Alberta elk draw

[Blacktail]

Yup....just got all the gear together
Talked to Matt about his hunt and two guys that are on the base out in the field everyday.
Hopefully we can turn this around for the best
See you four out at the meeting in the morning for sure.

[sheephunterab]

Best of luck guys!

[srupp]

Hmm just finished day 1..
130 hunters..plus helpers
1 spike elk harvested by one other hunter
Fog all day 40 feet visibility. .dawn till dusk
Over 400 kms traveled
80 pronghorn real close
3 big mulies bucks
2 mulies does
Couple owls
The morning brieging warned of few elk in legal areas..over 65 % of base out of bounds.
Saw one set of elk tracks? Didnt see a elk of any sorts..and we looked till our eyes bled..lol
Bribed range officers with smoked candy salmon..to no avail..pretty easy day for 6 officers..check one elk all day..
4 am wake up..day 2 starts in mere hours..yaaaaaaawn
Steven

[IronNoggin]

... 4 am wake up..day 2 starts in mere hours..yaaaaaaawn

Our day 2 was basically fogged out all day too. That actually made a few move into the Go Zone.
Did not shoot until last day when we were there...
Stick with it Buddy! Pulling for you!!

Cheers,
Nog

[Blacktail]

The fog today certainly didn't make any of them move into the go zones.
Talked to a fella that had about 250 on the Komati side of the river.
We covered about 90% of the huntable area today with no sightings or even a sniff of a track.
Fog advisory for the base again tomorrow.
Can't take the time to hunt on Wednesday so think I will cut my losses and forgo the frustration and sleep in tomorrow

[coach]

[srupp]

Hmm yesterday..day one. .4 INCH antler bull, cow elk that had its leg shot off last week was harvested by Swedish army..aka native..good job.so 2 day 1
None by anyone today..50 % gave up after yesterday.

Another 450 kms..
Only 30 % of base was open..hmmmmmmmmmm
Seen 300 antelope..
100 plus deer..
Seen 300 elk..some decent bulls..all 100 % in the wildlife reserve..out of bounds..
2 days 900 plus kms..no elk on the base..
1 set of tracks. .10 yards onto base then back out of bounds..
No elk seen by any hunters up till 1600 hrs..that were on base..actually no one even seen a set of tracks
Matt got it done..we decided to stay one more day and hunt from dawn till dark..
It started - 12 and ended at + 5 insane temp swings..
No elk at all so far on the base..IMO..none but the spike and 3 legged cow elk..not even legitimate tracks other than 10 yards. .
Last day tommorrow..and it has 100 more hunters for cows elk....some very upset hunters 70 % of the base closed off to hunting..
No planning or consideration of $ time, effort to help eliminate some elk...Roy is far smarter than me..Matt far better hunter..
Another 500 kms tommorrow with 200 licenses..and natives..potential for 250 vehicles?
At one time today seen..18 vehicles bumper to bumper cruising for non existent elk . frustrated.
Nite
Steven

[tinhorse]

Just think of how much you'll appreciate the BC open season next year where you can drive to an area, hike for 5 minutes and not see anybody the entire day. Good luck. Hope they come out for you tomorrow.

[IronNoggin]

Hope our mutual Buddies were able to provide some decent advice Steve!
Don't toss in the towel yet Man! Collected that spike the last day when we were there!
Pulling for You Big Guy!!

Here's Hoping!!

Cheers,
Nog

[358mag]

Coach
Spot on !!!