Scouting for Bear in the Umatilla National Forest (South East WA)

[6.8mmARHunter]

My Sister and her Husband invited me to Her cabin South of Pomeroy WA (way South East corner of WA) for four days, last Thursday through Sunday. She said people hunt Black Bears around there. I thought I'd go and scout around a bit. It was way cool to hang out with her, see her cabin and property, and roam the forest to see the wildlife and get some exercise. The only real bad part was the forest burned about 8 year ago. It takes a long time to recover...


Umatilla National Forest Sunrise



Elk Fence


There's a crazy amount of game down there. In the four days, we saw approximately 50 Deer, and exactly 11 elk, 7 wild Turkeys, 100's of Ground Squirrels, dozens of Yellow Bellied Marmots and 1 Coyote. Didn't see any Bears, but did see some scat.

The coolest was stalking through the woods and spotting some of the Deer and Elk. Friday, morning at just after 5AM, I took one of the quads up to the Umatilla National Forest boundary (yellow line is UNF boundary) and parked it there. I then took off on foot for a 6 mile hike. Country there is way cool. Rolling hills sparsely covered, with ravines choked with trees and undergrowth.  I ran into 10 elk (two groups of 3 bulls each, all in velvet, some spikes and some with branching antlers, and one group of 4 cows). I also ran into a pair of Mule Deers, one Buck and one Doe. In the case of one of the Bull Elk and the Buck, I could have dropped them... was able to stalk with in 50 yards on both. Saw un-mistakeable Bear droppings in the bottom of one of the ravines, but no sighting of one. Packed my rifle and ~35lb pack. Was quite tired when I got back.

Google Earth Forest Stalk Map



Only thing legal to shoot was Coyotes and Marmots. Coyote that we saw wasn't really ready to be killed... Some marmots died, I'm not much for wasting animals, so we skinned them and tacked the skins to a board. We actually roasted one over a bonfire. I had tried one years and years ago up in Alaska, so I thought it would be worth trying again. Way gamey tasting...

Sorry Cell Phone Pic of an Elk


Saturday night my sis and I were having some beers around the fire ring and we were treated to the Aurora Borealis Way cool.  Overall, an awesome weekend.

Climbed a Tree and put up a Flag


Going to go back up to wards Lions Rock this Sunday scouting for Bear...


Peace,


Sam

[saylean]

that flag pic is cool man.

Umatilla is fun country...when I lived in the tri cities, I would visit on occasion.

[Rufous]

Enjoyed reading of your outing. I like to get into the Blues myself. Good for the soul.

[Austrian Hunter]

  Thanks for sharing!! 

[JackOfAllTrades]

"My baby Sister invited me to Her cabin"....  Now that is quite misleading!
 
I like your write-up though. Great country.
 
-Steve

[6.8mmARHunter]

that flag pic is cool man.

Umatilla is fun country...when I lived in the tri cities, I would visit on occasion.

I had found the flag on the ground of an abandoned cabin and thought it need a better place to be. I agree, I think it looks good up there. Although, climbing up there was kind of sketchy.

Enjoyed reading of your outing. I like to get into the Blues myself. Good for the soul.

Thanks, that was my first time in the Blue Mts. Definitely going back some time.

"My baby Sister invited me to Her cabin"....  Now that is quite misleading!
 
I like your write-up though. Great country.
 
-Steve

Yeah, I should change that a bit...

[Todd_ID]

Looking at your Google Earth map and then the rest of your pics of the area, I think I own the 10 acres next to your sis and husband.  Small little cabin on the top of Stevens Ridge with an old camper that is ready for the junk pile; 3 places from the N end of the ridge road.

[pashok23]

Thanks for good pics 

[270Flat]

Enjoyed reading of your outing. I like to get into the Blues myself. Good for the soul.

[MC37493]

Sounds like a great time