drop camp elk hunt a bust

[lord grizzly]

And you are offering this criticism why???

because he sounded surprised of the outcome. when it should have been expected. pick poor dates, get poor results, bitch about the outfitter on the internet. check

 the stream of sympathy just seemed ridiculous to me. even guys calling on outing the outfitter for his terrible business practice. he dropped the guy off when the guy asked to be dropped off. sounds like t was a sound transaction based on a poor or at least unrealistic expectation decision from the client. you went elk hunting in august with a bow. you got what the same results 90% of guys who make that decision get.

You sir, know all. I bow down to your ultimate knowledge. On my next trip, I will make sure to consult your expertise.

be happy to help. first advice is free and i think i already gave it. dont go elk hunting in august 

[vandeman17]

It was supposed to be one day of august and first 8 days of september so I almost followed your wisdom. We did have plenty of reasons to hunt when we did, between moon phase, work schedule and when the packer could get us in for the length of time we wanted to go. We also hoped we would get to the elk before the bulls were cowed up and in their harems

[92xj]

And you are offering this criticism why???

Because he knows Vande's schedule, reasoning, and justification for picking early dates, duh.

The reasons he choose the dates he did doesn't really matter. The criticism for paying for a drop camp that early is valid. A DIY camping trip makes sense but paying for a drop camp in an area you've never been and complaining about tough conditions is a bit of a head scratcher. This is a case of neither party being particularly innocent. I'm sure communication and overselling were issues, but throwing the towel in after 2 days of ruff conditions at the end of August is hard to defend. I can vouch that he didn't have a lot of directions to go, he really only had one, but it's also an area that gets better as the season progresses and animals get pressured. It sucks he didn't have a good trip, but expecting to be parked in the middle of good elk hunting at the end of August is a huge ask for anywhere that doesn't have a high fence.

edit:  scratch all that.  No need for me to make stupid references and sly remarks.  in the end, crap situation all around, crappy elk dates, crappy location and expectations from all parties.  Let's just hunt and I need to be more positive.  Continue on...

[Rainier10]

I have been elk hunting in Oregon in August, Coos Bay area.  It was actually pretty good.  Elk were just starting to think about grouping up so you didn't have so many eyes watching and there were lots of options, not just one big group of elk with satellites running around the edges.  We didn't connect the last week of August.  Came back here, hunted the first week of September for deer, tagged out and went back to Oregon for the second week of September.  Lots more activity but elk were in large groups and we just couldn't make it work.  Tag soup.

Because of the moon this year I would hunt the first week of September or the third.  We have a trip to Montana planned and we are going next week.  It is the week that worked for my hunting partner so it is what it is.  If we get some cloud cover at night the moon getting fuller hopefully won't be as big of an issue.  If it is clear at night we will focus more attention to midday hunting.

You do what you have to do but if the elk aren't there you are kind of screwed.

[gasman]

Sorry to hear about the experience you had, I know you were looking forward to this hunt.

[2MANY]

I have no ax to grind here.

That being said I could not disagree more with the comment below.
"expecting to be parked in the middle of good elk hunting at the end of August is a huge ask for anywhere that doesn't have a high fence."

When I plant my own butt in the elk woods this is exactly what I target and expect.
99% of the time it's exactly what I experience.
Granted the elk might be more nocturnal and quiet the first week of September.

I cannot speak for this specific unit in Oregon and I agree with Karl's advise.
Good luck.
The year has just started.

[theleo]

edit:  scratch all that.  No need for me to make stupid references and sly remarks.  in the end, crap situation all around, crappy elk dates, crappy location and expectations from all parties.  Let's just hunt and I need to be more positive.  Continue on...

Exactly. I feel for Vande that his trip didn't turn out like we all hoped it would, but hunting this early is a roll of the dice at best. The location could have been good, but wasn't. Elk could have been there (I know people that hunt the general area each year) but they weren't. It was a roll of the dice that didn't pay off. I just see both sides of it and can't say it was all the outfitters fault. Vande was put in an area that can be productive, but it just wasn't this year/trip. There's not much an outfitter can do at that point, schedules are full of packing people, packing meat as the need arises, wrangling stock, and each trip is wear and tare on equipment and animals... Just a crummy situation all the way around.

[Crunchy]

I make three hunting trips to Eastern Oregon each season.  Seven hour drive each way.  First trip is to set up trail cams and scout to see where the elk are hanging (new bedding areas etc).  Also get an idea of where the other camps are.  Rarely do we get into them good during the opener.  This year was no different the woods were quiet but we saw elk each day.  Most of the action we get is the last 10 days of the season, so we hunt all of those dates.  Otherwise it is just three day trips to stay on top of the action and get into elk shape.  Scratch this last trip you made as a scouting trip and get back down there.

[theleo]

I have no ax to grind here.

That being said I could not disagree more with the comment below.
"expecting to be parked in the middle of good elk hunting at the end of August is a huge ask for anywhere that doesn't have a high fence."

When I plant my own butt in the elk woods this is exactly what I target and expect.
99% of the time it's exactly what I experience.
Granted the elk might be more nocturnal and quiet the first week of September.

I cannot speak for this specific unit in Oregon and I agree with Karl's advise.
Good luck.
The year has just started.

That's what I look for each time I go out as well, just not a great expectation to have for the Eagle Caps when a spot is picked a month+ in advance. The upper portions especially, don't have the habitat that will anchor elk to a location. Lots of open granite, sparse timber, not much to keep animals in a condensed area if wolves come through or a couple lions are really active. If you can move to find elk it's not bad. If you're fixed to one spot you're doing great if you can average like a major league hitter, getting it rite once out every 3 years is phenomenal.

[vandeman17]

I have no ax to grind here.

That being said I could not disagree more with the comment below.
"expecting to be parked in the middle of good elk hunting at the end of August is a huge ask for anywhere that doesn't have a high fence."

When I plant my own butt in the elk woods this is exactly what I target and expect.
99% of the time it's exactly what I experience.
Granted the elk might be more nocturnal and quiet the first week of September.

I cannot speak for this specific unit in Oregon and I agree with Karl's advise.
Good luck.
The year has just started.

That's what I look for each time I go out as well, just not a great expectation to have for the Eagle Caps when a spot is picked a month+ in advance. The upper portions especially, don't have the habitat that will anchor elk to a location. Lots of open granite, sparse timber, not much to keep animals in a condensed area if wolves come through or a couple lions are really active. If you can move to find elk it's not bad. If you're fixed to one spot you're doing great if you can average like a major league hitter, getting it rite once out every 3 years is phenomenal.

  I think the biggest issues for us was it was an area he had never set a camp or really explored himself, it just looked good. On top of that, he set us at almost the highest point so we had to "hunt" down then hike back out and it was very tough.

[C-Money]

Sure hope something works out for you guys...Good luck on the rest of the tag season!

[NorseNW]

I make three hunting trips to Eastern Oregon each season.  Seven hour drive each way.  First trip is to set up trail cams and scout to see where the elk are hanging (new bedding areas etc).  Also get an idea of where the other camps are.  Rarely do we get into them good during the opener.  This year was no different the woods were quiet but we saw elk each day.  Most of the action we get is the last 10 days of the season, so we hunt all of those dates.  Otherwise it is just three day trips to stay on top of the action and get into elk shape.  Scratch this last trip you made as a scouting trip and get back down there.

I don't know Crunchy other than he was nice enough to give me guidance last year but I have to say he has a great attitude here as he seems to very often.  I would use it if I were you - pick a different spot and get back out there.  As mentioned previously - it beats being at work and if I may use a fishing anecdote - you gonna get skunked if you stay at home.  Get out in those woods my friend!

[theleo]

I have no ax to grind here.

That being said I could not disagree more with the comment below.
"expecting to be parked in the middle of good elk hunting at the end of August is a huge ask for anywhere that doesn't have a high fence."

When I plant my own butt in the elk woods this is exactly what I target and expect.
99% of the time it's exactly what I experience.
Granted the elk might be more nocturnal and quiet the first week of September.

I cannot speak for this specific unit in Oregon and I agree with Karl's advise.
Good luck.
The year has just started.

That's what I look for each time I go out as well, just not a great expectation to have for the Eagle Caps when a spot is picked a month+ in advance. The upper portions especially, don't have the habitat that will anchor elk to a location. Lots of open granite, sparse timber, not much to keep animals in a condensed area if wolves come through or a couple lions are really active. If you can move to find elk it's not bad. If you're fixed to one spot you're doing great if you can average like a major league hitter, getting it rite once out every 3 years is phenomenal.

  I think the biggest issues for us was it was an area he had never set a camp or really explored himself, it just looked good. On top of that, he set us at almost the highest point so we had to "hunt" down then hike back out and it was very tough.

My money would be he was thinking that if elk weren't there when he dropped you off the pressure from down the canyon would push them up to you guys after a couple of days. No reason you'd know it, but that drainage you were at the top of receives a ton of pressure from guys accessing it from the bottom via the main river trail. This might be the first time he's put someone there, but you're not the first to camp there for elk hunting.

Yes, incredibly tough country on foot. That's why I said I'd help you out if I could. If you're going back I can give you an area to look at that you should be able to tackle on foot or, worst case scenario, call a good samaritan with access to mules to pack an animal out.  Sorry it didn't turn out like you hoped.

[vandeman17]

I have no ax to grind here.

That being said I could not disagree more with the comment below.
"expecting to be parked in the middle of good elk hunting at the end of August is a huge ask for anywhere that doesn't have a high fence."

When I plant my own butt in the elk woods this is exactly what I target and expect.
99% of the time it's exactly what I experience.
Granted the elk might be more nocturnal and quiet the first week of September.

I cannot speak for this specific unit in Oregon and I agree with Karl's advise.
Good luck.
The year has just started.

That's what I look for each time I go out as well, just not a great expectation to have for the Eagle Caps when a spot is picked a month+ in advance. The upper portions especially, don't have the habitat that will anchor elk to a location. Lots of open granite, sparse timber, not much to keep animals in a condensed area if wolves come through or a couple lions are really active. If you can move to find elk it's not bad. If you're fixed to one spot you're doing great if you can average like a major league hitter, getting it rite once out every 3 years is phenomenal.

  I think the biggest issues for us was it was an area he had never set a camp or really explored himself, it just looked good. On top of that, he set us at almost the highest point so we had to "hunt" down then hike back out and it was very tough.

My money would be he was thinking that if elk weren't there when he dropped you off the pressure from down the canyon would push them up to you guys after a couple of days. No reason you'd know it, but that drainage you were at the top of receives a ton of pressure from guys accessing it from the bottom via the main river trail. This might be the first time he's put someone there, but you're not the first to camp there for elk hunting.

Yes, incredibly tough country on foot. That's why I said I'd help you out if I could. If you're going back I can give you an area to look at that you should be able to tackle on foot or, worst case scenario, call a good samaritan with access to mules to pack an animal out.  Sorry it didn't turn out like you hoped.

Good information to know and as always, your offer is very much appreciated!

[Matth]

edit:  scratch all that.  No need for me to make stupid references and sly remarks.  in the end, crap situation all around, crappy elk dates, crappy location and expectations from all parties.  Let's just hunt and I need to be more positive.  Continue on...

Exactly. I feel for Vande that his trip didn't turn out like we all hoped it would, but hunting this early is a roll of the dice at best. The location could have been good, but wasn't. Elk could have been there (I know people that hunt the general area each year) but they weren't. It was a roll of the dice that didn't pay off. I just see both sides of it and can't say it was all the outfitters fault. Vande was put in an area that can be productive, but it just wasn't this year/trip. There's not much an outfitter can do at that point, schedules are full of packing people, packing meat as the need arises, wrangling stock, and each trip is wear and tare on equipment and animals... Just a crummy situation all the way around.

Exactly this!!!
I have hunted this general area in the past, and always chose to be on top so i could go 3 directions. It was very common for us to put on 14 to 17 miles in a day running all over the country side locating elk. I have hunted the caps quite a bit, and i don't recall any time being an easy hunt. Sorry for the poor trip.