So what did we put in for?

I'm mostly 999-ing everything, either because I just used up priorities or I can't see myself chasing certain opportunities this year.
I'm still contemplating (but time is running out) what to do for "antlered elk".

I feel this will be a good year for sheep hunting, and will dedicate most of my time to that. I've entered the draw for antelope buck in Montana again, I enjoyed that tremendously last year. Come November I can go chase some deer at leisure, unless I come with a plan for elk...

Aahhh... let the scouting begin...

Frans

Antlered moose
Cow elk (late season)
Wainwright deer
Trophy antelope
Antlered mule deer

Frans I do not expect to get any of these draws. I'm doing 999 on antelope and Wainwright deer.

Trophy antelope
Antlered mule deer

antelope archery
trophy antelope
antlerless mule deer
antlerless whitetail
moose goat (what the hell, I don't buy lottery tickets)
sheep 438

999
antlered elk
wmu 410 sheep

I think I might get to go moose hunting again!!!!

the chef

I put in for that new zone for elk, near the Hat, last minute decision. May not get it, but if I do, I need some info on what that area is like; I tried for the first season Sep 5-20, like many I guess. We'll see. There will be no tears if I don't get it.

Frans

My goodness .. they are hunting elk by Medicine Hat Who would have thought .... ???

I shouldn't be getting any draws except maybe does ... I did apply for F 300 elk .. bulls middle season on 'B' ... moose (no chance), non trophy sheep (not going to get it), cow antelope and bull antelope ... won't be getting those either ... goat (easier to get run over by a duck)...thank goodness I'm going back to Africa .. (By the way Frans .. I should meet up with your amigo from Ireland today ... I'm going to try and buy him some Alberta steak .. and maybe show him my stuffed antbear ... ) Good luck everyone on your draws !!!

Scruffy, FYI I think it's the Suffield Block military area. Sorta like the Camp Wainwright thing.
One of the guys from work told me that elk were released there years ago and no hunting has been allowed there for 15 years (or something).

Frans, correct me if I'm wrong.

Anyway I didn't get the draw put in...

There are going to be some humungous elk there!

No, I don't think it is the military area, but the lands around it, WMU 148, 150, 151 from memory. Anyway, I only have 2 priorities and I entered the first period (much too warm likely, but that leaves me October for sheep and antelope in MT if I draw, and November to fool around for a buck here or there). Lots of folks may have entered for that first go in a new zone.

I think I will go climb a mountain tomorrow, glass for sheep...!

Frans

You'll need your rubber boots to get to the bottom, Frans
418 elk [might live long enough to go one more time]
437 sheep [enough people might have died and I have a hope] and you're wayyy behind me, Frans.
214 mule deer[saw a big buck during the winter and he looks like he's growing another good rack]
goat[I do buy lottery tickets, but never win]
214 moose[last minute choice due to imdecision. [Probably won't get drawn but will raise my proiority for another zone next year.]
Might want to do that fly in Hunt next year, if you're still game, chef.
Grizz

Dang I thought no one was inteested in that trip!!!! I get all goose bumpy thinking aobut packing a moose to the lake shore!!!!

I live in Medicine Hat and am very familiar with the Suffield elk situation. The hunt is and always will be outside of the "block". Access to private land bordering the block will be a big issue. Yes there are some good bulls but there are far more small to medium bulls. A 300 inch bull standing in short grass looks very good to most guys but it isnt really much of a bull. I would suggest to those who have no connections down here to continue pursuing elk in your traditional areas as this situation has a lot of inherent problems to those with no access.

Well.... you could have told me before Friday! Good thing I now know at least one person in that area!!

Just kidding... I'm not expecting to draw with only 2 priorities. If I do... I guess I'll find out the hard way about access. The reason for no longer puting in for the WMU 300 draw was just that: access.

Chef, given the right plan and timing I could be tempted to do that fly-in... I got me a good eater moose last year; one of these years I need to get a good wall-hanging moose.

Had a good hike today. Two creek crossings, lots of grizzly sign, elk tracks, but nothing that looked like sheep.

Frans

I can't believe it, I missed the deadline. I have been consumed by my upcoming trip to RSA and was planning to 999. I was priority three for moose and mulie buck.

Damn.

quote:

Originally posted by Grizzly Adams:
437 sheep [enough people might have died and I have a hope] and you're wayyy behind me, Frans.

I hate to say this Grizz, but you are one of those folks that will need to get off that list before I ever have a chance.

120 years of drawing is ahead of me, and then there are some 180 or so others with the same priority as I have.

Why do I even spend the $3.25 to put in...

Frans

We put in for antlered mule deer, and cow elk. This is the 5th year for the cow elk, so the chances are getting better.

quote:

Originally posted by 7mm-08:
We put in for antlered mule deer, and cow elk. This is the 5th year for the cow elk, so the chances are getting better.

What WMU is that one, or have you been just 999 the draw to up priority for a hunt?

Use to be a 4-5 year turn around but now its 1-2 in the zones I hunt. Sometimes you get lucky like my wife and fatherinlaw did and get drawn for cow elk 2 years in a row - 2 years ago.

I "999"my cow as my hunting buddy put in again and my wife should get drawn this year.

I should get drawn for mulie this year as I did not get it last year, but the 3 years previous I was drawn in each. If not its going to be a Landowner's Permit or Archery season tag.

Moose should be a a go again with probably 3 out of 6 guys in camp to get drawn.


Bighorn sheep @ priority 6 but I "999" the draw.

We should know in 2 weeks either by phone or earlier if posted on the Win ReLM site.

The cow elk was in WMU 353, and the mule buck was WMU 228.

Looks like I'm going moose hunting!!!!

Well, I won't be hunting the new elk zone, nor anything else on a draw for that matter...

Maybe this is my year for goat!!

Frans

3 out of 6 guys drawn for calling season moose (me and my hunting buddy and his bro) so far...hopefully the others dont get drawn.

I got my mulie buck and so did my buddy and my wife got her cow elk again...3times in the past 4 years.

Things are looking up to a great season...

Well got drawn for mule deer buck in 128, havn't been back to the home land for some time, so not sure what quality is there, but my Dad put in for there with a higher priority, so figured it would be good to get out and hunt deer with him again. So should be a good hunt either way. Already got drawn for goats and 437 sheep, so don't have to worry about that ever again, and am way out if the priority pool for the other sheep draws. Takes the anxiety out of waiting for the draw result's I suppose.
Good luck to every one else though.

Oh well, I've got a 12 now for 437 sheep. Only thing I got drawn for is 214 Mule Deer. Better start looking after my potential trophy. Maybe a mineral block to encourage antler growth.
Grizz

Well, I still have a stick in the fire in Montana for antelope, the never-in-a-lifetime goat draw, my friend Niki got drawn for goat near Yellowstone (may have to go and help!) and of course there's always the general sheep business. That leaves November to go chase some mule deer in the mountains. I guess that not too bad a compromise, eh?

Frans

Stick in the fire????? I believe it's "iron in the fire" Damned immigrants.....trying to speak the local lingo.

good luck with the antelope!!

So Chef, where's your moose draw? Things being what they are, I may be available to help you carry the victim out
Grizz

Got drawn for everything that I was suppose to get.

Basic mule doe, but Erika gets her buck tag this year. Guess who is babysitting in the truck?

Antlerless Moose for camp Wainwright and the deer tags for wainwright. Always a good trip with the boys.

And of course I have built another year for the 437 sheep and antlerless elk.

One of these years I am really going to have to go elk hunting.

Good luck on the sheep Frans.

quote:

Originally posted by calgarychef1:
Stick in the fire????? I believe it's "iron in the fire" Damned immigrants.....trying to speak the local lingo.

good luck with the antelope!!

What's the matter? Can't take a bit of cultural diversity? ;-)

(Actually it is "iron in the fire" in Dutch too, I hate it when I'm wrong)

Frans

S'okay Franz, I'm all for diversity. That's why I became a chef-allows me to learn lots about other people and countries.

Grizz I got my third choice and it's in a secret northern area only accessible by canoe-shhhhhh. I just hope I don't arrow one and watch it run a mile away from the river.

Please God don't make me pack a moose a mile-I promise to be a good boy all year.

quote:

Originally posted by calgarychef1:
S'okay Franz, I'm all for diversity.....I just hope I don't arrow one and watch it run a mile away from the river.

Chef, I wasn't worried.. ;-)

Well, if you are not going to tell us, or take us as a burro, it would just serve you right to have to pack one a mile... I read a story about this scenario once. They sent in the rescue squad, only to find that this guy was STILL packing out a moose he shot on the other side of the lake, about half a mile from shore!

Good story for your grandkids though!

Frans

I got a cow elk draw...

quote:

They sent in the rescue squat, only to find that this guy was STILL packing out a moose he shot on the other side of the lake, about half a mile from shore!

One could only hope to be so fortunate. With my luck the rescue squad would show up 5 mins after I arrived at the truck with my last load of moose meat!!

Cheers,
Canuck

Well, it was my lucky year. I got drawn for cow elk. Yahoo!!

Seems like there's going to be a ton of cow elk tags out there. A lot of people I talk to got drawn. I got drawn for the 3rd year in a row. Didn't expect that.

999 across the board I'll be in Zimbabwe for the month of Sept and will have to work every day for the rest of the year to pay for it.Although I think I'll slip away in Nov for a white tail.

I think part of the Cow Elk thing is agricultural complaints. I live in 214 and there seem to be no shortage of bitching about elk in the crops and hay stacks. The usual last resort is to call the natives.
Grizz

I find it ironic that the farmers and landowners doing most of the pissing and moaning about wildlife damage to their crops and such are the ones with the big "no hunting/no trespassing signs. Too bad they will never realize that they are their own worst enemy.

I think you will find more of that near the big cities, where they get all the drive by and shoot assholes. If you want to hunt someplace, get to know the owner before the season and he might be more accomedating. Of course, there are the hard core, usually rich hobby farmers, who are only too willing to deny hunting on the one hand and file for compensation on the other. I think, if you won't allow hunting, you should be ineligble for any compensation and furthermore, since you are affecting your neighbor's welfare, you should be forced to allow hunting. Not very likely though.
Grizz

I think you hit the nail on the head there Grizz. In the past few years I have noticed more and more areas being posted No Hunting because of the weekend warriors who like to shoot from the roads and from the cabs of their trucks. Or the jerks who are too lazy to walk in to check a bushline and instead drive over a field of winter wheat or rut up good pasture land.
I have had very long standing relationships with the farmers and ranchers who's land I have the privilege of hunting on. And I make sure they know the difference between real hunters and the jerks who call themselves hunters.
But, think about this. More and more city people are moving to the country. Buying 20 or 30 acres, and posting it. This adds to the problems of the other landowners and farmers too. Another straw on the camel's back.

Ask the farmers and ranchers who actually make a living off of their land. It's a big difference compared to hobby farmers.

Something our group does to help relations is bring some sasuage from the deer we harvest to the farmers after the hunting season. It's amazing how much this helps for the next years access and also with neighbors who come asking for us to hunt their land then next fall.

Too many hunters forget that once they have permission it never hurts to continue the relationship for future years.