Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Elk hunting in West Murderers creek, Oregon

I drew a hair tag for an elk in the West Murderers creek, Oregon. I normally hunt the Silvies unit so this is a new area for me. I was just hoping someone could point me in the right direction for a good elk hunt besides private land. Don't mind a good hike. I'm not asking for anyone's secret spot just not sure where to go. I have a map of the unit so any suggestions would be great. Thanks in advance 😁

Maybe try northwest firearms, but don't tell them I sent you.. Ha ha..

Or ifish

On 395, west of John Day , you cross the river at Clyde Holiday state park. Turn off 395, go south on Laycock Cr, 8 miles or so maybe. Coal Pit Mtn is the highest peak...start there. Schitty weather is your friend in that steep sonofagun. Gets them elks movin', because as rough as it is, you ain't gonna run 'em down on foot when it's dry. There are more elk in the furthest south area of the unit...but all them rich lawyer ranches have the best of it sewed up tight.

We (Cookie and I) used to do deer there, and were always into elk. We would park at what used to be the USFS Bear Valley Guard Station on the Paulina highway, hike south upslope through the timber for about a half hour, and emerge from the timber overlooking a mix of pine and sagebrush looking down into the Scotty Creek drainage. In the AM elk would feed upslope and go into the dark timber. PM they would emerge from the timber and go out into the sage to forage. Some substantial bulls.

Not sure if the guard station is still there, but it was about a 9 or 10 mile run from the 395 route between Seneca and John Day. Most camps were along Scotty Creek and one might see a hunter or two coming upslope and pushing animals ahead of them in the early morning. The major ridge there is oriented east/west with the herring bones running to the south. Area is about right for dispersing 3 or 4 hunters.

Good luck and envious of the tag

Thanks gives me something to go on.

Awesome! Thanks

Why do people do this?

What is a "hair tag"?

Any elk.

You mean join a group and ask questions about new area they don’t want to scout, just to disappear after some info?
I don’t know. Let’s see what the OP says

What is the 'approved Campfire protocol' for dealing with this situation? Help 'em? Ignore 'em? On Cast Boolits, for instance, the guys go out of their way to help newbies in casting and reloading.
I remember when I first posted a comment on here after a year or two of lurking, Deflave or somebody just savaged me, I got my little feelers hurt, and wondered what is this internet thing? I had never had anyone since boot camp in the '60's talk to me like that. I am kind of a country rube and friendly by nature and probably overly respectful of others that don't have Democrat bumper stickers, anyway, in regard to the way people treat others, it's a huge gap from internet anonymity to face to face.

flintlocke,

Your first mistake was paying any attention to Deflave, he's a complete idiot, that loves to talk about his dick and how smart he is and how dumb everyone else is, smart and funny he is not. put anyone that's a AssS whole on ignore and get on with life forget them... there's a lot of good well informed people here on the fire that are more than willing to help you, and others. Rio7

Rio, You are probably one of the real Texans of the breed that I fondly remember from my time in the army down there.

I've had that tag several times, and hunted elk in that unit a bunch, you have already been given plenty of good info in this thread just hope for decent weather.

Thank you...and just for everyone's information.. I have plans to scout!
Like I said I'm not after anybody's secret place just a general direction.