What is going on?

Been out hunting and scouting around the east McKenzie and east Indigo units (Oakridge area) for about 6 to 8 weeks with a couple friends. I am out in the woods quite a bit during the rest of the year hiking, camping, etc. anyway. We hunted the early (High Cascade) hunt up around Waldo Lake and the south and north sides of HWY58 by Hills Creek Reservoir, Salmon Creek and Willamette Pass.

All this time in the woods (from sunup to past sundown many days) and we have only spotted two or three does, zero elk and zero bear. Almost no animal sign of any kind except quite a bit of cougar and coyote scat. A few piles of bear scat (compared to last year), maybe 20-25 total. Last year one road we went down had at least 20 right down the middle of the road in less than two miles. We have seen lots of game trails, most are “passing through” type trails, not the milling around trails that I saw in years past. No really fresh bedding areas or fresh droppings to speak of again compared to last year. This is at a lot of different elevations also; from around 1200 to around 5000ft.

We did see one cougar, right along the side of the road. Not really large (120lbs or so) but it was about an hour after “legal” shooting hours and I REALLY like to be on the up and up as much as possible. Everybody messes up now and again, but I do not try to be an idiot. However if I see one again, I will dump said cougar legal time or no time. This cougar was not the least bit afraid of us either. Got out of the rig and walked to within about 15 yards of it when it FINALLY decided it had enough and took off.
Yes I know the Three S rule…. I know, I know…

I called the Springfield ODFW and spoke to the local biologist. Friendly guy. I asked him why the lack of visible game. He said that he sees lots of game when he goes out. So I said I saw much more game last year than I have so far this year. So I asked him if he sees as much game this year as LAST YEAR or the year before? He says well now that you mention it…no I don’t see quite as much. Hmmmmm? Could we have a cougar problem around here? Naw.

I know the Three S rule...

A friend of mine just finished up a buck deer draw hunt over east (Oregon) and he said over the 10 days they saw a grand total of 9 legal animals. He has been hunting this area for over 10 years and this is by far the least number of animals they have seen.
That is the total of what 4 people hunting saw BTW.

He said last year in the very same areas they saw at least 24 legal animals and all 4 in the party filled their tag.
This year only 2 animals were taken and they were small compared to years past. He said one of the ODFW guys told him that he knows for a fact that animal rights people have been out in the woods "distributing" cougar urine around various places. Hmmmmmm? How did he know that, and what are they doing to stop that?

Would that not be considered harassment of game the same as chasing them with a 4-wheeler or throwing rocks at them?
Good grief when is this garbage gonna end?

One of my old MARINE CORPS buddies stopped by for a visit. We went out to shoot and had a great time. While there he noticed the HUGE Tracks all over the area I have mowed for a Range. So, there are still a few Deer on this side of the USA. No Wolves, but a few Wildcats. Had reports of a BIG Cat last year, but I've not seen any sign of it.

Those Animal Rights folks are really in a world of their own. Darn shame.