has anyone had experience with Byron Stewart of Tracks and Trails outfitting?

Bobby B.

Bobby, Byron has a first class operation, good hounds, and good cats. First class operation. If you are looking for big cats and Byron is booked up give me a call.

CH,

I'm curious. Do you hunt cats here in Alberta? If so, please PM me the details.

Bobby B.

I have hunted with Byron twice. Both times I was lucky enough to take B&C toms. He runs a top notch outfit. I am actually booked with him for next winter as well. PM me and I can give you details.

Robert,

Thanks for your response on AR.

I've been corresponding with Byron via e-mail and my impression is he is a stand up guy.

This would be my first guided hunt and I really don't know what questions to ask Byron. Any info you could share with me about your hunt would be appreciated immensely.

It's not that I haven't hunted before, I've been hunting here in Alberta for close to 40 years, I've just never been on a guided hunt and haven't the foggiest notion of what to expect, or even what to ask.

Bobby B.

I've hunted whitetail with Byron in 2008. Its my understanding that if you live in Alberta he'll guarantee you a cat if you are able to put in the time.

I guess who you choose for a guide is up to you but remember Byron got nailed for poaching a big horn in K Country a couple years back.

I personally don't want anything to do with a fellow like this but that's just me.


Here is the story:



Northern Alberta man banned from hunting for a year after illegal kill in K-Country

By Justin Brisbane
Justin@canmoreleader.com
Wednesday October 31, 2007

A northern Alberta man who shot a big horn sheep in a restricted zone -- and took his picture with the animal -- was found guilty in the Canmore court Wednesday, Oct. 24.

Byron Stewart received a $2,500 fine and was banned from hunting for a year after shooting a big horn sheep in a protected area near Kananaskis Village.

Stewart was found guilty of one count of hunting wildlife in a restricted area and one count of providing misleading information to and Fish and Wildlife officer.

Stewart, a hunter for 26 years with experience as a tracker for the department of Fish and Wildlife, told the court that on Nov. 27, 2006, he had spotted the big horn sheep outside of the protected area. He had a GPS unit, and said he was well beyond the 800 metre protected area.

In the second half of a two-day trial, Stewart said he had been trying to obtain a tag to shoot a bighorn sheep for 11 years, and had finally received one.

He said due to the cold temperatures hovering around –40C, his equipment “malfunctioned” and he ended up shooting the sheep through the stomach and groin. He said the shot didn’t kill the sheep immediately, but he knew the sheep was doomed to suffer a painful death.

“It was a gut shot. I was ashamed,” said Stewart. “There was no chance that sheep would survive.”

Stewart said he returned the next day to find the sheep, performed a grid search of the area and found the sheep in the middle of the protected corridor.

“It had worked its way back down the hill to try and join up with the rest of the pack,” said Stewart.


He said heavy snow had wiped out the tracks from the night before.

Stewart told the court he skinned the animal and returned to his truck, which was parked on the side of Highway 1A.

“I didn’t even take my bow with me,” said Stewart.

Upon returning to the truck, Stewart said he met Alberta Fish and Wildlife officer Ron Wiebe.

Wiebe testified that Stewart tried to avoid him, however the two did have a brief conversation. Wiebe told Stewart that he had seen him kill the sheep.

Stewart said it was impossible for Wiebe to have seen him shoot the sheep. He said because he wasn’t asked if he had shot a sheep, he didn’t mention the kill at all.

Wiebe also questioned Stewart about the bloodstains on his pants. Stewart told Wiebe they were from a previous hunting excursion, but still failed to mention the dead sheep.

Stewart then moved his truck out of sight, and went to retrieve the sheep.

Wiebe followed him to the kill site and seized the animal. Stewart insisted that he had shot the animal outside of the protected zone, and it later moved into the conservation area to die.

Crown attorney John Szekeres asked Stewart why he didn’t tell Wiebe he had shot the trophy sheep, and why had he been so elusive with Wiebe.

“The evidence says that man was found with the sheep in this location in the middle of the protected zone. There was only blood found at the site,” said Szekeres.

The Crown also questioned if Stewart did feel “awful” about the slow death of the sheep, suggesting that bow hunting produces less “quick kills.”

Stewart’s lawyer Ken Nowieke told the court there wasn’t enough evidence to support the charges, and it was nearly impossible to tell beyond a reasonable doubt if the sheep had been shot in the protected area.

Judge J.D. Reilly said he didn’t believe Stewart. He said it was suspicious that Stewart didn’t tell Wiebe that he had killed the sheep, and doubted Stewart’s version that he was “ashamed” of his kill.

Reilly said a photograph of a smiling Stewart, bow in hand next to the dead bighorn sheep, posed as a trophy in the restricted area convinced him that Stewart had fabricated the story.

“The picture Mr. Stewart presents with a bow in hand and a smile on his face make him a liar. I find that the animal was killed in the illegal zone,” said Reilly.

Thats interesting Trilogy, the stuff you can learn on the internet.

I haven't met Byron and I won't comment on the story. But, this much I do know, I've heard both the prosecution and the defence lie in a trial and I've yet to meet a man who hasn't lied or 'tweaked the facts' at least once.

I prefer to judge a man from his direct interactions with me personally, or from someone who's word I trust.

Only moments ago, I booked my cougar hunt with Byron Stewart so soon enough I can confidently comment on his character.

Bobby B.

You won't be disapointed. Good luck on your hunt.

Good luck on your hunt. As chilcotin hillbilly said, you won't be disappointed.

Thanks for the well wishes. I'm really looking forward to this hunt. Other than the member with one post, I've heard only great things about Byron and his outfit.

On Byron's recommendation, I viewed Phil Soucy's webpage and am as impressed with him as I am with Byron, two topnotch outfits.

Bobby B.

Just returned from a successful cat hunt with Byron Stewart. On the first day, Dec. 6, we spotted over 20 separate tracks in the fresh snow; one group of four, two groups of three, a bunch of doubles and a whack of singles but not one track of a shootable tom. Next day, we found only two sets of tracks, the second being a good tom. The dogs did a great job of treeing the tom and I shot my first cat.

IMO, Byron runs a first class operation and I'd heartily recommend him to anyone.

Bobby B.

Bobby
congratulations for your cat!
now we want see the pictures.

Good luck on your hunt! One thing you have to be careful with in internet research is that there may be more than one Byron Stewart in Northern Alberta, not saying there is or isn't, but sometimes you have to be sure.

John

Booby B, Where are the pictures???

Hey you hillbilly, don't call me Booby B, you'll hurt my sensitive feelings, besides, I prefer booby C's or even D's.

I have a photo in my e-mail. If someone wants to tell me how to post it, I'd be happy to. Or, if someone wants to post if for me, I'd be willing to do that as well.

Bobby B.

Sorry,for the miss spell. I prefer the D's myself