Damn Doc, you sure did open up Pandoras box this time!Anyway, I feel bad about your hunt because I know how it feels to look forward to a hunt in Alberta for a whole year. It's differant than opening day in our respective states, it's moreintense. Just for the record, these replies are something else.[:@]
Anyway, I wanted to share this as a comparison. The guide I used this year is the same guide I used last year, the only real differance was where I stayed this year, which was a Travel Lodge! Last yearI stayed on a big ranch which wascool,but my guide couldn't secure the same set up this year and I didn't know that until the last minute. Not much I could do.
As it turns out I'm the only hunter for the week of the 12th, which was cool with me,and I stay at this Travel Lodge in the same room as my guide for the whole week. It wasdifferant. I must say the "food" wasless than one would be happy with! Continental (sp) breakfast, pack your own lunch, ham& cheese every dayand fast food each night, except for two.
Now, this would have made most huntersreal upset but I know my guide knows these deer and the properties that they are on. This is what these guys get payed for.He has some really sweet set ups on some of these ranches. I came to the Bow Zone in Alberta to hunt the worlds largest Whitetail bucks not to experiance finedining or stay in a lavish lodge! I'm not saying these things aren't nicethough. Iwent up there to put myself in a position to get a "chance" at a big buck.
As far as what my guide actually did for me was, justdrop me off in the morningata spot that he previously showed me orwould drawme detailed directions how to access the spot and where to locate my climbing stand (mobility)!
He would then either hunt, or whatever else he felt like doing that day since I was the only hunter he had to take care of and since I hunt dark to dark. He would pick me up at about the same time each night.
I saw about 13 deer that week but 4 were buck and all were within 20yrds. One was while it was still too dark to shoot [:@], one MONSTER 10ptthat came to my rattling but couldn't get the right angle because of brush and a nice wide P&Y 8pt that also came to my rattling but got nervous when he couldn't find the source of the activity. And last but certainly not least, is the nice 300lb 8pt withchocolate antlers that I shot in the heart. My guide said he's seen bigger racks but onlya fewwith a bigger neck and body than mine.
In closing, I just want to say that I had, by far, the best hunting trip of my lifewith far less than desireable conditions but made the most of
the situation. I delt with half mile walks in a foot of snow with my stand and delt with the cold all day and didn't see alot of deer but guess what, I can't wait till next Nov. to do it all again, exceptI'll be with another guide who's also one of the best in the Zone.
Yes, these hunts are around 4200.00 plus airfare and you do have to have a guide or hostif your not a resident of Canada. The beautiful thing is tags are a sure thing!Doc, again, sorry to hear of your poor hunt.[&o]