best elk hunting zone?

[damn_missed_again]

Hey everyone! Looking for some general advice or knowledge. We are looking for a new zone to chase elk this fall. We spent a week in the backcountry of 434 last fall and never saw a thing. We REALLY want to put elk on the ground and were looking at WMU 356 by the kakwa and smoky rivers. That or in the saddle hills area. If someone has a better idea we are more than open to it. Where ever we end up going we will be putting in scouting trips and try to obtain permission if needed. Please help!!

[Lefty-Canuck]

Lots of great spots in Alberta!

LC

[finner-duramax]

No elk in the saddle hills

[buglebull]

I agree . . . . don't waste your time in the saddle hills. I'm sure there are elk there, but you will be chasing them with lots of other hunters. 356 is one of my favourite zones. Mostly solid bush, cut blocks, pipelines etc. Lots of elk there. Mostly crown land so you can hunt huge areas. If your a serious elk hunter, you will find elk there for sure.

[st99]

this can help you choose http://mywildalberta.com/Hunting/HuntersHarvest.aspx

[CountryLife94]

Originally Posted by st99

this can help you choose http://mywildalberta.com/Hunting/HuntersHarvest.aspx

Nailed it on the head

[NBFK]

Where ever your stepping in elk ****. If your not seeing fresh sign your not on the herd.

[Ice Fishing Maniac]

Originally Posted by damn_missed_again

Hey everyone! Looking for some general advice or knowledge. We are looking for a new zone to chase elk this fall. We spent a week in the backcountry of 434 last fall and never saw a thing. We REALLY want to put elk on the ground and were looking at WMU 356 by the kakwa and smoky rivers. That or in the saddle hills area. If someone has a better idea we are more than open to it. Where ever we end up going we will be putting in scouting trips and try to obtain permission if needed. Please help!!

Any area around GP will have high pressures, being it be the Saddle Hills or Kawka / Smoky especially. Maybe if you get far enough back you may have more success. I have heard plenty of stories in those areas. The haul road down to Hinton has a camp about every mile and on both sides of the road....talk about GONG SHOW.

Maybe look into WMU 522 along the Peace River / Little Smokey drainages.

[albertadeer]

Originally Posted by Ice Fishing Maniac

Any area around GP will have high pressures, being it be the Saddle Hills or Kawka / Smoky especially. Maybe if you get far enough back you may have more success. I have heard plenty of stories in those areas. The haul road down to Hinton has a camp about every mile and on both sides of the road....talk about GONG SHOW.

Maybe look into WMU 522 along the Peace River / Little Smokey drainages.

This is true, there might be lots of elk around GP but there is hunters and camps on every road. Sickening

[finner-duramax]

Originally Posted by Ice Fishing Maniac

Any area around GP will have high pressures, being it be the Saddle Hills or Kawka / Smoky especially. Maybe if you get far enough back you may have more success. I have heard plenty of stories in those areas. The haul road down to Hinton has a camp about every mile and on both sides of the road....talk about GONG SHOW.

Maybe look into WMU 522 along the Peace River / Little Smokey drainages.

I'd stay away from the whole area, including 522, 359, 358.
Place is a zoo

[mooseslayer1]

314,320,318,312 has elk but need to get way off the beaten trail or have permission which is easier said than done. But I have seen and even put a few bulls down in 314 and 320

[xxclaro]

Been hunting in 355/356 for the last 3 years or so, and last year was the first time we actually found a few elk. Didn't get one, but did get close. We hunt the bow season, so it might be a while till I get one. I see the numbers are much better in 357, but I assume its more farm area so I'd have to find permission. Might scout it out and give it a try this year.

[Don K]

Originally Posted by mooseslayer1

314,320,318,312 has elk but need to get way off the beaten trail or have permission which is easier said than done. But I have seen and even put a few bulls down in 314 and 320

Problem with these zones is that where most of the elk are is on private land. Especially in 312 & 314. And good luck getting access. If you don't have permission you're really unlikely to get an animal. Period....
320 might be your best spot of these.
For general elk you gotta go north. Hinton, Grande Cache, GP area and the Peace. At least you have a hope of a decent bull on crown land. In the south you need lots of access or I draw in a good mountain zone. Theme the facts.
And there are LOTS of elk in the Saddle Hills...

[Bassett]

Originally Posted by finner-duramax

I'd stay away from the whole area, including 522, 359, 358.
Place is a zoo

I agree every Tom, Dick, and Harry are squeaking their bugles out.

[damn_missed_again]

thanks everyone....what about the zones around whitecourt....346, 347, 348, 349, and 507. Any thoughts on those??

[Smokinyotes]

Originally Posted by damn_missed_again

thanks everyone....what about the zones around whitecourt....346, 347, 348, 349, and 507. Any thoughts on those??

A lot of private land in 348 and difficult to get permission.

[Lr1000]

I've heard there's elk in 349 and 507. However they must be ghosts cuz I've never seen one....

[pdfish]

Originally Posted by Lr1000

I've heard there's elk in 349 and 507. However they must be ghosts cuz I've never seen one....

There are elk in 507 but not many. I've seen one with my own eyes so I can confirm their existence. My buddy's parents live up in that zone and they've seen about a dozen over the last couple years. Still not the zone I would choose though if I were set on getting an elk.

[bowhunter12]

I hunt 348 a lot and there are good numbers of elk in there but like buddy said hard to get permission and the past few years the elk have been really quiet and hard to find.

[st99]

all the best elk hunting is on private land, instead of wasting your time and money to go scouting and hunting at the other end of the province, focus on gainning permission close to home, that way you will have more time to get to know the area by heart, I don't think one wmu is better than another, you gotta be where the herd hang out and feel safe and undisturb

[righand14]

I've been hunting zone xxx for a few years and was out looking for wolves last weekend. I came across a field full of elk with a few nice bulls. My question is will the elk be in the general area throughout the year or come summer do they head for the hills? The area is a mix of bush and farmland.
Might help the op with the info as scouting the fields now might show areas of good numbers?
Thanks

[Supergrit]

My thoughts lots of zones with elk find one that has them and get to learn it. I bounce around to much between a few different places although I had luck I still think knowing one place well is best. Closer to your home base the better

[BigJon]

Originally Posted by righand14

I've been hunting zone xxx for a few years and was out looking for wolves last weekend. I came across a field full of elk with a few nice bulls. My question is will the elk be in the general area throughout the year or come summer do they head for the hills? The area is a mix of bush and farmland.
Might help the op with the info as scouting the fields now might show areas of good numbers?
Thanks

In my experience there isn't a definitive answer to that. There's some places I know where it's likely to find elk any time of the year and there's others where the winter months look like a petting zoo yet the summer and fall it is very unlikely to find elk there.

It's all about getting to know the turf and the habits of the elk in that area.

[Elkaholic523]

There's 5 hunters to every elk in the peace

[Ivo]

Originally Posted by Elkaholic523

There's 5 hunters to every elk in the peace

That's all? hmm...

Porcupine must be 20:1 then.

[Elkaholic523]

It's a joke up here in sept