Elk With A Wig

I have been using onX Hunt chips for many years, even prior to changing to the current name. I have been using the SD card in my Garmin Etrex Vista, while the screen is small and I need to toggle to get the information it is still a vital tool on my hunts and backcountry exploring. I plan to utilize the phone app more in the future, I guess I'm just still a little "old school".

A couple stories to share:

A few years ago while hunting Roosevelt Elk in Western Oregon, along with a couple friends and the 12 yr old son on his first hunting experience. It was a unique hunt in that it was mostly private land, some agricultural, some private residences (5 acre plots) and some industrial timberland (of which some was open to public and some by permit only). My host had previously secured permission to hunt many tracts, however, with the patchwork of ownership it was a challenge to remain on permissible land. We would drive and glass areas then determine if the elk were on or moving into ground we had permission to hunt. My host had not used onX prior and was very impressed as we used it to contact land owners to seek permission, most denied access but at least they didn't need to contact local law enforcement for trespassing. The included picture was the boys success after spotting a small herd on private land. Contacting the owner and explaining we had 2 tags including a 12 yr old. The owner granted the boy/father permission but not myself. Fortunately they were able to harvest a nice legal spike bull who had previously tangled with a bale of hay giving him a orange "wig".

In 2019, I traveled to Montana to pursue deer & elk. Once again onX Maps was invaluable and saved contact with local law enforcement, we had permission to be on a couple ranches, however most of the game was on the "wrong side of the fence" on a regular basis, which was marked in some areas as "No Trespassing". OnX allowed me to confirm I was on the right side of the fence at all times. I came home with tags in my pocket but it was still a great experience.

OnX map information has also assisted me in successful hunts while hunting National Forest land near private ranch boundaries.

I would highly recommend all onX products, chips and apps for anybody who loves to explore and respects private ownership.

Lookout Mt Oregon buck while hunting on a tract of private land included in the ODFW Access & Habitat Program. All surrounding ranches did not allow access

One of many bull elk harvested in Central Oregon on public land near non-posted but closed to the public private land