RE: 2006 Canadian Whitetails - Get' em!
 

Ag...been cold & rainy, even snow!! As for the Almanac, I don't pay much attention to it because the chinooks can change things 20 deg. in an hour. El nino is supposed to make it a mild winter from what I hear.
Early, check the APOS site, I really don't know any outfitters, sorry. You also might check out the Alberta Outdoorsman site, alot of those guy's know local outfitters.

RE: 2006 Canadian Whitetails - Get' em!
 

Thanks JD, I looked up his web site and called some of his references. He has himself, taken thesecond largest typical whitetail everkilled in Alberta. I guess that says something.;) I'm going to hunt with him in '07.:D

RE: 2006 Canadian Whitetails - Get' em!
 

Do any of you fellows know if skeeter is away hunting? I sent him a PM three or four days ago and haven't gotten a reply.[&o]It's semi important.
JD, I heard you guys in Alberta got over two feet of snow, isn't that unusual this early in the season?

RE: 2006 Canadian Whitetails - Get' em!
 

Early...I'm pretty sure he said he was going for elk this week. I'm sure when he's back he'll answer. As for the snow, ya pretty unusual but not unheard of.The west part of AB got it pretty bad but it's already gone in most areas.

RE: 2006 Canadian Whitetails - Get' em!
 

JD - you ever heard of Old Man River outfitters?

RE: 2006 Canadian Whitetails - Get' em!
 

sorry bud...being a local I don't use any outfitter.

RE: 2006 Canadian Whitetails - Get' em!
 

Aye no problem, where abouts do you live/hunt? Moreso than the outfitter I am curious about his area - I may be wrong, but isnt Old Man River a prominant in South West Alb., about an hour south of the number 1?

RE: 2006 Canadian Whitetails - Get' em!
 

I'm in Calgary and hunt all over the place. Yup the Old Man is down south. It's breathtaking country and has some pretty good animals taken out of that area every year. There is a gas station around that area the everyone posts their kills for the year. I was pretty impressed with the stuff that was coming out of the area.I did a search and found nothing with tthat name. Make sure you check here before booking anything http://www.apos.ab.ca/From what I read and hear, there can be some real seedy people out there taking advantage of good folks ruining their hunts of a lifetime. There are definately some great outfitters out there as well. Any good ones should belong to APOS and make sure you get lots of references, that's how you get thetrue reputation. Good luck to ya!

RE: 2006 Canadian Whitetails - Get' em!
 

Thanks JD.
Moreso than the outfitter I am curious about the area. The outfitter does belong to APOS and it is owned by a friend of a friend.

They arent really guilding me, just getting me setup with a WIN card and a alberta resident host who will show me around a little. No guarantees etc since its a friendly vs business affair.

RE: 2006 Canadian Whitetails - Get' em!
 

Hey guys,
A question for the bow hunters (hia?), I just started shooting a Hoyt Trykon XL at 70lbs pull. What range (with much practice) should this be deadly at?

RE: 2006 Canadian Whitetails - Get' em!
 

aqaucher, that's a great bow and it'll be effective out to your accuracy range within reason.;)

RE: 2006 Canadian Whitetails - Get' em!
 

The bow is only as good as the guy pulling it...:D

RE: 2006 Canadian Whitetails - Get' em!
 

Ag, like early says whatever you are comfortable with. I practice out to 50 yet would never shoot that distance my first shot at an animal because i am usually shaking like a blind fagget at a weiner roast. This year i arrowed my cow twice, once at 20 and once at 50 yards and got total pass thrus both times so it is definately lethal at 50 yards but that was just an insurance shot. Once the range gets out wind etc becomes a factor. My limit is 40 i tell myself but have actually never shot past 30. Also elk have a bigger kill zone so there is more margin for error. I have never pulled the trigger on a deer yet though so i don't have any experience with them. I have had lots of chances but i will only shoot a buck that i would shoot with the rifle soalways my bow season for deer ends up fruitless. You will be the best judge at what distance u can shoot when u draw, if it don't feel confident don't shoot. U will be fine.

RE: 2006 Canadian Whitetails - Get' em!
 

Hiawatha, that "blind fagot at a weiner roast" thing was funny as hell! :D:D:D:D:D

RE: 2006 Canadian Whitetails - Get' em!
 

Yeah Hia, my girlfriend really liked that analogy as well, lmao.

In regard to the shot, thanks that helps. I am new to the sport, but I can cluster within a 12" circle at 40 yards, and I know I should be able to cluster closer than that, but in all reality that is the kill zone of most game.


Same as you Hia - I dont plan on taking any bucks with my bow that I wouldnt with my rifle - in my books its dead its dead and I would rather end up without a bow kill this year than a young buck that would be a wall hanger in 3 years. I passed up a 160-170 class mule last week with the shotgun at about 30 yards, so I figure ill beable to atleast get a shot at him with my bow :D - a 160 mulie woul dbe a nice first bow kill!


Anyhow thanks and g'luck this week hunting guys!

RE: 2006 Canadian Whitetails - Get' em!
 

I shoot a bit different than most people aq. I only shoot one arrow repeatedly rather than 4 or 5. This is a bit of a ukraniun way to do it but i have uk blood in me so what do you expect. I shoot fixed broadheads which do not fly the same as my field points at all. So i have sacraficed one broadhead out of the pack and sight it in on one arrow labeled on the fletching #1 with a marker. I get this arrow in so i am nailing the diameter of a skoal can everytime then before going out hunting i put a new head on the arrow. I will shoot a few other arrows as well and whatever one flies closest to #1 will be labeled #2 and so on. For me i dont pattern alot of arrows because if your #1 arrow is dead dead accurate you will kill everytime and making another shot in the vitals not required. My buds all say my arrows fly true and rip in speed but my setup must need some tuning so the arrows/bow is more consistent with different arrows. I just think that even if it is well tuned no 2 arrows will fly exactly the same, its more of a mental thing for me to know exactly where my #1 arrow is headed, kinda a confidence boost. I am not telling you to do this method, its alot more work and dickin around but its what works for me. A 12 inch circle group for me would not be adequate because I am scared that i would get excited while shooting and have a margin for error. I sight mine is as dead as possible to allow for my blind ****** shakiness:D to move the arrow a few inches.

RE: 2006 Canadian Whitetails - Get' em!
 

Aye, but I am not trying to say that I will just leave it at 12" groups, all I was trying to say was that WOULD kill a deer if itcame down to it. I plan to be down to a couple inch groups by next hunting season, but for this season I want to spend some time in the field, not just on the range ;)

But ty for the advice - whats the longst shot youve taken as a follow up shot, and how do you usually get them, as the game animal is running away?

RE: 2006 Canadian Whitetails - Get' em!
 

Oh hey guys, I thought id mention this new area I have and get your opinions of it as well.

I was given permission to hunt two areas, both of which are private land and both of which have large (100 acres++) of nursery stock.

The areas are whitetail inhabited exclusively, and I am the only one who has permission so pressure is slim to none.
One of the areas is basically a river bed, so its choked thick with brush, but the one hour ive spent in there I jumped three bucks and a number of does outta their beds - so there are deer there. My question regard this particular area is how would you guys recommend hunting somewhere so noisy you cant get to em without spooking them? Wait till rut and rattle? Tree Stand? Deer Drives?

The other area is a nursery that borders a small mountain (actually right on the US border, but im in Canada) - the bit ive hunted this piece of property ive seen groups of deer some and feed out into a fallow field (may be a natural field) and in one evening spotted 20+ does and 4+ young bucks. I believe the genetics are atleast decent in the area as these young (2.5-3.5 yr old) bucks were all sporting 3 and 4 point racks.

Would you guys figure in regard to this second piece that if I spend enought ime in the area and wait for em to come ottta the forest a more mature buck is bound to show up? There is also one other option - there is a semi-open hill side about half way up the mtn with some gulleys with thick cover. I figure the deer probably bed down up there during the day - should I check that area out?

As usual, your experienced opinions would be great!

RE: 2006 Canadian Whitetails - Get' em!
 

aqaucher, I wouldn't mention 12" groups on the "bowhunting" forum because they'll have a friggen field day with that and tell you that you shouldn't even be hunting. Just some friendly advice. I know it takes time to shoot 3" or 4" groups but they will get all over you. Once again, just some advice.;)

RE: 2006 Canadian Whitetails - Get' em!
 

Ya aq i understand what u were sayin, just tellin u how i roll. Furthest second shot i took and hit was my 50 yarder this year. Pay attention to the animal as it is running away and nock another arrow in the meantime. Sometimes they stop, sometimes they don't if they do your "knocked up" and ready to roll. They often do not present that great of a shot sometimes, the situation will dictate weather you shoot or not. I doubled lunged a cow last year and she stopped at 30 giving me only her hind end to shoot at,arrowed her spineand dropped her on the spot. Had to get the head out with vice grips. Was nice because she never made the bush that way, less dragging. She might have only made it 20 yards in the bush but how do you know? As for your new area it sounds pretty mint good luck with that. If area1 is a pain in the cutlery to get into then don't go in there. Find out where they are going to feed and set up in between there and the bedding are in the flat. ORR if you wanted to hunt that flat trying getting in there in the morning while they are out feeding them ambush them when they return. For area 2 well that sounds like my situation forest bordering farmland. I would try what your suggesting sitting on the edge for a bit but if the big boys are not coming out in shooting time you need to go further back in. Often thembigger bucks do not show themselves outside of the bush until the rut. Other guys like jd, skeeter etc would have better advice than me though.

lol ya i see early's post now so i better comment on that. Ya that forum is full of those who know exactly the 1 way you are supposed to hunt, how far you are supposed to shoot, how well u have to be able to shoot, in order to kill a deer that don't break 100 inches. i find it amusing. Lots of fellas like to jump on things just to compensate for their lack of success. I can handle that forum in small doses.

RE: 2006 Canadian Whitetails - Get' em!
 

Nice "groups" of arrows are impressive. But like Hiawatha mentioned above, shooting ONE arrow at a target then retrieving it and shooting ONE arrow again is great consentration practice.

Shooting a bow is like putting in golf. You don't get toputt an impressive group. You get one chance at the hole. So you consentrate and do the very best you can with one stroke. Now in golf you do get another chance (though it has cost you a stroke) and an easier second chance. In bow hunting if you get a second chance at all it is not likely to be an easier second shot.

Robin down under.

RE: 2006 Canadian Whitetails - Get' em!
 

Yes Hiawatha, your correct, alot of the guys on that forum are expert shots but not expert hunters, let alone the type of hunting that takes place up north in the bush where most deer far exceed the 100" mark! They are truely a differant breed of animal and that's why I spend around $5000 to come to Alberta to try to bag a true MONSTER.
I hunt in the Edmonton Bow Zone where the deer aren't pressured much at all. I'm able to do this because I'm not married and I save up all year to get a chance at the buck of a lifetime. And I know full well this is the right place to achieve this. Here in Pa we have the numbers but not the quality that you folks have.
I hunted the Zone last year but no shots and I hunted 6 days straight, dark to dark. It's tough but I realize the importance of sitting all day. Hopefully this year will be differant and I'll get my shot.;):D

RE: 2006 Canadian Whitetails - Get' em!
 

lmao in regard to the bowhunting forum.

Yeah, although I do plan on getting my groups down, I still call myself a 'hunter' or 'bow hunter' NOT an archer. ;)

I know guys here in BC that are wicked marksmen, with both bow and rifle, but very rarely tag an animal. :eek:

RE: 2006 Canadian Whitetails - Get' em!
 

Yes many guys brag by saying anything over 20 yards isn't bow hunting etc but have never shot anything large. Well most small bucks and does you can kill with a hammer, arrow a 170 deer at 10 yards consistently then i will be impressed. they don't get big by being stupid.:D

RE: 2006 Canadian Whitetails - Get' em!
 

So Hia, I presume your activity on the forums is a sign that you are at University and not in the bush?

I am in University at UBC's new Okanagan campus, if you are familiar iwth the Kelowna area?

Nice thing being though that I can hunt around the area I goto school!

RE: 2006 Canadian Whitetails - Get' em!
 

Cool beans aq what are you taking? Ya i am stuck here for 2 weeks yet then i am headed home for thanksgiving. The next week after thanskgiving i got my internship at Kelvington sk which is close to my home so i will be livinon the land formost of deer season. I am going to be pretty busy working on lesson plans, coaching etc but i will get out more being there than i would if i was stuck in the university. Ya i haver no tv in my apartment so its either study, work on papers, or come in here to talk with you squirrels. :D:D:D

RE: 2006 Canadian Whitetails - Get' em!
 

Im in my fourth year of bachelors of business administration degree. This is the lat hunting season that I will have a full course load, next season I should only have 2 or 3 courses to wrap up, so it shoul dbe less restricting on hunting.

How do you like your program, gunna get much time to hunt at all?

RE: 2006 Canadian Whitetails - Get' em!
 

I like it alot. i have a kinesiology degree from u of s and now moved to brandon for my education degree seems to be going really good. I think the education program at brandon is top of the line because i get alot more interning and more hands on teaching time etc rather than work in a class back in university. Also i get to intern while hunting season is going on so ya u guessed what i am doing after school if i am not coaching. Its pretty mint because i have to drive half hour from home to the school i will be working at and i already know i am going to see some pigs on that drive every day.I know that drive like the back of my hand and know all kinds of sideroads and goat paths along the way.Hopefully i am a little late one morning because i have a "flat tire" in other words skinning a huge buck. lol naw i will have to work it so i am not late at all cause i am interested in a job at that school so i wanna show my stuff. But if i don't get a big deer off that drive in the time i am there i will kick my own ass. Hmm i am teaching senior physed along with senior biology so i technically could gut the deer at school and call it a dissection lab studying body systems anotomy and what a 160 accubond offers. :D

RE: 2006 Canadian Whitetails - Get' em!
 

WTF are we talking hunting or school?Got into some elk, they weren't in peak rut, my guess round 2, I had a helluva great time give them sweet talk and being screamed at! I'll post back later as I got run right now.

Early in,just saw your PM. I'll make a couple calls to get the details on the situation but I'd assume your probably correct no passport. I'll PM you later.Sorry bud "huntin". I wouldn't fret you had no probs last year.

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Thanks a million skeeter, I want to hear all about your Elk chasing too!:D

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Ah yes nice to have you back squirrel;) We demand details.

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ah, hes finally back.

Were just missing JD now? lol

RE: 2006 Canadian Whitetails - Get' em!
 

Well I wish I was as happy to beback, man I hate leaving them wonderful creatures![:o] It was a great trip, good times, lots of laughs, animals, mudand few pops make a week go by very quickly. As far as details my hunt: lots of rain prior and then good conditions while hunting(except for some high winds). It all started saturday evening before she even opened, I set up with the bow for bears in our small pocket of oats (even though wasn't much left from the deer, elk, bear and even the odd moose track). Nope never saw a bearI'd shoot but did call in 3 elk. I did snapsome pics but they were really blurred (i'll post a couple of the better ones).Sunday we started out withbull moose, then a cow and calf moose,some deer, 2 bear, yotes, tons of geese andfinished in style thatevening with our crew allseeing some elk moving about in our spots.Monday morning by 7:00 am we had 2 spikes on the ground via my cow calling both still in velvet and prime pickings to opening day cow calling. The one spike I sucked across from the east side of the river and was shot at less than 50 yards. Neither huge on horns but high on the table scale! Good start none the less. I'll spare some of the details but I got picked off tuesday and wed amby young bulls while working a herd bull and a vocal satelitte in the dense brush of the valley.Weds PM we planned for the event and took a raghorn out as he tried to sneak on me, I believe it was one I called out on staurday evening in the treestand as it was just down from our north field in the valley bush.Thursday was the best day I have ever had, I was within 100 yards of the herd bull and he was a howling, at one point I had 4 seperate bulls going off around to the N, E and W. All I saw were few glimpses of very substantial tines and lots of steam when he roared, but the thick cover never gave me a shot, thena flippin' cow busted me and the big boy movedhis herd offbugling his arse off for quite sometime. Serve me on toast I was done andyet tofire a shot at an elk, while I could have shot thespike on opening morn I didn't even shoulder allowing the other fellas to get their chance. Went back in afternoon and be damned if I didn't get it to them again, the herd bulls was well off but he was responding to my bugles as were a couple of satelitte's. Things didn't happen quick enough and I deceided to retreat instead of chance spooking something. I moved back hoping to possibly catch something and listened to the show that was being played by the real bulls but nothing happened. Friday morning with only 3 elk tags we deceided lets all head their and maybe we'll get a bull and call her done. We got their early and the bulls were not talking, we sent one down thefield andmyself & other headed into the valley where I had got so close the previous morning. Just before legal the herd bull started roaring and we figured him to be on or near the field. I made the decision to send the other guy to a meadow where the raghorn was shotand I would head into the bottom to call. On my first bugle I gota bull to respond to the N, then the herd bull started to the E and we were off. Within minutes the valley was on fire, I actually found myselfstumped on where to focus my attention....then I heard a chuckler moving in fast from the NW, I focused on hopefully either drawing this bull through the meadow for the other shooter or to me where I had a small opening directly below me near the river bottom. It worked less than 15 minutes later the 6x5 entered my view and I made a cow mew to stop him, as he let out a chuckle I sent a bullet through his heart. I then began callingin hopes tohold him up some and then the partner in field dropped the pin on spike who broke offto see if the grass was greener on the other side of the river. The herd bull was directly below my partner but again the veteran didn't show himself, he was equally toast ready.Simply an awesome hunt and experience...so much for the peak of rut being the only time to get into bulls. Although I am sure had it been peak we wouldn't have had to go as deep as we did, then again would of it been the same?[8D]

Now all I have to do is wait year to do it again....booooo! Hopefully this is asign to come for deer.


Here is my chuckler, certainly not the biggest elk butreallywas icing on the cake.

RE: 2006 Canadian Whitetails - Get' em!
 

Saturday Bull from the treestand called onto the wheat.

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#2 from saturday

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One of the boys took blackie as well - 350lb/6.5'

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Brad and me scouting south end of the valley/enjoying the view.

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:D:Dwow that sounds like an amazing trip skeeter, congrats to you and your buds on the successful, and entertaining hunt. I cant wait to havesome time, post-school to take up some elk adventures.

Whats next on the list? A giant mulie?:D:D

RE: 2006 Canadian Whitetails - Get' em!
 

Thanks AG, yes hopefully! Mulie and Whitetails will be the quarry for the remaining months of hunting season. ML opens monday and hopefully I'll getout chasing mulies at least once next week with the smokepole.

Here is apic that is looking up at where we were on the quads -opening morning spikes area.

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Skeet, Once again you fail to dissapoint . Congrats to you on your great bull and to the other members of your party. It sounds like you guys had unbelievable action, more than most people experience. Good luck to you on the deer. 2 weeks here yet then the games shall begin.