Clearwater County Alberta???

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Hello Gents/Gentettes,

Would like to know if anyone here frequents this area?
I was supposed to be heading out there a couple of weeks ago to do some camping/plinking, but had to put it off due to a new addition to my family.

Seems to me the vast majority of this area is crown land. Being that I am located in Calgary, this county seems to be my best (closest) bet to get away for a weekend to do some shooting.

Anyone do any hunting or camping there? What are the roads like getting in there? Am I correct on my assumption that its a good place to go for some camping/plinking?

I haven't gotten into hunting yet (Could use some target practice first), but what are my chances of running into some rabbits? :shotgun:

Any input is appreciated, Thanks guys

NS.

*Edit* If you have hunted there, what where you hunting for?
 
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When Nugget first got work in those parts he was marking timber out there in 326 and 324. He figured it would be a good spot to try as season opens pretty early out there. Everyone and their dog is on the cutlines and what not, the bush is pretty thick anywhere we went. That was at the end of the pavement and going north IIRC. We never got serious enough to set a camp up there just because we were never happy with the areas we could get too. So many trails and so many people!

I bet if you put your time in you'd eventually score. Heck of a long drive from Cow Town though....... There's Deer, Elk, Moose, Bear, Bunnies and almost anything else you can think of. We never got their pattern figured out and it always left us with good memories and tags to use elsewhere.
Best check your regs before you go Elmer Fudd on ole Bugsy. I Don't think you can whack them when there are trap lines scattered all over out there.......

Good hunting!
 
326 is a fun place if you know the cut lines, head down to the end of RR10-0 & there will be a big pipeline in front of you, look to the west & bring your GPS.
 
I'd say that in this case, Hiway 734 (The Trunk Road) is your friend. Most of the major sports are reached via it. Recommened places are over around Ya Ha Tinda Ranch, Limestone Mtn, Cutoff Crk. and Hummingbird FRA.

Here's around Ya-Ha-Tinda (Dogrib forest fire site)

Camera012.jpg


Here's Limestone Mtn area (last June, a few miles from the Mtn itself)

WorkPix001.jpg


Maps are available at most gas stations and, I think, online. Google 'Bighorn Backcountry'
 
That is a fair jaunt south of 324/6 but a fun area to see. We had the sheep licking the salt right off our truck as soon as we stopped. One hooked it's horn in the wheel well and knocked off the tip after a couple good tugs........BIL got a key chain fob...lol
Watch out for the road corridor sanctuary!
 
slicknick said:
I'd say that in this case, Hiway 734 (The Trunk Road) is your friend. Most of the major sports are reached via it.
Click to expand...

That's what it looked like to me.

I've never driven out there before, so I'm curious as to what the road conditions would be like in spring? Think I can get up it in a car? I'm thinking around May...

Thanks for the input guys, and thanks for posting the pics!

NS.

Almost forgot; What kind of maps do you recommend to better figure out the area?
 
SRD has put out a few decent ones with the approved trails marked on it. They aren't perfect but are good for a pocket guide to save you from being fined for being in a FLUz or whatnot.

Road conditions are interesting when wet. Snow is usually everywhere until the end of April to the middle of May. The road itself (#734) is really only about a lane-and-a-half wide most of the way and it can get dicey if a large truck is coming. Corkscrew Mtn is a treat when you are on the outside. Long way down and no rails! Bring a truck with 4x4, tools and a way to contact help. My Old Man has a Spot tracker that works quite well when he's working out in the boonies (same area, incidentally).
 
Yup, there's good reason for those old cars still being in the bottom of those ravines for the mice to live in.

May can be sketchy out there. If you're going for a day trip you should be okay, just watch the weather forcast. One inch of snow in Cow Town can mean four to six in the hills. The roads are darn rough too, not like the two lakes road up north but you're fillings will be loose.
 
not fined for shooting but some have regulations about hunting (leave the magpies alone) and for being off trail in an Off Highway or On Highway Vehicle (depending on how you got there and where you are)
 
Cool. Thanks again.

Noel: I was looking into the not hunting rabbits on trap lines you mentioned. The only thing I can find on the subject is that marked trails cant be used by OHV's as to not destroy the traps ( I'd be pissed too). If I shoot a rabbit near some unmarked traps, and its not on private land am I someone going to get in s**t?

Not new to camping, just new to shooting. Really don't want to do anything I'm going to get in trouble for.
 
The Forest Land Use Zones (FLUZ) regulations have to do with access management (the use of on highway vehicles and off highway vehicles and horses) Some trails have times you cannot travel on them, some areas you cannot drive into. They have nothing to do with hunting. (magpies are not a protected species anywhere or anytime in Alberta).

Here is a quote from the hunting regulations regarding rabbits and hare:

Other Animals
Porcupine, rabbit, hare, skunk, raccoon and woodchuck may be hunted, but not trapped*, without a licence throughout the province, at all times of the year.

* The trapping of rabbit, hare, skunk and raccoon is authorized without a licence under some circumstances. Please refer to the 2008 Alberta Guide to Trapping Regulations, available in September 2008.


Robin in Rocky
 
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