Author Topic: Alberta Deer Season wrap up  (Read 2273 times)

Paul

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Alberta Deer Season wrap up
« on: December 01, 2012, 09:22:08 AM »
Well I wrapped up the last 3 days up north, hunted hard, no luck. In 9 days of hunting I saw one shooter and he was too quick. Saw lots of dink bucks, not many medium sized bucks, but I know there were some real hogs taken this year in some areas. Also saw a disturbing number of orphaned fawns as guys were killing a lot of does, doubt many of them will make the winter. Found a fawn kill yesterday by coyotes it was fresh. Lots of guys I talked to didn't see any real decent bucks this year either.

How did everyone else fair? What did people observe this year as far as deer numbers?

I think they need to cut back on doe tags, I still say the populations are way down in some areas and one harsh winter like we had a couple years ago could really wreak havoc on the herd.

Dark Wing

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Re: Alberta Deer Season wrap up
« Reply #1 on: December 01, 2012, 11:37:58 AM »
I'm eating another wt tag. We got a little more snow than we needed this year so it restricted our access and the deer weren't moving like they usually do. On the plus side wolf numbers were down but noticed lots of cougar tracks. Also lynx numbers sky rocketed and believe it or not they do take down a few deer. I'd like to see the doe tags gone. The deer numbers are taking a hit in the upper 400 wmu's especially the does. The few does I saw in my area were getting run hard by a swarm of little bucks right down to the last day of the season.

blacktail

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Re: Alberta Deer Season wrap up
« Reply #2 on: December 01, 2012, 06:38:07 PM »
filled my buck tag opening day of rifle
looked high and low for a dry doe but just didnt manage to find one that didnt have at least one little one with her
I am eating my doe tag this year.
We filled my wifes buck tag with a real nice buck a week before I had to go back to work.
Went out with my son who had an elk tag for Suffield and he nailed a nice big mature cow.

Other than that spent aa little more time this year on the marshes and fields for waterfowl. 
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OL_JR

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Re: Alberta Deer Season wrap up
« Reply #3 on: December 01, 2012, 07:39:24 PM »
               Pretty uneventful deer season for the Mrs. and I.  A buddy that had filled his tag already got pictures of a real nice buck that would probably gross close to 160 on his place so mama put a lot of time into trying to get him but he never showed up at the right place at the right time.  We're thinking he is the same buck my buddy was after last year but he seems to have nine lives.
               I put a lot of time into a spot that I have a lot of faith in but it just wasn't meant to be.  It's almost picture perfect.  A think timbered section of land with a couple grazing areas and a creek running through it that is adjacent to a hay field.  Every morning you would catch a lot of does and  a couple dink bucks making there way back from the field and I thought it was just a matter of time before a guy caught one in the open it but just didn't happen.  Didn't even see one close to shootable but I know they are around.  There are so many does in the area I think the big boys have no need to chase them out in the open and keep them in the bush.  Thinking the best chance for next year is paying more attention to the scrapes and hunting the fringes.  All in all it was another learning experience and just makes the fire roar a little more for "next year." 
                Congrats to all that had some success this deer season!
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AxeMan

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Re: Alberta Deer Season wrap up
« Reply #4 on: December 02, 2012, 06:12:53 PM »
Paul, we saw pretty good deer numbers up north of Edmonton but I will agree that near the roads the pressure on the antlerless WTs was pretty extreme.  So many guys were just out to fill the supplementals no matter whether it was nursing doe, or fawn, or dry doe.  I wish they would stop with the supplemental tags as well.  Our group doesn't even purchase them.   My two partners took a couple of decent WT bucks but the big ones that we were seeing a few years back are still missing.  I passed on a thick but narrow 4 x 4 since I already had taken the bull moose.  I also scared away another good average buck in the bush for my buddy Jesse....ooops.  Should have been a bit more patient before I moved.

I have a feeling this won't be the easiest winter on them up in our area.  There was early snow, then freezing rain which made things quite crusty and hard over top of the grass.  Now a fair bit of snow on top of that so far.  Still a fair amount of wolves too but not as bad as last year that we could see.

Dark Wing, we saw a ton of lynx as well, 4 different ones anyways.  I am not so sure they would take on a deer but maybe a small fawn.  There are a ton of rabbits and there are great grey owls everywhere as well.  I made friends with a few of them every evening near dusk.
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SnapShot

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Re: Alberta Deer Season wrap up
« Reply #5 on: December 03, 2012, 05:04:20 PM »
Season was pretty good to me with the time i had. I never made it elk hunting or moose hunting this year at all which is a first time for me. I did manage a really good whitetail and i drew camp wain muzzle loader season this year. I purchased my muzzle loader early in the season and had it dialed in to 250yds. I actually love this gun. Well i smoked a 125-130" mule deer at 143yds to get my muzzy broke in then held out for something bigger to no avail.

I gotta agree on the doe comments. Its ridiculous i saw way to many fawns being drug out or orphaned. the remaining zone with the 2 does tags are a mess. I couldnt believe the rampage going on this year.

ishootbambi

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Re: Alberta Deer Season wrap up
« Reply #6 on: December 03, 2012, 05:29:38 PM »
alberta was pretty good.  i chased a true giant around that river for 5 straight days, but never managed to get a shot at him. if he doesnt make 180 id eat my gun.  oh well....the thick crap down there is the reason i couldnt kill him....but its also the reason he was there in the first place.  it was great to see one like that after last years dismal numbers overall and lack of mature bucks.  i also blew it on another 180 class buck.  well, it might have been the same one, but either way, had him standing at 250.  thats a dead deer....but he had his head behind some branches.  i knew he was decent, but i didnt want to walk up to a 140 buck by mistake.  when he moved he bolted across a clearing.  i just about pooped when i realized what id done.  its cool though.  i always say that just seeing one that size is worth the price of admission.  killing them is awesome, but seeing them is enough to satisfy my cravings.

saskatchewan however sucked royally.  i did see a cranker at about 8 at night on the first day, but the hunter numbers turned me off of wanting to hang around.  something needs to change regarding that.  see that thread for more info.
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BruceW

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Re: Alberta Deer Season wrap up
« Reply #7 on: December 04, 2012, 07:36:31 AM »
My little corner was hit Very hard in that winter a couple yrs ago;  harder than most seem to believe.  Last year showed pretty dismal numbers.  This year was a vast improvement over last.  No where near the numbers of 4 or 5 yrs ago, and definitely massively lower than say 10 yrs ago, but that being said:  They are recovering nicely, IMO.  Another year or especially two with an easy winter for them and I think they'll be back on their feet, so to speak. 

Inordinate number of coyote's/wolves though.