Oregon, McKenzie Unit, Irish Mountain

[Burnt Reynolds]

Changing my otc unit for rifle & archery from the coast to area around se McKenzie, sw Upper Deschutes and nw Fort Rock.

Been attracted to the Irish Mountain portion north of Waldo Lake and west of the Pacific Crest Trail. Looks real elky to me and far enough away that the more "rotund" demographic of the orange army won't be terribly close.

Anyone familiar with the area care to comment on the good the bad and the ugly?

IM is fine for anyone wanting to keep things private. I pay with hookers and burritos

 

[Lpmeyer1]

Did you get the info you are looking for? I'm planning on the Waldo area as well. I have hunting a bit around the area and elk are around , but seem to move a lot.

 

[Chasinbrownies92]

Did you guy see much deer sighn in there? I'm really looking into going just nw of waldo.

 

[Burnt Reynolds]

Did you guy see much deer sighn in there? I'm really looking into going just nw of waldo.

Tons of deer sign and saw several decent bucks. Excellent glass is key for picking out bucks in the burn. If it’s been dry walking will be really noisy unless you’re outside of the burn in the timber.

 

[slick]

McKenzie is one of the last places I would hunt elk. They are certainly in there, and if you have copious amounts of time to scout and knock areas off the map- go for it. But I think there are much better places. Good backpacking trip. Poor elk hunting.

 

[orelkaddict]

I logged up there for years, never was a ton of elk up higher on the McKenzie. Down towards Gate creek you start seeing plenty of elk, well before last years fire you did anyway. Up past McKenzie Bridge area you just didn't see a lot on a regular basis. Except up Foley. Going up 58 by Waldo and Gold lakes you'd catch em passing through but never could pattern anything. Had way better luck consistently finding elk over above Lemolo lake for that elevation