Albertans?

[skeeter 7MM]

Alberta may be calling, been offered a position based out of Calgary. I have a number of friends who live their but none of them hunt anymore. My 1st question is how is the hunting in the Calgary area? What big game opportunities exist near Calgary? I know Alberta has lots of opportunity for hunting game. I have now the ability to just head out in the morning, evening or a one dayer close to home. I would really like to still be able to do so.

2nd question is it 3 months till you are considered a resident and allowed to hunt and apply for draws? In sask. it is about 3 months to get your Sask. Health Card which then allows you to apply and hunt in the resident seasons.

Any wildlife groups or clubs you could suggest that a new guy to the area could get involved or check out?

I have a number of things to weigh out and have requested ample time to sort through all aspects before giving them a concrete yes or no.

Any info would be much obliged.

Thanks.

[Tikka 300]

I' m one of the few people actually born and raised in Calgary. The U of C didn' t offer the program I wanted so moved out to Winnipeg. Now fifteen years later when I talk with any of the guys I used to hunt with all have since stopped hunting. Biggest reason, all the places we used to hunt are now owned by some yuppie f**k from Toronto who wanted to get away from the city. 80 miles around Calgary used to have some of the best white-tailed, mule deer, and moose hunting. No longer, all the abandoned farm yards have been bought up and a urban commuter who doesn' t like hunters. All the good moose hunting off the Forestry Trunk road on the way to Nordegg is full of Northface clad mountain biking retards. This past Xmas we were out on a resource right of way that ends near the base of Devils peak, some dip shyt had rolled his is new path finder cause he got scared on a icy hill. Needless to say I don' t have anything positive to say about the hunting near Calgary. Its unfortunate that every person had to move to Calgary since they have ruined some of the best hunting land in North America.

[jcrayford2001]

On the other hand....

The entire area surrounding Calgary (and Edmonton) are designated Bow-only zones.

Go here: http://www.albertaoutdoorsmen.ca/hun...u/212-wmu.html

As far as your 2nd question about how long you have to be resident, you can find it here: http://www.albertaoutdoorsmen.ca/hun...ml#definitions (look under definition of resident)

As far as clubs, Phone up the Calgary Archery Centre once you get there (255-6830). It' s a great pro shop and they have a 3D shoot once a month. I' m also a member of Calgary Archers (259-6011) that has both an outdoor target range and an outdoor field range, with 3D shoots usually once a month.

You may want to check out www.bowzone.ca for more info.

Feel free to email me at jcrayford@umagroup.com if you want....

Jim.

[stubblejumper]

According to the hunting regulations a resident is defined as a person who has his only or primary residence in alberta and is a canadian citizen or has lived in canada for the past 12 months,or be with the military and be stationed in alberta.I guess your primary residence would be your legal address.No time period is given for actually having lived in alberta.

[Duffy]

I had a friend I went to NAIT with who was from Bigger Sask. He had bought a hunting license there so as to shoot geese on a damage permit on some friends farm. Then he moved to Alberta to go to school. He bought an Alberta license and hunted here.

If you lived in Saskatoon or Regina you may or may not have to drive a long way to get into some good hunting. Same for Calgary. I lived a lot of years in Edmonton and now live on an acerage near Rocky Mtn. Hse. Wild horses could not make me live in Calgary or Edmonton now.

Robin

[stubblejumper]

Skeeter7mm-The only people that I know of that actually got into trouble with the resident status thing were a couple of individuals that were working in alberta but bought resident tags in alberta and in another province at the same time.You can' t legally be residents in two provinces at the same time and with the computer systems we have today you usually get caught.

[skeeter 7MM]

Thanks. If I had a choice Calgary itself wouldn' t be it, but I don' t!!!! We were thinking possibly in the Ardrie area, if I accept the position. Really not sure. I do have hunting friends scattered in Alberta, so hunting trips would be no problem. I enjoy the ability to be able to go with out the a week off, etc. It isn' t the most important factor in this decision but it is a consideration. I have a great hunting & family lives close to us here. However for career movement this would be a positive step up. So really in limbo at this point.


Thanks for the resident info, I am unsure how I missed that on the website[&:].

j, thanks for your info on archery clubs. If I do move I will be giving them a call.

[JD IN ALBERTA]

I gotta agree with Tikka. I was born and raised here and still reside here but I' m hoping one day to " move to the country" , not an acreage! Thats pretty much all thats out here for a 50km radius, nothing but acreages. The area surounding Calgary is bow zone only but believe me when I say " it' s who you know that get' s you on any sort of land that is big enough to hunt" . Most of the pieces have been subdivided into 2 acre parcels and ALL my old spots have all but disappeared in the last 10 years[:@]. If you are willing to go for a drive and do some overnighting then it' s not that bad of a place to live. Anywhere within 2 hours you can find some nice spots and most of the people are country folk who don' t mind hunters (as long as you ask). Closer to Edmonton and further North are where the big W.T.' s hang but I have a 145 I shot down South on Crown land 3 years ago (so it' s not impossible). It is frustrating to see the land go but I like to get way out from the city anyhow. If I shot a deer in the bow zone I' m sure he' d just end up laying in the backyard of the president of peta' s back yard anyhow, who needs the hassle. Just my opinion....JDinAB

[skeeter 7MM]

JD & Tikka the acreage rush is here as well. Many of my best bow spots are now houses and 2 acre plots. I used to be able to get to a treestand within 10-15 minutes from my house now it is a 45 minute drive and 30 hour walk. I have permission to hunt a number of these plots, but I fear the same thing. In fact 2 years ago I shot a nice mulie buck that fell just on the edge of the guys lane, where I was hunting. Good shot and all but I was only 150 yards from the house. The deer could have ran in any direction and been fine but he went straight west[:@]. I got a few frowns from his wife....but a big high five from his boy and him. That experience has led me to not bother with those areas, it just takes the wrong guy or shot and your in a fight or in the paper for all of PETA to read. Just not worth the hassle. I just laugh how they think they are so cute (deer) when the first move, but once they start in on their gardens....you need to come kill some of these things......" no sorry, I can' t help you out with your problem[8D]!"

I enjoy the hunting trips as well and have some hunting buds in alta to do it with. I drive now just about 2 hours to hunt north at my cabin and many times just for the day, so that isn' t a big deal to me, but would like the ability to just head out close for an evening or whatever. I guess that is something I' ll have to live with in a bigger city[:' (].

What about mulie hunting or lopers? What else would be with in 2 hours and good? How much crown land is around? Here we have lots, mostly PFRA-Pastures.

Thanks for all the input, very much appreciated. However the real desicion rests in my wife hands, she is not liking the idea of being so far away from her family and the farm? Plus she has a real good job, friends, etc. I am not going to move and have her complain about it the whole time. Money is not everything and it may cause me even less time in the woods & more money in the end if she ain' t happy.

Thanks again

[JD IN ALBERTA]

LOL! If I had a nickle for everyone I hear bitch and complain about the deer in their garden I could pay off the gun registry debt. There is plenty of Crown land all around. Some are grazing leases others are Eastern irrigation district and others as weel. As for mulies, theres plenty of them hopping around and out east and down south, you will pretty much be assured of at least a doe. It takes a while to get drawn but once you do you' re pretty much guaranteed. I shot about a 165 class 2 years ago out east and there were bigger ones around. Antelope are out east to and down south, I don' t hunt them but I' ve seen my fair share. As long as you are willing there' s always a way. JDinAB