Anyone hunt 359 west of Spirit R. this year

Big Game

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Our group will be a priority 3 this year and we usually head up into the Peace country for Moose and Mule Deer. This year I've heard a few groups saying that animal numbers are way down and that landowner permission was hard to come by. Anyone got info? Don't know if we should be looking for a new area or if the info I got was exagurated, mostly looking for Mulies.
 
Yup, animal numbers are WAY down. Severe temperatures and deep snow in 2006 really took its toll on mule deer and moose. I bailed on it this year and am glad I did.
 
We went and numbers are way down. Across the road in 358 the bush is like a maze of expressways there is so much drilling going on.

We won't be back, my son and I wasted mulie buck tags each and a moos tag for him.
 
Due to health reasons,I could not make it last fall,but two of my hunting partners spent a week in our regular areas in 359.They reported similar game numbers to the previous year,which were way down from previous years.I doubt that we will be returning next fall.
 
Yup, animal numbers are WAY down. Severe temperatures and deep snow in 2006 really took its toll on mule deer and moose. I bailed on it this year and am glad I did.

It's too bad the area got hit so hard. We hunted it last the fall of 2006 and I couldn't believe the animals we saw. Anyone got a suggestion on where to go for Mule Deer now? You don't have to give me your honey hole but a push in the right direction would be appreciated. Kind of looking at the Rocky Mountain House Area but I don't know what hunting pressure is like there?
 
It's too bad the area got hit so hard. We hunted it last the fall of 2006 and I couldn't believe the animals we saw. Anyone got a suggestion on where to go for Mule Deer now? You don't have to give me your honey hole but a push in the right direction would be appreciated. Kind of looking at the Rocky Mountain House Area but I don't know what hunting pressure is like there?

Winterkill seemed worst from GP north so south of their should be better.
 
I live in 357 and hunt all the zones mentioned, we worked our butts off to fill mule deer tags last year and the quality was really bad. We would have been skunked if we didn't live right here.
 
anyone hunt west of R, this year

I live in unit 359 and the mule deer numbers are way down.I would say we lost 70% of our the mule deer,The big bucks really got hit hard.I had my mule deer draw in 07 and it was a waist of time,it will take another 2 or 3 years before you start seeing big bucks again.I can't believe they still have a three mule deer doe draw tag.
 
My hunting partner Rudy and I found 8 moose carcasses after the big snow after '06.......

I hunt near there and the numbers were down a lot. It is gonna need a few seasons to recover.

wmu 526 was no screamin' he** either......
 
359 game numbers

As everyone was saying the numbers are way down. The part of 359 we hunt in was still really good in 2007 but what a change to 2008 the most action we had was fishin for trout in our dam where we were staying .We are close to draw priority for mule buck and bull moose for next year. too bad we wasted or cow elk draw so I guess we will keep at it..:bangHead:
 
Thanks for everyone's input. I would hate to drive all the way up there for what might turn out to be a poor hunt. It's too bad though I really enjoyed hunting that country. Looks like I'm back to square one looking for a hunting area.
 
Animal numbers down

Over here in the 523 and 520 zones, I believe numbers are down as well. We had moose tags in 520 and after looking for 8 days, we never saw one animal that resembled a moose in any shape.

I had a mulie tag and never saw a good mulie either. Last winter had a lot of snow as well and this winter with the cold is not looking so hot for them either with the cold snap we are having.

Greg
 
good elk zone

We took are elk in that zone this year.
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We hunted antlerless mule deer in 527 this year and there are PILES of deer. Did not have a buck tag but saw a very respectful buck around Sunny Valley.

I also hunted moose (late season) in 520, I have hunted this area for the last 15 years and always get something. This year we only spent about 5 days there, but we covered over 200 kms and only saw one cow. Saw two bulls within 500 yards of each other going into Peace River for some fuel. I guess that is why they call it hunting and not shopping. :)
 
Your mileage may vary.

I have no clue what the game populations are in your area but these are the areas I faithfully hunt and I am here to tell you that the game populations are down. Are they still above where they should be. Probably. Are they below what they were three years ago. Yes.

Congratulations on your success.

Greg
 
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