Walla Walla Archery Elk Oregon

[nphunter]

I was lucky and drew one of the 25 archery tags for the Walla Walla unit in NE Oregon. I would love to hear from anyone who has hunted it in the past or has spent much time in there. I personally haven't spent much time in the unit but have been in there for work a long time ago and have also snowmobiled in there.

I live close and was up there this weekend getting a feel for the country, I plan on setting up some cams and using my TW200 to access some of the areas a little further from the roads. It defiantly looks like a country that could grow some giant bulls, I'm going to be after a 350+ bull, I've already killed several six-point bulls with my bow and figure this is my best chance at a big bull.

Any input would be appreciated, I assume the bigger bulls are going to be close to the WA border since there are some slammers taken in WA every year and they give out fewer tags than OR?

PM's Preferred!!


Thanks in Advance!!

 

[Smokeslider]

you obviously understand the unique situation you have here with a coveted tag in an area that generally produces good bulls. I can't provide specific areas to look but I do know numerous folks whom draw a tag in the "big 3" and take for granted how they are going to hunt it. In other words, plan on hunting hard. Some people draw and think they're going to find big bulls everywhere. Those units have big bulls for a few reasons. If they were easy to hunt their wouldn't be as many.

You probably already know this but I figured I'd mention it. Good luck with that tag and let us know how it went. Most folks don't draw that tag more than once.

 

[nphunter]

Thanks SS, I defiantly am taking it serious. Planning on spending as much of my summer up there as I can get away with.

 

[northwesthunter]

Call Glenn Berry from Berry game calls and order some elk calls and ask him about the unit.. I believe he archery hunted it a few years back..

 

[WRO]

Good luck, I'd pound the first 330 bull I see.

I've got the rifle tag in there and have 30+ days In country hunting them, last time after 11 days we only saw 2 that broke 330.

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[Salmonchaser]

I packed two out last year that broke 350. I’ve seen several over the years that we’re better then that. Mine wasn’t, but I enjoyed the hunt. That canyon the kids are looking into I’ve packed a lot of bulls out of, your looking in the right place. Just north of where the kids are standing there is an old kinda hidden spur that goes out and ends under a chubby pine. Park there, go into the bottom where four canyons come together. Big bedding area, wind almost always blows back up the trail you came down. Sit on one of the 20 foot pinnacle ledges.
send me a pic of your bull. I’ll still be in Alaska.

 

[Salmonchaser]

You can’t go into the area against the Washington border, that is the watershed tag.
Tried to send you pics but internet is to week up here.
good luck, I’ll pm you in a few days.

 

[Salmonchaser]

I too would shoot the first 330 bull. There are some great ones but not a lot over 350.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Killed my first bull in there when I was 12; 1967. You’ll have fun. If we get Covid shut down up here I’ll meet up with you.

 

[nphunter]

Salmon Chaser, I would love to meet up if your back this way!! Thanks for the pictures and info, can't wait!!

I sent you a PM

 

[WRO]

I too would shoot the first 330 bull. There are some great ones but not a lot over 350.

Tony's bull was awesome, but he worked his ass off for it. If I remember right, he hunted 100+ days with 2 govenor tags to get it killed on his own.

There still a few in there, but they're few and far between even compared to 5 years ago.

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[WRO]

I'd focus on the breaks of the north fork and the ridges around there as well as the upper end of the south fork around deduct.

There's literally no part you can hunt public that butts up to Washington. All of that area is in the Watershed.. (I wouldn't hunt the Oregon watershed unless I got the tag for less than 5 points, that place is a different level of suck)

 

[Salmonchaser]

I watched that bull Tony killed four five years. Blew it on the second day and then passed on a Texas heart shot day 10 or 11. Shot a smaller bull, then walked right in to the Tony bull on my way out. Just wasn’t meant for me.

 

[backcountry89]

How did this hunt turn out??

 

[Bluemtnjack]

I packed two out last year that broke 350. I’ve seen several over the years that we’re better then that. Mine wasn’t, but I enjoyed the hunt. That canyon the kids are looking into I’ve packed a lot of bulls out of, your looking in the right place. Just north of where the kids are standing there is an old kinda hidden spur that goes out and ends under a chubby pine. Park there, go into the bottom where four canyons come together. Big bedding area, wind almost always blows back up the trail you came down. Sit on one of the 20 foot pinnacle ledges.
send me a pic of your bull. I’ll still be in Alaska.

Currently sitting with 17 points and am hoping from Walla Walla archery. Would love to chat with you about it.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Good morning. Happy to help a guy with that many points. Is Greg still the football coach in Heppner? Haven’t talked to him in several years. I’m leaving for AK; guide up there all summer, soon. I’ll remember to take a map with me so we can visit after you’re able to get in and scout. Still four feet of snow or better on top, you may not be able to get in there until June.

 

[Bluemtnjack]

He sure is! And I'm an assistant coach as well. Where at in AK? I'm headed that way to crab in June.
Send me your number and I'll keep in touch through my scouting. God willing we draw...

 

[Burnt Reynolds]

Good luck fellas. My cousin & uncle (each) had a governors tag and hunted Wenaha last year through a veterans organization. I spent about 10 days running around with them. Uncle hunted hard (80 year old) and tipped over a 320 class on day 7 with his rifle. Cousin spent over 50 days in camp and passed up a couple 340 class bulls for "the monster" we estimated at 370 or so. Ended up punching his tag on a cow. Such a disappointment, but an epic hunt nonetheless.

I'm planning to burn my 10 points and draw in the 25% pool, as well as win the NE Elk raffle and also draw the premium elk tag. Going to be a busy fall.

 

[mavinwa2]

How did this hunt turn out??

with OR draw date soon, and holding 15 non-res points, interested too.

any follow up nphunter?

 

[Gear-Reviewer]

with OR draw date soon, and holding 15 non-res points, interested too.

any follow up nphunter?

Hope you know you’re about 10 points shy of drawing that as a non resident...