Thanks for the picture Randy,  the way the world is changing, pictures like that and the one's we have in our head may be all that is left.

Almost impossible to draw a tag in Oregon any more.  "Preference Points" are supposed to get you a tag after a period of time but its not always the case.  Restrictions placed on tag numbers, government road and area closures, elimination of campgrounds and access in general place limits on chances for any kind of experience.  Family hunts are almost a thing of the past now, If you have enough money and know a private land owner a land owner preference tag may be the only opportunity, I had a rifle like you show, still in 7X57 I think, as a matter of fact I may still have it somewhere.  Shirley and I spent 3 days on the breaks of the Hells Canyon last week, at a spot near the confluence of the Grande Ronde and Snake Rivers.  We saw probably 500 elk in total, about 40% were this years calves.  Damn man, what a sight and what a sound.  Also saw 5 historic camp grounds closed by the USFS and scheduled for obliteration.  Roads I have traveled boy and man are now closed, gated, or equipped with "tank trap" devices.  We have two large 4-wheelers so we do not let the USFS idiocy slow us down much but without that equipmnent there is no access.  I understand the next step they will take is to ban the use of those machines also.  Firearms are not the only thing in our lifestyle that is in jeopardy.

Be well friend,

again, thanks for the pictures and memories.

Larry