With eight northeastern big game units located either partially or fully within its borders,
Grant County is a popular spot for bow and rifle hunters. Controlled hunting seasons are
staggered throughout the year. Tag drawings determine when and where hunters may hunt. There
are controlled seasons for bighorn sheep, Rocky Mountain goat, black bear, pronghorn antelope,
deer and elk. There are also general seasons for deer and elk bow hunting, and black bear and
cougar hunts, and anglers have the option of fishing in numerous local rivers, lakes and ponds.
MyEagleNews.com GRANT COUNTY HUNTING JOURNAL 2018 • 3
TO GRANT COUNTY
old was discovered in Canyon Creek in
June 1862. The towns of Canyon City
and John Day were born during this time,
with Canyon City named as the county
seat when Grant County was established
two years later, in October 1864. Grant
County was formed from parts of Wasco
and Umatilla counties, and was named
for Ulysses S. Grant. Grant was assigned to help protect the
early settlers in Oregon in the 1850s before becoming famous
for leading the Union Army to victory in the Civil War.
Prairie City is 13 miles east of John Day along the John
Day River. It is near Beulah, Northside, Malheur, Desolation
and East Murderers Creek units.
Dayville is on Highway 26, 32 miles west of John Day.
The Northside, Murderers Creek and Ochoco hunting units
intersect at Dayville, and the area is popular throughout the
state for deer, sheep and elk hunting, as well as upland game
birds.
Mt. Vernon is 8 miles west of John Day on Highway 26.
The area has premier mule deer and Rocky Mountain elk
hunting.
Monument, on the North Fork of the John Day River, is
approximately 60 miles northwest of John Day and 120
miles southwest of Pendleton. The area is known for its
fishing, hunting and whitewater rafting.
Seneca is 26 miles south of John Day. It is a popular
jump-off spot for the Murderers Creek, Malheur and Silvies
units. The area is great for pronghorn, Rocky Mountain elk
and mule deer.
Long Creek is about 45 miles north of John Day on
Highway 395. This area is known for trophy mule and
whitetail deer, along with Rocky Mountain elk.
To learn more about how the area was developed, visit
any of the museums in the county, including the Ranch and
Rodeo Museum in John Day, the DeWitt Museum at Depot
Park in Prairie City, the Grant County Historical Museum in
Canyon City and the Kam Wah Chung Chinese Heritage
Museum and Visitor Center in John Day.
For more information on the county, check out the Grant
County Chamber of Commerce at 301 W. Main St. in John
Day or online at www.gcoregonlive.com, or call 541-575-
0547 or 800-769-5664.
Grant County borders eight counties, more than any other
county in the state of Oregon. It’s a great place to unwind
and get back in touch with nature. You’ll find the pace slow,
the people friendly, the scenery spectacular, and, hopefully,
the hunting successful.
Welcome
On the Cover:Cash Madden, 10 years old,harvested this buck with hisbow, taking advantage of thementored youth program. An exciting morning startedwith his dad and brothercalling in a six point bull,having a bear come within 30yards of them, then finishingthe morning hunt placing anarrow perfectly into his firstarchery buck. PHOTO COURTESY MICHAL MADDEN
Published by the Blue Mountain Eagle 2018
VISIT US ONLINE: www.MyEagleNews.comFOLLOW US: facebook.com/MyEagleNewsEMAIL US: [email protected] TO US: 195 N. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845
Copyright © 2018 Blue Mountain EagleAll rights reserved. • EO Media Group
1st Choice Auto Body......................................................................................................12Andy’s Plumbing & Sports...............................................................................................9Austin House Café & Store ............................................................................................18Blue Mountain Chiropractic.........................................................................................25Blue Mountain Hospital .................................................................................................27Boyer’s Cash Store.............................................................................................................18Burnt River Market............................................................................................................25Depot RV Park.....................................................................................................................22Clyde Holliday & Bates State Park..............................................................................22Dale Store .............................................................................................................................20Dayville Café........................................................................................................................18Dayville Mercantile...........................................................................................................25Duke Warner Realty .........................................................................................................18Eastern Oregon Realty.......................................................................................................9Ed’s Sinclair & Mobil .........................................................................................................13Ferguson Surveying.........................................................................................................20Gardner Enterprises............................................................................................................7Grant County Chamber of Commerce....................................................................16Grant County Economic Development.....................................................................2Grant County Fairgrounds & RV Park .......................................................................12Grant County Snowballers............................................................................................12Grubsteak Mining Co. ........................................................................................................7Hodgen Distributing..........................................................................................................4Huffman’s Select Market................................................................................................22John Day Auto NAPA.......................................................................................................16John Day Hardware True Value .....................................................................................4John Day Polaris.................................................................................................................19John Day River Trading Post.........................................................................................12John Day River Veterinary Center..............................................................................25Len’s Drug................................................................................................................................4Les Schwab Tire Center...................................................................................................28Mills Building Supply.......................................................................................................20Mobile Glass ........................................................................................................................20Morrow & Grant County OHV Park ..............................................................................9Mossy Oak Properties Cupper Creek Land Company......................................16Nydam’s ACE Hardware ....................................................................................................7OK Garage ............................................................................................................................18Oregon Trail Electric Co-op .............................................................................................9Pioneer Feed........................................................................................................................11Prospector Ice.....................................................................................................................13Russell’s Custom Meats & Deli.....................................................................................12Silvies Valley Ranch...........................................................................................................22Snaffle Bit Dinner House ..................................................................................................7Southfork RV Park .............................................................................................................25Stage Stop Motel & RV Park..........................................................................................25Subway ..................................................................................................................................13T&H Automotive .................................................................................................................7Timbers Inn & RV Park.....................................................................................................12Thomas Orchards..............................................................................................................20Wildcat Basin Outfitters..................................................................................................20
Adv
erti
ser
Inde
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G
Inside:OL’ ORNERY .........................................................................................6SIGHTING IN ........................................................................................8TASTY HUNTER RECIPES..................................................................10LOCAL HUNTERS PHOTO GALLERY........................................5 & 23 GUIDANCE FROM ABOVE AND BELOW .......................................14OLD RELIABLE ...................................................................................17BLACKPOWDER ANTELOPE............................................................21EMMA’S FIRST HUNT........................................................................24A POEM: HIS CAMO’S IN THE CLOSET..........................................242018 HUNTING OUTLOOK ..............................................................26
In the heart of Eastern Oregon
Cleaning Kits
RV Supplies
...and much more
Packs
Camping Gear
Knives
Game calls, lures & attractants
Blinds & stands
Binoculars & gun scopes
Gear Up
4 • GRANT COUNTY HUNTING JOURNAL 2018 MyEagleNews.com
t was early in the third week of
a rainy elk season. We always
get wet in September, but this
year was extremely wet.
Obviously, elk breed no
matter what the weather holds.
It just seems to be crazier and
louder when the elk days are
hot, dusty and dry. Wet seems to suppress the rut
to a wet blanket feel.
A couple “out of staters” were fortunate,
though, just a few days in the season, to tag out on
a couple of not-so-cautious branch bulls. The
excitement in new elk hunters returning their first
branch bulls is a great and exciting time.
It was the third week, and usually by that time,
I have located a couple bulls in the 350 class.
One extremely rut-crazed bull had shown some
interest in loud and
lonesome cow calls, but
showed no interest
when chuckled and
grunted at. This bull we
named “Ornery” because
of the no-tolerance
attitude and the torn up
young re-prod he
enjoyed shredding with
his not-yet-seen eight-
by-eight 380-class rack.
Plenty of elk hunters
are quick to point out the
10- to 12-foot rake
marks on trees, but
usually a bull elk that is really a raker and lives up
to the name can bend a three- to five-year old re-
prod pine over, and that accounts for the 12-foot
high rake marks we see.
Either way, most September bow hunters are
easily and readily hunting that adrenaline rush that
keeps us all looking to the heavens and asking, is
it September yet?
I had been on the hunt for Ornery for the last
couple days with no luck. It’s not uncommon to
lose herd bulls from time to time, as they can cover
5 to 7 miles like we go check the mail.
I had not yet put eyes on Ornery, but had had
him under a hundred yards a couple times.
My luck was fixing to change, though.
I like to get out early, 3 a.m. some mornings,
and head for the big meadows, as later in the month
more of the big boys turn up there, looking for a
chance to steal a few cows from younger bulls who
forget their age and their rank in the pecking order.
It didn’t take but a minute to hear Ornery had
stepped up his game, as his bugles were now
mostly warnings to any other bulls that might dare
to bugle, grunt or chuckle on his watch.
I had harvested seven Pope & Young Club
book bulls at this point of my bow-hunting career
and made a commitment to shoot a bull that was at
least a 340-class Wapiti.
As I stayed within bugle screams of Ornery, I
just really wanted to put eyes on him, as I was
pretty sure he would cover the 340-class minimum.
After crossing the third cold creek in the last
quarter mile, I was pretty much praying for
daylight so I could see Ornery for the first time.
Every once in a while, you get lucky and your
soaking wet trail somehow pays off, and this was
the case because right at
first light I got to witness
Ornery chasing off a
320-class bull from his
own cows.
A couple cow elk
were not too happy with
their new herd master,
but after Ornery hooked
a couple new members
of his harem, the cows
stopped squealing and
realized they had a brand
new leader.
I kept looking and
counting tines because
an eight-by-eight, over-360-class public land bull
elk doesn’t come along every day!
After 10 minutes of researching Ornery, he and
his couple dozen cows disappeared over the ridge
and were headed for the north face and their elk-
bed haven for the day.
A great advantage to hunting the same area for
years is the ability to draw off past hunts and
knowledge of the different ridges, and know how
the elk use them for their advantage. Wind
direction and air thermals change with the
temperatures throughout the day.
It was 6:40 a.m., and I had been up and tagging
along with the elk for over three and a half hours.
I was soaking wet, and the temperature when I
parked my truck that morning was 28 degrees.
I knew I couldn’t get ahead of 20-plus elk
hellbent on getting to bed, but I had just sized up
the biggest bull I had ever laid eyes on, and
adrenaline is a bow hunter’s best friend.
I made good time back to my truck, and with a
change of socks and my dry bag, I was a new man
and getting closer every half-mile to where I hoped
and prayed my elk herd was heading for their
daytime bedding area.
Fresh rain made my hurrying less noisy, but
when I arrived Ornery and his cows were not
exactly where I was hoping to find them. However,
being aggressive and extra loud with my cow
sounds finally made Ol’ Ornery let out a raging
warning bugle and step away from his herd to
round up whatever cow was wandering around.
As soon as the mountain monarch came into
sight, this old bow hunter’s heart skipped a beat at
the sight of the largest bull I had ever called in.
He came cruising through a small meadow and
paused at around 42 yards. As I hit the record
button on my camera, things were looking pretty
good.
Like all big bulls, you could sense his
nervousness as he was staring right at the spot
where he had expected to see at least one cow elk.
His luck and good fortune must have been
screaming at him to run because something wasn’t
right with this situation, but as he turned to leave,
he paused once more for a last look, and that’s
when I aimed at his chest and touched my three-
finger thumb release.
The arrow flew as perfectly as it could have and
made a hollow sound as it cut through both lungs.
Old Ornery ran about 50 yards before nearly
falling but made it another 70 yards before finally
toppling.
I made my way to the ridgetop to get a good
vantage point and watch this monarch take his last
breath.
My camera had caught all the action, and I was
very pleased at what had transpired, allowing me to
walk up on an eight-by-eight 380-class mountain
monarch we called Ol’ Ornery.
I’ve been most fortunate to harvest two 380-
class bull elk along with my P&Y book bulls. To
walk up on such a massive animal is humbling, to
say the least.
Greg Dyson is in his 14th year of being anambassador and pro-staffer of Bowtech Archery.
6 • GRANT COUNTY HUNTING JOURNAL 2018 MyEagleNews.com
Story by Greg Dyson for the Blue Mountain Eagle
ICALLING IN AN 8X8, 380-CLASS BULL
Ol’ Ornery
Every once in a while, you get lucky and your
soaking wet trail somehowpays off, and this was thecase because right at first
light I got to witness Ornerychasing off a 320-class bull
from his own cows.
Greg Dyson poses withOrnery, a 380-class bull elk.
for Hunting Season
Hunting Hunting Season Season
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• Guns • Bows • Bullets • Arrows • Powders
• Tools • Clothing • Tents • Sleeping Bags • Components
Hardware Nydam
’s
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Supplies Supplies
John Day * 541- 575-0549
MyEagleNews.com GRANT COUNTY HUNTING JOURNAL 2018 • 7
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unters spend a lot of time hoping. We
hope we draw a tag, hope the wife lets us
go, hope the weather is good and hope
we can find a buck that wants to come
home with us. However, you should
never have to hope your rifle is sighted
in when that critical moment arrives.
Sighting in is easy, doesn’t take very
much time and should be done before each hunting season,
even if it was shooting well when you put it away last year.
Before you head out to shoot, take some time to look over your
rifle. Check the bore to make sure it is clear and nothing has
crawled in and set up housekeeping. Then check the action and
scope ring screws to make sure they are snug.
Sighting in should take place at 100 yards. Yes, people say
you can do it at 25-30 yards, but they are just wrong. Errors are
not magnified well enough that close. Any farther than 100
yards and the wind comes into play.
Remember you are trying to figure out how the rifle shoots,
not how well you can shoot the rifle, so use a good solid rest.
Sandbags, rolled up sleeping bags or pillows work well. You
must sight in with the exact same ammunition you intend to
hunt with. Any change in make, bullet weight or brand is going
to affect the impact of the bullet. In some rifles, not much. In
others, the change can be drastic.
Once you are solid, fire three shots. Are they all in the same
general area, or are they scattered all over the place? If your
shots are scattered, then some diagnosis needs to take place.
Are your scope screws properly tightened? Are you jerking the
trigger? Do you need a better rest? Once you are sure the bullets
are consistently hitting in the same general area, then you can
make adjustments as needed to get the impact where you want
it. I recommend that you have the bullet hitting 2 inches high
at 100 yards. For most modern rifles, that allows you to hold
right on the animal to almost 300 yards, without having to aim
low for close shots.
There is no magic to adjusting the modern scope. Simply
unscrew the caps on the adjustment dials and look at them. The
one on top moves impact up and down. The one on the right
side moves it left and right. The direction you need to turn is
marked as well as how much each adjustment moves impact. A
word of caution, the impact may move a little more, or less, with
each click. If your bullets are impacting the target about 1 inch
left, turn the dial the proper amount to move it 1 inch to the right
and shoot to verify the change. Repeat until the impact is where
you want it. Then you can hunt knowing at least you don’t have
to worry about your rifle doing its job when the time comes.
If you need a place to sight in, Bear Creek Shooting Club
hosts two sight-in days, Sept. 22 and Oct. 21. The range will be
open to the public, and knowledgeable staff will be on hand if
you want some help.
Rod Carpenter is an avid sportsman, an anesthesiologistand president of the Bear Creek Shooting Range.
Story & photos by Rod Carpenter for the Blue Mountain Eagle
HSHOOTING
RANGESEnjoy target shooting?
Need a place to safely sight in your rifle? Enjoy various competitive shooting events?
Formed by the Grant County Shooting Sports Club in
1998, the Seneca Range is located at the south end of
Seneca. The facility includes two trap ranges, one skeet
range and a 100-yard small arms range.
The skeet range is open mainly on the first Sunday of
each month. For more information, call Carroll Walton at
541-820-4624. A small rifle-pistol range is open to the
public all the time. Visitors are asked to provide their own
targets and clean up.
For more information on shooting activities, contact
Seneca Trap Club President Bryan Wolf, 541-792-0222;
Vice President Ab Bezona, 541-240-1452; or Secretary
Nancy Chase, 541-620-0269.
The shooting sports club also started the Bear Creek Rifle
Range, located 0.9 miles north of Highway 26, 10 miles east
of John Day, between John Day and Prairie City. This site
features a covered, eight-bay firing line and one of the best
rifle ranges in the West.
The 1,000-yard range has become popular with many
shooting enthusiasts, including black powder fans. Set in a
small valley, with targets scattered throughout, the range also
accommodates pistol shooters.
Those using the course must have permission and be with
a trained safety officer who is a member. There is also a spot
at the range for archers to hone their skills.
For more information on Bear Creek Rifle Range, call Rod
Carpenter at 509-385-9335. Heading up the black powder
group is Jim Sproul, who can be reached at 541-620-0231.
Various shooting events take placethroughout the year. The ranges alsooffer by-permission use of theirfacilities.
BEAR CREEK RIFLE RANGE
SENECA SHOOTING RANGE
8 • GRANT COUNTY HUNTING JOURNAL 2018 MyEagleNews.com
Use the same ammunitionyou’ll use while huntingwhen sighting in your rifle.
Good rests are essentialwhen sighting in a rifle.
Once you have a good group,it’s time to adjust the scope.
TIME SPENT NOW WILL PAY OFF DURING HUNTING SEASON.
Sighting in
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245 N. Canyon City Blvd.
541-575-2144
Find the KILL Z NE
MyEagleNews.com GRANT COUNTY HUNTING JOURNAL 2018 • 9
Ku’ulei’s Hawaiian Style Marinated Elk
INGREDIENTS:
• 4-5 lbs. elk steak, thinly sliced (1/8-inch)
• 1-1/2 C. soy sauce
• 1/2 C. sugar
• 1/2 C. brown sugar
• 2 C. water
• 1 C. chopped green onion
• 2-3 tsp. fresh ginger (peeled, sliced and smashed)
• 2-3 tsp. fresh garlic (peeled, smashed)
• 1/2 tsp. sesame oil
• 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
Filling the freezer after a successful hunt is rewarding, but if you find yourself
in a recipe rut, here are a few ideas to bring that bounty to the dinner table.
DIRECTIONS:
Cut meat an 1/8-inch thick or “19” if cut at a butchers. In a large plastic bowl, combine all ingredients except
meat. Stir and mix well and check taste. Add meat and stir to coat. Cover with lid or plastic wrap and refrigerate
overnight. Cook on the grill about 6-8 minutes — with the thin cut, it doesn’t take long.
From the kitchen of Rod and Rachel Carpenter, this Hawaiian-style recipe is tender with a sweet flavor, and it
cooks up quickly on the grill due to the thin cut. Elk steak works well, but other types of meat can also be used.
This recipe was contributed by Ineta Carpenter of John Day, who has cut and wrapped plenty of venison on
her kitchen counter over the years.
10 • GRANT COUNTY HUNTING JOURNAL 2018 MyEagleNews.com
By Angel Carpenter of the Blue Mountain Eagle
Tasty Hunter Recipes
Venison Swiss Steaks
INGREDIENTS:
• 4 venison steaks
• flour
• salt & pepper
• 4 potatoes, 1-inch cubes
• 3-4 carrots, 1-inch pieces
• small onion, sliced (optional)
• 1 pkg. onion soup mix
DIRECTIONS:
Dredge steaks in flour, salt and pepper to taste. Brown on both sides in a heavy skillet with 2 teaspoons of oil or
shortening. Peel and cube potatoes, cut carrots into 1-inch pieces add to meat. Sprinkle one package of onion soup
mix (such as Lipton’s), add 1 1/2 cups water and bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cover with lid. Simmer for 1
1/2 hours on low on stove top or bake in oven at 325 degrees for 1 1/2 hours in casserole dish, covered.
Hot ’N’ Spicy Elk
INGREDIENTS:
• 1 elk steak (about 1 1/2-2 lbs.), 2 inches thick
Marinade
• 1-1/2 C. catsup
• 1 C. cider vinegar
• 1/4 C. honey
• 1-1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
• 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
DIRECTIONS:
Combine marinade ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10-15 minutes. Cool and reserve a
1/2 cup of marinade. Place steak and remaining marinade in a plastic bag, close securely and refrigerate 6-8
hours or overnight. Prepare grill. Remove steak from bag and grill 7-10 minutes per side (longer for well
done). Remove to plate and cover. Allow to rest 15 minutes. Meanwhile, reheat marinade. Slice crosswise
about 1/2-inch thick and serve with heated reserved marinade.
Rozanne’s favorite tip:“People always compare elk to beef, but you will get much better flavor seasoning it
like chicken and using chicken bouillon or soup with it.”
This delicious recipe comes from the kitchen of Rozanne Mullin of John Day.
Gary’s Dutch Oven Potatoes and Cobbler
INGREDIENTS:
• Red potatoes (1-2 per person, depending on
size of potato and appetite of guests)
• Onion, sliced
• Canola or vegetable oil
• 3-4 pieces bacon, chopped
DIRECTIONS:
Prepare briquettes.
Dice red potatoes and slice onions. Add 1-2 teaspoons of oil in the Dutch oven and sauté onion.
Add potatoes and 3-4 slices of chopped bacon and cover. Cook until potatoes are tender, about 45-60
minutes. You can also try this one on your stove top with a large pot.
REGULATING YOUR DUTCH OVEN TEMPERATURE:
“People ask all the time how many briquettes to use,” Gary said. “Take a look at the number on the top of your
Dutch oven, for example 12 (meaning 12 inches), and double the briquettes to 24.” He says nine go
underneath and 15 on top for an average temperature of about 325-350 degrees Fahrenheit. And if you want
to increase the temperature by 25 degrees add one brick on top and one on bottom.
Gary Hatton of Gresham spends a lot of time hunting in Grant County and is known for keeping a crowd well-
fed with his delicious meals. Dutch-oven cooking is one of his specialties.
Dutch Oven Potatoes
DIRECTIONS:
Prepare briquettes.
Melt 3-4 tablespoons of butter in the Dutch oven.
Add a 28 oz. can of peaches, with juice. Layer evenly.
Using a yellow cake mix, take half and mix with enough milk for a pancake-batter consistency. Pour over
peaches. Take other half of dry cake mix and sprinkle on top.
Cook it until cake is done, approximately 40-45 minutes.
Dutch Oven Peach Cobbler
Pioneer Feed & Farm Supply60561 Hwy 26, John Day • 541-575-0023
“some of the best memories are made even if you don’t pull the trigger”
70112
Bring your trophy in for a photo to be
entered in this year’s drawing to win
prizes! Grand prize is a Savage 243 Rifle.
MyEagleNews.com GRANT COUNTY HUNTING JOURNAL 2018 • 11
Trust the professionals.
Take your trophy toRussell’s
Custom Meats& Deli
Complete wild game processing.
Pepperoni, jerky & sausage.
235 N Canyon City Blvd.Canyon City • 541-575-0720
Open Mon-Fri 8am-5pm
Grant County Fairgrounds
RV Park• River Front
• Restrooms/Showers
• Walking distance to town
• Walking Trails
• Pet Friendly
Reservations: www.grantcountyfairgroundsor.com • John Day • 541-575-190073954
Complete Auto Body & PaintWindshield Repair & Replacement
700 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day • 541-575-1786 or 541-575-1785
OwnerJeb Bowling
7144
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CompletindshieWWi
700 S. Canyon Blvd.,
Auto Body &teeld Repair & Repla
John Day • 541-575-17
& Paintacement
541-575-1785786 or
ernwOglinwob BeJ
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Timbers Inn & RV is located
in the heart of four of the best
hunting units: North Malheur,
East Murderer’s Creek, West
Murderer’s Creek, and Silvies.
The Inn offers three rustic
cabins for your stay or twelve
(12) full service RV hook-ups.
Seneca Timbers Inn & RV Park
To make reservations Call 541-620-2551
306 Barnes Ave. Seneca, Oregon
• Groceries & Snacks • ODF License & Tags • Bait
• Fishing Gear • Trapping Supplies• Non-Ethanol Fuel • Beer & Wine
• Boat & Paddle Board Rentals• Monthly Summer Farmers Market
Mon-Sat 8am-6pm • Sunday 10am-4pm
Winter hours starting Nov 1st: Tues-Fri 8am-4pm
Sat-Sun 10am-4pm
41345 Hwy. 19, Kimberly, OR (541) 934-2060
JOHN DAY RIVER
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• John Day Country
• 500 Miles ofGroomed Trails!
GRANT COUNTY
Snowballers GRANT COUNTY GRANT COUNTY
Snowballers Snowballersgrantcountysnowballers.com
Tim Holly: 541-620-0408 or Garrett Carniglia: 541-792-1014 or Tim Nodine: 541-792-0677
DON’TFORGET! Make sure to submit
hunting photos and stories to us now for the paper and next
year’s hunt guide.
(541) 575-0710 • MyEagleNews.com195 N. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845
12 • GRANT COUNTY HUNTING JOURNAL 2018 MyEagleNews.com
MyEagleNews.com GRANT COUNTY HUNTING JOURNAL 2018 • 13
At the stoplight in John Day • 541-575-0782Order Online: www.Subway.com
Stop in for breakfast...
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Don’t miss all the hunting stories this fall.
Don’t miss the Eagle’s new
outdoors column “Shooting the
Breeze.”
t miss all Don’
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41) 575-0710, OR 97845n Dayy,
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MyEagleNews.com GRANT COUNTY HUNTING JOURNAL 2018 • 1514 • GRANT COUNTY HUNTING JOURNAL 2018 MyEagleNews.com
Chelsea McDaniel thinks
the unicorn bull that came
running right at her last year
might have been a sign from
heaven. She had hunted elk
for 18 years without
success, and now a big bull
was running right up to the
juniper tree where she was
resting.
“It had become a family joke,” she
characterized her lack of success.
Drawing first season Northside Unit bull elk tags three years
in a row was unheard of, she said. The first year, she went with
her father and returned empty-handed.
“Dad got me into a pretty nice bull, but I was shaking so bad
I couldn’t get a shot, and we ended the year unsuccessfully,”
McDaniel said.
The next year she went with her boyfriend Butch Goslin and
was skunked again. Like her father, Goslin had convinced her
he was “practically a professional hunting guide.” They finally
got into the elk on the last day.
“On top of a ridge, we can hear them all around us,”
McDaniel said. “We sit down, and I get ready. No sooner than
I load a bullet into the barrel, and we hear a gunshot directly
below us. Then two more to the right of us.”
They were so close but never saw a thing.
She and Goslin had met at the Mountain View Mini Mart in
Prairie City, which McDaniel owns.
“He was a big coffee drinker,” she said. “That’s how we
met.”
Six weeks after their hunt together, Goslin was diagnosed
with Stage 4 esophageal cancer. He’d had trouble swallowing
and was in Boise, Idaho, when he learned he had terminal
cancer. More doctor visits followed.
“While traveling back and forth from doctor to doctor, we
were on our way to Idaho the day the 2017 draw results came
out,” McDaniel said. “My dad called me, and to my utter
disbelief I drew for the third year in a row.”
When she got off the phone, Goslin had tears in his eyes.
“He told me he wanted me to have the .257 Roberts rifle
that I hunted with the year prior,” she said. “He said he knew
that gun would bring me all the luck I needed.”
McDaniel sighted in the rifle with Goslin’s daughter Lacy on
Oct. 9. Two days later, Goslin passed away.
“He’d fought it for 10 months,” McDaniel said.
McDaniel told her father ahead of hunting season that she
wanted to hunt the same place where she went with Goslin —
and she wanted to go alone. On opening day, two weeks after
Goslin died, she headed out with tears in her eyes.
“I did find a nice bull shed horn, however no fresh sign or
tracks at all,” she said. “It was a very emotional day.”
The next day, McDaniel didn’t want to go back out. As
everyone in camp arose excited to get started, she growled that
she’d rather stay back in camp. Her father insisted and laid out
a plan of attack.
“With no enthusiasm whatsoever, I throw on my clothes,
skip the makeup and jump in the pickup,” she said.
When they arrived at the drop-off point, she carelessly
slammed the pickup door, drawing a blank stare from her father.
“Don’t matter – ain’t nothing up here anyways,” she
whispered to her 6-year-old nephew.
Dispirited, McDaniel had decided to find the perfect juniper
tree, climb under it and catch up on some sleep. About 10
minutes after leaving the truck, she heard the sound of
something big charging through the timber.
“Struggling to get to my gun, which I had carelessly laid
against the back side of the tree, I finally see him,” she said.
“Only he’s running directly at me. Scared to death, I grab the
gun and pull the trigger.”
The bull kept on coming. McDaniel reloaded and fired again
without putting her eye to the scope, the butt of the rifle against
her hip, dropping the elk less than 50 feet from where she stood.
Her brother later told her as soon as the echo of the second shot
cleared the air they heard her screams from several draws away.
“After I danced around screaming and hollering in
excitement, I went to check out my prize,” she said.
That’s when she saw the unusual antlers and knew she’d
shot a unicorn.
“I pulled out my phone to call Butch and tell him the news
when the bitter truth of reality came crashing down upon me,”
she said. “Tears filled my eyes, but immediately knowing that
this bull was more than a reflection of Butch’s personality. I was
filled with a sense of acceptance and reassurance that although
he may have not been there in the flesh, he was by my side all
along.”
As her father and nephew approached, her father hollered,
“Where did you hit him?”
McDaniel looked and saw a clean shot to the chest that had
instantly killed the elk. When her father finally got close, he
studied the bull.
“I will never forget the next few seconds of this whole
adventure,” she said. “As I watched my dad stare at this beast
before him, he looks at it, cocks his head a little to the left, then
a little to the right, turns to me and says, ‘You killed a unicorn!’”
All she could do was smile and watch his smile match hers.
She recounted the whole story, and he just grinned and shook
his head.
“Good work, Chelsea,” he said. “Now the real work
begins.”
After hunting since she was 15 without bagging an elk,
McDaniel finally had her prize. It was sometime later she
learned from the bull’s teeth that he was a very old elk.
McDaniel credits her father for supporting her through
the hunt, but she also recalled how Goslin had promised her
she would receive a sign from him after he was gone.
“After 18 years, it took the guidance and the gun of a man
up above, a man on the ground and one very old suicidal
bull, but I finally harvested my very first elk,” she said.
HER FIRST BULL ELK WAS A UNICORN
Guidance fromabove and below
Chelsea reloaded and fired,
dropping the elk under 50 feet
from where she stood, after
dancing around screaming and
hollering in excitement, she went
to check out her prize. That’s when
she saw the unusual antlers and
knew she’d shot a unicorn.
Story by Richard Hanners of the Blue Mountain Eagle
Chelsea McDaniel poses with the
“unicorn,” her first bull elk kill.
The skull
shows the unique
location of the
“unicorn’s” left
antler.
Chelsea McDaniel with
boyfriend and hunting
guide, Butch Goslin.
16 • GRANT COUNTY HUNTING JOURNAL 2018 MyEagleNews.com
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MyEagleNews.com GRANT COUNTY HUNTING JOURNAL 2018 • 17
or every rifleman and hunter,
there exists a certain weapon
of somewhat enchanting, if not
mystical, properties. This is the
one they would grab if the
house was on fire and let the
rest go to perdition. The one
they value above all the rest
and view as the favorite. Sometimes it has a
nickname or has somehow been a source of good
luck, if you will. Just like each of us, each one has
a very unique and interesting story.
For some, it was their very first smoke pole, and
whenever they clutch it in their hands, they’re
instantly transported in their mind’s eye to a vivid,
if not immortal, childhood memory of days gone
by. This was likely a .22 rimfire of some sort with
basic open sights good
enough to score hits on a
tin can out to 75 or 80
yards if the wind stood
still. Perhaps it was on a
hot summer afternoon
spent trading maternal
insults and shooting
ground squirrels. Merely
holding this amulet
awakens sleeping
memories to become
immortal dreams to be
relived again and again.
Maybe this memory
took place on a cold autumn morning. Perhaps it
wasn’t a .22 but their first “big” gun. At last they
were going to become a man. Mother bundled
them up and handed off a brown bag of
sandwiches to Dad with a kiss on the cheek as they
headed out to a favorite duck pond or deer haunt.
As they yawned and staggered toward the truck,
the excitement was already building inside.
Hopefully they could keep a steady nerve and
shoot straight, just the way Dad and Grandpa
taught them to.
Perhaps, for some, “the one” belonged to
Grandpa and has been handed down to them.
Maybe it has been in the family for several
generations and was carried on the trail by pioneer
ancestors and was used to hunt buffalo and elk and
to defend the homestead against any would-be
malefactors. Like other heirlooms, its very
existence is revered and honored. It will be kept,
used and passed on again for as long as it lasts.
For others, perhaps “the one” got away at some
point. As they got older, priorities changed, and in
a desperate moment “the one” was sold and the
money went to pay rent or buy groceries. Maybe
they saw something shiny, which somehow
diminished their “Old Reliable” just enough to feel
all right about sending her down the road. Regrets?
Oh, they regret it all right and usually quite deeply.
For me, it’s not my first .22 nor my first deer
rifle that I consider “the one to rule them all.”
Fifteen years ago, I blew a half month’s wages at
Nydam’s Ace Hardware right here in John Day to
buy it. Darren showed me three rifles that day, and
this is the one that followed me home. With it I
have taken a myriad of coyotes, a badger, various
other varmints, more than several deer and elk. I’ve
even used it to put down beef cattle and as backup
on a bear hunt.
At one point, I
nearly sold it. I was
broke, and it was well
worth what I was
asking. I thought to
myself that I would
replace it with a newer,
flashier magnum caliber
rifle once I was able. I
remember well the day
I told Dad that I had put
it up for sale. My father,
in his usual loving way,
told me that I should
duly extract my cranium from my posterior to
make room for his foot if I was to be foolish
enough to sell that rifle.
“Everything you’ve pointed that rifle at has hit
the dirt. Son, some men spend their whole lives
looking for what you already have, and you’re
going to get rid of it?”
The old man didn’t live as long as he has by
being a fool. I immediately took it off the market,
telling all interested parties they were out of luck.
That’s only one of the many good lessons I’ve been
party to in my time.
Nope, for me, that gun “Old Reliable” still
resides in my gun cabinet. Every year I take her
hunting for whatever big game tags I’m lucky
enough to draw. I have always had a Leupold
scope mounted in steel rings for sights. It’s pretty
plain Jane as far as looks go: a standard factory
stock full of dents, dings, scratches and gouges
from the miles we’ve shared. It was fitted with a
Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pad by John Petersen
of Idaho Falls a few years back because the factory
pad began to split. She’s on her second barrel, a 24-
inch Douglas just a little larger in diameter than her
first, installed by Randy Wills of Bend. Randy also
tuned the Winchester factory trigger to a perfect 3-
pound pull. The old military-style leather sling
belonged to my grandfather and has been a great
aid to making shots in the field where no other rest
was available.
When I look at that rifle and take it hunting or
shooting, it’s a tome of the miles we’ve shared, the
freezers we have filled and the great memories
with family and friends, some of whom are no
longer walking this earth. She’s no speed demon
as far as velocities go and lacks a lot of the pizzazz
that folks nowadays consider necessary for big
game hunting. In a world of polymers and carbons,
she’s walnut and steel. Maybe you could even say
she is fleshy, weighing 9 pounds loaded. This, for
me, is a plus rather than a minus. I have always
been able to shoot straighter from all the various
field positions with a heftier long gun. It’s the rifle
for which I will no doubt be remembered when I’m
long gone and hopefully will be cared for and
passed on just the same.
Oh, I almost forgot, you all will want “the rest
of the story.” For those of you who care about the
numbers and specs, the legend stamped on the side
of the barrel reads “.30-06.” It may not be all you
ever want, but for myself and thousands of other
sportsmen across the globe, it’s all the rifle we
need. Its ubiquity of ammunition and components,
deadly accuracy and awesome power are the main
reasons for me that it is “The Rifle.” Whether I am
hunting badgers or bears or anything in between, I
feel perfectly confident in the power and
performance of this caliber and rifle.
For those out there just getting into the shooting
and hunting sports, I implore you to take a second
look at the rifle that you choose to make yours.
While a big, heavy magnum or a light speed freak
may be en vogue, the classics last forever. They
outlast and usually outperform all candidates that
appear to supplant. While numbers can be made to
reflect any opinion, actual performance is always
what counts. Whatever you choose, take care of
her, and she will last. Maybe someday your
grandchildren will hold your rifle in their hands
and reminisce fondly of the memories they’ve had
and will yet create while hunting with Grandpa’s
rifle.
Your rifle, the one, the only one worthy to be
called “Old Reliable.”
Dale Valade is a local country gent with a deeplove for handloading, hunting and shooting.
Story by Dale Valade for the Blue Mountain Eagle
FDEADLY ACCURATE AND POWERFUL .30-06
Old Reliable
Dale has taken amyriad of coyotes,a badger, variousother varmints,several deer andelk with “OldReliable.”‘‘Fifteen years ago, I blew a
half a month’s wages atNydam’s Ace Hardware right
here in John Day to buy it.Darren showed me three
rifles that day, and this is theone that followed me home.
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18 • GRANT COUNTY HUNTING JOURNAL 2018 MyEagleNews.com
MyEagleNews.com GRANT COUNTY HUNTING JOURNAL 2018 • 19
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41-620-5780 73708
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E-mail: [email protected]
20 • GRANT COUNTY HUNTING JOURNAL 2018 MyEagleNews.com
MyEagleNews.com GRANT COUNTY HUNTING JOURNAL 2018 • 21
hen I was a young man, my father
sold real estate, and every now and
then, brother and I would get selected
to clean up a house that was to be
listed.
On one such occasion, I stumbled
upon a Thompson Center .45-caliber
Hawken rifle that had not been put
together. Building that little muzzle
loader solidified my intrigue with black powder and lead.
Today, I have graduated to the much larger .54-caliber front
loaders for hunting, and with the ever-increasing popularity of the
outdoor sports, hunting with a muzzleloader is a very good way to
challenge oneself in the game fields of North America.
I have been fortunate enough to take both deer and elk with black
powder and really found my species of choice for the traditional
weapons in the American antelope.
Hunting antelope, of all things, with a smoke pole is probably not
the first choice of animals for the limited range of black powder rifles.
I will say that elk or bear are a bit easier to handle with black
powder, but with antelope in Oregon at least, you can usually draw a
muzzleloader tag inside of four years instead of waiting as many as
10-15 years for a tag with a centerfire rifle.
I know antelope do not require the huge bore diameter of the .54s,
but that caliber has been with me for a very long time, and I find it
accurate, forgiving and capable of downing any animal hit very
quickly.
For those of you who hunt antelope in September here in Oregon,
you know that long tracking jobs in 100 degree heat is not the most
entertaining way to spend an afternoon.
With the interest in more outdoor adventure sports, and with
resurgence in traditional equipment, hunting with black powder is
truly a very satisfying way to pursue game, and with practice,
confident hits on milk jugs at 100 yards are easy to achieve.
The other benefit of black powder is the ease of selecting light
loads for youth and women hunters.
I shoot 75 grains of FFF Triple Seven powder measured by
weight, not volume, and my wife and youngest boy shoot only 60
grains of the same powder. We shoot the same 325 grain cast lead
bullet, but their load of 60 grains does not produce the snappy recoil
of the heavier charge.
Not only that, but I started all my family off shooting round balls,
which are only about 200 grains or so and, thus, were a much softer,
yet very accurate, load to build confidence with.
In today’s world of long-range and high-powered super magnums,
don’t forget the opportunities to enrich oneself by looking back
through time and connecting with a more traditional way of doing
business.
Take a look at the muzzleloader-only hunts next time you pick up
a big game regulation catalogue or go and talk to your local wildlife
office. The opportunities for expanding your own and your family’s
horizons may truly surprise you.
Marc LeQuieu is a veteran, a former wildland firefighter andAfrican hunter turned gunsmith.
Story by Marc LeQuieu for the Blue Mountain Eagle
W‘A MORE TRADITIONAL WAY OF DOING BUSINESS’
Blackpowder antelope
Grant LeQuieu shot this photoof Marc and Thomas LeQuieuwith the blackpowder kill.
WANTEDInformation leading to conviction of
trespassers and/or poachers on Silvies Valley Ranch
$2,50000
REWARD A reward we’re anxious to pay. Again last year, several nice mule deer bucks and elk were killed and left to rot on our ranch – and that’s only what we found. Please help us catch trespassers and poachers who have no respect for private property rights and who give all hunters a bad name. If you legally wound an animal that comes onto any of our property, please come to ranch headquarters at Bridge Creek and we will help you find and clean it at no charge. Otherwise, do not go onto our property unless accompanied by a Silvies Valley Ranch team member. We will press charges, sue for damages, and are actively patrolling our property with ATVs, by horseback, and videocams.
CALL Sheriff Glenn Palmer 541-575-1131 Sheriff Dave Ward 541-573-6156Colby Marshall 541-573-5150 x110
Silvies, Oregon www.silvies.us 1-800-SILVIES 70167
Downtown Prairie City 541-820-3588
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22 • GRANT COUNTY HUNTING JOURNAL 2018 MyEagleNews.com
24 • GRANT COUNTY HUNTING JOURNAL 2018 MyEagleNews.com
hen we started dating back in 2014,
my wife-to-be had only once fired a
gun. During that endeavor, an ex
thought it would be hilarious to turn
her loose, for her first time ever, with
a 12 gauge. Whatever amusement
he may have gotten was very one-sided, and needless to say,
she did not share in his mirth. This same basic story has been
repeated to me several dozen times over the years with a
little variation in the details, of course. Occasionally it was
a .300 Weatherby Magnum that the first-timer was handed
and in turn received a cookie-cutter-like scar on their
forehead to remember the humiliation and pain of being the
butt-end of a bad joke. Sometimes it was a .357 magnum
handgun that went sailing out of the novice’s ignorantly light
grip at ignition, the front sight burying itself between their
eyes which did the trick. Whatever the reason, this is no way
to expose newcomers to firearms. Many such stories were
appended with “… and that’s the first and last time I ever
touched a gun.” And it’s hard to blame them when such has
been their only exposure to shooting a gun.
Happily for Emma, she started dating a gun guy in 2014
with all kinds of firearms for her to go try. Many of our dates
were spent shooting ground squirrels, plinking and target
practicing. I started her off with a .22 rifle, then gradually
went to blackpowder guns with light loads. We worked up
to a 20 gauge and a .22-250 from there. Reactionary targets
and tin cans were her favorites and kept her interest piqued.
We practiced from all of the various field positions, and her
improvement and progress were plain to see. Her first time
shooting a handgun (a blackpowder .44 sixgun), she nailed
four out of the six targets. I guess you could say she is a
natural.
As time went on, she accompanied her father and me on
dove and grouse hunting soirées, and she did very well. In
2015, she told me she wanted to try deer hunting. But she
was unable to shoot well enough with anything bigger than
my .22-250 to do so. Even though I hardly consider the .22
caliber to be a perfect deer rifle, I have always felt that a
small bullet in the right spot is better than a large bullet in the
wrong spot, so we secured our tags and went hunting.
That year in Idaho was the most dismal deer season I
have ever experienced to date. We hiked and hiked. And we
saw lots of deer but no bucks. We jumped up some 40 head
of moose. How badly I wished I had a moose tag. It was hot
and dry, and we covered a lot of country. Near the last few
days of the season, we split up, and she stalked within 50
yards of a four-point buck but made a rookie mistake, and
before she could get the safety moved to “fire,” he bolted.
That one missed opportunity and days of long hard hikes
amounted to her first season. She would be so exhausted at
the end of those days of hunting that she would often fall
asleep on the drive back to Idaho Falls where we lived at
the time. Disappointed as she was, she didn’t give up even
though she never got to even fire a shot that year.
In 2016, we moved back to Oregon, and in the fall of
2017, we both headed for the hills with an antlerless deer
tag in hand. I had since acquired her a Remington Model
600 in .243 Winchester. With its short barrel and lightweight
design, it was the perfect gun for a little lady like her.
Shooting twice as much bullet as the .22-250 with her new
rifle, I felt she was much better armed. On opening day, we
headed for the hills. It was a beautiful fall morning with a
light fog rising off the river. About a half hour into the hunt,
we spotted deer. After practicing all summer with her new
deer rifle, she took her first doe at about 75 yards. She fired
offhand with a “hasty sling,” and the 100 grain Hornady
bullet met its mark. Her excitement was contagious. I’m not
sure who was more proud. After pictures, I field dressed and
loaded her first deer into our truck. As she told the story to
others that day, I must confess I was just as excited as she
was. I filled my own tag that evening, and we had our meat
for the winter.
Seeing someone go from eager newcomer to
experienced shooter and first time deer hunter was one of the
greatest things I as her mentor could’ve experienced in this
lifetime. This is the goal all shooting mentors should strive
for: to get their pupils to master the art and constantly grow
in discipline and skill. I’ve mentored others for their first
kill, and it’s always a great occasion. Get them trigger time
with guns that fit well and that they enjoy shooting, and they
too will enjoy the various shooting sports. This fall, we both
drew our antlerless deer tags again. I cannot wait to take my
sweetheart, and my newest hunting partner, out yet again.
It’s pretty much the perfect date together!
Dale Valade is a local country gent with a deep love forhandloading, hunting and shooting.
His camo is in the closet and his bow is on the wall,
His arrows untouched, for he will not hunt this fall.
Or any year after, he feels he is alone
An army of a thousand men and he was sent home.
Only stubs now visible where his legs used to be,
To live beyond the blast, to serve his country.
Now through the darkness, his limits all come to mind,
The excuses of his life were all that he could find.
An anger deep within, he was fading away,
To be done with the pain not face another day.
Yet his dad came in his vision a distant memory
A chance to relive his childhood, of things that used to be.
They loved to hunt together, he smiled at the thought
Of the stories and the animals his dad almost got.
And of tag stew that they ate, a brothy mixture in their caper
More vegetables than anything. Was that really soggy paper?
He could hear his father’s laughter as it quietly ebbed away,
He remembered hunting in the morning, naps during the day.
They would laugh at his stories and his lavishing puns,
And admired the collection of his many guns.
How his dad harassed him, with that bow over there,
A Stick-Flinger he had called him with a twinkle in his stare,
But that bull that he got with it, before his dad would die,
Made a boy into a man, with pride in his father’s eye.
Through the shadow of death he faced his fears
He heard his father’s words ringing in his ears,
As he had seen battle and the force of a hand
His father’s battle cry, “Not on our land!”
But when the Twin Towers fell, so did he
Risking life and limb for the land of the free.
With tears down his face he quietly asked, “why?”
From the voice of his father, came a reply.
"You are who you are, helpless or not,
Rise above your weakness and deal with what you got,
For your life is not a dream, or something that is given,
Your life is today, and for you to start livin’.”
Then he woke from his dream, as quick as a wink,
After four years he had to move beyond the brink.
With a program for the wounded, a beacon in the night,
A warrior who has faced a battle and struggled through the fight,
He gathers up his courage, and presses strength within
For the first time in a long time, he is ready to try again
He has built an inner-strength within himself somehow
His history and future blend together to the man he is now.
He grabbed his prosthetics, and silently slipped them on,
His friends were coming, and his nightmare is now gone.
The night rests from the darkness now fading to light,
The moisture teases the senses of the frost’s first bite.
Anticipation of autumn and the gathering of friends,
And this is where his dream of hunting begins.
For his camo is in his duffle and his bow’s off the wall,
His arrows are sharp, he's going hunting this fall.
He can hear a bull bugle a high-pitched scream,
He is going to live, and be more than his dream.
His Camo's in the ClosetA poem by A. Kathy Moss for the Blue Mountain EagleStory by Dale Valade for the Blue Mountain Eagle
WMENTORING MY SWEETHEART
Emma’s first hunt
Emma Valade
Dale Valade
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Colleen Robertson, DVMMichael Nussbaum, DVM.
MyEagleNews.com GRANT COUNTY HUNTING JOURNAL 2018 • 25
26 • GRANT COUNTY HUNTING JOURNAL 2018 MyEagleNews.com
Mule deer in the John Day region are a mixed bag.
“The Murderers Creek unit is doing well with the
fawn-to-doe ratio at 37:100, which is good,” says
local district wildlife biologist Ryan Torland. “Fawn
ratios in the Northside and Desolation units are less
than ideal. We’re not sure why, but cat predation is
probably a factor.”
Mule deer continue to struggle in northeast
Oregon, according to Enterprise-based ODFW district
wildlife biologist Pat Matthews. “We’ve had low
fawn survival, even with the mild winter,” he explains.
One potential explanation is that fawns born after the
previous hard winter were in poor condition and did
not survive, despite the mild weather. Matthews
expects mule deer hunting to be slow this year in the
Wenaha, Sled Springs, Chesnimnus, Snake River,
Minam and Imnaha units, but to some extent, the
growing white-tailed deer population will take up
some of the slack.
In the high desert, Hines-based district wildlife
biologist Rod Klus reports that mule deer had poor
recruitment, which may be because the does were not
in very good physical shape coming out of the last
hard winter. Fawn survival, however, was better and
will result in more young bucks to harvest this fall.
“Deer numbers are pretty good,” says Tillamook-
based assistant district wildlife biologist Dave Nuzum.
“The black-tailed deer population is at benchmark on
all our units and my sense is that winter survival was
pretty good.”
The story is still the same in the Cascades and
Coast ranges with habitat conditions for ungulates
declining due to the lack of logging and clearcuts on
national forest lands, driving many animals onto
private timberlands where logging continues to create
early seral stage vegetation conditions that help grow
more deer (and elk). According ODFW district
wildlife biologist Chris Yee, in Springfield, “Our
winter didn’t have any impact, and the fawn ratios are
similar to last year.”
“I’m feeling good about our deer population,”
says district wildlife biologist Steve Niemela, who
works out of the Central Point ODFW office. “We
have a migratory deer herd, and they are doing a little
better than black-tailed deer in other parts of the state
because they migrate to good winter range.” He’s
predicting a “pretty good” upcoming season in his
region, pointing out that success rates can be as high
as 50 percent in the Rogue and Applegate units.
In the Klamath Falls area, according to district
wildlife biologist Tom Collom, fawn survival rates
were much improved over the previous winter and
that will translate into more yearling bucks available
to hunters over the previous year.
Ryan Torland says that elk are doing well in the
John Day region and are at management objective
for most units. He expects good hunting opportu-
nities this fall.
“Elk are doing really good,” says Enterprise-
based Pat Matthews, “even though we are still
having some low calf survival. I expect hunting to
be pretty normal with a good elk population and lots
of big bulls available.”
Rod Klus in Hines reports that elk are doing fine
in the High Desert Region, had good overwinter
survival, an average or better calf crop and a good,
mature bull population.
The North Coast elk population is slowly
building back up after being a little on the low side
a few years ago, according to biologist Nuzum. “We
have a healthy elk population although it is slightly
below management objective,” he says. He notes
that the bull ratios are robust on all his units, which
includes Saddle Mountain, Wilson and Trask.
Cascades elk are still suffering from the same
lack of succulent new growth on public lands due to
the significant cutback in logging over the years,
although to some extent, wildfires help make up
some of the difference. As a rule, you will find more
elk on private timberlands with active logging
operations. “Most of the elk population on industrial
forest land is good,” says Springfield-based Yee.
Further south, Niemela reports, “Elk have been
on a slow, multi-decade decline mostly because of
a decline in early seral stage habitat.” However, he
notes that Rogue-Siskiyou National Forest staff is
planning some future projects to improve elk, and
deer, habitat on the forest. “We did see a lot of bulls
on our helicopter surveys,” says Niemela. So,
despite the population being down, there are still
some nice bulls out there to be harvested. In his
district, the Chetco unit offers the best opportunities.
Tom Collom, in Klamath Falls, reports good
bull ratios, and notes that because elk are lightly
hunted in his district, there are some very big bulls
running around out there that a hunter occasionally
lucks into.
Overall, Oregon’s desert and Rocky Mountain
bighorn sheep are doing fairly well right now. Ryan
Torland reports that there are about 150 in the Aldrich
Mountain herd near John Day and about 100 in the
McClellan Mountain herd. ODFW translocated some
additional sheep to the Aldrich herd in 2010, which
gave it a jumpstart, and the herd is now increasing.
The McClellan herd is stable to increasing.
“Bighorns are kind of hanging in there,” says Pat
Matthews, “although the Lostine herd is having
trouble with low survival and predation.” He notes
that there is a new herd in Hells Canyon that is almost
large enough to start a new hunt.
Rod Klus reports that desert bighorns in his area
are doing fine with no disease or excessive predation
issues.
Ryan Torland reports that goats are doing well in
the Strawberry Mountains with the current herd at
about 60 animals. There are also about 20 goats
hanging around nearby Canyon Mountain, and
ODFW biologists are trying to figure out if a new herd
is forming or if they are members of the Strawberry
herd moving back and forth.
In northeast Oregon, Pat Matthews says, “Goats
are doing really well, numbers are increasing and
success rates are high for anyone who draws a tag.”
Pronghorns are doing well in the John Day area,
according to Ryan Torland, especially on the
Murderers Creek Unit. There are pronghorn hunts
on the Northside and Heppner units, but they are all
on private lands and access can be difficult.
“Pronghorn populations are having a pretty
good run,” says Rod Klus. “Last year they didn’t
have a very impressive crop of fawns but the overall
population is steady.”
Tom Collon also reports that pronghorns are
doing really well in south-central Oregon east of the
Cascade Mountains. “We have them in the eastern
part of Klamath County, and they have been
increasing over the past eight or 10 years,” says
Collom.
There continues to be healthy, and in some areas
increasing, populations of bears and cougars. There
are good numbers of bears in the Cascades and
Coast ranges, with the population going up as you
move south. The Applegate Unit continues to be the
top bear producer in the state. Northeast and
southwest Oregon still tend to have the largest
cougar populations. Cougars have been
documented slowly expanding their populations
into the northwestern part of the state, including into
the outskirts of Portland, with the biggest increase
currently in the Alsea Unit.
Successful bear hunters take the time to locate
food sources such as berry patches, and to be there
when they ripen, because that is when the bears will
show up. While some hunters specifically target
cougars using predator calls or snow tracking, most
of these secretive cats are taken opportunistically.
Bear & Cougar
Pronghorn
Rockymountain Goat
Bighorn Sheep
ElkDeer
2018 BIG GAME PREVIEW By Jim Yuskavitch, Oregon Hunters Association
Hard winters often play havoc with big game herds, making forage harder to find and causing deer and elk to be more vulnerable to predators as they are forced to struggle through deep snow. For
that reason, hunters often breathe a sigh of relief when winters are mild. But, surprisingly, it may not benefit big game as much as we might think. While deer may show increased survival through a
light winter, it often doesn’t make much difference to elk, which, because of their size and strength, fare about as well in harsh winters as mild ones. Deer will stick to their traditional winter range even
when conditions are poor, while pronghorns light out for new territory looking for better range during hard winters. And despite the mild winter weather, some biologists still reported decreased fawn
survival and poor calf recruitment in some areas. Nevertheless, mild winters are still better for big game than hard ones, and most predictions are for better big game hunting opportunities this fall
over last year. Here’s what a roundup of Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists around the state recently had to say about big game prospects in their districts.
28 • GRANT COUNTY HUNTING JOURNAL 2018 MyEagleNews.com
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