Suffeild Hunt 14-???
 

Hey how's it going out there? I need a fix, some feel good stories.

Seems like so many dark forces against the weekend warrior these days. Need a pick up.

Success
 

My 21 year old niece shot her first ever big game animal there today. A big 7X7 bull. She and my brother spotted some bulls from the road then put a few miles on the boots. An hour and a half later they closed the gap to 80 yards and got it done. I couldn't be happier for her. They seen around 15 bulls where they were and no other hunters.

My dad had the tag for the first hunt. He also got it done in one day as he shot a heavy old 6X6 bull. Both elk were shot in that small area they opened up to foot access only in the NWA and a long way from the nearest road. Proof that if you want to hunt these elk, you can,

Did they open more of the NWA? Last weeks hunt they said they were going to open some more area on some sort of lottery system.

Pics

Nwa
 

Yes, they did something different this hunt. They offered a "lottery" to anyone who wanted enter. It was for 15 trucks to be able to enter the NWA in the N.E corner of the base. They did the draw after the briefing. Anyone wanting to enter the draw stayed behind while the rest got a heads start into the rest of the base. My niece was unsuccessful in the draw which might have been a blessing in disguise as I heard from one guy that did win the "lottery" but did not see much in there.

Any day 2 updates? Noticed there were guys that had burned a 2 priority to be there this week.

Update from day 2. I was in the nwa today and most in there harvested bulls but none real big that I saw. I was being picky and passed on bulls with the herd. I'll be back tomorrow for one last shot a a big one. Hey 4x4 where were they outside the nwa?

Good luck tomorrow Buffhunter! Cant wait to get in their in december!

I am already impressed that this year they opened part of the NWA lottery or not that's great news and makes it a lot more fair to those willing to walk in..

I won the "lottery" Monday and took a 330 (6x6) bull out of the NWA. Will post some pics tomorrow.

What's priority for suffield elk?

Big bull
 

I did hear of one huge bull that was shot near Infantry trail on Monday. Not sure where off of Infrantry but did here it was a giant. Not in the NWA.

I shot a 6x6 bull yesterday morning. Not a monster just a nice bull.Had a good time and would do it again. Good luck to all in the upcoming hunts!!

I got this bull on Monday, November 14th. Probably the one off of Infantry trail outside of the NWA. I was also one of the lucky ones who did not win the lottery to go into the NWA. This bull gross scores 397 5/8 and was shot on the Minister's tag.

Cheers and good luck to any out there still!

what time should we be there for brifing?

that'll do

Any cows?
 

Just thought I would check and see if any of the guys that hunted bulls this week saw many cows. My brother and niece were there Monday but never really seen many besides a cow calf pair. He will be back looking for cows tomorrow.

Ya, would have loved some field pics of mine instead of one's back at camp in the dark.

There were 3 cows with the bull I shot. All we seen but didn't do a whole bunch of hunting.

There are always the unlucky!
 

Wow! Just came out of suffield with nothing. I would do this hunt again just due the chance of getting trophy like seen in this thread. I helped load another one a 7x6 that is darn close to this one about noon today. Real old looking antlers. Guys were seeing these big ones both in and out of nwa I just wasn't quite in right place at right time. Walked about 35km in 3 days and skunked, helped load 4 bulls for others...think that deserves a loser beer don't you!! I'll be back hopefully some big guys left by that time. Someone please tell me it will a turn out one day before the disappointment completely consumes me!!

Here's mine

There was a herd of 500-800 mostly cows in the nwa near mounted rifle road on tuesday. That's where I saw most cows. Few by fox road tonight.

How many helpers can a tag holder bring along?

My brother pulled the draw in the nwa for Tuesday we got one out of a big heard. Decent 6x6. Nothing on the base tho couple little guys and a good one but it's pretty dead unless your in the nwa. We almost never came back for the second day. When we checked out the bull at dark yesterday the biologist said that was #7. One other was a ways behind with one #8 so not so many taken about 20 the first day the ranger said.

You can bring as many helpers as can fit in the truck with you.

We got drawn for the NWA the first day. It was the first time they ever let anyone in the north two areas so there was very little information until we actually got to the briefing. Most of the people who got drawn were surprised by what was required for entry. You have to have the following.

- Handheld GPS (phone with GPS not allowed) They made us physically show them that we had this.
- Pack Frame or other means of retrieving the animal on foot. No vehicle retrieval allowed.
- Thermal blanket
- 12 hours water
- 12 hours food
- flashlight

Two hunters shot a big bull in there the second night. It took them till midnight to get it out and the range control guys were ****ed. They pretty much told them they were lucky they already had the bull in the truck, cause if they didn't they weren't going to allow them back on the base the next day.

If you get one late, mark it with GPS and let range control know, they will let you come get it the next day.

Range control was really helpful. Even saw them assist one guy in getting a massive bull out of a big valley, but don't count on this.

Oh, and don't drive in the low areas. They look dry, but they aren't. Saw an F150 stuck on the second day. On the third day there was a tow truck abandoned about 50 feet away from it. Not sure how they are going to get them out.

everybody sing along

"The Chev got stuck and the Ford got stuck
But the Chev unstuck when the Dodge showed up
But the Dodge got stuck in the tractor rut,
Which eventually pulled out the Ford
With some difficulty"

Great bulls everyone! Good to see this hunt continue and seems to be a lot less frustrations then there were last year. Hopefully the late hunts are the same.

That's a monster, congrats!!!

HuntingAlberta, that guy is a Beast!! Well done! :)