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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 45
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 45
This upcoming elk season our party will have 4 preference points here in Oregon. We have been appling for cow tags in a low percentage unit and have ended up hunting the general season on the spike only hunt. Now we have built up 4 points so we have a strong chance of drawing either bull tags for almost anywhere or cow tags in the Desolation unit that we have been hunting.
Our oldest party members are getting to the age where this may be the last hunt that they go on. The younger guys in our party really want to go after a good bull but we all know that a juicy cow is just as good when it come to the dinner table and we don't typically hunt for antlers. As the party leader I want the older guys to have the best chance at an animal whether it's a bull or not. They don't hike the hills like they used so I'm not sure a bull only hunt is the way to go, for them anyway. So the question is, Do you guys think the 1st season bull hunt Oct 26th-30th or the the November 19th-27th cow hunt will afford the best oppourtunity at success in this unit. Any thoughts?

BP-B2

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OSP:

Welcome to the Campfire. I hunt the Alsea unit here on the Wet Side, so I really don't know much about the Desolation unit.

I do know this: More time to hunt = better chance of success.

The November 19-27 Cow hunt is Nine full days of Hunting cows. After the rut, Cows (in my experience) are easier to find than big bulls. Five days of post rut Bull hunting would be tougher.

That is my take on the question. Maybe someone who knows the Desolation unti will chime in?

BMT


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Campfire Ranger
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The Desolation unit offers some fine hunting and some good bulls. In the last decade, the first season has experienced little to no snow. The second season has had a little snow about every other year. As a gross generality, hunter success usually improves with snow, as folks are more able to establish the animal's where abouts. A large proportion of hunters feel severly impaired if they don't have the white stuff to work with. There are more elk, however, available in the early season, and they've experienced less disturbance. If one has ample time and are not hampered by a lack of snow, I would be inclined to show up about 5 days early for the first season, get the able bodied folks out to pattern the elk, and be positioned for blood at first light on opening day. Preseason scouting and target practice are the 2 things that boost my success the most. There is a lot of open country in that unit and one has to be willing to cover miles or pick up stakes and move camp if they're not blessed with animals at some particular moment. Positioning about 2 to 3 miles from alfalfa pivots around the edges of the unit can be quite productive in the drier years too. Good luck, 1Minute


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Campfire Tracker
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Late season cow hunting is a blast. I don't like to do it all the time but every 4 to 5 years its just nice to screw around with your buddies and most everyone will fill their tag. For the older guys in the party to have any real chance you should go for the cow tags.



Joined: Jun 2004
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Campfire Tracker
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Hey OSP, I hunt the Desolation unit with a bow. Its a good area with lots of options but, ....here's another one to think about. The Starkey Experimental Forest Cow Elk Hunt. Dec 03 - 09. 50% kill ratio and fairly easy to hunt country. You should have enough pref points to pull the tags. Killing bulls is fun, but just being succesfull is a blast. This is a hunt I think young and old alike would like. The last time I cow hunted there they told us we could kill a spike if we saw one, I shot a dandy outa a herd of 7 or 8 cows on the first day. Give it a look. BT53


BT53
"Where do they find young men like this?" Reporter Savidge, Iraq
Elk, it's what's for dinner....


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I shot my first Elk - a cow, during that Dec hunt in the Starkey unit. There were elk everywhere. Last year my daughter got her elk during the late season in a different unit. It is a kick hunting in the snow. The early season has more animals, but not more herds, and you are hunting for herds of elk when you go cow hunting. So I would go for the snow.

The snow also drives out a lot of guys after day two. Not guys like us of course, but there are a lot of tags drawn by people who are not dedicated. Even without the snow the lower temperatures send them home, or keep them bottled up in their trucks. All of which improves your odds.

We spike hunt in the off years in the Desolation and Heptner Units. There are lots of Elk there too, but them darn spikes keep their heads up in the pine trees so I can't shoot em.

Last edited by siskiyous6; 01/09/05.

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I think this says it all for your party

Quote
we don't typically hunt for antlers.


If you are happy with a cow, take the old timers cow hunting. Those young bucks can wait till next year to chase a big bull. 4 points should give you several options to hunt cows in the state somewhere.

I have only got 3 points, wishing for more. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif" alt="" />

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Campfire Oracle
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If this will likely be the last hunt for the elders, do what is "best"-easiest; highest percentage of success-for them. Always show respect to the elders...the lads will have tomorrow.


--Mike


If you take the time it takes, it takes less time.
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Bump to see if anyone has hunted this unit the last couple years. Pulled a bull out of it in '08 but haven't drawn a tag the last two seasons. Got the points now; wondering how the last couple years have been up there...


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