Go Back   Alberta Outdoorsmen Forum > Main Category > Hunting Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 09-12-2017, 04:19 PM
Newhunter1234 Newhunter1234 is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 37
Default Advice for new hunter

I'm looking at getting out to hunt some whitetail deer and grouse on the weekend. Any advice on wmu 326,416, and 414 for whitetails and grouse, just looking for any general spots to start with. I will have a general whitetail tag. Any other suggestions for wmus that are open for general whitetail in the area of around Calgary will be helpful. What would be a good area to start with for grouse?Looking for crown land. Thanks for any help.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 09-12-2017, 04:25 PM
bessiedog's Avatar
bessiedog bessiedog is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,372
Default

Are you hunting with archery gear?
__________________
"How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live.”
-HDT
"A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends on the character of the user." T. Roosevelt
"I don't always troll, only on days that end in Y."
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 09-12-2017, 04:29 PM
Newhunter1234 Newhunter1234 is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 37
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by bessiedog View Post
Are you hunting with archery gear?
No by rifle.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 09-12-2017, 05:03 PM
Newhunter1234 Newhunter1234 is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 37
Default

Also looking to get around the hunter valley road along highway 40. Any general areas where I should start looking there? How's the deer population there?
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 09-12-2017, 05:20 PM
wildwoods wildwoods is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Location
Posts: 4,961
Default

There's deer literally everywhere in this province including urban edmonton. Honestly, pick a spot you like for any reason and start scouting it. I know everyone will say the same thing and there's a reason: its the only way. Please dont mistake this for having a rude tone, as it's not intended that way. It's just the simple truth
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 09-12-2017, 05:56 PM
Don_Parsons Don_Parsons is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 1,827
Default

^^^ X2

Totally agree.

There isn't one road that dosen't have WT's on it,,, we did some Elk calling and the WT's all showed up. Ha.

Happy Harvesting too all as its a prime year for lots of action.

Don
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 09-12-2017, 06:51 PM
Nyksta Nyksta is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Calgary
Posts: 1,543
Default

Get a chunk of land you have permission to hunt, find a spot where a treed area meets a field. Walk along it and watch out for worn down trails in the grass. Next time you go out to that spot, find a downwind location and wait. If you can watch multiple trails from one lookout point you'll have that much better of chances for a deer to come a long. Get to know your rifle and shooting ability so you know what is reasonable distance to find a spot to wait.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 09-12-2017, 07:08 PM
Bushleague Bushleague is offline
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 3,556
Default

Not sure what kind of country you are hunting, but after many years of hunting all kinds of country here's about the best rule of thumb I've found...

You are almost always looking for the feature that is in the shortest supply... If you are in steep country look for flat spots, if you are in flat land look for hills and ridges, if you are in dry country look for water, in open country look for trees... this will more or less put you in the right general area and you can then start closing in on the sweet spot a little more.

My general rule of thumb for finding the sweet spot is finding where the most positive features meet, a steep ridge bordering on an old oxbow pond near that magical line where coniferous and deciduous forests meet for instance... your bound to find yourself "on the spot" if you explore an area like that.
__________________
If the good lord didnt want me to ride a four wheeler with no shirt on, then how come my nipples grow back after every wipeout?
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 09-12-2017, 07:31 PM
jrowan jrowan is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Calgary
Posts: 361
Default

In 326, 416, and 414 deer isn't open until the 17th for rifle (Sunday).

Area around hwy 40 requires a draw for rifle deer (opens on the 24th if you have a draw).

If your looking for crown land you can google Alberta PLUZ to get the AB gov site that lists them all and has PDF maps.

Reminder OHV are currently banned pretty much everywhere south of Edmonton.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 09-13-2017, 02:44 PM
jdwilson jdwilson is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 59
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bushleague View Post
Not sure what kind of country you are hunting, but after many years of hunting all kinds of country here's about the best rule of thumb I've found...

You are almost always looking for the feature that is in the shortest supply... If you are in steep country look for flat spots, if you are in flat land look for hills and ridges, if you are in dry country look for water, in open country look for trees... this will more or less put you in the right general area and you can then start closing in on the sweet spot a little more.

My general rule of thumb for finding the sweet spot is finding where the most positive features meet, a steep ridge bordering on an old oxbow pond near that magical line where coniferous and deciduous forests meet for instance... your bound to find yourself "on the spot" if you explore an area like that.
I am new at this as well. I spent a few weekends out scouting and did not see what I was looking for (Mullies). How does Cattle at Large factor into that, ie: if I am near (1-2 Kms) from where a decent amount of cattle are grazing ( or have been recently), will that affect the chances? I amazes me how far back signs of cattle can be found. PS. I am looking in 404.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 09-13-2017, 04:04 PM
Slicktricker Slicktricker is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,338
Default

I've hunted crown land near the sang lake grazing leases and had elk and deer not far from them but driving by fields I've seen elk and moose and deer in the same field so I think they get used to them not saying they will be feet away but not far
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 09-13-2017, 06:22 PM
Bushleague Bushleague is offline
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 3,556
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by jdwilson View Post
I am new at this as well. I spent a few weekends out scouting and did not see what I was looking for (Mullies). How does Cattle at Large factor into that, ie: if I am near (1-2 Kms) from where a decent amount of cattle are grazing ( or have been recently), will that affect the chances? I amazes me how far back signs of cattle can be found. PS. I am looking in 404.
I think that at 1-2 KM you would be safe for sure. Sharing the same field, your probably going to get varying opinions on that. I don't hunt around cattle that much but I can remember having good luck a few times in close proximity to them. IMO the most frustrating thing about cattle is their tendency to obliterate game sign, for that reason I prefer to avoid them. I don't like listening to them while I'm hunting and I don't like sifting through their tracks and poop while trying to find game sign.
__________________
If the good lord didnt want me to ride a four wheeler with no shirt on, then how come my nipples grow back after every wipeout?
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 09-14-2017, 09:31 AM
jrowan jrowan is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Calgary
Posts: 361
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by jdwilson View Post
I am new at this as well. I spent a few weekends out scouting and did not see what I was looking for (Mullies). How does Cattle at Large factor into that, ie: if I am near (1-2 Kms) from where a decent amount of cattle are grazing ( or have been recently), will that affect the chances? I amazes me how far back signs of cattle can be found. PS. I am looking in 404.
Again, if using rifle in 404 you more or less need a draw for big game. (the exception would be trophy sheep)
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 09-14-2017, 11:56 AM
raab raab is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 4,858
Default

I'd drive the dirt roads in the afternoon to look for grouse. Usually they're out eating the small stones to help with digestion.

For deer hunting pretty hard this time of year. I'd just be out scouting right now. The bucks really get moving come November and that's when you'll want to know where to be.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 09-14-2017, 06:31 PM
jdwilson jdwilson is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 59
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by jrowan View Post
Again, if using rifle in 404 you more or less need a draw for big game. (the exception would be trophy sheep)
Of course. I am a new hunter with no points, had no idea what I was doing (I will 999 and buy over the counter next year). The fact that I was drawn for Antlered Mule in 404 is indicative of the likelihood of success....should be fun.
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 09-15-2017, 04:03 PM
Newhunter1234 Newhunter1234 is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 37
Default

Also is there pheasants in these areas or is it not worth buying the license?
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 09-15-2017, 05:44 PM
wildwoods wildwoods is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Location
Posts: 4,961
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bushleague View Post
I think that at 1-2 KM you would be safe for sure. Sharing the same field, your probably going to get varying opinions on that. I don't hunt around cattle that much but I can remember having good luck a few times in close proximity to them. IMO the most frustrating thing about cattle is their tendency to obliterate game sign, for that reason I prefer to avoid them. I don't like listening to them while I'm hunting and I don't like sifting through their tracks and poop while trying to find game sign.
Sums it up for me
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
new hunter, wmu 326

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 12:12 AM.


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