Big game hunting in Oregon this fall?

[joshk-k]

Hi there all!

I moved a year ago from upstate NY to Portland, OR. I have limited hunting experience (2 seasons), and had not lived in OR long enough to qualify for resident prices last year, but would love to do some big-game hunting this fall. I'd love to have an opportunity to get a deer or elk and fill my freezer. I am willing and able to travel up to a couple hours from Portland.

What I'd like is some advice on public or open private land where I could go with some likelihood of finding such game. (Or, if some generous person here wants to give a young man the time of his life and make some of their private land available, that would be really sweet.) I have a scoped, bolt-action .30-06 and an iron-sighted lever-action .30-30, and will have to use one or both of those if that influences anyone's suggestions.

What are people's recommendations?

Josh

 

[joshk-k]

Really? Are there no answers because people don't want others in their neck of the woods?

Josh

 

[PhysicsGuy]

Im doing some big game hunting this fall, but mostly bear and cougar.

 

[Chuck Dye]

Really? Are there no answers because...

How about little experience, no expertise, and an unwillingness to blow smoke at you? I either hunt my own land or tag along with more experienced and knowledgeable friends.

When I lived in Milwaukie, I took advantage of the public sight-in days at The Douglas Ridge Gun Club. I watched and met a lot of good folk there. Try giving them a call.

 

[OldCowHand]

For basic info, http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/hunting/ is a pretty decent place to start. Deer tags for eastern Oregon were drawn in June, so it's too late for that, but the Coast Range is a prolific source of deer as well. There's a fellow on this forum who believes he can locate some hogs in Central Oregon this fall. Does that get you started?

 

[ojibweindian]

Josh

Many, Many moons ago (25 years) I lived near Sandy, Oregon. As a matter of fact, I lived a few miles away from Roslyn Lake (now, sadly, gone). We had deer and elk go through our pastures early each morning, and late in the evening. Was wonderful to watch them from the back porch.

Anyway, I know Mt. Hood is within a national forest. I'm pretty sure you can hunt there. The best thing to do is go to the Oregon DFW and see what close by. Then get out there and scout.

 

[joop]

Here's a hunting mentors thread:
http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=142973

 

[joshk-k]

Thanks all! Things like the DFW link are really helpful. I appreciate the answers and appreciate people not blowing smoke at me.

Happy hunting to all.

Josh