Dissappointing hunt

[martinbns]

My son and I just returned from a four day hunt for mostly moose in 358 near Bay Tree Alberta just across from Dawson Creek. We hunted there in 2005 and 2006 and had great hunts, lots of animals, mule deer, moose and grouse. We were hunting the hills south of Baytree and east of there and didn't see so much as a moose track, a couple of small whitetail bucks, no grouse at all. When we were there a few years ago it was like the Serengeti plains of Africa.

The amount of Gas and Oil drilling and construction going on there is unreal. My son waited three years for his moose tag, dissappointing.

 

[Jasontheterrible]

Sry to hear,.. I passed up my antlerless moose last weekend here in 357, went out yesterday, but mostly quaded and fired off a few rifles for target practice.

It helps a lot though when you can get into an area and scout before fulling committing for a few days.

On a side note, did you stay with locals or did you bring up your own roof?

 

[Pudelpointer]

My Dad hunted in Dawson last year (2007) and they had a very hard time trying to find a moose. Nasty winter in 2006/2007.

Too bad.

 

[stubblejumper]

After five years,we are giving up on that area until the game has had a chance to recover.Since they keep issuing too many tags for the remaining game population,that could take a long time.

 

[Icon]

Ya, but did you enjoy getting out with your son?? Hunting is always better when going out with the kids!

 

[9mikemike]

After 14 years we are giving up on our area 326 (Nordegg). We have been seeing less and less.
To top it off on the 2nd last day of our month of hunting they had slashing crews for seismic coming through the area that we hunt.
We managed to take 2 bucks, 1 doe, and 4 chickens (2 by me).
Absolutely pathetic compared to a few years ago we would average a dozen deer between 8 guys, this year 3.

 

[sheephunter]

My Dad hunted in Dawson last year (2007) and they had a very hard time trying to find a moose. Nasty winter in 2006/2007.

Too bad.

Yup, nasty winters really did that area in, I'm sure it will rebound but it will take a while. Last trip in 06 two of us killed 10 big game animals in 6 days including a 190 mule deer, 19" bear and 300" elk. I'm headed south tomorrow instead of north.......hear it's still the Serengetti! I hope so.......

 

[sjemac]

You should see what they did to 416! An atom bomb wouldn't have flattened it more. Clear cut nearly the entire WMU in one year. I know the pine beetle is a factor but they have laid waste that will take decades to reverse and will allow the whitetails to push out the mulies.

 

[sheephunter]

will allow the whitetails to push out the mulies

Not sure I buy into that theory....Im think it's habitat/food related....not one pushing out the other. Populations of both seem to be cyclical according to available food.

Lots of logging in 412 too........

 

[sjemac]

Once the conditions are favorable to whitetails, the whitetails are the dominant species. "Pushing" may have been the wrong word. A deer more adaptable to the habitat that has been created for them will rise to the top. The habitat being created in 416 right now is more conducive to whitetails than mulies.

 

[sheephunter]

Once the conditions are favorable to whitetails, the whitetails are the dominant species. "Pushing" may have been the wrong word. A deer more adaptable to the habitat that has been created for them will rise to the top. The habitat being created in 416 right now is more conducive to whitetails than mulies.

Some people seem to think that one is more aggressive than the other in establishing territory and it just ain't so.......once the regen starts, the mule deer will likely become the dominant species again.

 

[martinbns]

Ya, but did you enjoy getting out with your son?? Hunting is always better when going out with the kids!

We had lots of fun, he's is going to be 20 in Febuary and moved out in September. It was great to spend the time with him, but would have been nice to get something.

 

[Pudelpointer]

Went out to 402 on Saturday. Passed through the Porcupines on the way, holy crap for guys out hunting.

In 402 we really did not see much for sign, even though it was 4 days after the snow. Not many people hunting, but then again there did not seem to be too much to hunt. I think I will stick to the private lands I have access on.