Roosevelt elevations in Santiam and Mckenzie Oregon

[Travistroop]

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.

 

[Travistroop]

If I'm able to harvest, the plan for that, that doesn't involve a $2k ovdrnight shipping bill or 1k rental car and a 5 day death drive is I'll take whatever the airline will let me fly with. I think it's two 75lb items and military doesn't need to pay the fees. For the trophy, I'm going to boil the skull and next time I'm in town, box it up and ship it freight for what I understand is around 500 bux.

If you have any advice here too I would appreciate it. I would like to know what company you have shipped the trophy with and the pickup or drop off process and if it needs to be on a pallet.

 

[Dirtscoots]

If you’re hunting Oregon Rosie’s water isn’t an issue. It rains a lot there is water everywhere. If you want better success another state would be better. Sounds like your family has average statistics. It’s a general tag, the whole world gets and runs around the woods no matter who owns the property.

 

[elkliver]

Private Timberland that is open to hunt will likely be better. not that they wont ever still be up on the forest but they tend to work down as the season goes on and the cuts on private timber tend to offer more feed. . Burn might be good if it holds elk... but cuts are always where to look. If you were closer, i'd say to go up the week before and do a lot of driving to see where elk are coming down banks. with flying in, you can do the same thing but will cut a couple of days off your hunt just finding where they run .

 

[elkliver]

PS and if you want to be successful at elk hunting... stat with unting an area that has a good chance of finding elk.... which is not that hunt unless you know the area well.

 

[bowhunterjae]

I agree with Elkliver. Find tracks and you will find them.