Go Back   Alberta Outdoorsmen Forum > Main Category > Hunting Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 08-26-2020, 11:01 AM
pikergolf's Avatar
pikergolf pikergolf is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 11,285
Default SE Alberta Whitetail

I have lived in SE Alberta my entire life, I have never seen a B&C whitetail outside of CFB Suffield or inside the City of Medicine Hat. I have seen a few cranker mules after the draw was implemented outside of CFB Suffield, The City and the Cypress Hills PP, but a never a whitetail. I have seen some really big framed three point WT, but not enough points to make 170. Has anyone else seen these deer in SE Alberta or are all the available spots to well known. I don't hunt deer anymore but am out for coyotes and pheasants a lot and am curious as to others experience.
__________________
“One of the sad signs of our times is that we have demonized those who produce, subsidized those who refuse to produce, and canonized those who complain.”

Thomas Sowell
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 08-26-2020, 11:15 AM
Rackmastr Rackmastr is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 7,714
Default

I saw a buck that likely grossed in the 175-180" range out by Cypress...was a hell of a WT.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 08-26-2020, 01:21 PM
Hooter's Avatar
Hooter Hooter is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 958
Default

I’ve never seen a legit B&C WT in my life, let alone in that part of the province. I’ve seen a few cranker mulies over the years, but I’m not sure why there aren’t more WT around there. Not sure if it’s something to do with food, water, cover, hunting pressure, or something else.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 08-26-2020, 02:32 PM
slough shark slough shark is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Airdrie
Posts: 2,371
Default

Buddy of mine got a whitetail in the 180’s non typical, Hard to find a whitetail over 150, in order for one to get old enough to hit booner range you probably need a safe zone for deer to get old enough. Mulies get help with the draw system keeping them safe for a few years, don’t think there’s an appetite for that to happen with whitetail.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 08-26-2020, 02:46 PM
Family Hunter Family Hunter is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Taber
Posts: 175
Default

Couple SE Alberta deer both gross just over 180. Closest we've came
Seen 2 bigger and one was quite a bit bigger but also smarter
Daughters
IMG_7646.jpg
Mine
IMG_2283.jpg

FH
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 08-26-2020, 05:50 PM
Kurt505 Kurt505 is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Communist state
Posts: 13,245
Default

Something I’ve noticed about the deer in the south, they have light colored antlers compared to where I hunt in the northern parts of the province.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 08-26-2020, 06:07 PM
silver lab's Avatar
silver lab silver lab is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Stuck between wmu 110, 302 & 305
Posts: 1,023
Default

[QUOTE=Kurt505;4225204]Something I’ve noticed about the deer in the south, they have light colored antlers compared to where I hunt in the northern parts of the province.[


When deer rub their antlers on stubble they don’t get dark.....
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 08-26-2020, 06:48 PM
Greatwest's Avatar
Greatwest Greatwest is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 938
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kurt505 View Post
Something I’ve noticed about the deer in the south, they have light colored antlers compared to where I hunt in the northern parts of the province.
Yep they don’t have the cover like in the heavy bush so I strongly believe it has a lot to do with the sun bleaching the antlers. Lots of time you see them just laying in the grass or a rock pile or on a side hill.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 08-26-2020, 06:56 PM
Kurt505 Kurt505 is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Communist state
Posts: 13,245
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Greatwest View Post
Yep they don’t have the cover like in the heavy bush so I strongly believe it has a lot to do with the sun bleaching the antlers. Lots of time you see them just laying in the grass or a rock pile or on a side hill.
I think this is exactly why they’re light colored. Bush bucks have chocolate colored racks because they only come out in the open at night and on a rare occasion during daylight when the rut is in full swing.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 08-26-2020, 11:12 PM
johnnyringo's Avatar
johnnyringo johnnyringo is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: yyc
Posts: 370
Default Both from SE AB

These weren't taken by me but sent by a landowner who knew the guys who took them near his place. Never seen a WT this big, but they are out there....one day maybe
Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_5042 (2)DEER[1268].jpg (52.9 KB, 706 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_1016[1270].jpg (67.9 KB, 629 views)
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 08-27-2020, 06:43 AM
7magtime's Avatar
7magtime 7magtime is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Far Enough From The City, AB
Posts: 1,569
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by johnnyringo View Post
These weren't taken by me but sent by a landowner who knew the guys who took them near his place. Never seen a WT this big, but they are out there....one day maybe
That first buck is a dandy anywhere in this province, thanks for sharing!
__________________
"Better To Be Judged By 12, Then Buried By Six"
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 08-27-2020, 03:40 PM
titegroup titegroup is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 290
Smile

Quote:
Originally Posted by pikergolf View Post
I have lived in SE Alberta my entire life, I have never seen a B&C whitetail outside of CFB Suffield or inside the City of Medicine Hat. I have seen a few cranker mules after the draw was implemented outside of CFB Suffield, The City and the Cypress Hills PP, but a never a whitetail. I have seen some really big framed three point WT, but not enough points to make 170. Has anyone else seen these deer in SE Alberta or are all the available spots to well known. I don't hunt deer anymore but am out for coyotes and pheasants a lot and am curious as to others experience.
Like you I pretty much just hunt predators these days. But in the 80's there was a taxidermist on Allowance Ave. -- named Harley White. - in the same plaza as the current gun shop. I saw some monster whitetails mounted by him and some of the real bruisers were taken just outside Cypress Hills -- a few off the Jackpot-Rd. I'm assuming they were park bucks caught out of park boundary-- & some guys got lucky.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 09-02-2020, 01:49 PM
Giles Giles is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 248
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by johnnyringo View Post
These weren't taken by me but sent by a landowner who knew the guys who took them near his place. Never seen a WT this big, but they are out there....one day maybe
That first buck is a Saskatchewan buck!
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 09-02-2020, 03:18 PM
Bushleague Bushleague is offline
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 3,554
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kurt505 View Post
I think this is exactly why they’re light colored. Bush bucks have chocolate colored racks because they only come out in the open at night and on a rare occasion during daylight when the rut is in full swing.
I dunno about this one. I shot a buck the first week of September in 542, the earlyest I've ever killed a buck, and his antlers were bone white. People actually thought I cut them off of a deer that I found dead, and I was accused of lying about actually shooting that deer.

3 years later I shot one right on the tail end of the last week of November, one of the latest deer I've killed, less than a kilometer from where I took the light one... darkest antlers I have in the shed, almost black.

I've been convinced ever since that the antlers must pick up some color from rubbing, possible the type of trees they are rubbing would be a contributing factor as well.


Only complaint I have about southern deer is that they generally dont seem to have the same body mass as a northern one. On my stomping grounds you can shoot a 130" buck that will dress out at 200 lbs or better. Seen some impressive headgear from further south that was sitting on top of far smaller deer.
__________________
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
  #15  
Old 09-02-2020, 05:21 PM
SouthWestRanger SouthWestRanger is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 350
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bushleague View Post
I dunno about this one. I shot a buck the first week of September in 542, the earlyest I've ever killed a buck, and his antlers were bone white. People actually thought I cut them off of a deer that I found dead, and I was accused of lying about actually shooting that deer.

3 years later I shot one right on the tail end of the last week of November, one of the latest deer I've killed, less than a kilometer from where I took the light one... darkest antlers I have in the shed, almost black.

I've been convinced ever since that the antlers must pick up some color from rubbing, possible the type of trees they are rubbing would be a contributing factor as well.


Only complaint I have about southern deer is that they generally dont seem to have the same body mass as a northern one. On my stomping grounds you can shoot a 130" buck that will dress out at 200 lbs or better. Seen some impressive headgear from further south that was sitting on top of far smaller deer.
My understanding was the same, if you ever see Sitka Blacktails or Columbia’s blacktails they have auburn antlers from rubbing alders and other almost red coloured woods. Same with deer here, their antlers take the color of what they are rubbing on.
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 09-02-2020, 05:47 PM
Kurt505 Kurt505 is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Communist state
Posts: 13,245
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bushleague View Post
I dunno about this one. I shot a buck the first week of September in 542, the earlyest I've ever killed a buck, and his antlers were bone white. People actually thought I cut them off of a deer that I found dead, and I was accused of lying about actually shooting that deer.

3 years later I shot one right on the tail end of the last week of November, one of the latest deer I've killed, less than a kilometer from where I took the light one... darkest antlers I have in the shed, almost black.

I've been convinced ever since that the antlers must pick up some color from rubbing, possible the type of trees they are rubbing would be a contributing factor as well.


Only complaint I have about southern deer is that they generally dont seem to have the same body mass as a northern one. On my stomping grounds you can shoot a 130" buck that will dress out at 200 lbs or better. Seen some impressive headgear from further south that was sitting on top of far smaller deer.

Im no biologist but I do know that every velvet buck I’ve seen had white antlers under the velvet. I shot a muley with bone white antlers while half covered in velvet as well.
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 09-02-2020, 06:25 PM
Bushleague Bushleague is offline
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 3,554
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kurt505 View Post
Im no biologist but I do know that every velvet buck I’ve seen had white antlers under the velvet. I shot a muley with bone white antlers while half covered in velvet as well.
That particular buck, the dark one, I know for a fact was rubbing quite a bit. I picked his track up in the morning, I followed it down an old skidder trail through some checkerboard cuts. Whenever he came to the bush checker he would make a loop off the trail and make a few rubs, then return to the trail and go to the next one.

Once I figured that out I quit following his loops and just stayed on the trail, eventually I hit a chunk of trees where his tracks did not return so I just sat down and waited. Eventually I saw a sapling start waving... and shot him while he was making yet another rub.

I can only speculate as to what he'd been doing the whole rest of the season, but that buck for sure made well over a dozen rubs before noon on the day I shot him.
__________________
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
  #18  
Old 09-02-2020, 09:36 PM
Pathfinder76 Pathfinder76 is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 15,768
Default

They can be dark or light on the prairie. Mule Deer especially. The odd thing is that quite often the capes will match that tendency to a certain degree. I’m not sure if it’s a result of where they lay up and how much sun they are exposed too, or age, I’m not sure. Obviously, what they are rubbing on matters, but are they bleaching out as well?
__________________
“I love it when clients bring Berger bullets. It means I get to kill the bear.”

-Billy Molls
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 09-02-2020, 09:50 PM
Kurt505 Kurt505 is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Communist state
Posts: 13,245
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by chuck View Post
They can be dark or light on the prairie. Mule Deer especially. The odd thing is that quite often the capes will match that tendency to a certain degree. I’m not sure if it’s a result of where they lay up and how much sun they are exposed too, or age, I’m not sure. Obviously, what they are rubbing on matters, but are they bleaching out as well?
When yo find a shed the bottom is always darker than the top so I’d have to guess that the sun is always bleaching to some extent.
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 09-02-2020, 10:31 PM
Rackmastr Rackmastr is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 7,714
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by chuck View Post
They can be dark or light on the prairie. Mule Deer especially. The odd thing is that quite often the capes will match that tendency to a certain degree. I’m not sure if it’s a result of where they lay up and how much sun they are exposed too, or age, I’m not sure. Obviously, what they are rubbing on matters, but are they bleaching out as well?
Agree on that for sure with what I've seen with mulies. You can have two 180" bucks from the same zone and one will have dark antlers and often dark cape features and one will be lighter, often with a cape that matches. Pretty cool the differences actually, especially with bucks coming from the same drainage.
Reply With Quote
  #21  
Old 09-02-2020, 11:06 PM
Moosetalker's Avatar
Moosetalker Moosetalker is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 781
Default

Guys saying its the type of trees are correct.

In 2005 hunting the rut in Blackfoot. I saw an young 4x4 whitetail, I swear his rack was green from rubbing on the Pressure Treated posts.
He rubbed 3 of the thinner posts in the last 20 minutes of legal light as I was watching. I was in the hilly less treed east portion of the reserve way far from the roads.
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 09-03-2020, 01:49 PM
walking buffalo's Avatar
walking buffalo walking buffalo is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,207
Default

Antlers are bone, which is white in color.

Tannins from plants/trees and dirt is 100% responsible for the color of antlers.

UV light will degrade the tannins, bleaching antlers back to the original white bone.


-------

Alberta has two recognized subspecies of White-tailed deer.

Dakotensis and pockets of Ochrourus.

Agricultural practices over the last 100 years have helped Dakotensis to expand their range into previous Ochrourus strongholds.

I suspect areas in southern Alberta that hold smaller deer, such as the Milk River, are either an unrecognized subspecies or true Ochrourus.
__________________
Alberta Fish and Wildlife Outdoor Recreation Policy -

"to identify very rare, scarce or special forms of fish and wildlife outdoor recreation opportunities and to ensure that access to these opportunities continues to be available to all Albertans."
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 09-03-2020, 02:58 PM
58thecat's Avatar
58thecat 58thecat is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: At the end of the Thirsty Beaver Trail, Pinsky lake, Alberta.
Posts: 24,497
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by walking buffalo View Post
Antlers are bone, which is white in color.

Tannins from plants/trees and dirt is 100% responsible for the color of antlers.

UV light will degrade the tannins, bleaching antlers back to the original white bone.


-------

Alberta has two recognized subspecies of White-tailed deer.

Dakotensis and pockets of Ochrourus.

Agricultural practices over the last 100 years have helped Dakotensis to expand their range into previous Ochrourus strongholds.

I suspect areas in southern Alberta that hold smaller deer, such as the Milk River, are either an unrecognized subspecies or true Ochrourus.
If a buck begins rubbing his antlers before the velvet and blood have completely dried, the blood stains the antler and gives it a darker color. ... Pines allegedly cause darker antlers, likely from bucks rubbing on exposed sap after they break the tree's cambium layer
__________________

Be careful when you follow the masses, sometimes the "M" is silent...
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 09-03-2020, 04:13 PM
walking buffalo's Avatar
walking buffalo walking buffalo is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,207
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by 58thecat View Post
If a buck begins rubbing his antlers before the velvet and blood have completely dried, the blood stains the antler and gives it a darker color. ... Pines allegedly cause darker antlers, likely from bucks rubbing on exposed sap after they break the tree's cambium layer
Yes, plant tannins, dirt, and blood too.


Cypress Hills has produced some Huge whitetails....

Having dinner with fourth and fifth generation ranchers is always pleasantly distracted by the monster whitetails on the wall. I've seen many over 200 and up to 250 that came from the Hills many years ago.
__________________
Alberta Fish and Wildlife Outdoor Recreation Policy -

"to identify very rare, scarce or special forms of fish and wildlife outdoor recreation opportunities and to ensure that access to these opportunities continues to be available to all Albertans."
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 09-03-2020, 04:22 PM
Kurt505 Kurt505 is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Communist state
Posts: 13,245
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by walking buffalo View Post
Antlers are bone, which is white in color.

Tannins from plants/trees and dirt is 100% responsible for the color of antlers.

UV light will degrade the tannins, bleaching antlers back to the original white bone.


-------

Alberta has two recognized subspecies of White-tailed deer.

Dakotensis and pockets of Ochrourus.

Agricultural practices over the last 100 years have helped Dakotensis to expand their range into previous Ochrourus strongholds.

I suspect areas in southern Alberta that hold smaller deer, such as the Milk River, are either an unrecognized subspecies or true Ochrourus.
Pretty much everything I’ve read on it says otherwise.
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 09-03-2020, 05:15 PM
owlhoot's Avatar
owlhoot owlhoot is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: southeast alberta
Posts: 1,176
Default Back to the question

Hunting Elk in Cypress Hills about 10 years ago, we saw a BIG one heading south along side the Bull Trail near the Grayburn Road, It was last light but I could see he was Huge, my huntin partner had the bino's and said he'd push 200 or better. I trust his estimate. They are out there, just real clever with good hide outs like the park
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 09-03-2020, 07:06 PM
Pathfinder76 Pathfinder76 is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 15,768
Default

A couple of Southern Alberta prairie deer. The whitetail in the foreground and mule deer in the background were shot within two miles of each other. Both vastly different in colour.

__________________
“I love it when clients bring Berger bullets. It means I get to kill the bear.”

-Billy Molls
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 09-05-2020, 08:19 AM
1899b's Avatar
1899b 1899b is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Sherwood Park Ab
Posts: 6,279
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by chuck View Post
A couple of Southern Alberta prairie deer. The whitetail in the foreground and mule deer in the background were shot within two miles of each other. Both vastly different in colour.

Well this sucks.. definitely will miss Chuck’s contributions..
__________________
An awful lot of big game was killed with the .30-06 including the big bears before everyone became affluent enough to own a rifle for every species of game they might hunt.
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 09-05-2020, 11:10 AM
crazy_davey crazy_davey is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Foothills
Posts: 2,337
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1899b View Post
Well this sucks.. definitely will miss Chuck’s contributions..
Agree fully!
Reply With Quote
  #30  
Old 09-05-2020, 02:05 PM
Kurt505 Kurt505 is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Communist state
Posts: 13,245
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1899b View Post
Well this sucks.. definitely will miss Chuck’s contributions..
Looks like another case of covid. It’s the worst case I’ve seen so far, everyone else I know who’s had it has just gotten a bit of a head ache and lost their sense of taste for a few days. Sad to see him go.
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 02:14 AM.


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