MU 5-03 Report???

[CooperSscat]

Anybody recently back from MU 5-03? How's the game doing this season? Are the mule deer rutting yet? How are the road conditions?

My Dad and I may go for our mulie antlerless draw in mid November and then back again for 4 pointers in late November. Thanks.

Jeremy

[Farmer John]

Thanks for the Update. I'll be heading up there for a few days after the 10 day break. Guess I better pick up some chains.

[CooperSscat]

Thanks for the report Mpotzold!

I've seen a dead horse and a dead cow on roadside on different trips in between Clinton and the Fraser. We've also been through cattle drives just up from Canoe Creek IR too!

Is the Gang Ranch well posted for no hunting/shooting boundaries? We don't want to endanger them or their livestock, or piss them off....

Your photos are warming me up to huting the West side of the Fraser-big time-thanks again!

Jeremy

[tomahawk]

Was in the area last weekend also, Oct 31-Nov 2 for 2.5 days of hunting, crunchy snow up high, some dry roads lower but many were wet and snotty, chains were a must for hill climbing. Bucks were definetly in the pre-rut stage and willingly came to the "tending buck grunt" call.

[CooperSscat]

I'll check out Google Earth tonight Mpotzold! Thanks for the help!

Jeremy

[CooperSscat]

OK copy that Mpotzold.

We've got a backroad mapbook of area too so that should help out.

Jeremy

[Stresd]

In 5:3 on the weekend. Saw at least 30 does. Only one group that we saw had a two point with them. Considering the amount of small Doe groups we saw we thought we should have seen more buckswith them at this time of the month.

[CooperSscat]

It's official now; my Dad and I are heading off tomorrow for a 2 day MU 5-03 Zone A Hunt!

Full report to follow later this week.

Jeremy

[CooperSscat]

My Dad and I are back from hunting the hills above Gang Ranch. We did a quick 2 day scout/hunt. The only buck we saw zipped across the Meadow Lake road while we were blitzing our way west towards the Fraser at 60-70 kph.

There were a few deer on the Gang Ranch property and none were ID'd as bucks. All were groups of does or does with yearlings/fawns.

The only legal game we saw was a doe and fawn just off a road that didn't stick around. No bucks were seen in Zone A by us.

We did a trek over to the Churn Main and only saw wolf and moose sign up that high. We went as far as the 35KM boundry for hunters/hunting.

We were going to try to return the Gang on Day one along the North side of Gaspard Creek but we could not find the road. There was active logging along a road(2210??) just North of the Gaspard Camp that is likely the road you suggested Mpotzold. We opted to return along the South side of Gaspard. Perhaps next week we'll try that road going East to West.

Summary: Overall I was not impressed with the amount of sign and movement of deer in the area. There was patchie snow(1") shade/timber as low as 800 meters and areas of 2" of snow up high above 1500 m. The roads are in great shape as we were in the minuses the bulk of our time there(low of -9 on the 2nd morning). I still can't wait to get back there for next weekend! I'll post some photos shortly....

Jeremy

[CooperSscat]

Here are some photos of our scout/LEH antlerless trip.

On the Meadow Lake road. BlackDome off in the distance well into shooting light on Day 1.
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs092.snc3/15957_338534825453_608685453_9801408_6687138_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=9801390&id=608685453)

My Dad. He's 11 weeks post open heart/aortic valve replacement. What a trooper for coming out! He'll be out with us again next weekend!
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs092.snc3/15957_338534740453_608685453_9801393_3949122_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=9801390&id=608685453)

Looking East and down to the Gang Ranch resevoir.
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs092.snc3/15957_338534715453_608685453_9801390_7799117_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=9801390&id=608685453)

Gang Ranch antlerless mulies.
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs092.snc3/15957_338534785453_608685453_9801400_1888150_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=9801390&id=608685453)

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs092.snc3/15957_338534780453_608685453_9801399_2927724_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=9801390&id=608685453)

For all the Geology nuts out there. Dad tells me they are columnar basalt formations. South side of Gaspard Creek.
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs092.snc3/15957_338534735453_608685453_9801392_5103424_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=9801390&id=608685453)

Fuel for my Dad's rig.
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs092.snc3/15957_338534775453_608685453_9801398_588183_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=9801390&id=608685453)

[blackbart]

Good on ya for getting out with your Dad. Don't give up just yet, it sounds like you haven't.

Have fun on your next trip. Regardless of the outcome game wise, I am confident that you will look back on it as a success in years to come.