoudad:      aoudad hunting,texas hunting,hunting guides,hunting outfitters                            

The aoudad, or barbary sheep, is a native of Northern Africa and belongs to the goat family.  This sturdy animal was first introduced into the United States in the early 1900's and has flourished in the desert southwest.  Its heavy horns curve back, then outward, and then finally inward providing a great trophy for any hunter.

 

2.  Black Buck Antelope:black buck antelope, texas hunting,

Native to India and Pakistan, these antelope were introduced in Texas in 1932.  Typical coloration is black on the back with a white underbelly.  Like all antelope, the black buck has great vision and tremendous speed, making it a difficult quarry.  But with its unique "corkscrew" horns, hunters will have a trophy unlike any other on their wall.

 

3.  Axis Deer:axis deer,texas hunting,hunting guides,hunting outfitters

One of the most beautifully colored deer, the axis sports a reddish coat with white spots throughout its life.  These natives of the Himalayas the typically grow three points on either side, with a fourth point not uncommon.  Unlike many deer, they shed their horns sporadically throughout the year, so you can always find them in different stages of antler development, from velvet to hard horned.

 

4.  Sika Deer:sika deer,texas hunting,hunting guides,hunting outfitters

Introduced in 1939 to Texas from their native Siberia, these relatives of the red stag are larger bodied then many other deer species.  Like the red stag, their mating season is referred  to as the roar, due to their unique vocalizations during the rut.  Darker in color than the axis deer, the sika maintains a spotted coat as well, and has antlers that occasionally will palmate like a red stag.

 

There are many other options in the offseason,  including wild hogs, predators, and other exotics.  Consider including one of these in your next  hunt.  They make a great father/son or mother/daughter hunt and are very affordable.  Feel free to add your favorite offseason hunt as well.

Remember time in the field is a gift, savor it.

Until next time, Happy Hunting.


Bob Russell

The Hunting Broker

 
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Posted in Hunting blogs

 
 

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