Big 3 Elk

LIK2HNT · Dec 25, 2020

Merry Christmas everyone

Wondering how the elk hunting went this year on the Big 3. Sittings on 24 NR points and plan on hunting one of the units in the next few years. Trying to plan a scouting trip up to one of them this summer.
Thanks
Bill

Togwotee · Dec 25, 2020

Early heavy snow messed up a lot of 2nd season hunts this year . it also made some fantastic depending on your logistics .

These better hunts are always good . if it were me I'd try to draw the best tag my points would get me sooner than later. with the wolves coming on and Oregon's pitiful game management I don't see any reason time is on your side.

LIK2HNT · Dec 25, 2020

Thanks, and you forgot AGE. Have to get these DIY hunts done when I physically can.

4runner · Dec 25, 2020

you looking to archery hunt or rifle? best to get rid of points now its not getting anybetter......

Togwotee · Dec 25, 2020

I assume you're looking at Ron Wold's statistics and know Wenaha is a few years away for you. so between the other 2 most locals consider Walla Walla the better one.

goldhunter · Dec 27, 2020

Looks like you would have drawn either the Emily or Walla Walla archery tag this year and would have been in the top point pool for Wenaha. I don't know what happened in the Wenaha draw, no non-resident drew a tag

LIK2HNT · Dec 27, 2020

Thanks everyone
Been trying to make up my mind and scout one of the units the last few years. Need to get my act together because my chance of drawing is near. I am leaning towards Wenaha Rifle. Less spike hunters than Emily. Archery would be great, but getting an elk out solo would be a challenge.
Thanks
Bill

Togwotee · Dec 27, 2020

Wenaha rife is the best elk hunt in the state, but it also takes the most points. It will probably take 25 this year and 26 next year if you look at the drawing trends. it goes up 1-2 points a year. but you never know .

The reason no non res drew is because the non res quota means 1 NR can draw, it doesn't guarantee 1 NR will. if residents draw all the tags before a NR number is drawn the draw is over, or if 1 NR draws then the draw is over for all the other NR applicants.

Drnaln · Dec 27, 2020

NR tag goes to an outfitter every other year so none available in the draw. Mt Emily usually has 2 NR archery tags so 1 available in the draw every year.

goldhunter · Dec 27, 2020

I thought there were 40 tags available so 2.5% would mean a non res tag every year and an outfitter tag every year, but maybe the total number dropped a bit, a non res did have as many points as any residents so should have drawn if there was a tag available so Drnaln must be correct and there must have been less than 40 total available

Which is better, bow season or rifle for big bulls

Drnaln · Dec 27, 2020

1 NR tag every other year in Wenaha & Walla Walla. Outfitters get the NR tag the other years. 1 NR tag is available in Mt Emily every year & other tag goes to the outfitters. Been that way for a long time!

Togwotee · Dec 27, 2020

Not really. the outfitter quota is 1 and the general draw quota is 1. 2 of the last 8 years a NR hasn't drawn a tag. the others a NR has drawn 1 . it's on Ron Wolds site.

Drnaln · Dec 27, 2020

Not really what? Outfitters don't get a tag from the NR pool every other year in 2 of the 3 units & every year in Mt Emily? If a NR tag wasn't drawn in Mt Emily it's only because he didn't have enough points. If a NR tag was applied for in Wenaha or Walla Walla in a year the outfitters would get the tag it is already gone!

goldhunter · Dec 27, 2020

I went back and looked at the draw report. There were 40 tags authorized and 38 issued for Wenaha, all to residents. I guess if a guy wants a tag better apply in odd years.

Togwotee · Dec 28, 2020

I haven't seen the 2020 stats but 38 tags is the usual. as I said non res hunters are limited to their quota but not guaranteed anything. if 38 residents have a better draw number than the best one a NR has then the NR is screwed. same as Montana does, I'm not saying it's fair but that's how it is.

tmbr_hntr · Dec 29, 2020

As a 45 year OR resident and now a WA resident... Draw the 1st of them that you can draw and get out. The relationship to points and $ that it takes is not equal to the quality of the hunt. I'm out of the game in OR all together because it makes no sense compared to what you get in other states. Hell... I could draw multiple hunts in AZ as a NR that would blow away those hunts in OR when I was a res. Anyone of them will provide equal opportunity at a quality bull if you know how to hunt. Right now you're just blowing away $200 a year and gaining nothing.

goldhunter · Dec 29, 2020

I'll try to draw this year. Just debating on archery or rifle.

Deer · Dec 29, 2020

I love wenaha and drew a few years ago love the area and spent a ton of time there over the last few years. Wolves are taking over and gets worse every year. Draw what you can now the wolves are taking over.

Togwotee · Dec 29, 2020

True story. and as the elk numbers drop the tags will be cut and it gets harder to draw. every hunt gets better or it gets worse and it's not getting better.

NPHunter · Jan 10, 2021

I did Walla Walla archery. Lost a big 360+ bull early, looked for him for 9 days and after not turning anything up decided to take my two kids and let them call me in a bull. I ended up killing a 315” bull with them standing right next to me.

Saw 2 bulls over 360”, once was big big and had a few dandy’s on camera. Had a great hunt and were in elk every single day. Passed up a half dozen bulls, a couple 330is bulls.

I would do the hunt again in a heartbeat. It was a blast, I liked it much better than Emily which I drew in 2013. There is rough country and easy country and elk in both.

Jgill19 · Jan 10, 2021

Success rates with rifle are much higher than archery. If I were picking I'd take whichever you could draw first I'd give Walla arhery the nod over Mt E archery. Wenaha is the best unit in the state, hands down. Archery and rifle are great. Mt E I would pick rifle over archery. THey are all great hunts and should produce a 300+ bull if you hunt it hard, with potential of much bigger obviously.

goldhunter · Jan 11, 2021

if the rut activity is good, hard to pass up the archery and it sounds like it typically is good, going to try Wenaha for sure

Togwotee · Jan 12, 2021

The rut activity is always good later in the season as long as you're in a unit without 45,000 hunters.

BradA · Jan 17, 2021

Congratulations on a great bull!!

Scrillznac · Jan 30, 2021

Togwotee said:
I assume you're looking at Ron Wold's statistics and know Wenaha is a few years away for you. so between the other 2 most locals consider Walla Walla the better one.

I don't know many people who would choose Walla Walla over Mt Emily.

If Wenaha is out of reach for you then try for Mt Emily rifle and you'll have a great hunt.

Togwotee · Jan 30, 2021

Both are great.

For a NR with 24 points Mt Emily is an easy choice this year as Wold says they would draw Mt Emily but have no chance in Walla Walla.

Scrillznac · Feb 5, 2021

I'm a resident sitting on 16pts. Crazy that my hunting partners drew in 2013 and 2014 with 11 and 12 now it takes 17pts. for archery. If I don't draw the Walla Walla archery tag with either 16 or 17 I'll hold out for the rifle tag at that point.

Smokeslider · Apr 16, 2021

Scrillznac said:
I'm a resident sitting on 16pts. Crazy that my hunting partners drew in 2013 and 2014 with 11 and 12 now it takes 17pts. for archery. If I don't draw the Walla Walla archery tag with either 16 or 17 I'll hold out for the rifle tag at that point.

Man, you are in a tough spot, right behind the point creek wave for those units and methods.

Padfoot · Apr 17, 2021

if you don’t have a plan for mt Emily bow season can be a tough hunt. I second everyone who says use your points ASAP and don’t waste your time continuing to thru both time and money into Oregon’s mismanaged system.

Kpmurray · May 4, 2021

NPHunter said:
I did Walla Walla archery. Lost a big 360+ bull early, looked for him for 9 days and after not turning anything up decided to take my two kids and let them call me in a bull. I ended up killing a 315” bull with them standing right next to me.

Saw 2 bulls over 360”, once was big big and had a few dandy’s on camera. Had a great hunt and were in elk every single day. Passed up a half dozen bulls, a couple 330is bulls.

I would do the hunt again in a heartbeat. It was a blast, I liked it much better than Emily which I drew in 2013. There is rough country and easy country and elk in both.
View attachment 22363
View attachment 22364

Congrats on a great hunt! Currently sitting with 17 points and am hoping for Walla Walla archery this year. Would love to chat with you about your hunt.

NPHunter · May 5, 2021

Kpmurray said:
Congrats on a great hunt! Currently sitting with 17 points and am hoping for Walla Walla archery this year. Would love to chat with you about your hunt.

Feel Free to give me a PM, I'm happy to help.