Go Back   Alberta Outdoorsmen Forum > Main Category > Hunting Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 09-21-2014, 07:18 PM
gumbo2go's Avatar
gumbo2go gumbo2go is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Calgary
Posts: 61
Default 2013 WT Winter Kill ??

2013 winter kill....
I just returned from an area near Caroline where I WT hunted last year. Things do not look good for WT numbers. Looks like the local WT population took a big hit last winter. Locals tell me that between the deep snow and increased predators the deer got hammered.

Anyone else seeing the same thing?
__________________
Even a blind hog finds an acorn every now and then!
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 09-21-2014, 08:05 PM
FreeLantz FreeLantz is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: In a van, down by the river.
Posts: 815
Default

Nope. Deer herds seem no worse for wear here.
__________________
I gotta have more cowbell.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 09-21-2014, 09:14 PM
Ken H Ken H is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Sylvan Lake
Posts: 654
Default

The area I hunt has the same issues. The deep snow and high predator count did a number on the whitetails.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 09-21-2014, 09:51 PM
coyotekiller's Avatar
coyotekiller coyotekiller is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Central AB
Posts: 1,705
Default

Deer numbers look good here where I'm hunting
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 09-25-2014, 09:38 PM
gumbo2go's Avatar
gumbo2go gumbo2go is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Calgary
Posts: 61
Default

Got room for one more hunter?

just kidding, good luck this season.

I'll take my chances. I enjoy just going out there and spending time in the woods.
__________________
Even a blind hog finds an acorn every now and then!
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 09-25-2014, 10:30 PM
HunterDave HunterDave is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Copperhead Road, Morinville
Posts: 19,290
Default

Deep snow is not good for predators either unless there's a crust on top that'll hold them up. The last 2 years we have had wet summers/good growing seasons so there was lots for the deer to eat in the bush without having to travel too far for food and become more vulnerable. Other than lots of snow, was there any weird weather down that way (ie. a thaw and then freeze)?
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 09-26-2014, 08:24 AM
jacenbeers's Avatar
jacenbeers jacenbeers is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Calgary
Posts: 2,154
Default

I was also near Caroline last weekend and I would agree that numbers are lower than previous years.
__________________
----------
The trap I set for you seems to have caught my leg instead.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 09-26-2014, 10:53 AM
Buck Krazy's Avatar
Buck Krazy Buck Krazy is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 648
Default

too many does being shot period!
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 09-26-2014, 04:13 PM
Mateo's Avatar
Mateo Mateo is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 907
Default

Lots of deer West of Rocky still. They are in the bush more. Not seeing them out in the open because of the good feed in the forest. Follow some good game trails and you'll see them. Shot my first deer of the season doing the ol' Stalk n Spot. Makes for a fun day when you aren't restricted to just morning and evening hunt. When you get in the forest and move around you have good chances any time of day.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 09-26-2014, 06:56 PM
Dan4570 Dan4570 is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Alberta
Posts: 318
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mateo View Post
Lots of deer West of Rocky still. They are in the bush more. Not seeing them out in the open because of the good feed in the forest. Follow some good game trails and you'll see them. Shot my first deer of the season doing the ol' Stalk n Spot. Makes for a fun day when you aren't restricted to just morning and evening hunt. When you get in the forest and move around you have good chances any time of day.
X2 on getting into the bush.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 09-26-2014, 07:24 PM
roger's Avatar
roger roger is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: wmu 222, member #197
Posts: 4,907
Default

Quote:
2013 winter kill....
I just returned from an area near Caroline where I WT hunted last year. Things do not look good for WT numbers. Looks like the local WT population took a big hit last winter. Locals tell me that between the deep snow and increased predators the deer got hammered.

Anyone else seeing the same thing?
i have to ask..and not being ignorant here....
going out once doesnt really determine a problem does it?
maybe the wild horse population is in compettion for food?
why is it we look for excuses..its too hot, it was too cold, too many poachers, too much snow, not enough snow, people complaining that there are no big bucks but refuse to let a 150" walk because someone else will shoot it, filling doe tags and so on.
maybe its because there is less and less habitat with higher and higher hunter concentration.
be happy you got to enjoy the day, dont give up on the area.
__________________
there are two kinds of people...those with loaded guns and those who dig.
the good, the bad, the ugly

weatherby fans clik here....
http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/group.php?groupid=31
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 09-26-2014, 08:04 PM
coy coyote's Avatar
coy coyote coy coyote is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: near insanity
Posts: 836
Default

2011 ,2012 the wt took a hit here. Found a bunch of dead deer at the stack yards. Had all the hay they needed but the snow was crusted over. Seems like they have recover. Muleys faired better. There's at least 90 at the silage pit and feed bunkers every night
__________________
Somewhere between ragged and right. Like a bus load of taxi drivers learning how to fly.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 09-27-2014, 01:01 PM
gumbo2go's Avatar
gumbo2go gumbo2go is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Calgary
Posts: 61
Default Good Luck

Thanks for replying. Best of luck this season. I'm taking the hand that I'm dealt and having some fun with it. I'm certain that there are a few nice ones left there. Just not the quantity.

Sort of like last season when I decided to take the rattling game on the move. 2 hours here and then 2 hours there in different pre-chosen locations. I never tried hunting that way before but it worked out great. Middle of the day I finally crossed paths with a nice buck. Each season is another lesson and that's why I enjoy hunting. It's the chase and not so much the kill.
__________________
Even a blind hog finds an acorn every now and then!
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 09-27-2014, 01:10 PM
HunterDave HunterDave is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Copperhead Road, Morinville
Posts: 19,290
Default

There should be plenty of sign in the bush at this time of year. The bucks will have rubs from removing their velvet and scrapes in the ground should be showing up in a couple of weeks. Find a spot with lots of sign and hunt that area. Good luck!
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 09-27-2014, 01:20 PM
Team Anzac Team Anzac is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 849
Default

From what I've been told SRD wants to keep the supplemental tags going, basically they want to wipe out the deer herd to eradicate CWD. Not sure how much truth there is to that rumor, at least they could knock it back to a single supplemental instead of 2.
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 09-27-2014, 02:34 PM
Dan4570 Dan4570 is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Alberta
Posts: 318
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Team Anzac View Post
From what I've been told SRD wants to keep the supplemental tags going, basically they want to wipe out the deer herd to eradicate CWD. Not sure how much truth there is to that rumor, at least they could knock it back to a single supplemental instead of 2.
Most if not all WMU's where the supplemental tags are still valid in have never even had a CWD problem. Theres actually a few WMU's that had CWD cases and supplementals that are now no supplemental zones this year. Theres so many rumors on this forum. SRD employees can never even give solid explanations for decisions that are made.

Last edited by Dan4570; 09-27-2014 at 03:01 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 09-27-2014, 03:01 PM
edmhunter edmhunter is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Over That Hill
Posts: 3,872
Default

has anyone heard about wmu 200 and the muley population?
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 09-27-2014, 04:26 PM
Rabbit Snarer Rabbit Snarer is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 279
Default whitetail numbers

Whitetail numbers west of Red Deer in the Rocky, Caroline areas are so far down from 5 years ago it's ridiculous due to the shooting of does and fawns. Mule deer have been gone for years for some reason. Predators and a bad winter are not to blame.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:08 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.