Need hunting advice for Alberta

Moose308

Moose308

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Victoria, BC
My huntin buddy and I are talking about what to do for 2012. The idea has come up that it might be fun to do a road trip to Alberta (or even Sask.) to do a relaxing hunt of some sort.

We were thinking it might be fun to do a buffet type hunt which would include,

- Prairie Dog
- Coyote
- Pheasent
- Bison

What I need is some info, especially if any of this is easily available to non-Albertan's. I would love to keep it on the cheaper side. Are there any outfits that won't gouge us for doing Praire Dogs, or a simple Pheasent hunt? We used to have a contact in Alberta that could have got us fairly inexpensive Boar and Bison, but that has dried up now. If anyone knows a reputable and not too expensive outfit that would cover the Bison angle that would be awesome.

Thanks
 
I don't think I have ever heard of a gopher outfitter, and non-residents can't hunt coyote here in Sask. Outfitters can get a coyote license but I don't know any that offer exclusive hunts, usually its get a deer early and go bang some coyotes.
 
That four species combination, isn't likely to happen in Alberta. To hunt prairie dogs, you need to go elsewhere, although there are ground squirrels to hunt in Alberta. The bison hunting doesn't normally occur in the same areas as wild pheasant hunting, which further complicates things.
 
If you mean prairie dogs (like the big-groundhog day type) they aren't in Alberta that I've ever seen or heard of, gophers you'd have to be in the heat of summer for sure. Pheasants-head to Brooks, they do a lot of that there, even have a huge international hunt every year. Buffalo, I think only way up north on a draw (for residents)...coyotes, come to my house about 11 at night and shoot them in my yard!
 
Cinch said:
Does AB really open up the draw Bison hunt to NR hunters?
Click to expand...

Nope but we have a non-regulated herd that is offered the same protection as gophers. There are some fenced shoots as well. The Zama herd is not open to non-residents though.
 
Holy Ole Chit........
Isn't Victoria part of B.C.?
You want cheap, swim off the island and explore the rest of this province.
L.E.H. and apply before it expires.
Boat people, for the life of me..............
 
kamlooky said:
Holy Ole Chit........
Isn't Victoria part of B.C.?
You want cheap, swim off the island and explore the rest of this province.
L.E.H. and apply before it expires.
Boat people, for the life of me..............
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input. Yes, I have "been off the island". In fact I have lived all over BC, and hunted all over BC, from Victoria to Port Hardy, Cranbrook to Dease Lake, Pemberton to Fort St. John.

My buddy and I were thinking about Alberta as a change of pace, not because we don't understand how to get off the island. Sometimes road-trips are fun just for the sake of having fun. The grass being greener and all that.

Ignorant people, for the life of me........
 
Logan_Lamothe said:
I don't think I have ever heard of a gopher outfitter
Click to expand...


A few years ago there was an outfitter written about in Predator Xtreme magazine. I won't list the name here as I'm sure he's a member but we all got a good laugh out of it. The American writer starts talking about how hard it is to hunt gophers in Alberta since you can't find them. The best way to do it is to hire an outfitter. Then he starts talking about how the only outfitter he can recommend is this guy, and how he can recommend him because of his quality and integrity. He then starts writting about how this guy has three clients stuffed into a suburban and has three rifles firing at a time out the windows while he drives it around! :D

Oh my God did we laugh! :D :D :D
 
It's my backyard and sort of a secret, well known secret that is as it's mentioned even in this thread, but we have an unregulated herd of Wood Bison, pretty large one (we fly the surveys to count them). That's up just West of Wood Buffalo National Park, and South of the Caribou Hills protected area. It is not easy, and is a different kind of hard to get to than nine out of ten dedicated hunters are used to. Plan a big budget for the ARGO rental etc, or sled train if going in winter (recommended). You have excellent Bison hunting in BC at Pink Mountain, and it's easy enough to get drawn if you keep putting in. I wouldn't bother coming to Alberta, I love my province but came from BC and we just can't quite compete to be honest. We're 80% of BC for hunting (200% for economics :p ), and pretty much the exact same flavour so not much point in the trip. The species you've listed give you up to a 1,500km spread to cover, and totally different seasons. You have untold adventure waiting there, and a guy can hunt his whole life in BC and never need another flavour except perhaps something warmer and drier like Africa. If bored of BC, try chasing Stone Sheep I'd say!
 
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