Loaded and heading out in the morning. Cant go early because nothing here could penetrate the new 'cowboy suede' ASAT from Day One. Had to leave them at he drycleaners.
Silvies
- Thread starter Hitch
- Start date
Iron Mike
Active Member
Well if you could design a perfect mule deer hunting unit it would look a lot like Silvies. Water sources all over. Hills draws rims steeps and flats. Cover from light to heavy . I must admit a life long love of a Ponderosa/Juniper mix forest. Everywhere we went anywhere and everywhere was an area I wanted to hunt. The best looking unit I've ever been too.
Didnt see a single buck. We hunted pretty hard Sat- Wed and came up empty. Most of the time we didnt come across any other hunters. We saw three bucks hanging in camps. Then we began to notice the rigs we saw to the east were coming our direction .
Im very curious regarding the overall success rate. Of course I'd like to blame the unit rather than lack of skills, time will tell. Its unlikly I'll use any points to hunt here again.
Didnt see a single buck. We hunted pretty hard Sat- Wed and came up empty. Most of the time we didnt come across any other hunters. We saw three bucks hanging in camps. Then we began to notice the rigs we saw to the east were coming our direction .
Im very curious regarding the overall success rate. Of course I'd like to blame the unit rather than lack of skills, time will tell. Its unlikly I'll use any points to hunt here again.
Calbuck
Active Member
We found the same situation on our CA hunt, although I lucked into a decent buck..best buck country (in my mind) around and very few deer. Sign was there, so in our situation I believe the deer went nocturnal with all the activity around.
Timberstalker
Veteran member
52% success rate in 2014, better than the average for Oregon. I muzzy hunted deer in Silvies several years ago, it took me 5 days to find the deer, but when I did I saw bucks every day.
Horrible Unit for deer and elk. Spread the word I say.
Seriously though. We really enjoy the unit for elk and we have hunted it once for deer. There are lots of roads, and lots of people. We have spent many years to find the sweet spots we hunt.
We saw about 100 but that includes the three or four times we saw the same family group near camp. Though we walked every morning and evening roughly 65% of the deer were seen while traveling. Coming in Friday before season just after daylight I went up the canyon and racked a fair number of miles in the Egypt Canyon area and down 41 to the Riley turn off, lots of camps no deer at all.
Ratz
LOL We saw plenty of evidence elk had been in the area but of course we didnt see any,more surprisingly to me, didnt hear any nocturnal buglers.Horrible Unit for deer and elk. Spread the word I say.
Seriously though. We really enjoy the unit for elk and we have hunted it once for deer. There are lots of roads, and lots of people. We have spent many years to find the sweet spots we hunt.
No cats either. We hunted Desolation a few years ago and went to three main areas several milesand each had a cat in residence. Lots of fresh tracks that dwarfed a 30-06 cartridge. Saw plenty of deer as well.
Yup. Its a big unit ,we may have been in a poor area. But I love to go to units I've never been to before we've got a big beautiful state out yonder.
Old thread I know, but about cats in Silvies, nephew saw one cougar and we saw tracks of at least two others in the area we were hunting in Nov. 14.
I agree about the unit being a beautiful unit to hunt, snow makes it even better. I should draw a second season bull tag this year. Is it November yet?
Timberstalker
Veteran member
Great unit for camping. The elk hunting is not as good as it used to be. They really need to reduce the bow hunting pressure, it's been getting slammed every since Ochoco went draw only for bow.
ore hunter
Very Active Member
- Jul 25, 2014
- 699
- 114
I just spent 9 days there on archery ,,seen some deer but couldn't get close,,,tons of cattle tearing up the riparian areas up west of delintment lake,,never seen a elk ,even high,only cattle,,,hot n dry conditions don't help,but neither do all the cattle
Timberstalker
Veteran member
ore hunter
Very Active Member
- Jul 25, 2014
- 699
- 114
its good lookin country except for all the cattle damage along the watery creek areas,,looks like ideal mule deer and elk area,ponderosa pine and juniper mix look nice for camping and being around in general.