So I just 999'ed my draws again for this year which will put me at a Priority 6 by next year when we head out west. I've been huntin WMU 359 for the past 20 odd years, but after looking at the draw results it seems that tags are way down so I'm assuming deer numbers are way down as well. I was wondering if any Nutz from Alberta could steer me in the right direction. If you were a Priority 6 for Mule Deer and Moose what area would you be looking at? Is the Peace country still a good option? I really want a chance for a big muley but with moose tags in hand it would be nice to put some meat in the freezer as well. Not asking for anyone's secret spots just some info and opinions! Thanks,Mark.
Alberta Mule Deer?
- Thread starter Big Game
- Start date
If you have been hunting 359 for the past 20 years, you should have noticed the severe winter kill that occurred a few years ago. The deer and moose population in the area was devastated, and will take many years to recover. I am a P9 for mule deer myself, and I will likely look to Southern Alberta.
Haven't been up there since that winter but I had heard it was bad, that's why I was trying to get some more info! Was the winterkill bad across all of northern Alberta or was it primarily the Peace Country. I was kind of looking at the country north of Athabasca as an alternative for moose at least.
Suka
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Only catch with that is the winterkill down here was even worse; thus the antelope tag numbers dropped to as low as 5 per wmu last year.
That being said, there's big mule deer where you find them. If you're a horn hunter your best bet is likely still the parkland country. If you want a deer the size of a cow elk that may only be a 3 pt(that's 8 to you youngsters.
) then I'd look to the badlands, the badder, the better.
Very simply, IMO there's mule over much of Alberta and wherever you hunt if you put in the time you'll find them. Not trying to sound flippant, personally if you're familiar with an area I think your chances are better there than in strange country; least that's where I'd hunt.
Also fyi, nearly all the crown lease land down here is walk in drag out only, so no quads.
That being said, there's big mule deer where you find them. If you're a horn hunter your best bet is likely still the parkland country. If you want a deer the size of a cow elk that may only be a 3 pt(that's 8 to you youngsters.
) then I'd look to the badlands, the badder, the better. Very simply, IMO there's mule over much of Alberta and wherever you hunt if you put in the time you'll find them. Not trying to sound flippant, personally if you're familiar with an area I think your chances are better there than in strange country; least that's where I'd hunt.
Also fyi, nearly all the crown lease land down here is walk in drag out only, so no quads.
Only catch with that is the winterkill down here was even worse; thus the antelope tag numbers dropped to as low as 5 per wmu last year.
That being said, there's big mule deer where you find them. If you're a horn hunter your best bet is likely still the parkland country. If you want a deer the size of a cow elk that may only be a 3 pt(that's 8 to you youngsters.
Very simply, IMO there's mule over much of Alberta and wherever you hunt if you put in the time you'll find them. Not trying to sound flippant, personally if you're familiar with an area I think your chances are better there than in strange country; least that's where I'd hunt.
Also fyi, nearly all the crown lease land down here is walk in drag out only, so no quads.
Very true. If we decide to relocate, no matter where we go, we'll be in for a tough grind. Being from out of province it would be hard to get much quality scouting time. Mind you southern Alberta is a lot closer than The Peace. The no quad rule in some areas sure would make it tough on the young guys that have to drag my deer out though.
I'd like to get a nice set of horns but on the other hand you can't eat horns, so seing as we only get drawn every few years, I think I'd rather just be able to harvest a good buck not necessarily a monster. It's nice to see and hunt new country but going in blind can be rough!
Mighty Peace
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Land of the Mighty Peace
The Peace country has numbers that are down IMO still...for seeing more 180-200+ mulies. Not like about 6 years ago. My hunting buddy and I would be drawn this year but we both 999'd our draws. He hunts 527, I hunt 523. Will see what the fall brings this year and will probably put in the draw in 2013.
A person cannot mark an X on the map where there is good hunting. Many good mule deer zones all over the province. My choice is the prairies. Taken many mule deer between 180 to over 200 gross as a professional guide. Peace River and Manning area do hold some big mule deer but they had very bad winter kills lately.
I had great luck on my moose in wmu 200 last year.
I wasn't looking for them I did see quite a few mule deer in the area.
Lots of good habitat for both around Sounding lake, and in the hills towards the sask border.
Landowner permission was pretty easy to get too. Just knocked on a few doors and everyone we talked to was more than happy to let us hunt. Just keep the truck on the trail and walk from there. The simple "use respect".
I was a 6 priority so you'd be good there.
Good luck where ever you decide to go.
I wasn't looking for them I did see quite a few mule deer in the area.
Lots of good habitat for both around Sounding lake, and in the hills towards the sask border.
Landowner permission was pretty easy to get too. Just knocked on a few doors and everyone we talked to was more than happy to let us hunt. Just keep the truck on the trail and walk from there. The simple "use respect".
I was a 6 priority so you'd be good there.
Good luck where ever you decide to go.
Thanks for the heads up!
Thanks for the info Track. Part of the problem living so far away from our zone is that we don't see the year to year changes, as we only used to get drawn every 3 years. I used to see 30+ moose a day and tons of mulies there, so when I saw the Draw Priority had gone to 6 and heard some talk about bad winterkill, I knew something was up. I love making the trip out to Alberta but it's too far away for a scouting trip, so any inffo I can get is appreciated.
burningfreak
New member
- Location
- Northern Alberta
I spent a lot of time up in 359 last year scouting and hunting in the bow season. There are still some crankers up there but not nearly anything like 6 years ago when I was last hunting the area. All the locals talked about bad winter kill but this last one has been mild. Maybe we'll see some nice deer there in a couple years if we keep seeing mild winters. My bet would be go south for now though.
Six years ago up there was probably the best hunt I've ever been on anywhere. I was seeing 30-40 moose a day, hundreds of mulies and even a few elk. I don't expect to ever see the kind of hunting in 359 that we had 20 years ago. The oil patch has opened up a lot of country and the poulation boom in the area means more hunters and the inevitable problems that come with that. Used to be that with a couple of visits to some farmers you would have access to sections and sections of land.
powder burner
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Alberta, Canada
Shoot a damn wolf if you get a chance too. Only saw 1 bull moose last fall up in that area, we were there for a week, put around 300km on the quads. Big time disappointment!! Did see a few cows though.
I don't hunt 359 but I travel through there quite a bit...it is undeniable that there are considerably fewer deer than pre 2006. Fewer moose as well but still seems to be good numbers.
Elk seemed to have pulled through the bad winters and increase in predator numbers quite well though. I'd even say there numbers are increasing in that WMU.
Athabasca river and Red Deer river are both good areas pretty much right through. Southern Alberta from HWY 22 east to the Sask border is also good hunting for big muley bucks. I know its pretty vague but I just look for good terrain features if I'm not hunting one of my honey holes.
Hope that helps.
Ivo
Hope that helps.
Ivo
Winterkil and successive years of chronic waste culling have made the Alberta Parklands a wasteland. Don't burn your pri 9 anywhere near Wainwright. It's so bad that they have reduced tags, season length, and even the two week blackpowder season around here is not running.
Suka
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I think we can all agree on one thing; The days of, "hunt this zone, it's always good", or show up, shoot a big one and be home by lunch on opening day are pretty much gone.
Bad winterkill different parts of the province in conjunction with cwd culls in others, and as an added bonus, hundreds of thousands of immigrants, whom all seem to have brought their favorite rifle with them, not to mention non resident hunters.
I'll still stick with saying mulies are where you find them, and while they can be found, sh%tluck notwithstanding, it's going to take a lot more time and effort than it used to.
Bad winterkill different parts of the province in conjunction with cwd culls in others, and as an added bonus, hundreds of thousands of immigrants, whom all seem to have brought their favorite rifle with them, not to mention non resident hunters.
I'll still stick with saying mulies are where you find them, and while they can be found, sh%tluck notwithstanding, it's going to take a lot more time and effort than it used to.
I think we can all agree on one thing; The days of, "hunt this zone, it's always good", or show up, shoot a big one and be home by lunch on opening day are pretty much gone.
Bad winterkill different parts of the province in conjunction with cwd culls in others, and as an added bonus, hundreds of thousands of immigrants, whom all seem to have brought their favorite rifle with them, not to mention non resident hunters.
I'll still stick with saying mulies are where you find them, and while they can be found, sh%tluck notwithstanding, it's going to take a lot more time and effort than it used to.
I tend to disagree with some of the noted above. First of all I wouldn't want to be home by high noon with my hunt ended. I perfer to have many days in the field not unless the buck I'm after happen to show itself on the first day. There are many WMU with some great deer that hold 175 to 200 B&C bucks and to say that those days are gone is not true.
I don't rely on chit luck when hard work scouting and cunning hunting skills are utilized. Winter kill, CWD, highway kills, provincial immigration and wildlife mismanagement I agree with you.
