As I am sitting down to write this Soapbox, you would assume that I am daydreaming about big bulls bugling their heads off while chasing satellite bulls away from their cows. As much as I would like to be thinking about those giant bulls, I can’t help but think about antelope. You see, back when I was in high school in the 90s, I started applying for a lot of western states as my home state of Nevada was not giving me enough tags to satisfy my desire to hunt. One of those states I started applying for was Oregon, and since I had to buy the hunting license, I figured it was a good idea to apply for all of the species available that I wanted to hunt.
Fast forward 20 years and I have finally drawn my Oregon antelope tag. I was drawn for the second rifle hunt in the Warner unit. Knowing that this will most likely be my only Oregon antelope tag, this hunt is my highest priority for the 2018 season. I have purchased maps and called and talked to anyone with information on the Warner unit, including those on our Member Draw list. I have also spent a ton of time on onXmaps, looking over my entire unit and adding waypoints to my onXmaps app to check out once I get boots on the ground.
I am planning on getting on the unit five days before the season and then hunting the entire nine-day season. This unit has record book potential, so I am looking for a special buck. For this hunt, I will be taking Caleb, my middle son who is 11 years old. It will be an adventure spending up to two weeks with him in the desert. If in all of our time scouting and hunting I do not find a buck I want to shoot, I am going to let him fill my tag on the last day of the season. Now, before you call Oregon Game and Fish and report me, I want to let you know that Oregon really takes care of their youth hunters. Oregon allows a youth to fill an adult hunter’s tag if they have a hunting license and are enrolled in the Mentored Youth Hunting Program.
After Caleb and I return from our Oregon adventure, it will be time to bowhunt elk, right? Well, after never missing an archery elk season in the 19 years I have lived in Montana, I will be missing the 2018 archery elk season. As soon as I get back from Oregon, there will be just enough time to wash my gear and then head north to British Columbia. I will be spending most of September on a horse covering country and looking for a big moose and Mountain caribou.
I am going to miss chasing bugles this September, but I am looking forward to seeing all of the successful archery elk photos from the Huntin’ Fool community. Make sure you send your successful photos to us at submit@ huntinfool.com. Good luck as the 2018 hunting season is in full swing!
Login