Where to hunt whitetail in Alberta

tigertrout

tigertrout

Regular
Rating - 100%
107   0   0
Location
Land of the barking dog
Let me start by saying that I don t expect anyone to give up their honey hole for some easterner, just looking for a direction.


I am an experienced whitetail hunter and have hunted and taken some very nice bucks primarily in Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan. I have been invited to hunt whitetails in Alberta with a resident of the province, i am very grateful and look forward to the experience, however my hunter host is new to the sport and has no idea as to what area we should go to have a good chance at harvesting a good buck. So, my question is are there any areas you can recommend that would narrow down our chances at a good buck.

Once I have an idea I can start to try and obtain permission. I have heard that east of Red dear can be productive. We will not be using a guiding service and prefer to hoof it on our on. If there's good deer in an area we can usually figure out how to tag out and are used to many different types of terrain and techniques.

Any help would be appreciated. My next call will be the ministry.

Thx Sean
 
Alberta is a big place. Right now my answer would be north, south, east, and west have an abundance of white tail deer, pick a spot. If you narrow down the area and how far you and your buddy are willing to travel / stay WRT that area, that would definitely make it easier.
 
tigertrout said:
Let me start by saying that I don t expect anyone to give up their honey hole for some easterner, just looking for a direction.


I am an experienced whitetail hunter and have hunted and taken some very nice bucks primarily in Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan. I have been invited to hunt whitetails in Alberta with a resident of the province, i am very grateful and look forward to the experience, however my hunter host is new to the sport and has no idea as to what area we should go to have a good chance at harvesting a good buck. So, my question is are there any areas you can recommend that would narrow down our chances at a good buck.

Once I have an idea I can start to try and obtain permission. I have heard that east of Red dear can be productive. We will not be using a guiding service and prefer to hoof it on our on. If there's good deer in an area we can usually figure out how to tag out and are used to many different types of terrain and techniques.

Any help would be appreciated. My next call will be the ministry.

Thx Sean
Click to expand...
There many good places to hunting whitetails in Alberta, however; if you are after a big buck then you are on right track by starting from Red Deer. I really don't mind telling you where I hunt, I have mentioned it before on other threads, we shot a lot of big whitetails and don't mind sharing . I hunt the Slave Lake area along the forest fringe, river systems, cut lines, and meadows. It's big country up there and nothing but a boreal desert of coniferous and deciduouas forest. If there were no big mature whitetails up there I would not venture, but they are there.
Here are some from last year the year before. We shot many other mature bucks but to lazy to show them all, well you get what's up there.



 
East from Edmonton to the Sask border has some great whitetails, but so does a lot of other parts of the province...if you go more north or west you will find more crown land that you can hunt without getting permission. A good portion of the province is private land.
 
After several very tough winters in recent years, don't expect a lot regardless of where you go. Deer hunting is going to be tough for a number of years to come.
 
I talked with a biologist from the province today and she of course admits that there have been some bad winters but also says that in her fly overs (only in her areas) that she is counting a very healthy herd of good size whitetails. She admits numbers are down but says the older bucks are still surviving and appear to quite healthy. It's not a perfect science but it's the best they have.
 
Last edited:
Mortality typically occurs in March/April so what they are seeing now may not be indicative of what to expect in the fall. I'm not saying don't come but I am saying don't get your hopes up. Our herds are in dismal shape and trophy bucks are way down. It's going to take several good winters before we get back to normal. Considering the fact they are cutting supplemental tags for 2014....our herds are anything but healthy.
 
Whitetails

I hear you sheep hunter

Numbers are down across Canada, Quebec, Ontario , Saskatchewan and all parts in between.
I understand there are no guarantees and really am only looking to enjoy the trip in your beautiful province.
Getting a nice deer would be icing on the cake.

For instance, My recommendation for anyone coming to Ontario would be
That as in Alberta there are deer everywhere in the province and that monsters can be shot on occasion just about anywhere but to narrow your chances if you want a real good buck, bad winters or not hunt the North near Dryden, that's your best shot, no pun intented. That's really all I m looking for, I can figure out the rest.

Thx
 
The deer population decreased by about 30% in the area where we hunt, however my son managed to harvest one buck that officially gross scored 187 B&C. I passed-up three bucks that went 160 B&C and there were many others that went 140 to 150 B&C. This year I would presume that populations will decrease again, but that won't stop me from going............can't get a big buck thinking populations and decreased opportunity, there is always a big buck around.
 
Hi,
I am new to hunting and living in Montreal, have no idea where the public land (crown land) is for hunting for big game, small game, just a location for legal hunting.
As OP said, I don't expect anyone to give up their honey hole to me, just looking for public land, or tell me how to find public land.
Thanks,
 
track said:
The deer population decreased by about 30% in the area where we hunt, however my son managed to harvest one buck that officially gross scored 187 B&C. I passed-up three bucks that went 160 B&C and there were many others that went 140 to 150 B&C. This year I would presume that populations will decrease again, but that won't stop me from going............can't get a big buck thinking populations and decreased opportunity, there is always a big buck around.
Click to expand...

x2. Deer populations have been unusually high and in the end weren't sustainable. Things are going to be more normal for a while, you're actually gonna have to work to fill your tag. ;)

Grizz
 
Arwho said:
Hi,
I am new to hunting and living in Montreal, have no idea where the public land (crown land) is for hunting for big game, small game, just a location for legal hunting.
As OP said, I don't expect anyone to give up their honey hole to me, just looking for public land, or tell me how to find public land.
Thanks,
Click to expand...
Are you asking where public land is in Quebec or Alberta; if Alberta, here is a Fish and Wildlife District Office number in Edmonton. 1-780-427-3574. Sorry can't help you with Quebec.
 
Grizzly Adams said:
x2. Deer populations have been unusually high and in the end weren't sustainable. Things are going to be more normal for a while, you're actually gonna have to work to fill your tag. ;)

Grizz
Click to expand...
Work? Filling tag? LOL! Hunting has "never" been work for me, however a labor of love. Just walking or sitting in the wilderness, cradling a firearm, is good enough for me, and if I decide to shoot something, it's a little cherry on top............I try to remain humble.
 
sheephunter said:
Mortality typically occurs in March/April so what they are seeing now may not be indicative of what to expect in the fall. I'm not saying don't come but I am saying don't get your hopes up. Our herds are in dismal shape and trophy bucks are way down. It's going to take several good winters before we get back to normal. Considering the fact they are cutting supplemental tags for 2014....our herds are anything but healthy.
Click to expand...


Is that true!? I sure hope so!! They should never have brought that is, up in the Swan Hills areas, where I hunt. Deer numbers have dropped steadily every year since the $$$ hungry bastards brought in doe tags... they need to completely shut down the supplemental tags in 349, 350, 351 etc....
 
I lived and hunted there for 12 years before moving to NB, we hunted just NE of Lac La Biche and near west of Drayton Valley.



Always found deer.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom