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11-13-2019, 03:51 PM
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Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 1,193
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Bison Hunt Equipment
So we are planning on snowmobiling in and doing a bison hunt this winter (I don't need the BS about open vs nonopen areas, I know where is open for bison) and am wondering if anyone has done it and if so, what equipment do you recommend carrying with a guy everyday that you wouldn't normally think of. I don't need a list of camping gear, but a list of the little things a guy would use. So far I have the below written down:
calf/trapper sleds
chainsaw (x2)
axe
extra gas
propane heater
come along
tow straps (x2)
tarps
headlamps
bone saw
knives
hot hands
snow shoes
tool box (ratchets, pliers, etc)
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11-13-2019, 04:00 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 9,675
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Chain Hoist? If you plan to hang meat. Easier than a come along.
For sure stock up on extra sled belts and plugs, gas line antifreeze(isopropyl)
Bag of various rope sizes
Wood matches, bic lighters and firestarter
Sawzall with extra batteries to breakdown those beasts quicker
Good luck, post pics of the adventure.
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11-13-2019, 04:02 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: My House
Posts: 13,463
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Good luck.
I would say it would be a good idea to have some type of cargo net to ensure the gear in your sleds doesn't fall out. I just know when going ice fishing, a guy always has to be on the lookout for stuff that falls out.
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11-13-2019, 04:08 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Fort McMurray, AB
Posts: 2,515
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Gun and ammunition 
Sorry had the be a captain obvious
__________________
Be sure of your target and what lies beyond.
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11-13-2019, 04:20 PM
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Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 1,193
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sooner
Chain Hoist? If you plan to hang meat. Easier than a come along.
For sure stock up on extra sled belts and plugs, gas line antifreeze(isopropyl)
Bag of various rope sizes
Wood matches, bic lighters and firestarter
Sawzall with extra batteries to breakdown those beasts quicker
Good luck, post pics of the adventure.
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everything on my list with the exemption of the chain hoist.
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11-13-2019, 04:20 PM
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Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 1,193
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sns2
Good luck.
I would say it would be a good idea to have some type of cargo net to ensure the gear in your sleds doesn't fall out. I just know when going ice fishing, a guy always has to be on the lookout for stuff that falls out.
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totally, sleds will have covers for sure, I had to always do the same as you when going in ice fishing until I bought the covers.
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11-13-2019, 04:21 PM
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Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 1,193
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flight01
Gun and ammunition
Sorry had the be a captain obvious |
lol thanks, the 375HH is all sighted in and ready to go.
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11-13-2019, 04:32 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Near Edmonton
Posts: 15,049
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Bison hides are very heavy and thick. If u want to keep the hide whole and hole free take a LARGE traditional large belly skinning knife with the convex bevel, or two. They make the long smooth skinning strokes much easier to do.
https://images.app.goo.gl/FdVmrUkuKNenTjAu8
Last edited by Dean2; 11-13-2019 at 04:45 PM.
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11-13-2019, 06:36 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Calgary
Posts: 634
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Bison
Enjoy! I loved my trip a few winters back. Spares of things like parts and tools. It was odd but one thing we went through a few of was tow pins for my sleigh. The ones with spring loaded latches kept working free. We actually bent a tow frame with how much gear we had going out with the bison on the sleigh. Have a blast!
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11-13-2019, 07:09 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,906
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Camp security, the Indians up there are isolated and don’t want you there.
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11-13-2019, 07:28 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 5,701
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Maneuvering a bison in deep snow is not fun
I had a gas powered winch for my hunt
Skidoo’s don’t move them
Quads with tracks don’t move them
If they head for the deep bush it gets interesting
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11-13-2019, 08:14 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Fort McMurray, AB
Posts: 2,515
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Esox
lol thanks, the 375HH is all sighted in and ready to go.
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Nice! What bullet are you using?
__________________
Be sure of your target and what lies beyond.
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11-13-2019, 08:34 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,165
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Goggles with extra lens options. Different colors/tints each work best for certain light conditions, and make sure you have a clear lens. They also get beat to crap in the bush so it’s good to have extras.
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“Nothing is more persistent than a liberal with a dumb idea” - Ebrand
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11-13-2019, 09:17 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,076
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Unique stuff
When we did the trip a few years ago we found these items useful:
Spool of 1/2" rope
Tirfor (an outfit in Calgary rents them) very handy to pull stuff
Sawzall with 12" demolition blade
lights & a small genset...keep it in the truck til you need it
flagging tape (mark your trail when you walk in, in the dark it all looks the same)
Our bull would never have fit in a calving sled, perhaps in quarters. I can't underscore how heavy these guys are...I can readily manhandle a moose and I couldn't budge a leg on this beast.
We stayed in a camp in Zama, I heard it burned down since. Accommodation options can be scarce up there, High Lever (no typo here) is a sure bet though
We ran into several local FNs, all were fine folk and very helpful; there are bad eggs in every bunch but I wouldn't paint all the same.
Believe it or not but a 30.06 with a Barnes 165 boattail did the trick...he ran like 20 yards with a 3" split in the bottom of his heart
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11-13-2019, 09:47 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Edmonton Alberta
Posts: 9,617
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Small skidoo collapsable shovel
He drops, you shovel a 5’ circle around it. Youll appreciate less snow around your work area
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11-13-2019, 10:12 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: central Alberta
Posts: 12,629
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Have 3 good knives with proper sharpeners. If not a chain hoist, an 8 to 1 block and tackle with a rope is good and lightweight.
Here's a write up by Alberta government.... the bison hunting education booklet. It does have some good info to know.
https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/e652...-July-2010.pdf
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This country was started by voyagers whose young lives were swept away by the currents of the rivers for ten cents a day... just for the vanity of the European's beaver hats. ~ Red Bullets
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It is when you walk alone in nature that you discover your strengths and weaknesses. ~ Red Bullets
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11-13-2019, 10:17 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: central Alberta
Posts: 12,629
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Quote:
=big zeke;4055883
Believe it or not but a 30.06 with a Barnes 165 boattail did the trick...
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In 30.06 caliber a 180 grain bullet is minimum bullet requirement in Alberta. Just saying so others don't make the mistake.
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This country was started by voyagers whose young lives were swept away by the currents of the rivers for ten cents a day... just for the vanity of the European's beaver hats. ~ Red Bullets
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It is when you walk alone in nature that you discover your strengths and weaknesses. ~ Red Bullets
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11-13-2019, 11:49 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,888
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Red Bullets
In 30.06 caliber a 180 grain bullet is minimum bullet requirement in Alberta. Just saying so others don't make the mistake.
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Not saying that regulation doesnt exist, but where are you getting that information from? I have never seen that particular reg, nor any regulations regarding the bison hunt outside the zama draw.
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11-14-2019, 12:09 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,000
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 300magman
Not saying that regulation doesnt exist, but where are you getting that information from? I have never seen that particular reg, nor any regulations regarding the bison hunt outside the zama draw.
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Just found this.... page 11
Rifle Calibre
• A centre fire rifle that has a minimum size of 30 calibre
and delivers 2,800 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle
(30-06, 180 grain is minimum).
• A muzzle loader requires a firearm of a minimum 50 calibre,
firing an elongated bullet/sabot with a minimum powder charge
of 90 grains or equivalent.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...vjIUGBMah521Sr
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11-14-2019, 12:50 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,888
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Quote:
Originally Posted by freeride
Just found this.... page 11
Rifle Calibre
• A centre fire rifle that has a minimum size of 30 calibre
and delivers 2,800 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle
(30-06, 180 grain is minimum).
• A muzzle loader requires a firearm of a minimum 50 calibre,
firing an elongated bullet/sabot with a minimum powder charge
of 90 grains or equivalent.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...vjIUGBMah521Sr |
Thank you for that, I hadn’t seen that booklet as I never looked into the draw hunt much as I was never drawn but I did know there were caliber restrictions. I was wondering if anything was out there that pertained to the non-regulated hunt out of the hay-Zama draw. My understanding is that the are not considered game species and there are no special restrictions (including minimum caliber or bullet weights). Obviously common sense would dictate using an appropriate caliber, but is there anything that pertains to the hunt the OP is doing?
Esox, sorry, don’t mean to derail. Been looking at putting one of these hunts together for several years and look very forward to hearing about a hopefully successful hunt from you guys!
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11-14-2019, 01:59 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: central Alberta
Posts: 12,629
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 300magman
Not saying that regulation doesnt exist, but where are you getting that information from? I have never seen that particular reg, nor any regulations regarding the bison hunt outside the zama draw.
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From the booklet I posted put out by Alberta.
page 8 in the booklet.
https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/e652...-July-2010.pdf
__________________
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This country was started by voyagers whose young lives were swept away by the currents of the rivers for ten cents a day... just for the vanity of the European's beaver hats. ~ Red Bullets
___________________________________________
It is when you walk alone in nature that you discover your strengths and weaknesses. ~ Red Bullets
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11-14-2019, 04:31 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 11,858
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This is a education booklet, and not a regulation. It's a recommendation I'm thinking.
Either way, it is a good recommendation. You want to have enough stopping power.
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11-14-2019, 06:17 AM
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Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 1,193
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This is all great info! a few things on here I considered at first and then figured we wouldn't need it like a chainsaw winch, but now im back to thinking we need it. Ive also considered taking my large insulated pop up ice shack, shoot a bison, shovel area around it out, set up tent over bison, get a heater going and get to work.
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11-14-2019, 06:22 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,906
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These are non game animals. Can shoot them with a .22 and don’t need to salvage any meat. I would be weary of them having tuberculosis.
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11-14-2019, 08:07 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Near Edmonton
Posts: 15,049
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MooseRiverTrapper
These are non game animals. Can shoot them with a .22 and don’t need to salvage any meat. I would be weary of them having tuberculosis.
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TB is a definite issue in that herd. Up to half of the Wood Buffalo and Slave River Herds have TB and about 1/3 have Brucellosis. Having the meat tested before consumption is always a good idea. Eating TB or Brucellosis infected meat may be low risk but it isn't risk free.
https://wcvmtoday.usask.ca/articles/...bison-herd.php
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11-14-2019, 08:15 AM
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Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 483
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Elbow length rubber gloves with room inside for cloth gloves?
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11-14-2019, 08:41 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 7,493
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2 young dumb hunting partners with strong backs that like to show how strong they are 
This is far more valuable then any tool you can buy
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11-14-2019, 08:49 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: My House
Posts: 13,463
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Smoky buck
2 young dumb hunting partners with strong backs that like to show how strong they are
This is far more valuable then any tool you can buy |
This has been my strategy for the last 5 or 6 years. A dang good one at that.
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11-14-2019, 08:51 AM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Provost
Posts: 5,010
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Sounds very exciting. Take lots of pictures!
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11-14-2019, 09:47 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 1,239
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I think I would leave the battery operated Sawzall at home and use a good bow saw with a new blade. Far more reliable in the cold, less weight etc.
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Long gone are the times when things were made of wood, and men made of steel.
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