Oak Creek???

[Pineridge]

So what is the latest on the Oak Creek unit? I am hearing that half of the unit is closed to all access. That should concentrate the hunters into small areas. Is anyone turning tags in?

 

[Downrange]

Yep if you haven't you probably should. Main canyon and dry creek are closed you can't even hike in there if you get caught 5000 dollar fine could happen. All the bucks have been hammered the last few years by general season tag holders hunting below the boundary. When the division went back to 9 day hunt it has been tough on the oak creek bucks the second weekend.

 

[Tsho86]

I'm probably the only one left with a tag. I guess I'll have it all to myself.

 

[Pineridge]

Are most people turning them in? I have only heard of one or two. What is the dwr going to do. The forest service is talking at least two years. Will the oak creek deer unit disolve like the oak creek elk will next year? To bad if it does.

 

[Fattygreens]

What happened down there? If you all don't mind my asking?

 

[goofyelk]

^^^^^^^Big fire,, Most of the Unit burned.. ^^^^^^^

 

[Downrange]

80 percent of the unit burned up. It's going to take a lot of time to recover. We are hearing down hear main canyon and all canyons in the main canyon along with dry creek and clay springs closed for the next 2 years. Tough on us lion hunters to. Those are good areas to run a cat.

 

[Fattygreens]

That sucks big time! Is there any access from the scipio side? Feel bad for the die hard oak creek guys that were finally able to draw getting shut out of some of the best parts of the area.

 

[Bankruptslut]

@pineridge. Yes a lot of the unit is closed and the DWR isn't going to do a dang thing about it. That would actually require them to do something. They don't care about the unit as long as they keep getting the tag money. As for the elk unit dissolving next year. I would say it's already dissolved, anyone who has spent time on the unit knows that. @edwardsc, I couldn't agree more about the general season hunters really hurting this unit. "Whether they are above or below the boundary." Also not only is it a $5,000 fine but it is considered POACHING to kill an animal inside a closed area!

 

[Pineridge]

Are you suggesting that boundary hunters are crossing the boundary?

 

[doggbiter]

Utards

 

[Zeke]

I don't understand the logic, so there was a fire but why can't a guy even hike up the canyon. Are they worried about flash floods or something?
Thanks in advance for enlightening me,
Zeke

 

[Skull1]

Sounds like the Forrest Service is just showing us that they are boss. There are obvious dangers with fallen trees and flash floods etc. But every mountain range comes with dangers.

 

[cabinfever]

The right thing to do would be to close the unit for a couple of years. Unfortunately, the tag revenue is more important than the resource. It's a travesty, and shows where the DWR priorities are.

 

[Tsho86]

That's awesome. After years of applying and finally drawing, pretty much the bulk of the unit is closed to access period. Not even a enter at your own risk?

 

[gitrdun]

A friend of mine just spent the entire muzzy hunt on the Oaks and ate tag soup. He saw a handful of deer.