RE: 2007 Canadian Whitetails
 

Nice one Skeeter. Good job...

RE: 2007 Canadian Whitetails
 

Congrats to all on your fine trophies. Skeet that is one h*ll of a buck. Way to go! Isn't it great when it all goes right and things happen the way you imagine them?

JD, That's an awesome deer your cousin shot. love the spread!

early in, nice to hear your trip was enjoyable if not successful. Good luck next year.

Hia, hope you filled the freezer. I really hope we get a reasonable winter this year and the deer numbers can rebound somewhat. Kev Y. stayed with us for a week or so while he was working up in the Peace country. I forgot how funny that little bugger can be.

My thoughts exactly. It seems the hunting gods disapprove of my annual trip as the moment I crossed the border saturday night I was into blowing snow and friggin' cold weather. Pretty much exactly where I left off last year:D.

Been hunting the pumpkin patch yesterday and today. This crappy weather is actually good in that it keeps everyone else in their trucks. The bush that holds most of the whitetails is a good 3/4-1mile from the nearest trail so very few make it in there anyway. Yesterday saw several bucks but no shooters. Today I spent the cold*ss miserable morning doing laps in the truck. This afternoon, I took the Bro' in law out and sent him to watch a fenceline/staging area that the deer cross to get to the fields at night. I circled way to the north and came in from the west side to try and catch anything that might wind him and head for the big bush. As I came down a opening towards the fenceline patch I caught movement about 1/2mile infront of me. Immediately, I could tell that it was 'himself', the buck (or reincarnation thereof) I have seen in that area over the last several years mulie and shed hunting.Turns out Bro' in law jumped him from the fenceline patch and sent him packing for the hills. Good news is I know exactly where he goes andso far he's gone there everytime i've spooked him. I think i'll head for his runaway spot in the morning and see what happens. Otherwise i'll take the Bro' in law back on Thursday and have him do the exact same thing again, only i'll be waiting for him at his hideout. I know they always look bigger running away but he must be at least 170 if he's a clean typical. Hopefully he'll make a mistake between now and saturday.

I spend all last week guiding down around Edson. It was a great week with my guy being the only hunter out of 9 that didn't tag a deer. He passed up several 140-150's in hopes of a big boy and unfortunately, missed his one opportunity when it came. All the other guys tagged on bucks 130 - 160. Stupidly, i didn't take a single picture all week[:@]

RE: 2007 Canadian Whitetails
 

Sask, good luck with that MONSTER! Keep us updated.

RE: 2007 Canadian Whitetails
 

Saska, sounds like you are doing something right and have a good spot. Best of luck catching up with the big fella.

How is the pressure? I'd figure with the cold it wouldn't be to bad...then again inside a truck elements aren't much a factor either! One place I use to hunt when out there when the pressure got up was on the east side of 219 at the Proctor Lake entrance (last gate off the main easttrail).Head north, follow the trail to the west till you get to the end(fenceline). Depending on the wind I wouldhead south orthe west flatsleading outto Proctor. Anything around the hedgerows to the south? What about rutting?

Besk of luck to the B in Law as well:)!

RE: 2007 Canadian Whitetails
 

Skeet,

Pressure hasn't been bad but as the week goes on there has been more pumpkin sightings. I didn't actually see another hunter outside a vehicle until last night. Biggest problem this week has been that it's near impossible to spend more than 15 minutes sitting in one spot. Still hunting isn't much of an option b/c the snow is so squeeky and crunchy. I've tried a couple of stalks on deer but have yet to get within 200yds before they hear me. I spent the better part of wednesday walking and rattling in and around that big boys hideout. I did grunt in a little 2 year old and played with him at 10 yards for a while.

The rut is still going the last few days. I jumped a big 5x5 and his girlfriend from an irrigation ditch about 50yds from a farm house. Nearly had the bro in law set up on him as they returned to the river breaks yesterday morning.

south rows are good again this year. I blew a stalk on a 130 inch 4x4 in there yesterday. We couldn't get permission on the fields north of the rows again this year otherwise that would be a great place to be every morning. Bro in law got his buck just east of the rows yesterday. we spotted a young buck and some does hanging out in an old farm yard and Keith got him. Pretty much the same deer he shot last year split G2 and everything.

I'm familiar with the Proctor area. Dad and I used to hunt there often as it was one of the few places accessible to our old 2wd toyota when it snowed. I toured in there the other day and saw way more hunters then tracks. It's produced in the past for me but i've yet to see a deer over 120 in there, not saying they aren't there i've just seen more elsewhere. I 've hunted mostly the east side of that trail close to where the pasture ends. I haven't really explored the flats, might have to try that sometime.

I took today off. I got into the wobbly pops last night with some buddies so this morning was a write off. I'm going to give it one more try tommorow and then hed home tail between legs. Again;)

P.s. the deer were really moving tonite. I went out for a short cruise this afternoon. I saw several bucks with their snouts full of food. The rut must be almost done. I also got chased off a piece of land by some d*uchebag with red plates (who lets them past the border anyways;)) He claimed it was posted private land, found out later it was not posted but did have an old, half ripped off and faded "No vehicles allowed" sign on it. I was on an a well travelled established trail with fresh truck tracks but nonetheless i took his word for it, apologized and left. I find it ironic that the discusssion took place from the window of his Dodge. Anyway, i expect he likely did have permission and I was in the wrong for not seeing the "no vehicles" sign. Had I been on foot I might have tracked him down and told him where to go.

RE: 2007 Canadian Whitetails
 

Congrats to the bro in law:). You are in tough with the weather this year again. The windchill yesterday was bone chilling. I don't doubt they were moving tonight as it warmed up a little, actually felt nice. I haven't been back in the proctor area for a while and then nobody ever went past the fenceline, use to be a little haven...guess not no more.

The posted land often becomes their home as theydon't want to cross the skirmish line that is set up before rifle season even opens. You should see bow and muzzy season along that trail[:o]!! Close and not posted makes for pressure.

Rips you a new one, yet he is doing the samething...BOO!

Buddy showed up tonight with a buck he took tonight NE of Hanley. He said it was following a group of does?? Alsomentioned the deer were moving. I was justheading outso couldn't put a tape on him and with no camera no pics either[&:]but asked him toemail me some.A 6x6 typical -I'd say 24 to 25" beams, 20ish inside spread, good tine length and average mass. I figurehe'lltop 170, not sure he'llstay boone but a real nice buck.

They are out their so keep the faith. Best of luck tomorrow.

RE: 2007 Canadian Whitetails
 

Well I'm back in the frozen north again. I thought it was cold in Saskatoon![&:]

Yesterday started with a plan to intercept the big 5x5 I had jumped out of the irrigation ditch. Bro' in law nearly had him on Thursday and I was confident I could make some minor adjustments to our ambush spot that would see me in position to get a crack at him as he returned from the night's adventures. Things started out exactly as scripted when the first doe group passed a mere 50yrds from my location. With the second group of does coming I caught a glimpse of a large bodied deer chasing another on the horizon. The two deer were working my way along the same general path as the others when I saw the brief flash of headlight near the farmyard the deer funnel through. I waiterd approximately 20 minutes for the buck to come by but there was no sign of him. As I packed up and headed for the pasture I came across a running truck stopped at the edge of the farmyard. The two guys in the truck informed me that they had a "huge buck" holed up in the yard and their buddy was walking through to push him out. Slightly disgusted I wished them good luck and left. After heading for the pasture and finding hunters on pretty much every corner, i decided to pack up and head for home.

As i approached Lloyminster I got a call from my hunting partner in High Prairie. After BSing for a while I found myself regretting my choice to quit early. At the time I was about 1/2 hour from my old favourite spot north of Lloyd so with two hours left in the season I headed north to sit the last minutes at "old faithful", a hay field that always seems to produce at least one buck sighting each night. No sooner had I arrived, dug out my gun and orange and got myself situated at the edge of the bush than a nice 5x5 buck walked out. Boom! Flop. It was all over in less that 20 minutes. I had him loaded and was back on the road by the end of legal light. Unfortunately my camera threw a hissy fit in the cold and i wasn't able to get field pictures. Here's a few from today once he thawed enough to skin him. Also apic of Bro's WT.








Hope you all had a great season. Good luck to anyone who is still in the game. Next up for me is Shedding season.

RE: 2007 Canadian Whitetails
 

I also made a trip to the taxidermist today to pick up the three skulls he was bleaching for myself and my hunting partner. Taxidermist taped the big typical at 154 gross.

RE: 2007 Canadian Whitetails
 

Hey Saska
Nice deer bud and good you had second thoughts about your favorite honey hole,LOL. Right on .
Skeeter ,great deerit sounded like you and your freinds had a great hunt. 5 Days left to bow hunt in the Starthcona and Leduc counties and I'm done too. Shot a little 4x4 on closing nite for my son's freezer, otherwise he would have been safe.Now to fill my daughters,LMAO hope I can do it,mite be a little to cold for sitting. I'll let ya's know if I can do it.
Rocky

RE: 2007 Canadian Whitetails
 

Saskacongrats, nice way to finish up. Great looking euro's. How much does he charge? Also who/where did it for you?

Sounds like the bucks are starting to fall, have heard of a number shot this past week. That darn rut theory I have may just have some meat to it!;) First week was pretty quiet but 2nd things picked up.

YF, congrats and best of luck next week. Pretty sweet deal dad shoots it and they eats it. Good on you. I love sharing the wealth when it comes to the best meat on the planet with family/friends.

I still have a mulie doe tag, wt doe tag and 2nd buck. My partner is harping to head out somewhere as he has the same thing and they are burning a hole in his pocket. Work is crazy busy, but we'll see as after all it's a long off season and mouths need to be fed;)!