Coastal Roosevelts - November Rifle

[Flat Range]

Curious on some feedback or insight on a November rifle hunt in Western Oregon for Roosevelt Elk. Not my first time out west, not my first time to this specific area (brother lives in Seaside, OR), but the terrain here is often described as tough, which I can attest to from a leisure/work perspective. So there's some intimidation there. Because of that, I want to see if there are some things that maybe I am not thinking about when determining if this is the hunt I want to go on this year.

As stated, my brother lives in Seaside, so the place to stay would be a huge benefit. With this, comes the assistance for any pack out needs I may have or need - as well as the storage of meat/etc... So these things are things I generally have to consider when going on other hunts I've been on. So that is a huge positive.

It doesn't sound like movement is the easiest and is generally kept to the skid row/logging trails with minimal off-trail adventures. As far as access, there is plenty of public land in the unit I am looking at as well as access to private timber parcels via permitting. The volume of land to hunt is there. With this being in November, talking with my brother, looking at historical weather data, and having been there at this time, I am assuming rain will be a constant. The gear and precautions to take with that is not in question, but my question is more about the elk movement in this type of ecosystem.

These elk don't migrate (right?!), so when it comes to elk movement, is there anything that does get them moving from maybe a Spot A to a Spot B? Can I expect anything different in varying rain conditions? I suspect they're pretty used to the rain, but perhaps it still dictates their movement? Do they just loaf about with no real destination outside of bed to food to bed? Any insight to coastal elk movement and behaviors is welcomed! Thank you!

Note- My brother does not hunt. Like, whatsoever. So he unfortunately is of no help here.

 

[NWBLKTAIL]

I grew up there you can PM me, I’ll help you with what I know

 

[StupidLightweight]

I grew up in WA about an hour from Seaside. Pursuing Roosevelt elk in November is one of the most challenging hunts in the country, perhaps second only to chasing blacktail deer in October. It's tough because you're in a jungle, visibility is low, the weather is horrible, and bull density is low. Truthfully, it's not very enjoyable.

Hunter pressure is high, you can go days and days without seeing an animal, and your odds for success will be abysmal, certainly less than 10 percent. If you're still interested, understand that bulls will be solitary at this time, so don't chase herds. The bulls will move from feeding areas (clearcuts largely) to thick brush and timber for bedding. I think the best bet is to glass openings in the AM and then still-hunt timber and hell holes during the day, using your binoculars so much that you'll be cross-eyed by dark.

If you're really lucky, you'll glimpse a patch of hide, antler tine, or an ear twitch before the bull sees you. If you can get a quick shot off before he winds/sees/or senses your presence, you'll have quite the accomplishment.

According to some, the best hunters on earth come from the Pacific Northwest. I didn't believe this until I got older and moved away. Having now hunted a bunch of states and four countries for a variety of big-game, I believe it's true. If you can consistently kill Roosies or blacktails on the West Coast, other game animals are not challenging.

There are two types of people who hunt Roosevelt elk in western OR/WA: those that live nearby, and those who are chasing their Super Slam of big-game species. It's not accidental that tags are over the counter. If there was a realistic chance for success, people would flock here from all over the country. They don't because killing a legal bull is a tiny bit easier than finding Sasquatch.

If you're hoping to kill an elk, spend the next 3 or 4 seasons hunting cows in Colorado/Montana/Wyoming/Idaho while you build points to draw a bull tag. When you do, you'll have a realistic change at taking antlers home.

 

[Flat Range]

I grew up in WA about an hour from Seaside. Pursuing Roosevelt elk in November is one of the most challenging hunts in the country, perhaps second only to chasing blacktail deer in October. It's tough because you're in a jungle, visibility is low, the weather is horrible, and bull density is low. Truthfully, it's not very enjoyable.

Hunter pressure is high, you can go days and days without seeing an animal, and your odds for success will be abysmal, certainly less than 10 percent. If you're still interested, understand that bulls will be solitary at this time, so don't chase herds. The bulls will move from feeding areas (clearcuts largely) to thick brush and timber for bedding. I think the best bet is to glass openings in the AM and then still-hunt timber and hell holes during the day, using your binoculars so much that you'll be cross-eyed by dark.

If you're really lucky, you'll glimpse a patch of hide, antler tine, or an ear twitch before the bull sees you. If you can get a quick shot off before he winds/sees/or senses your presence, you'll have quite the accomplishment.

According to some, the best hunters on earth come from the Pacific Northwest. I didn't believe this until I got older and moved away. Having now hunted a bunch of states and four countries for a variety of big-game, I believe it's true. If you can consistently kill Roosies or blacktails on the West Coast, other game animals are not challenging.

There are two types of people who hunt Roosevelt elk in western OR/WA: those that live nearby, and those who are chasing their Super Slam of big-game species. It's not accidental that tags are over the counter. If there was a realistic chance for success, people would flock here from all over the country. They don't because killing a legal bull is a tiny bit easier than finding Sasquatch.

If you're hoping to kill an elk, spend the next 3 or 4 seasons hunting cows in Colorado/Montana/Wyoming/Idaho while you build points to draw a bull tag. When you do, you'll have a realistic change at taking antlers home.

Very solid talking points. Pretty on-par with everything I've been reading, watching, listening to for the last few years. With these things in mind, would an archery early season tag be any better? Or about the same with just different challenges? Not counting the challenges that come with getting within bow range of an elk lol

I don't fall into those two categories of hunter, so I must be the 3rd type (got more coin than brain)

 

[slm9s]

Weather can really affect how you hunt, specifically wind. If its not raining or only misting, you can find them in open loggings, hayfields, etc. If its raining sideways in 25mph wind, you're going to have to go into shyt-holes after them, and success will be VERY difficult. Gore-tex, or even Grundens raingear; illuminated reticle helps in DARK timber, dress in layers as you can be freezing your butt off, then have to chase elk up a STEEP ridge fast as you can go, sweat your balls off, then lose them and freeze again trying to find their trail again. I've shot bulls at daylight in snow, twilight in a monsoon, and 1pm lounging in the sun. They can be ANYWHERE AT ANYTIME.

 

[Flat Range]

Weather can really affect how you hunt, specifically wind. If its not raining or only misting, you can find them in open loggings, hayfields, etc. If its raining sideways in 25mph wind, you're going to have to go into shyt-holes after them, and success will be VERY difficult. Gore-tex, or even Grundens raingear; illuminated reticle helps in DARK timber, dress in layers as you can be freezing your butt off, then have to chase elk up a STEEP ridge fast as you can go, sweat your balls off, then lose them and freeze again trying to find their trail again. I've shot bulls at daylight in snow, twilight in a monsoon, and 1pm lounging in the sun. They can be ANYWHERE AT ANYTIME.

I appreciate the reply! The illuminated reticle is a good nugget! You wouldn't think about it but being in that country before, it can get real dark down in some of those bottoms - on a full sun day to boot.

 

[Fred@Exterra]

Very solid talking points. Pretty on-par with everything I've been reading, watching, listening to for the last few years. With these things in mind, would an archery early season tag be any better? Or about the same with just different challenges? Not counting the challenges that come with getting within bow range of an elk lol

I don't fall into those two categories of hunter, so I must be the 3rd type (got more coin than brain)

There is a third category… those that only go once

I lived there for five years when I worked for Bowtech… so I had the advantage of hunting with a bunch of hardcore hunters that grew up on the coast range. Most went east, but a few guys killed elk every year. I killed a few with a bow, and a handful off private land (Land owner permit).

It isn’t impossible, but it’s tough. The elk do not need to move. They have water, food and security everywhere. Plan on still hunting and suddenly having them appear in the mist, or catching them on the edge of a clear cut at first light.

The brush and foliage is incredibly thick. You’ll be wading through ferns and devils claw all day long. It’s always wet. Constant rain & mist. Buy a set of expensive goretex rain gear for the nice day… and a set of Grundens rubber rain gear for the rest.

Did I mention it’s steep & slick.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Flat Range]

The elk do not need to move. They have water, food and security everywhere.

That was exactly what I was starting to put together! Which makes sense when you think about it.

I certainly appreciate the insight.

 

[Dark timber]

General rifle elk season is extremely competitive. Get a mountain bike (with disk brakes and front shocks only) and hunt behind locked timber co gates. Do all your hunting in the week or more leading up to season (I can’t stress the importance of this enough) and once you kinda figure out what they do, be in position opening morning WELL before daylight. This is by far your best opportunity. Because once the shooting starts, everything changes. But also make sure you dont put all your eggs in one basket. Having a plan A, B, C, D is imperative. You can have elk all to yourself right before season and opening morning locals who know where they always are will show up and throw a wrench in your hunt. Midday when lots of people give up, focus on glassing tall reprod. They can live in it and feel safe but can be seen from across canyons.
I spent 40 years in SW WA, which is essentially the same as NW Oregon…but with less elk. We still kill bulls consistently but there is definitely a learning curve. Idaho is definitely much easier! Lol

 

[DawnPatrol]

I grew up there. is the truth about general season rifle hunting for elk in industrial timberland.

 

[Flat Range]

General rifle elk season is extremely competitive. Get a mountain bike (with disk brakes and front shocks only) and hunt behind locked timber co gates. Do all your hunting in the week or more leading up to season (I can’t stress the importance of this enough) and once you kinda figure out what they do, be in position opening morning WELL before daylight. This is by far your best opportunity. Because once the shooting starts, everything changes. But also make sure you dont put all your eggs in one basket. Having a plan A, B, C, D is imperative. You can have elk all to yourself right before season and opening morning locals who know where they always are will show up and throw a wrench in your hunt. Midday when lots of people give up, focus on glassing tall reprod. They can live in it and feel safe but can be seen from across canyons.
I spent 40 years in SW WA, which is essentially the same as NW Oregon…but with less elk. We still kill bulls consistently but there is definitely a learning curve. Idaho is definitely much easier! Lol

Very insightful! Thank you so much.

 

[Flat Range]

Hey guys. I certainly appreciate the advice and insight. With the things being said about rifle, how different of a type of hunt would it be for early season archery? Obviously archery hunting elk comes with it's own unique challenges, but in terms of hunter pressure, coastal elk behavior/movement, etc.. during this early season time.

 

[hibernation]

Hey guys. I certainly appreciate the advice and insight. With the things being said about rifle, how different of a type of hunt would it be for early season archery? Obviously archery hunting elk comes with it's own unique challenges, but in terms of hunter pressure, coastal elk behavior/movement, etc.. during this early season time.

I wouldn't go this route unless you already have experience with either killing elk, or bowhunting in general. If you've got one side of the equation, you could probably do alright filling in the other. If you're not an experienced bowhunter, and also not an experienced elk hunter, I think you'll have a bad time. Unless you have someone going with you to show you the ropes. Dealing with your first elk, alone, potentially in an 80 degree clearcut in the sun, or trying to follow your first blood trail through reprod, just isn't a great idea in my experience. That's just my take though.

Pressure can be pretty high in archery season but it's nothing like general rifle, that's a total zoo. Fire season can really complicate access if it's hot and dry and timber companies shut down access.

I really can't overstate how much pressure there can be in general rifle elk season. I've seen people setting up trailer camps next to a gate almost a full week prior to opening day, just to stake it out. At the same time, people are remarkably lazy even for a four day hunt. I've seen gates with 10 trucks parked at dawn, where not a single truck was parked there even by late afternoon - and it's not because they tagged out. If you can stay out and actually hunt until last light, that alone will put you ahead of most people.

Same thing with actually getting off roads and down into some deep dark hidey-holes. This is where your scouting can really pay off, finding the kind of timber that's thick enough to hold elk, but open enough that you actually stand a chance at hunting it. There's plenty of cover that is basically unhuntable, you'll struggle to find a shooting lane at even 10 yards.

Orange isn't required in Oregon for adults, but man, I would wear so much blaze orange during this season.

 

[NWBLKTAIL]

I wouldn't go this route unless you already have experience with either killing elk, or bowhunting in general. If you've got one side of the equation, you could probably do alright filling in the other. If you're not an experienced bowhunter, and also not an experienced elk hunter, I think you'll have a bad time. Unless you have someone going with you to show you the ropes. Dealing with your first elk, alone, potentially in an 80 degree clearcut in the sun, or trying to follow your first blood trail through reprod, just isn't a great idea in my experience. That's just my take though.

Pressure can be pretty high in archery season but it's nothing like general rifle, that's a total zoo. Fire season can really complicate access if it's hot and dry and timber companies shut down access.

I really can't overstate how much pressure there can be in general rifle elk season. I've seen people setting up trailer camps next to a gate almost a full week prior to opening day, just to stake it out. At the same time, people are remarkably lazy even for a four day hunt. I've seen gates with 10 trucks parked at dawn, where not a single truck was parked there even by late afternoon - and it's not because they tagged out. If you can stay out and actually hunt until last light, that alone will put you ahead of most people.

I agree with what you are saying, but I would add pressure during archery season comes in waves. Every one goes hard the first week, then its crickets until the last week. Locals know the valley guys will head home after the first week and not be seen until the last week. It's a month long and people do not have the time or the physical gas tank to go out every day for 30 days.

rifles season is 5-7 days long depending upon 1st or second 2nd season in the area he is going to hunt. anyone can go hard for 1 week, and you usually have multiple people hunting for someones tag. That is where the zoo effect comes into place, not everyone out during rifle season is hunting with a tag. It has gotten better, but still exist.

 

[hibernation]

I agree with what you are saying, but I would add pressure during archery season comes in waves. Every one goes hard the first week, then its crickets until the last week.

Yeah that's a great point. I barely even bother with opening week anymore, it's too hot, too crowded, and every bugle seems to be a hunter anyway. It'd be a different story if I took the treestand approach.

 

[Blockcaver]

Take this for what its worth from a two time archery Roosevelt elk hunter (but arrowed well over thirty Rockies plus two with the rifle):

First Roosie hunt was an early Sept bowhunt in southern OR. Weather was generally hot. Saw elk most days and finally arrowed a very large cow near the end of the week long hunt. We glassed the small herd of elk (no bull) from below feeding in a timber cut. I snuck about a mile around to an upper deactivated logging road that was well above the elk. Arrowed the lead cow coming up into the timber to bed. Heavy pack-out for three of us. OR had an asinine rule that required packing out the entire elk head at that time....only to pitch it as soon as it was cut up....that day as the weather was HOT.

Second Roosie was a BC bull that I arrowed in later November after 17 hunting days. It was rainy and crappy weather virtually the whole time. Elk sightings were few and far between....one big bull was spotted a couple times on a power line but never got close due to blackberry interference.Then the landowner spooked him out of the unit working in the woods with a big excavator.

Finally found a land owner (with a 10 acre vegetable farm that had a herd of 11 elk feeding on his place in the late evening, night and at first light. They bedded over on his mother's adjoining place during the day but she did not let anyone hunt. Scouted one PM...saw the elk including two legal bulls on "Mom's" but the elk didn't come over during daylight hours. Went back the next morning and set up in the dark. Heard the elk talking and starting to move toward my ambush point...a gate in the fence though around sun-up, even though I rarely saw the sun that trip. Arrowed the 4x4...the other bull was a spike.

Good luck on your hunt! Not easy with the bow but doable.