Hunting in Medicine Hat

[powdermaker]

Wow. The deer on the Alberta side must be a lot smarter than the deer on the Saskatchewan side of the border. Listening to the advice given here, I would assume that I would need to shoot at least 200 yards to kill a deer? Yet I have hunted in southern Saskatchewan with the bow and muzzleloader and have most often been successful with the bow and always successful with the black powder rifle. All shots under 100 yards. I'm not that great of a hunter either LOL.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

>wind

Leaning into the wind, blowing snow, deafening sound and the empty prairie all around.

Not everybody’s cup of tea, but I think it’s some of the most beautiful land on the planet.

Yup, it has a charm of it's own and about as empty as you'll find anywhere. One of the few places in Canada where you have to worry about cactus and rattlesnakes.

Grizz

 

[tokguy]

Wow. The deer on the Alberta side must be a lot smarter than the deer on the Saskatchewan side of the border. Listening to the advice given here, I would assume that I would need to shoot at least 200 yards to kill a deer? Yet I have hunted in southern Saskatchewan with the bow and muzzleloader and have most often been successful with the bow and always successful with the black powder rifle. All shots under 100 yards. I'm not that great of a hunter either LOL.

Well, you are from Southern Sask....hence the master of one-ups-manship... so your story fits you perfectly.
I have lots of relatives down there... I've never seen a Southern Sask boy who couldn't hunt better, fight harder or drink more and still take home the best looking woman at the family reunion ...they really are that good...and they'll tell you too.

 

[FreedomIsn'tFree]

well, you are from southern sask....hence the master of one-ups-manship... So your story fits you perfectly.
I have lots of relatives down there... I've never seen a southern sask boy who couldn't hunt better, fight harder or drink more and still take home the best looking woman at the family reunion ...they really are that good...and they'll tell you too.

lol

 

[powdermaker]

Well, you are from Southern Sask....hence the master of one-ups-manship... so your story fits you perfectly.
I have lots of relatives down there... I've never seen a Southern Sask boy who couldn't hunt better, fight harder or drink more and still take home the best looking woman at the family reunion ...they really are that good...and they'll tell you too.

Actually, I'm from central Sask. so even better than those South Sask boys. I'm not much of a fighter but everything else sounds about right.

 

[FreedomIsn'tFree]

Actually, I'm from central Sask. so even better than those South Sask boys. I'm not much of a fighter but everything else sounds about right.

Even taking home the best looking women at the family reunion? I would agree that some of the Elk and deer have been shot at 200 and under, but many have been taken at the 400 range.

 

[tokguy]

Well, would you rather we sent him out with a 30-30? Might as well go for the worst case scenario when preparing... and say what you will, the country is different for a mere 2 hour drive East. Medicine Hat can be real flat... there are lots of steppes. But it's those brushed in Coulee's that make it worth while. You KNOW there are deer in there... but they are much better equipped to evade you than you are to sneak up on them.
As far as Bow Hunting... well most of the pointy stick killers sit and wait for the game to come to them... that's fine of course. Some day I'll be old and too decrepit to stalk them... then I shall sit in a tree... but not yet. And I shoot a compound, even got a deer by stalking...but man it's hard to stalk a deer with a bow! The one time where high wind is in your favor... Co worker got a REALLY NICE MD with a bow in the tall grass in a slough bottom. Worked the wind, they couldn't hear any predators and he came from downwind of the buck. Especially the WT are tough ( I know...said that already... they are a thing for me LoL)
Fair amount of truck hunting happens where it's real flat... can be 5 miles between hunting spots. Want to walk 5 miles to the next coulee? Didn't think so... drive close, get out and begin stalking into the coulee. No luck? Go to the truck, have a coffee whilst driving to the next Honey Hole
Folks from Treed in locales will flame us on it... but they know as little about hunting here as we do about Hunting Camp. Heck; they don't even know how to score a buck...what's this 9 point BS? Oh; it's a 4 by 5...does it sound bigger when you call it a 'Niner' LoL?
But have fun, treat the landowners wishes with respect and good hunting.

 

[FreedomIsn'tFree]

Well, would you rather we sent him out with a 30-30? Might as well go for the worst case scenario when preparing... and say what you will, the country is different for a mere 2 hour drive East. Medicine Hat can be real flat... there are lots of steppes. But it's those brushed in Coulee's that make it worth while. You KNOW there are deer in there... but they are much better equipped to evade you than you are to sneak up on them.
As far as Bow Hunting... well most of the pointy stick killers sit and wait for the game to come to them... that's fine of course. Some day I'll be old and too decrepit to stalk them... then I shall sit in a tree... but not yet. And I shoot a compound, even got a deer by stalking...but man it's hard to stalk a deer with a bow! The one time where high wind is in your favor... Co worker got a REALLY NICE MD with a bow in the tall grass in a slough bottom. Worked the wind, they couldn't hear any predators and he came from downwind of the buck. Especially the WT are tough ( I know...said that already... they are a thing for me LoL)
Fair ainto the coulee. No luck? Go to the truck, have a coffee whilst driving to the next Honey Holemount of truck hunting happens where it's real flat... can be 5 miles between hunting spots. Want to walk 5 miles to the next coulee? Didn't think so... drive close, get out and begin stalking into the coulee. No luck? Go to the truck, have a coffee whilst driving to the next Honey Hole[/I]
Folks from Treed in locales will flame us on it... but they know as little about hunting here as we do about Hunting Camp. Heck; they don't even know how to score a buck...what's this 9 point BS? Oh; it's a 4 by 5...does it sound bigger when you call it a 'Niner' LoL?
But have fun, treat the landowners wishes with respect and good hunting.

This is hunting here. I have covered 200- 300 km from east of the base to highway 41 on a day out hunting with pushing bush or walking coulees at points on the drive. I got my 2 Elk this year 2km east of Suffield just south of highway 1 and my mule buck east off the 41 south of Burstal and I drove close to each after glassing and walked in from there. This just made me think to mention another thing needed here is a good spotting scope or binoculars.

 

[scourge18a]

Wow. The deer on the Alberta side must be a lot smarter than the deer on the Saskatchewan side of the border. Listening to the advice given here, I would assume that I would need to shoot at least 200 yards to kill a deer? Yet I have hunted in southern Saskatchewan with the bow and muzzleloader and have most often been successful with the bow and always successful with the black powder rifle. All shots under 100 yards. I'm not that great of a hunter either LOL.

I stalk and kill deer with my bow around here too, what's your point? Myself and others have also described close range kills, but it's not always the case. As another has said, it's better to be prepared. But in reality, the landscape is what matters and that entirely depends on the area you have tags and permission to hunt and the topography of said area. Depending on where you hunt you might be looking at a 30 yard shot (Cypress hills area or coulee) or you might be looking at a few hundred yards or more (everywhere else around the Hat). I don't sit and wait for the deer, I put miles on my boots each day I'm out, but I've been successful enough each year to always have 100+ lbs of venison or elk.

 

[rifleman762]

BTW, after the rangefinder, my best piece of kit is a Harris 13.5-27" bipod. Just low enough to shoot prone when collapsed and high enough to shoot from sitting. Some folks prefer the shooting sticks, though. 99% of the time, a sitting height shot is sufficient and probably 70% of the time I can shoot prone.

 

[powdermaker]

I stalk and kill deer with my bow around here too, what's your point? Myself and others have also qritten about close range kills, but it's not always the case. As another has said, it's better to be prepared. But in reality, the landscape is what matters and that entirely depends on the area you have tags and permission to hunt and the topography of said area. Depending on where you hunt you might be looking at a 30 yard shot (Cypress hills area or coulee) or you might be looking at a few hundred yards or more (everywhere else around the Hat). I don't sit and wait for the deer, I put miles on my boots each day I'm out, but I've been successful enough each year to always have 100+ lbs of venison or elk.

Calm down. My comment was somewhat sarcastic but my point is that you can usually get closer than 300 yards. Everyone has given a lot of good advice. The OP has implied that he isn't trophy hunting, where you might only have one chance at that big buck. So, it really comes down to how much time you have to hunt. If you only have two days off work, then be prepared to take a longer poke. If you have five days you can likely pick your shots. Also, if that once in a lifetime buck shows himself at 325 yards, I would want my .270 not a 30-30.

 

[tokguy]

This is hunting here. I have covered 200- 300 km from east of the base to highway 41 on a day out hunting with pushing bush or walking coulees at points on the drive. I got my 2 Elk this year 2km east of Suffield just south of highway 1 and my mule buck east off the 41 south of Burstal and I drove close to each after glassing and walked in from there. This just made me think to mention another thing needed here is a good spotting scope or binoculars.

I got my last two elk in the same locale. The linked one https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1454346-Ronalane-Elk would have been about a mile South of your's... see, now you know the name of that 'weird non functioning irrigation ditch' LOL.
Go West a bit and see the Ghost town of Alderson.
I live on the other side of town now...but we would herd cows from the locale we refer to ( Community Pasture... definitely leased land... with no one particular Rancher to deal with...yes!) East to The Bowell turn there about. Grew up out there, ever seen the Stair Dam? A good sized Dam that is in the middle of the god forsaken prairie. Have to see it to believe it, LOL
powdermaker; made my best shot ever near Alderson; 344 yds with a Bubba'd Ross rifle in 303. Someone else already blew a foot off a young bull elk, in good conscience I had to take the shot ( but that is past my comfort zone in truth).
Don't need a 270... just lots of practice with a capable .30 caliber.

 

[FreedomIsn'tFree]

I got my last two elk in the same locale. The linked one https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1454346-Ronalane-Elk would have been about a mile South of your's... see, now you know the name of that 'weird non functioning irrigation ditch' LOL.
Go West a bit and see the Ghost town of Alderson.
I live on the other side of town now...but we would herd cows from the locale we refer to ( Community Pasture... definitely leased land... with no one particular Rancher to deal with...yes!) East to The Bowell turn there about. Grew up out there, ever seen the Stair Dam? A good sized Dam that is in the middle of the god forsaken prairie. Have to see it to believe it, LOL

Not many people I know even know of the old highway and Alderson.

 

[scourge18a]

Calm down. My comment was somewhat sarcastic but my point is that you can usually get closer than 300 yards. Everyone has given a lot of good advice. The OP has implied that he isn't trophy hunting, where you might only have one chance at that big buck. So, it really comes down to how much time you have to hunt. If you only have two days off work, then be prepared to take a longer poke. If you have five days you can likely pick your shots. Also, if that once in a lifetime buck shows himself at 325 yards, I would want my .270 not a 30-30.

Agreed

 

[fingers284]

Calm down. My comment was somewhat sarcastic but my point is that you can usually get closer than 300 yards. Everyone has given a lot of good advice. The OP has implied that he isn't trophy hunting, where you might only have one chance at that big buck. So, it really comes down to how much time you have to hunt. If you only have two days off work, then be prepared to take a longer poke. If you have five days you can likely pick your shots. Also, if that once in a lifetime buck shows himself at 325 yards, I would want my .270 not a 30-30.

if all I had was a 30-30 and a lifetime buck showed up at 325 yrds, I would be able to contribute to the next thread asking 'who uses 30-30 for deer" with first hand knowledge.

 

[tokguy]

if all I had was a 30-30 and a lifetime buck showed up at 325 yrds, I would be able to contribute to the next thread asking 'who uses 30-30 for deer" with first hand knowledge.

Practice, practice, practice! Can't stress that enough.
Years back I used a 38-55 much more...well invariably we wound one. It's like ED... no-one talks of it, but it happens.
Well I wounded a Doe at about 75 paces... she didn't pop out of a draw til she was much further away. Don't recall if I ranged her or used Kentucky windage. Flipped up the ladder and set it to the range ( not going to state it... but it was far past my comfort zone) and thanked my stars for practicing with ammunition that mirrored OEM.
I do the same thing with my Ross M-10; if you are gonna rock vintage arms, better be putting your range time in. Find a load to mirror the original and get shooting...get good before you put of the hunting boots

 

[coyoteking]

BTW, after the rangefinder, my best piece of kit is a Harris 13.5-27" bipod. Just low enough to shoot prone when collapsed and high enough to shoot from sitting. Some folks prefer the shooting sticks, though. 99% of the time, a sitting height shot is sufficient and probably 70% of the time I can shoot prone.

I used to do a lot of coyote calling, nearly all my kills were from seated with a 25” bipod. I often hunt deer with the long bipod after there’s a few inches of snow on the ground.

 

[Bratwurst]

No-one has mentioned it yet? You will need the distance gun for WT, would seem otherwise, but they are way smart and will likely be running hard by the time that you realize they are there.
Mule Deer are dumber than dumb... like JT / Biden dumb. Stop moving when they raise their head from grazing... continue to close distance when they resume grazing.
Don't worry about cougars... it's rare to even see one. I live 100 yds from Ross Creek at the start of the incline to the Cypress hills... they are there...you just don't see them.
Rattlesnakes are only an issue in the fall and near the river... folks will swear they are a problem as far as Suffield... BS. They usually stay within about 5 miles of the winter den... which is always on the river ...IMO
Don't fret on a semi... you really are only going to get 1 shot that counts...then they'll be moving fast anyhow ( don't be 'That guy' who bangs off 1 aimed and 4 Hail Mary's). You will be doing a fair bit of walking... quads might as well have a bell or siren on them ( most Ranchers frown on them I've found)... you want to lug around a semi? Heavier and too much crap protruding IMO.
Just my opinion... that and a toonie will get you a coffee. But my Avatar? Great Grandfather came up from Texas in 1900 something... we've lived here a while. Mostly on the central / west side of the 'Hat... Elkwater is insanely cool... it's basically were the 'Foothills' reappear. Glaciers wiped out everything between South of the Hat to the foothills. Really cool anomaly Geographical wise... decent ski hill in Elkwater says it all.

I might get some snake boots or leg protectors. As much as I like Snakes I don't like the idea of being bitten.

I vastly prefer semi's for a calm follow up shot. I've just found them superior in every way, even weight wise there really isn't much in it (depending on what you compare it against). No issues with carrying one, or protrusions it just isn't a concern.

I enjoy walking, but moving between Coulees seems to be a driving job.

Range is coming up as an undisputed factor and it definitely sounds like a really good bit of glass is a worthy investment for the longer range shots. I assume that dawn/dusk is when you see everything with very little in-between.

Calibre wise, I am still leaning towards .308 Winchester due to affordability for practice. There are unquestionably better calibres for long range shooting but I personally like to put a lot of rounds down range.

People keep mentioning coolies, what are they?

Edit: Google has unveiled the secrets of Coulees to me.

 

[rifleman762]

^^ Dawn and dusk are typically busier but I've shot plenty of mid-day deer, especially further from the road. I was carrying out a deer at about 2pm when I came across the rattlesnake that I mentioned. It was sunny and almost 20°. Those deer were about 5km from the nearest road access. Good, bright glass for dusk isn't as important as in the mountains of BC where you're hunting until an hour after sunset. Here it's only 1/2 hour after sunset and there are no mountains to block the sun early. I still use Leupold, mostly, but some of my guns wear Bushnell Elite 4500 scopes. They're perfectly adequate.

 

[tokguy]

I might get some snake boots or leg protectors. As much as I like Snakes I don't like the idea of being bitten.

I vastly prefer semi's for a calm follow up shot. I've just found them superior in every way, even weight wise there really isn't much in it (depending on what you compare it against). No issues with carrying one, or protrusions it just isn't a concern.

I enjoy walking, but moving between Coulees seems to be a driving job.

Range is coming up as an undisputed factor and it definitely sounds like a really good bit of glass is a worthy investment for the longer range shots. I assume that dawn/dusk is when you see everything with very little in-between.

Calibre wise, I am still leaning towards .308 Winchester due to affordability for practice. There are unquestionably better calibres for long range shooting but I personally like to put a lot of rounds down range.

People keep mentioning coolies, what are they?

Edit: Google has unveiled the secrets of Coulees to me.

Seriously; don't worry about the snakes, they'll all be denned up sleeping by Rifle season. Bow season is only gonna be dangerous if you are hunting near a river as they'll be heading home for winter.
And 308 is about right IMO... and nope, I don't have one ( perturbs me when folks pump up a caliber because they own one... means more when they give it a thumbs up just because it's good)