Coastal Roosevelts - November Rifle

[NWBLKTAIL]

Its a tough game. If you commit, get a Weyerhaeuser permit. Much of that area is saddle mountain with is a draw tag as well.

Plan on being wet and miserable most of the time. That being said, it'll be a good reward if you're successful (highly doubtful as most of those hunts are sub 7% success rates, and the same guys every year typically make up most of it)

Have you ever hunted there?

 

[WRO]

Have you ever hunted there?

A Few times, hunted South of there a bunch.


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[Dirtscoots]

I don’t particularly agree with get a permit. I have delt with more hunting pressure on permit land then state land. Or locked up timberland. I really don’t have much that isn’t Debbie downer to say about coastal elk hunting archery or rifle. Once I can move out of state I will not be buying an Oregon elk tag. I’m really familiar with the areas and quite a few locals feel free to hit me up in a pm.

 

[503Dan]

Great advice from these guys already. As another local I’d say that if you’re trying to decide between archery or rifle I think it really depends on how much time you have and what your expectations are. I’ve rifle hunted here the last 3 years, archery hunted the previous 14.
For rifle like has already been said, you’ve got to know where to be for that first 5 minutes. I’d say 75% of the bulls get killed in the first 5 minutes opening morning. The other 20% get killed on on private pastures butted up to timberland that the elk just got ran out of. If you rifle hunt be prepared to not even see an elk being that you aren’t familiar with the area or Elk in general. If you do see a bull though chances are you’re gonna kill.
Archery season I think if you spend some time practicing calling you’ll have a much more enjoyable experience overall. But odds are pretty poor you’re gonna kill a roosie on your first hunt for elk. But if you’re in decent ground you’ll absolutely have some fun experiences and some bugling bulls. My opinion on their behavior is that they are more vocal than Rockies, you just can’t hear them because of the terrain/jungle. They also seem to bugle throughout the whole day more often than Rockies. Many of my best days have been in the early afternoon when most guys are at camp.
My last note would be that you’re gonna have lots of pressure either season. Rifle season you’ve got more total people, but way less hardcore hunters that are staying on the herd. Archery hunting is very much so the trend so you’ve got a much higher percentage of the serious hunters. I would expect to have other guys coming in on the same bull. And also being your first time I would expect to be called into another hunter.

No wrong choice, good luck!

 

[blackveltbowhunter]

Rain is your friend during modern firearm seasons. You want lots of it, and want to make yourself comfortable with it. It will cover your noise, keep your scent down, erase the landscape making sign easy to read, and keep bulls up on their feet. Modern season is also more reliable from access standpoint.

Archery season are often more mild, usually cool mornings and moderate highs. But it can be really warm. That has impacts on not only critter movement and meat care plans, but can have big impacts on access as well.

On pressure. This is just one guys opinion and experience, pressure sucks no matter how you slice it. But pressure impacts Archery much more. Bulls become call shy, herds alter patterns to limit daytime movment and stick to impenetrable areas where a bow and arrow is useless even if you can get elk on their feet.