Travistroop
FNG
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2020
- Messages
- 95
Hello Rokslide,
I am starting to plan and do cyber scouting for the 2025 Elk Any Legal weapon in Santiam and Mckenzie
I am from McMinnville Oregon and going elk hunting with my family although I am buying a nonresident tag because I moved out of state. My family are not very successful hunters and I don’t want to hunt the same spots they do every year with very little success. However, I don’t really want to go to a completely different area and not enjoy the hunt with my family. The area they hunt is near the Santam Junction so I am trying to stay within an hour drive of their camp.
My online research says that once they stopped clear cutting in the National Forest the elk population has declined or moved to lower elevations, although most of the discussions online were around 10 years old. What elevations do you suggest I focus on? Do you think private timber land that is open to hunting is better than the burns at higher elevations? The only other time I have elk hunted was in WY and elevation was important, but those were migrating elk. My plan is to focus on terrain features like benches and draws with food, water and cover that do not have any roads or hiking paths near them. I’m just not sure what elevation to start at.
I have 20 years in the Army National Guard with 4 tours overseas to Iraq and Afghanistan and currently work as a federal civilian for the Navy. I’m also an experienced backpacker, hunter, and stay in good shape.
Thank you for you for your help, the area has a real low success rate but half of this hunt is to spend time with my family in elk camp.
I am starting to plan and do cyber scouting for the 2025 Elk Any Legal weapon in Santiam and Mckenzie
I am from McMinnville Oregon and going elk hunting with my family although I am buying a nonresident tag because I moved out of state. My family are not very successful hunters and I don’t want to hunt the same spots they do every year with very little success. However, I don’t really want to go to a completely different area and not enjoy the hunt with my family. The area they hunt is near the Santam Junction so I am trying to stay within an hour drive of their camp.
My online research says that once they stopped clear cutting in the National Forest the elk population has declined or moved to lower elevations, although most of the discussions online were around 10 years old. What elevations do you suggest I focus on? Do you think private timber land that is open to hunting is better than the burns at higher elevations? The only other time I have elk hunted was in WY and elevation was important, but those were migrating elk. My plan is to focus on terrain features like benches and draws with food, water and cover that do not have any roads or hiking paths near them. I’m just not sure what elevation to start at.
I have 20 years in the Army National Guard with 4 tours overseas to Iraq and Afghanistan and currently work as a federal civilian for the Navy. I’m also an experienced backpacker, hunter, and stay in good shape.
Thank you for you for your help, the area has a real low success rate but half of this hunt is to spend time with my family in elk camp.
