Ochoco Unit 37: Archery Elk - 2020

[joycehall9]

Anyone archery hunt the Oregon Ochoco Unit 37 in recent years? If so, how has it been? Any tips/advice you would give? Thank you!

 

[wapitibob]

I quit hunting there when it was still an OTC hunt.

 

[gsully]

I’m curious to this as well. After looking at some of the stats for Ochoco, it seems the unit has the 3rd most rocky mt elkn (after Ukiah and Heppner). It also has over 50% public land, and has relatively low hunter/tag numbers for rifle season, and especially low archery numbers given the controlled archery tag.

It seems it wouldn’t not be too bad of choice...What am I missing?

 

[mlgc20]

It's been several years since I've been there. But, I lived in that unit for many years. It's still one of my favorite places on Earth. As is all of Central Oregon. From a hunting perspective, it's interesting. I have never seen more road hunters any where, than what I had seen in that unit. The forest service roads turn into highways. But, there weren't a lot of people when you got a couple miles off the road. Also, there tended to be fewer people the further east you go in the unit. A lot of the hunters are coming from Portland, and they tended to congregate on the western part of the unit. Try to avoid Big Summit Prairie. It's beautiful. But, tends to draw tons of people.

Great scenery. The weather during archery season tends to be awesome. Comfortably warm during the days and cooling off at dusk. Rarely any rain.

 

[elkocd]

I’m curious to this as well. After looking at some of the stats for Ochoco, it seems the unit has the 3rd most rocky mt elkn (after Ukiah and Heppner). It also has over 50% public land, and has relatively low hunter/tag numbers for rifle season, and especially low archery numbers given the controlled archery tag.

It seems it wouldn’t not be too bad of choice...What am I missing?

You're missing that the 50% that is not public holds a majority of the elk during hunting season and there is not a lot of roadless area to get away from people. Not comparable to an LE hunt in most other western states. IMHO you can have a better hunt in an OTC area in OR if you know where to look.

Oh and BTW... Looking at elk populations in a Unit in OR is not what I'd look for unless you want to hunt with 1500 other hunters. I would never set foot in the two units you mentioned during archery season.

 

[gsully]

Thanks I appreciate the replies. I’m a newbie just getting into it and trying to interpret all the data and info I have to use.

Interesting point on total elk numbers, I thought that would be a good metric to look at when looking at simple opportunities. Also, same went for public land %, figured there was a minimum I wanted to look at there and 50% being a good cut off.

The research continues

 

[Dustin the wind]

I believe there are quite a few burn areas over there, might help with opportunity if you pull a tag.

 

[Swede]

I think of it as a good unit. You should consider it if you live fairly close and have limited time and travel opportunity. I would rather hunt the Ochoco than stay home and wish I was hunting somewhere better.

BTW: Welcome to the forum Joyce.

 

[dave32g]

I have hunted it a lot both before it was controlled and after. I live in the unit and I have had soMe really good success. There were few really good years. But it has slowly been on the down hill slide and I don’t know why.
I Scout a lot during the summer and usually hunt all of archery season. The past few years we have gone 2-3-4 days in a row with out even seeing a elk. I don’t think i will apply there again for a while.

 

[Dr. Rx]

Oregon is not that easy to hunt I’m my opinion
Too many wolves
Too many human wolves at 35$ a tag for residents
Too much pressure
You got to get away and scout with boots on the ground

 

[slick]

Too many wolves in Oregon comical.

What 133 known? MT kills that many in a year or more.

Let me guess, you hunt love to hunt WY, MT, and ID every chance you get.

That $20 MT resident tag has ruined MT hunting too.


Regarding the Ochocho’s. Get away from roads, use your boots, you’ll get into elk.

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[Dustin the wind]

It’s probably more fun than hunting around Newport Joyce.

 

[ID-Muley]

Too many wolves in Oregon comical.

What 133 known? MT kills that many in a year or more.

Let me guess, you hunt love to hunt WY, MT, and ID every chance you get.

That $20 MT resident tag has ruined MT hunting too.


Regarding the Ochocho’s. Get away from roads, use your boots, you’ll get into elk.

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Yes Ochocos can be good but it’s not what it use to be. A lot of the good bulls go onto the big ranches once the rut kicks off and pressure starts but of course there’s a few good bulls on public land. I’ve had the tag yes. It could be as good or better than Wenaha, Emily or Walla Walla, etc. But it’s managed for opportunity without being an OTC unit.

Yes wolves are helping ruin Oregon. Between some mis-management, cougars, the wolves, and other reasons it’s not what it should be. I’ve called in a lot of wolves in Oregon the last few years during archery and they are not scared of humans. There’s got to be a lot more wolves than they estimate. For a long time they denied they were in multiple units I saw them in. They have put a hurting on the elk this past winter. We need to issue tags for them. Agree with me or not but I spend more time in the field than 99% of people and that’s just what I see. IMO

 

[mlgc20]

Forgot to mention the wild horses. Can’t even count the number of wild horses I saw in the Ochocos. Obviously not the point of the hunt. But, I always enjoyed running into them.

 

[Dr. Rx]

Yes Ochocos can be good but it’s not what it use to be. A lot of the good bulls go onto the big ranches once the rut kicks off and pressure starts but of course there’s a few good bulls on public land. I’ve had the tag yes. It could be as good or better than Wenaha, Emily or Walla Walla, etc. But it’s managed for opportunity without being an OTC unit.

Yes wolves are helping ruin Oregon. Between some mis-management, cougars, the wolves, and other reasons it’s not what it should be. I’ve called in a lot of wolves in Oregon the last few years during archery and they are not scared of humans. There’s got to be a lot more wolves than they estimate. For a long time they denied they were in multiple units I saw them in. They have put a hurting on the elk this past winter. We need to issue tags for them. Agree with me or not but I spend more time in the field than 99% of people and that’s just what I see. IMO

Here in lies the issue.. in Montana you can hunt wolves... in Oregon you can go to jail if you even mention the idea of hunting them

 

[wapitibob]

The ochoco unit was otc archery for a long time but the bio finally moved it to a draw because excessive forest use, by campers, hikers, hunters, etc, pushed the elk down to private. When it went draw they issued a truckload of tags and that has continued with 850 for 2020. Its like most of eastern oregon; lots of potential, never to be realized because of too many tags, too many people, too many predators, too much access for proper escapement, etc etc.

 

[Dr. Rx]

What he said is spot on with ALL eastern Oregon OTC archery units

 

[slick]

My opinion- biggest problem with Oregon is the excessive amount of roads. Ochoco’s included.

There is a huge lack of security cover in most of Oregon, it’s stupid accessible, and obviously leads to increased pressure when it’s both highly accessible and managed for opportunity.

Edit: And too many cats.

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[Swan]

My opinion- biggest problem with Oregon is the excessive amount of roads. Ochoco’s included.

There is a huge lack of security cover in most of Oregon, it’s stupid accessible, and obviously leads to increased pressure when it’s both highly accessible and managed for opportunity.

Edit: And too many cats.

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Exactly ( on the roads comment; not sure about cats).

 

[PLhunter]

My opinion- biggest problem with Oregon is the excessive amount of roads. Ochoco’s included.

There is a huge lack of security cover in most of Oregon, it’s stupid accessible, and obviously leads to increased pressure when it’s both highly accessible and managed for opportunity.

Edit: And too many cats.

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Ditto. I’ve hunted the Ochoco’s successfully but the roads and abuse by the locals makes it unlikely I’ll return. Gunshots in the middle of the night. Trash everywhere. Two track in the wilderness. So much potential wasted.