Q: At any point, did you feel safety was an issue?
A: Not really, most of the hunters were quite aware of what was around, though at times it did feel like the wild west. Some of the hunters would empty a mag into the elk herd and that lead to several injured animals. Not all the hunters were very ethical in that sense, but I never personally felt like I was in danger.
Q: Where did you stay during the evenings?
A: I stayed at my house in Medicine Hat, as I am posted to CFB Suffield. That being said, there are quite a few different hotels in Medicine Hat (A 50 KM Drive from the base) that are available for someone to stay at. Best bet is to shop around as the prices vary from $49/Night up to hundreds a night.
Q:How close were you able to get before you engaged the Elk?
A: This is an embarrassing questions quite honestly. I had walked up to the elk herd to what I though was 250-300M (an easy shot for myself with my 30-06 as that's the range I zero at and normally practice at). After I shot my elk I returned to my truck and reset the Odometer at the spot I shot and drove to my elk, it was just over 600m.
That being said after my shot the herd only moved off about 100m (and this was after I started approaching with the truck) and watched me. About 20 minutes into field dressing my elk the herd returned around me (I could reach out and touch them) and hung out around me for a solid half hour. I took my elk in one of the smaller herds of 500 or so and I didn't personally see some of the large herds that are around (Numbering 2000+). From experience unless you are driving a tank or firing arty they don't really react to small arms fire unless its a large number of hunters.
