A tip for anyone using the Backroads Mapbooks in 353... The data must be quite old. We wasted a lot of time trying to get to places only to find that a lot of the roads in the book have been abandoned for 20 years. Some we explored by quad, but they wer not suitable for trucks at all.
We spent most of the weekend down in the Deep Valley and various spots along the Simonette Mainline.
Lots of bear sign, including some Grizzly sign, elk tracks here and there, but no replies to any bugling. Didn't see a moose either, so we are still undecided on what part of this WMU to head to for the rifle opener to try and fill cow moose and cow elk tags.
We ran into a local guy along the Little Smoky with one of those Japanese Mini-Trucks. Pretty slick rig. Nice guy. We chatted for quite a while. It sounds like the elk are bugling all over the place. We just didn't hear anything.
Next time we go, we'll be out for a week, so hopefully it will go better.