Where the buffalo roam

Dogleg

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I've got small property (800 acres)up against the Prince Albert National park that we share with the local wildlife. My son and I were out sledding today and interrupted these guys at their mid-day meal. The Sturgeon River herd is the only free-range plains bison herd in their historic range in Canada. There are other pockets of transplants here and there, but they are either fenced or up in the old range of the Woodland sub species. Every once in a while we get to see them. Sorry but this was the best I could do with my phone.

 
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I always have to roll my eyes, when people talk about the distinction between Plains and Woodlands bison. Like our Natives, been so much messing around, no such thing as a purebred anymore. :) Are they fair game if they leave the Park, like in Alberta ?

Grizz
 
I always have to roll my eyes, when people talk about the distinction between Plains and Woodlands bison. Like our Natives, been so much messing around, no such thing as a purebred anymore. :) Are they fair game if they leave the Park, like in Alberta ?

Grizz
The past 16 years I have been hunting this exact area for whitetails. I see bison every year and always take the time to view and photograph them. Once in a white we see Native hunters remove problem bison. The government was approached by a group of land owners to have a special license to harvest the odd animal, however it has not been approved, or they are still debating it. No one can hunt them except First Nation People, which I have no problem with.
 
I'd love to have a rib-eye steak, even if it's just one! Keep an eye open for Kelly, he's likely not very far away back in the bush.
 
I always have to roll my eyes, when people talk about the distinction between Plains and Woodlands bison. Like our Natives, been so much messing around, no such thing as a purebred anymore. :) Are they fair game if they leave the Park, like in Alberta ?

Grizz

Go into Northern BC, the Liard or North of the Lake and then come back to me with the lack of purebred argument.
 
Go into Northern BC, the Liard or North of the Lake and then come back to me with the lack of purebred argument.

It's like our Alberta Elk, just about wiped out until imports were made from Yellowstone, back in the Twenties. bison are all descended from less than a half dozen herds of US origin that were re-introduced and shifted around to suit the powers that be. Used to be a National Park at Wainwright, stocked with bison from the Flathead reserve in Montana. When the park was dissolved in 1939, some of those were sent to Wood Buffalo Park. I stick by my argument. ;)
 
One of those fellas sure gave my buddy and I a scare on a hike in PA National Park back in 2005. Never been so close to a live bison in my life!
 
One of those fellas sure gave my buddy and I a scare on a hike in PA National Park back in 2005. Never been so close to a live bison in my life!

I was once in the Pink Mountain area driving my quad on little trails. Came around a corner and there was a big bull bison in his bed, right on my trail. I didn't know that quad could stop so fast!
 
Crossed paths with them last fall doing the back trail tour to Big River for breakfast. Nice to see them without a fence in between.

I know Gord Vaadeland and a few riders used to ease those particular shaggies back into the park in days past, but I haven't heard of it lately. Do you know if they still do it Dogleg?

I have a neighbor here who feedlots bison at his place. Its a shame to see them standing in their own sh!t eating out of bale feeders like cows. It's the first place I'll be going if the zombie apocalypse hits :)
 
Crossed paths with them last fall doing the back trail tour to Big River for breakfast. Nice to see them without a fence in between.

I know Gord Vaadeland and a few riders used to ease those particular shaggies back into the park in days past, but I haven't heard of it lately. Do you know if they still do it Dogleg?

I have a neighbor here who feedlots bison at his place. Its a shame to see them standing in their own sh!t eating out of bale feeders like cows. It's the first place I'll be going if the zombie apocalypse hits :)
Gord Vaadeland still operates under the name of "Sturgeon River Ranch" and offers horse ride tours in and out of Prince Alberta National Park. We either stay at his or his brothers ranch when we hunt whitetails. While my son was sitting with his back to a round bale, three bison paraded by him at 30 yards. He was after this particular buck that came out of the bush at the same time the bison walked by. The 300 weatherby roared, the bison scattered and the buck..............well.

 
Wood Bison bull and cow from work, taken from inside the heli on a cell phone. Word to the wise, when they crap, it's because they're getting ready to run. Once in awhile they run a direction you'd prefer they didn't, between them and the Grizzlies it keeps the bush interesting. Mostly, both just stand there and stare at you however.

 
Wood Bison bull and cow from work, taken from inside the heli on a cell phone. Word to the wise, when they crap, it's because they're getting ready to run. Once in awhile they run a direction you'd prefer they didn't, between them and the Grizzlies it keeps the bush interesting. Mostly, both just stand there and stare at you however.


Yes the wood bison are fricken huge....I was up on the Kechika a few years ago in my riverboat and had a big bull come walking towards me doing the side to side swaying thing. I'm not sure if that's the way they walk or if he was showing his stuff but I'd sure hate to have one charge.
 
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