Clinton or Mcleese Lake ?

[Jelvis]

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[Boo]

Also hows the hunting pressure in these two areas in the last few seasons? :|

Both areas are gong shows. Lots of mature deer all over the province right now thanks to seven mild winters back to back so any place is as good as another.

[dana]

Jelvis,
Mcleese lake would be my pick as Clinton still falls in Region 3 and I already know you've got those Kamloops bucks figured out.

[30-06]

i saw a beautiful 3 pointer white tail and and even nicer 4x5 still in velvet on my drive home yesterday.

[ruger#1]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/big_buck1.jpg (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=1389&ppuser=699)Heres a clinton mulie rack. not an elk

[Jelvis]

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[ruger#1]

sorry jel , these were sheds found south of clinton, that bugger might of died of old age. i go up mid to end of october. some snow, rattled some nice mulies out , and seen my first whitetail there about three years ago. seen the odd moose and cougar up there to. i also like the upper hat creek road, seen some big bucks there, on horse back. lots of whitetails in that area. counted 11 bears in an hours drive . in hat creek area.

[Jelvis]

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[DBM]

Clinton is a zoo! I went once, never again. We walked in a ways but I'll bet the time we went there was a road hunter driving by every 2 or 3 minutes.

[mapguy]

moose deer and sheep close to clinton mclease lake has moose and deer

[BCrams]

Jelvis -

You seem to have alot of information at the tip of your fingers by your own means or from your cousin / uncle (??) who has shot a couple big bucks.

I think you need to pick an area for yourself and go with the flow and get to know an area on your own terms and not because Joe Blow told you to go hunting there.

Both Clinton and Mcleese Lake are busy with hunters. Both also have produced big bucks. Pick a spot and enjoy the hunt and learn from it on your own........then when a new guy/gal like you comes on line asking where to go - just remember you posted the same question and you'll will tell him / her where to go !!

[mark]

ive hunted both places lots, both good areas, but ya got to get off the roads to avoid traffic jams. if yer undecided go to clinton cuz its closer. to consistently pull big bucks you have to get to know an area well. with gas prices im trying to stay closer to home these days!

[Jelvis]

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[BCrams]

Snow ???? In October ...... thats wishful thinking .... but you never know .... you might get a freak snowstorm. You'd be lucky to see snow in November the way things have been going the last few years.

[dime]

Mcleese has no open moose season, so the only legal game without an LEH draw is mule deer (few whitetails in the area- in the last 6 years I have seen one, and it was a little dink). We hunt there every year and are seriously considering going elsewhere due to hunting pressure. It is an unusual day even mid week that there is not 3-4 trucks passing by every time you stop for a walk out along a ridgeline or clear cut. As the popularity of the area has been strong, the deer population has been affected, last year we hunted hard for a week with 4 guys and only one came back with anything worth shooting.
Having said that Clinton suffers from the same problem- too many hunters on too few FSRs. I am thinking even with the price of gas, Prince george with its spike fork season and mulies may be the best alternative.
Whatever you decide, best of luck.

[Jelvis]

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[Schmaus]

My last few trips to McLeese lake weren't very eventful we used too get a lot of action down there 10 years ago but it seems like its overhunted now.

[BCrams]

Overhunted ....... I will agree there are ALOT of hunters, but the big bucks have not been shot out.

They're still there, just a tad smarter than the average joe's hunting the area.

Get a little bold and do everything the opposite that most every other hunter is doing and most of all ...... never mind .... I can't reveal the secrets to success........;)

[Jelvis]

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[Timbow]

Well I'll add my two bits. If you rifle hunt, a 160" buck out of Mclesse lake is not uncommon. I've seen many bucks in the 140-160" and I only travel 35 minutes south of my home. I bowhunt so trying to get one these bucks is a lit more difficult. This year I will be hunting with a rifle and will hopefully fill a tag on a 170" or better. Honestly, I have seen more bigger bucks within the last 5 years than 10 years ago.

If you know where to hunt in Mclesse Lake you will connect on a 160" buck or better of crown land, I guarantee it.

Tim

[LeverActionJunkie]

I can't really ad anything that hasn't been said here bfore, BCrams brings up some good points go with you gut. there are alot of hunters in both areas but like I've said before getting off the roads will get you along ways towards a big buck. I'm no expert but would geuss 80% of guys hunting the area only hunt areas accessible by truck or ATV, I've only ever spotted one pair of hunters hiking while I was glassing NW of Maiden creek and they were about 300yrds from th road.

[Jelvis]

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[Jelvis]

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[Gateholio]

Get a little bold and do everything the opposite that most every other hunter is doing and most of all ...... never mind .... I can't reveal the secrets to success........;)

You mean...

Like get off of the ATV/truck and walk up a hill?:lol: 8)

[Jelvis]

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[kgriz]

This spot, that spot........Go with your gut, talk to someone
Blah, blah, blah. Pick a general area, Talk to someone at the forest service or mill or consultant, get some timber-type maps find areas that are Douglas-fir leading. Go look, you're bound to find spots nobody else goes to off the road. It doesn't matter where you pick, target these spots, they'll be there.:-D

[Timbow]

The moose are there and so are the deer. IMO, if you wanted a decent buck and want to try for a LEH moose, late season is the best time. I wouldn't hesitate to try for the last bull LEH of the season. People under estimate the moose population around Mcleese Lake.

[Jelvis]

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[Jelvis]

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[tufferthandug]

Jellybelly;

Since the rumour is that Ol Region 5 will be down for the count by Nov. 10th, I'll try to help you in the right direction.

Mcleese is a great late season hunt, (November 10th and on). Picture big bucks out in Likely in September. Now October they have travelled half way to Mcleese. Finally the first week of November.... They are almost there:). Check it out on a map.

[Jelvis]

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[Jelvis]

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[hunter1947]

Mcleese lake is the better of the two places in my books. Tyee lake area is good I hunted there about 20 years ago and we got a couple nice mule deer. The road turn off is on your right headed north on hi way 97. You turn right right in the little town of mcleese lake. Head back into Tyee lake you can camp there beside the lake The forestry camp site is about the half ways down the lake. You can also head into Tyee lake before you get to Mcleese lake you turn right onto Lyne creek main line it is about 20lkm befor you get to mcleese lake. Just head out from your camp pick an area and hunt it.

[Jelvis]

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[Jelvis]

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[boonerbuck]

moose deer and sheep close to clinton mclease lake has moose and deer

The sheep are just as close to MCleese as they are Clinton. They are the Fraser sheep right?;)

[Jelvis]

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[plumbob]

Mclease lake is excellent hunting I've taken some real nice bucks out of that area over the years.But I have hunted it for just about twenty years.All I can say is get off the beaten trail,yes it's busy but they are there and yes lots of them.Same as moose.As timbow posted.

[Jelvis]

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[Jelvis]

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[Jelvis]

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[browningboy]

Empire valley, Gang Ranch, Jethro, Big Riley etc.. there are many nice places to go but if I were to go after BIG mulies, it would be close to the fraser up by empire valley, moose well maybey more by dog creek (LEH).
My 2 cents.

[Jelvis]

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[browningboy]

So your saying Clinton which is closer to those places you mentioned. I sometimes see a big four point in the fields close to Clinton. Jel-ton.


Well there's two sides to each, the fraser river basin grows them big (mulies) however McLesse is a nice area that holds ALOT of deer, if it were a trophy mule, I would lean towards the fraser area but if you are looking for meat, then I would go to McLesse, it really depends on what you're after....a hunt for a trophy...any buck to fill my freezer...8-)

[Jelvis]

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[bigelow]

Check the BC Record Book ! All kinds of book deer from McCleese Lake. Try Tyhee lake area Blue Lake area,or along the Fraser river. 20 minute drive puts you across the Fraser on the Johnson Bridge for a change of scenery, Till Lake area Tingley Creek Bruisers as well as good eats. Perhaps that is why people hunt there!!!!!

[dime]

I responded to this thread in 2006 and I will say the same thing now. 20 years ago Mcleese was a great place to hunt. Now, you see a lot more people on quads than you do deer. We hunted there in 2007 and despite the fact that we were 5 guys hitting the bush hard there for over a week, did not fill our doe tag. One little three point and a lot of tag soup for the time we were there. The guys in the next camp (one of about 20 camps on the Beedy/700 road) had not even one deer hanging and were there before we arrived and left later. I lost count of the number of guys in trucks and quads, and even when we are out in the bush you are running into guys everywhere. I have said it before, we are done with Mcleese, and heading for the Koots. Good luck whatever you decide to do.

[Timbow]

I responded to this thread in 2006 and I will say the same thing now. 20 years ago Mcleese was a great place to hunt. Now, you see a lot more people on quads than you do deer. We hunted there in 2007 and despite the fact that we were 5 guys hitting the bush hard there for over a week, did not fill our doe tag. One little three point and a lot of tag soup for the time we were there. The guys in the next camp (one of about 20 camps on the Beedy/700 road) had not even one deer hanging and were there before we arrived and left later. I lost count of the number of guys in trucks and quads, and even when we are out in the bush you are running into guys everywhere. I have said it before, we are done with Mcleese, and heading for the Koots. Good luck whatever you decide to do.

Things have definitely changed in 20 years at Mcleese Lake. A lot more deer now. Sorry to read your post about your experience on this area, but if you're not in the right spot, any where for that matter, it won't produce. The big ones are there.

What time of year did you hunt it? Personally, I would stay clear from Beedy Crk/700 rd for the simple fact of too many hunters.

[Jelvis]

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[Jelvis]

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[cariboobill]

I live here in Region 5 hunted all over it and many other regions. I like region 7 around the Peace River. Better bucks, more of them and bigger. And as a bonus, less hunters and quads! Region 5 is recovering, from past years pressure, and has small bucks, with very few big ones.

Good luck

[Jelvis]

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[Jelvis]

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[Jelvis]

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[boonerbuck]

moose deer and sheep close to clinton mclease lake has moose and deer

The sheep actually come up as far as Mcleese(barely)...but on the other side of the river.:wink:

[boonerbuck]

I live here in Region 5 hunted all over it and many other regions. I like region 7 around the Peace River. Better bucks, more of them and bigger. And as a bonus, less hunters and quads! Region 5 is recovering, from past years pressure, and has small bucks, with very few big ones.

Good luck

It seemed to have peaked around 2003/2004 imo.:icon_frow

[Bigbear]

The Mcleese Lake Area Has A lot of Nice Bucks , Plus there is a Lot of lakes in the area that a Person can set up a nice Camp. mabe do a little fishin, to. give me a call Maybe I can steer you in the right direction.
Kelly
250-392-7770

[Jelvis]

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[born2hunt]

heck just go with what jelvis say's he's knows best and is NEVER wrong