quote:

I'd love to hutn bison in BC, problem is gettig a tag at 300 to 1 odds!!

That was even worse that Utah, which has a free ranging herd in the Henry Mountains. (This is in addition to the Antelope Island hunt near Salt Lake City.)

As recall from a few years ago when I lived there the odds were something like 1 in 117 or thereabout for a bull in the Henry's. Cows were a little better (something like 1 in 24).

I am still technically a Utah resident I suppose but don't put in for the Bison hunt there anymore. I think the state auction tag usually goes for around $8000 so, if you REALLY want to hunt the Henries (I wouldn't touch the Antelope Island shoot), put $50 a month in a mutual fund or something and you will have the price of that tag in no time compared to waiting to draw! That said, and as mentioned above, for $8000 you can get a tag AND be fully guided for free roaming bison any number of places.

JMHO,

John

I have hunted the bison outside of the Wood Bison National Park in November of 2004 with two friends who also post on here.

Myself and IanF came across on the Hunter Host programe and no, you do not need an outfir or even tags to hunt the bison there.

It was cold, although the rivers hadn't frozen up properly allowing us good access with our base camp. (campervan)

We saw no game in the area at all, just some wolf tracks and on the 3rd last day found bison tracks and even hair. Finding a resident mad trapper was a strike of luck. He was very wary and untrustworthy at first, suspecting we were some kind of outfit or hoping to gain some kind of profit from the excersize, but over a few beers eventually he showed us where we could find the bison.

It was a long ways from our base camp up an overgrown and deadfall ridden trail that we had already tried to pass.

With 2 days to go and some good directions we set off with a teepee and hoped to make it to the magical spot in time.

Alas we did not make it. Too many trees had to be cuts off off the road and the encroachment of teh willows over the trail made travel very slow on our ATVs.

For the future we know where to go for the bison, but it is not an easy hunt. Logistically or physically.

Contact me if you would like to find out more about it.

quote:

Originally posted by EXPRESS:
It was cold, although the rivers hadn't frozen up properly allowing us good access with our base camp. (campervan)



It was a long ways from our base camp up an overgrown and deadfall ridden trail that we had already tried to pass.

Alas we did not make it. Too many trees had to be cuts off off the road and the encroachment of teh willows over the trail made travel very slow on our ATVs.

For the future we know where to go for the bison, but it is not an easy hunt. Logistically or physically.

.

Fuck'n A!
The extreme sports of hunting. This is why I love bison hunting so much.
I remember on one of the school hunts I guided, I was breaking trail with my big Skandic 600. The school princple who was following at the rear said my machine sounded like a D8 cat ahead of him.

Don't get me wrong, I have done alot of cursing on these bison hunts. Sticks in the face, frostbite, bent rifle barrel, trying to find a trail in the dark so you can get to camp, flipping my machine and on and on.
After one tough bison hunt this winter it took me three days to recover.
Bison are smart and very adaptable. They are one of my favorite big game animals to hunt.

I can't wait till next year.

Daryl

I was the hunter host that Express went up north with, it was very interesting to say the least. Tough to get to, but now that we've done the recon work, I would expect the next trip to be easier. Still, It's a pretty isolated area, with access by air (easiest) or snowmobile/quad (much more work, and which one you use depends on the weather. We've had very mild winters here the last couple of years, so going up the ice (our original plan) didn't work, and as Express mentioned, the trails are very grown over and tough going. You basically have to cut your way in, chainsaw and axe work, and a lot of it. I plan on trying again though, hopefully this winter. - dan

That's right, Dan was our gracious host, along with two other friends of his. The company was great, we put in the hard yards to get to the area and spent many days scouting and cutting trails on the quads.

A future trip would have a high probability of success and hopefully we will make it one day too.
On a sie note there is very little game in the general area so unless you are just after bison you are wasting your time.

Blazing trails on the quads was the worst part, with the "whumping willows" taking a toll on our patience and eyes. Remember to take goggles. We didn't and paid the price. Every time you think you're safe to open them and take a peek at the trail another bloody willow whacks you tiny gap between the hood and jacket.

Snowmobiles would have an advantake over the quads if there was more snow, since you are lower down and can get behind the wind shield to avoid the barnches, but in our case we decided on the quads because the terrain was not always suited to a snowmobile.

Those buffalo will hopefully still be there and free for the taking until next time can come along.

Free Ranging Bison:

I have hunted moose in WMU 528 just south of Ft. Vermilian . Saw tracks and chips but no buffalo. Bear hunted in WMU 520 between Peace River and Red Earth once had a whole herd of buffalo walk under my stand. Told the guide about them and he said why did you not shoot one. No licenses is needed. I told him no one had told me this before. I could have easily shot one with my bow. Never seen any more since and I have bow hunting there for over 20 years now.
Longshot

quote:

Told the guide about them and he said why did you not shoot one. No licenses is needed. I told him no one had told me this before.

DAMN DAMN DAMN ! ! !