Hunting in north west Alberta wmu 440-446

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Chrisallaby

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Hey everyone. First post! The wife and I are planning a trip to grand cache this fall for some elk and mule deer and would like to know if anyone has any decent crown land spots for setting up a camper. Decent sized pulled by a 4x4. I know there is a lot of logging roads in the area just have never been up there. Any help would be appreciated.
 
Just off Highway 40 there's camping at Sheep Creek Recreational Area about 20 km N of Grande Cache, Amber Flats about 10 km N of Grande Cache and 1 more can't remember the name nearby on the E side of Highway 40. Among others. Check Google Maps satellite view.

Always amazed how green it is around there in the summer. :cool:
 
Far as I'm concerned, the whole area is in the green zone and you can camp anywhere you want in the bush.
May be certain access restrictions imposed by oilfield companies, the lease roads are theirs after all, but generally you can go wherever you want.
Be leery of sinking yourself in too deep pulling a camper so you don't get stuck if it rains.
 
Lease roads are private roads, built by the oil or logging companies.
Their radio control requirement is for commercial vehicles of any type, public vehicles are not required to have a radio on their roads.
Relatively inexpensive ones can be purchased and used if you want, but I have never done that.

Make sure you move well over when encountering large trucks so they can stay in their common wheel path, stop and allow them to cross any bridges first.
On the main travel lease roads get in behind a commercial vehicle and they will generally call in your location too if you remain in sight.
On the much less traveled side roads, just use some common sense, move over on blind curves, etc.
 
Bit of trivia up along Copton Creek not far from Grande Cache to the north Jack O'Connor wrote in The Rifle Book about his Moose hunting experience there. :cool:
 
It’s been a very dry summer but be warned that country can change in a big hurry.
A heavy rain in the high country can cause the creeks and rivers to change from a trickle to a torrent in minutes.
Had a real adventure years ago crossing the Wild Hay with a late afternoon bull moose.
Crossing in the morning was no issue.
Coming back loaded it was a different river entirely.
 
Smoky River downstream view from Sheep Creek PRA mentioned about 20 km N of Grande Cache was a few years ago. We were fishing when this Black Bear appeared from the treeline nearby & swam across. Swift flowing river quite a strong swimmer. :eek:

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I’d forget the roads and hunt the gates of Wilmore, Sulphur gates and up the main trail along the river. You can also get a nice campsite with basic facilities right there that will make it all easy.

Walk into the CO’s for a permit, there’s lots of Elk in there and it’s very low pressure despite being right on the edge of Grand Cache, as few bother when they hear you need a park permit. Thing is, the permit is free and takes 5 mins. Used to live there for a couple years, and always hunted the park, only hunted outside the park and Wilmore once. Ran into so many ATVs, side by sides, and road cruising pickups I was happy to return to the park.

I had a chat with a CO when I first moved there, and their immediate recommendation was hunt the park, they said that’s where they all hide when the ATVs and trucks start circulating. They weren’t wrong.
 
Norton said:
Lease roads are private roads, built by the oil or logging companies.
Their radio control requirement is for commercial vehicles of any type, public vehicles are not required to have a radio on their roads.
Relatively inexpensive ones can be purchased and used if you want, but I have never done that.

Make sure you move well over when encountering large trucks so they can stay in their common wheel path, stop and allow them to cross any bridges first.
On the main travel lease roads get in behind a commercial vehicle and they will generally call in your location too if you remain in sight.
On the much less traveled side roads, just use some common sense, move over on blind curves, etc.
Click to expand...

Good advice.

Grizz
 
4fifty8 said:
Bit of trivia up along Copton Creek not far from Grande Cache to the north Jack O'Connor wrote in The Rifle Book about his Moose hunting experience there. :cool:
Click to expand...

Think he hunted sheep on the back side of Willmore as well, coming in from BC. I worked seismic around Grand Cache, one winter about 50 years ago. No end of moose, that's changed.

Grizz
 
Ardent said:
At least a half a km, if looking for elk and black bear.
Click to expand...

I think it was 1991, we left with horses from Sulphur Gates staging area , made it as far as Clark's crossing, with horses. We did see one Black Bear and some elk. Interesting trip. Buddy had the angle wrong on the horse trailer and between Winfield and Edson we blew three tires. No suitable places to camp and one of our guys found his wife had left him , when we got back. :redface:

Grizz
 
Oddly enough these days, the best place to day hunt is just off the staging area / campground right by Sulphur Gates. They go hide in there from all the road cruising happening outside the park, the first CO I bumped into in town when moving there said everyone is herding them in there for you. It’s a 5 minute free permit, and hardly anyone bothers to get one.

I’ve enjoyed a good deal of the extreme isolation and wondering if you’re still married on the BC north coast however.
 
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