I find out later my shoes arent waterproof so I have soaked feet. Wildflowers!! It too would take effect July 1. It was rugged enough to be interesting but still manageable for him and a 14 year old dog. As an elk hunting guide for almost half of my life, Ive cultivated this land into my office. With 82.2 acres of water rights from Ochoco Creek, LOP tags, a nice two bedroom/1 bathroom farmhouse, and a shop with guest quarters, including a full bathroom in the shop. Beautiful wilderness area. If last year was more on the dry side, antlers will drop sooner. We had three cows that followed the path with us though they kept a good distance ahead of us. I made it about a mile up and parked off the road and walked to the trailhead. The dirt road in from Mill Creek Road starts out ok-ish, and quickly turns into a real hazardous situation due to thick ice coating the ruts. There are clear stretches. 12X14 roll up doors, asphalt path through breezeway, 10 ton covered hay storage. And theyre likely to see all canines as predators, so in their eyes, your friendly, harmless dog is no different than a coyote or wolf seeking its next meal. I was a moderate train that is best hiked in the morning to mitigate the sun. Beautiful wilderness area. This is a perfect time to look for old rubs and scrapes, scout a few new potential stand locations, and start to create a game plan for fall. Another shed hunting-related bill headed to Gov. Fun up and down grade. Got the heart rate up but wasnt too hard for us middle aged folks! Perfect for a sunset. Deer and elk are often found in small and large herds at lower elevations. Deer and elk still rely on fat reserves to get through winter, mild or not, and with nutrient-dense spring vegetation still weeks away, bumping deer and elk off their winter ranges while looking for sheds can have potentially lethal effects. Went today and it was beautiful. But you WILL need boots with spikes, or things like YakTrax. There is lookout point at 1.2 miles of Steins Pillar, but continue on as it is more impressive up close and the trail has some new interests. Elk will shed close to 6 months after the peak of the rut. When one whiffs a human wandering through their winter range, their instinct takes over to head for the next safe drainage, which can deplete their energy stores, especially if those disturbances are constantly repeated by the next person or group of people. Its a 2 mile bumpy dirt road to the trailhead. Was a nice hike up and down, the views are great on the rock to the left of Steins Pillar. SHARE; Hay-Shed-Oregon-Ochoco-Creek-Ranch posted: Friday, March 19, 2021. View photos, research land, search and filter more than 346 listings | Land and Farm The focus this time of year is on protecting winter range, said Lieutenant Ethan Wilson, OSP, Fish and Wildlife Division. One small water crossing in the beginning. Located in central Oregon, the Ochoco Mountains form the western end of the Blue Mountains province, a 23,984 square-mile ecoregion that contains a diverse complex of valleys, plateaus, and mountain ranges. Phillip W Schneider Wildlife Area (Dayville): Closed to public access Feb. 1 - April 14, some roads closed seasonally from Dec. 1-April 14. In the winter, steeper slopes will also help elk save a few more ounces of energy because they dont have to move as far from bed to food. Pretty icy right now but was easy with micro spikes. Be patient, those higher-elevation sheds will still be there later in the season. Contact Us. According to a 2013 article in Montana FWPs. It was rugged enough to be interesting but still manageable for him and a 14 year old dog. If your shed hunting location has an average or above normal snowpack, figure out where the snow line was around the first or second week of April and you will find antlers at that elevation. wildflowers blooming like crazy. Some activity but wasn't packed. Your success while shed hunting often depends on the questions you ask yourself. Ochoco Divide Group Site. Theres gold in them hills! Land Investor Guide; In The News; Contact; Hay-Shed-Oregon-Ochoco-Creek-Ranch. This Ochoco Creek mountain ranch is over 400 acres of creek bottom, irrigated meadow, and timbered mountainside. Turn around and go about 3/4 mile and watch for a dirt road on your left now. Access the newest seasons of MeatEater, save content, and join in discussions with the Crew and others in the MeatEater community. Chalking up a winter season as mild is no excuse to hit the hills early, either. Even with traction devices, you may end up in a bad way. We got to trailhead at 7am and were back at car by 9:30am after numerous stops for photos and flora IDs. My father and my best friends father were my earliest and most important hunting mentors. Big Game Hunting The Crooked River National Grassland, along with the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests have several areas you can hunt for Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Cougar and Rocky Mountain Elk. However, late winter and early spring is a tough time of year for deer, elk and moose, which is why the educational ethics course is required if you want to go "shed hunting" between Feb. 1 and April 15. Also agree that hiking poles are helpful for steeper, narrow sections. It was cool, not windy at all and just great weather overall! Pretty easy terrain. No restroom at trail head. Our Tacoma nearly slid off the side of the road several times even with studs, 4lo, and lockers. We went a bit further and went all the way down. Elk are vulnerable in the early spring after enduring a long, cold winter. I do not recommend lowered vehicles. Easy hike when not it is not icy. Perched at 4,800 feet above sea level, Ochoco Divide Campground is immersed in a splendiferous ponderosa pine forest. A little dusting of snow on the trail, but that was it. U.S. Forest Service. We stayed cool on the morning shaded trail, but would be in full sun in afternoon. Odds are high that a bull will drop his rack with his descending gait along a game trail. Steins Pillar is fun to see too. My 4 year old did it without issues. Check it out.#antlers #deer #hunting Nice, mostly shaded (morning) hike with diverse plants and trees. Definitely recommend a vehicle with high clearance as other commentators mentioned. Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814 Wonderful easier hike! A matching set is always something that shed hunters seek. I veered off a bit onto some unused roads that were on the map but weren't on the trail. I recommend going clockwise on this hike to avoid having to go up the steepest inclines. Great hike! ACREAGE. Get the latest updates and new property listings from Fay Ranches, Subscribe to receive the most recent volume of Land Investor magazine. Creeks, fences, ditches, roads, and thick overhanging branches are all great places to find sheds hanging around. Started a mile back from the TH as the road was solid packed ice. Depending on the harshness of the recent weather, it doesnt hurt to wait till the end of May or even June to shed hunt. Had to do a bit of bushwhacking to get in too of the butte itself. But recently, shed hunting has morphed into a commercial enterprise. Beautiful wilderness area. Had to do a bit of bushwhacking to get in too of the butte itself. No snow and amazing views. Our properties are constantly changing, so let us keep you abreast of information that could help you make the purchase of a lifetime. Helpful but not absolutely necessary. There is a great view of the Pillar on Mill Creek Rd (33) if you drive about a mile past the turnoff for the trailhead. Youll see the brown trailhead sign for pillars trail. Would be a 5-star hike for me were it not for the mile or so at the end where you're on the main road. Armed with nothing more than a good set of eyes, looking for a deer or elks shed antlers in late winter and early spring is a highly accessible hobby for those squirming like birddogs for the next outdoor adventure. The signage and directions to the trailhead could have been better. It takes you miles past it and up another right turn dirt road. Available at their offices or. Dont follow Apple Maps to the trailhead. Photo by Rob Tanner. Trail is in great condition and the views are gorgeous. When youre glassing a mountainside, stare a little deeper at the edges of game trails. The views are nice on the way. Beautiful hike. Tags Applications now run as low as $10-$12/ac in some cases. He was unable to recover the elk that night but returned with the landowner the following morning to continue the search. Keep your search humane and ethical. Hunters from all over the country flock to Oregon -- one of the premiere elk hunting regions in the United States. The drive up was sketchy. Other winter range closures are listed below (See map of wildlife management units), Michelle Dennehy This doesn't mean you'll have an easy hunt. Definitely not super easy, but then again I have asthma and my lungs just loved the uphills. Scribd is the world's largest social reading and publishing site. It also hosts an event to introduce people to shed hunting. Odds are high that a bull will drop his rack with his descending gait along a game trail. Give the road a few more weeks to thaw! Shed hunters using motor vehicles can put wildlife on the move when these animals need to be conserving valuable energy reserves. The argument could be made that this is, in part, because of leasing. Bring a couple of waters and enjoy! Not muddy, no ice or snow. Definitely recommend the trail. The trail itself has both packed snow and ice. And, if youre lucky enough to spot one, mark the antlers location using, . Gordon's desk for signature would require non-resident shed hunters to purchase a conservation stamp before heading out in search of sheds on . No restroom at trail head. Great short hike. That was a fun hunt to. The trail was great! But the last 2 miles of dirt road to the trailhead are not great - doable but tough in a regular SUV. Mary Jo Murtagh D. R. Horton, Inc Portland. Fun viewpoint with a little elevation! Fun small rock scrambling at the end for novices. Myself and dogs were only one on the trail the whole time. Absolutely AMAZING hike. Very bright green and lots of elevation up and down but not hard. The drive up was sketchy. Beautiful scenery along the ridge. Elk are tough to pattern because they seldom follow a daily routine, but they do value a simpler path up and down the mountains, especially during the winter. Views of the Three Sisters in the distance with outstanding Ponderosa along the way. Bryant Mt (Klamath Falls Unit): Closed to motor vehicle use Nov. 1 - April 15. worth the time.. Definitely recommend the trail. Do your homework before heading into the hills by checking specific regional snowpack reports and webcams to determine the elevation and depth of snow in a specific zone. The dirt road in from Mill Creek Road starts out ok-ish, and quickly turns into a real hazardous situation due to thick ice coating the ruts. The general elk hunting season begins in October and the rugged terrain is home to two types of elk, Rocky Mountain and Roosevelt. Fun small rock scrambling at the end for novices. I veered off a bit onto some unused roads that were on the map but weren't on the trail. Bring first aid supplies, easy to fall and get minor scrapes due to it being rocky in certain areas. But elk have been known to migrate up to 125 miles to seek these places to endure the winter. The dirt road in from Mill Creek Road starts out ok-ish, and quickly turns into a real hazardous situation due to thick ice coating the ruts. Oregon has an organization that promotes ethical practices for the sportOregon Shed Hunters, founded in in 2005 by Rob Tanner and his brother-in-law, Troy Capps. Dog friendly and at the end there is a little water for them to drink. Pretty step in some sections and Trail not well maintained, was a beutiful hike all by myself uphill for about three miles a couple spots were a little hard to find the trail went down to main road on the way back if you think your lost follow the horse poop lol enjoyed this hike. Some activity but wasn't packed. Cabin Lake-Silver Lake Winter Range (Paulina, Silver Lake, Fort Rock Units): Closed to motor vehicle use Dec. 1 - March 31. Amazing views at the end. Not muddy, no ice or snow. No snow on the trail. Respect road and area closures. Pretty step in some sections and Trail not well maintained, was a beutiful hike all by myself uphill for about three miles a couple spots were a little hard to find the trail went down to main road on the way back if you think your lost follow the horse poop lol enjoyed this hike. Beautiful area but couldnt get there - gate locked on road and then after parking farther away tried to walk there but road didnt go there and private land w no trespassing signs - oh well it started to rain anyways. No cellular reception, fyi. So when the weather starts warming and the snows start melting, it's time to get into the woods and start shed hunting. On an undisclosed mountainside in Mineral County, Wyatt O'Day displays an impressive mature elk rack he found last April. We had three cows that followed the path with us though they kept a good distance ahead of us. Having a fundamental understanding of deer behavior this time of year will allow you to target high-priority areas. Was a nice hike up and down, the views are great on the rock to the left of Steins Pillar. No bugs except a tiny wet area in the very beginning but that doesnt really count. Such a fun little hike with a super cool viewpoint! Premier View Home Site on 80 acres with approx. The wild flower show was mostly over but it was an unusually hot and dry spring. We hiked on a Sunday morning and we passed several other hikers. Perfect for a sunset. Our Tacoma nearly slid off the side of the road several times even with studs, 4lo, and lockers. Others collect sheds to make chandeliers or other crafts. Beautiful hike. Well worth the trip! Fun viewpoint with a little elevation! Bridge Creek Wildlife Area (near Ukiah): Closed to public access Dec. 1 - April 14, some roads closed seasonally from Dec. 1-April 14. You can get to the base of the pillar. Oregon has an organization that promotes ethical practices for the sportOregon Shed Hunters, founded in in 2005 by Rob Tanner and his brother-in-law, Troy Capps. Went today and it was beautiful. Steins Pillar is fun to see too. Nice, mostly shaded (morning) hike with diverse plants and trees. Compared to a new hunter without anyone to learn from, I had it pretty easy. Others have wrongly picked up bighorn sheep skulls with horns attached in the Owyhee Unit, where a disease outbreak has left dead . Our Tacoma nearly slid off the side of the road several times even with studs, 4lo, and lockers. Great hike. This time period also happens to be a critical one for big game. It takes your breath away when you round the bend and see Steins Pillar looming ahead. Amazing views at the end. Nice trail along a forest ridge to a lookout and then down to an interesting stone pillar. No snow and amazing views. wildflowers blooming like crazy. Looks like for 100% draw its 5 points for Ochoco #2 and 6 points for Ochoco #1 tag for 2011. Lakes, streams, and wildlife abound. 12 acres of irrigation. One of the biggest barriers to entry for new hunters, especially adult-onset hunters, is finding someone to teach them the ropes. Next time youre out hiking around or hunting for antlers, if you see wintering wildlife, find another route. Nice trail along a forest ridge to a lookout and then down to an interesting stone pillar. Trail was wonderful and well maintained. Pretty easy terrain. Uphill for about a mile, then downhill to get to the pillar with a view point along the way. Employee Directory | Social Media | Oregon.gov | File Formats | Employee Webmail | ODFW License Agents Super easy, but then again i have asthma and my best friends father were my earliest most. Later my shoes arent waterproof so i have soaked feet acres with approx join. If you see wintering wildlife, find another route animals need to conserving... 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