Wmu 521 and 359
 

Hey I'm looking at going elk hunting this year and have a few questions about these wmu's. Is it possible to leave the road and hike out away from other hunters. I don't really want to bother with permission so I will be hunting crown land only. Which area would be better for someone willing to hike to get away from crowds? Does anyone know of a general area that is best for someone willing to hike in? I'm nor looking for secret escapes just a general idea. Also if there is a better wmu with a similar success rate and no farther north I would love to check them out. Thanks for the help

I dont usually help people with almost no post when they ask where the elk are, but I will through you a bone. Its tough to get permission in both those units so you are best to hunt the crown anyway. The crown in 521 is relatively flatter than 359 and it makes locating and patterning the game much harder as they can be anywherea. It also is full of muskeg, swamps and beaver ponds. The clear cuts are old and overgrown. It also has no shortage of hunting pressure on its few roads including year round unregulated hunting as its handy to sturgeon lake res. Stick to the main river valleys of the southern mu and if you put in enough time (it takes a while to dial them in) or luck comes your way you may be eating elk. Anywhere that trucks and atvs can get in either unit is pretty picked over.
Also remember that there are lots of elk hunting opportunities south of there. Working in the bush I have consistently seen elk around whitecourt, edson and hinton , just to name a few. People seem to be under the impression that there's elk galore in the grande praire area and that is not really the case as the late season cow has dropped the population I dont believe its expanding.

There are some elk and lots of areas to get away from the crowds but it is a huge zone with a limited amount of elk scattered through it. Wolves have really shut down the bugling in the past two years. If hiking, i would head for the mountains instead of slogging through the alders, dead fall, muskeg, and creeks. Anyplace with open cut lines or trails is beat down. If we do kill something in 521 we back pack it out for fear of opening up a trail by going in with a quad to get it.

I can tell you after hunting in wmu 359 for several years, that you can't hike far enough to get away from everyone else. In fact , on a few occasions, I have spent a long time hiking into an area early in the morning, only to have people ride atvs into where I was, even though it is against the regulations. I killed all of my elk in that wmu, in the same location, within a km of the road, because most people just overlooked that particular location.

Both areas are overly excessable. Anywhere you don't see a trail or quad tracks would be a good start

Thanks guys my original plan was to hunt 440 or 344. By the sounds of it I think I may just continue with my original plan this year. The harvest report isn't as positive in those wmu's but it seems like it will be more of the experience I'm looking for. Thanks for all the help guys.