Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: LongTatLaw on October 03, 2007, 09:59:58 PM

Title: Idaho or Oregon?
Post by: LongTatLaw on October 03, 2007, 09:59:58 PM: Hello all!

I tagged a Western WA 5x5 and want a little more elk action other than calling for the wife. :drool:

I live in Olympia. If I was gonna cross the border to chase bulls but its gonna be a weekends mostly effort. Should I try Idaho Rocky Mtn elk (maybe clearwater area?) or North Western Oregon... way West of Portland.

In terms of success using OTC tags and public land... weapon doesnt matter... the posibility of taking a deer or bear while chasing the elks is a plus worth hearing about. Ive compared prices and it looks to be similar??

What do you all think? :dunno:
Title: Re: Idaho or Oregon?
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on October 04, 2007, 07:00:15 AM: The only good elk areas in Oregon I know of are way South, around the Roseburg area. In the Powers and Tioga Unit. Their are or were (6 years ago) Big bulls in their! Use to live right between the 2 for about 14 years. Can't remember when their Elk seasons are.
Title: Re: Idaho or Oregon?
Post by: Intruder on October 04, 2007, 08:17:19 AM: I don't know this to be fact but I was told that all the OTC license in ID have been sold this year. That really surprised me cuz you used to be able to buy them well into the riflle season, at least in the Panhandle that was the case. Best call them... there actually may be some left over permits. I know in the past some areas had leftover cow permits because they had more permits than applicants.

Good luck.
Title: Re: Idaho or Oregon?
Post by: jackelope on October 04, 2007, 08:35:48 AM: they're sold out

Lolo Zone - B Tag 356 Sold Out
Selway Zone - B Tag 336 Sold Out
Middle Fork Zone - A Tag 174 Sold Out
Middle Fork Zone - B Tag 267 Sold Out
Dworshak Zone - B Tag 215 Sold Out
Elk City Zone - B Tag 302 Sold Out
Title: Re: Idaho or Oregon?
Post by: bobcat on October 04, 2007, 08:36:15 AM: Yep, looks like Intruder is right, no elk tags left in Idaho. You can see for yourself at this link:

http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/licenses/quota/nrquota.cfm

Your best be would be southwest Oregon, as Michelle said. But that's quite a long drive for just a weekend hunt. From Olympia it would probably be at least 6 hours.
Title: Re: Idaho or Oregon?
Post by: Little Fish on October 04, 2007, 09:56:12 AM: LTL,
When you consider that ID is sold out and that OR is pretty close to Olympia I think your best choice is OR. In addition if you look at the numbers OR has something like 150,000 elk versus WA which has 50,000. When I went to school in Eugene I went deer hunting on a number of occasions and ran across all kinds of elk sign plus often heard bull elk screaming in the woods. I don't know the numbers, but I find it hard to imagine that there aren't good places to hunt elk in OR within striking range of Olympia.
LF
Title: Re: Idaho or Oregon?
Post by: Bearhunter on October 04, 2007, 12:15:43 PM: I believe in Oregon you have to buy your tag before the season starts, I could be wrong Ive only hunted there once. Hunted is just as good as Idaho if not better. The area we hunt in Idaho is all sold out of tags as stated above. Good luck with your delima.
Title: Re: Idaho or Oregon?
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on October 04, 2007, 12:19:27 PM: I forgot to mention that. You do have to buy your tags befor the season starts. Which kinda sux! :)
Title: Re: Idaho or Oregon?
Post by: cipryan on October 04, 2007, 02:29:18 PM: I checked. I was also curious.

Oregon elk rifle season has not yet started and you can still bye a tag. Bear is a no-go, as the season has already started.
Title: Re: Idaho or Oregon?
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on October 04, 2007, 04:13:52 PM: I think Oregon has an early and a late Elk Season.
Title: Re: Idaho or Oregon?
Post by: Opportunist on October 04, 2007, 08:46:41 PM: The better Oregon westside rifle elk units are draw. Oregon Archery is out, tag must be bought before first day of early season even if a late season is offered. Oregon General rifle is a zoo but what the hell you might get lucky. I'd do Idaho before Oregon but Idaho tags are gone so Oh well!

What specific unit in Oregon are you considering?
Title: Re: Idaho or Oregon?
Post by: spin05 on October 04, 2007, 09:39:02 PM: I would try for a rosie over near astoria.I know some guys that hunt near the coast there and do allright........
Title: Re: Idaho or Oregon?
Post by: Opportunist on October 05, 2007, 04:39:35 AM: Saddle mountain unit over by Astoria is a real good unit but it is draw for rifle.
Title: Re: Idaho or Oregon?
Post by: boneaddict on October 05, 2007, 08:44:44 AM: I'm thinking Montana for you.....Idaho is sold out, and Oregon needed to have tags purchased already.
Title: Re: Idaho or Oregon?
Post by: Bigshooter on October 05, 2007, 08:50:37 AM: Montana is draw for nonresidents you might want to check and see if there are any left over tags. Some years they have lots some years they don't have any. :bash:
Title: Re: Idaho or Oregon?
Post by: jackelope on October 05, 2007, 09:23:12 AM: you've got a couple options for montana.
http://fwp.mt.gov/content/getItem.aspx?id=29044
Title: Re: Idaho or Oregon?
Post by: Curly on October 05, 2007, 09:24:16 AM: Go to the Oregon coast. First season is November 10th.

http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/hunting/big_game/regulations/seasons.asp
Title: Re: Idaho or Oregon?
Post by: Curly on October 05, 2007, 09:39:38 AM: Another thing........Oregon is close enough and the opener is still far enough away that you will have time to scout. If I were going there, I'd plan on riding a mountain bike in on gated logging roads and try to get away from most of the hunters.
Title: Re: Idaho or Oregon?
Post by: LongTatLaw on October 05, 2007, 02:55:55 PM: Yeah curly Im guessing Oregon 1st rifle might be an option for me...one of few.

Im gonna whitetail hunt wisconsin, North Carolina, and Tennessee this year too but Id like a little more elk action!

Ive got an offer for a whitetail hunt on VIRGIN thick timber in Maryland but having trouble getting it to work with the work schedule!

I have 600 acres of farmland hunt permission in Central Mississippi and 700 in coastal GA but probably wont make either of those this year.

I really really really wanna hunt Montana for deer one day but Montana has the most expensive nonresident licenses in the lower 48!

any way,

I was thinking of trying the Hillsburough area of NW Oregon... Im not after a monster... Ill jump at the chance for a 200+ rosy!

any one know that area?
Title: Re: Idaho or Oregon?
Post by: jae on October 24, 2007, 06:01:42 PM: Both states are great. bigger bulls in Idaho.