Go Back   Alberta Outdoorsmen Forum > Main Category > Hunting Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 11-19-2017, 05:45 PM
Ken3134 Ken3134 is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 279
Default Wild Horses?

Being from Saskatchewan, I have very little experience or knowledge about wild horses and how they behave towards other animals and vice versa. I saw a couple of them out today and just gave them their space. I did notice their presence in this area for sometime now but this is my first time being up.close to them. I have noticed that there seems to be considerably less deer sign in this area where they seem to frequent? Please share any words of wisdom and advice. Thanks. Ken
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 11-19-2017, 06:00 PM
muirsy muirsy is online now
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 446
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken3134 View Post
Being from Saskatchewan, I have very little experience or knowledge about wild horses and how they behave towards other animals and vice versa. I saw a couple of them out today and just gave them their space. I did notice their presence in this area for sometime now but this is my first time being up.close to them. I have noticed that there seems to be considerably less deer sign in this area where they seem to frequent? Please share any words of wisdom and advice. Thanks. Ken
The deer in the area I hunt definitely tend to vanish when wild horses move in - for whatever reason. And unfortunately there can be a lot of horses around. They can really ***** up a hunt in my experience.

J
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 11-19-2017, 06:13 PM
guywiththemule guywiththemule is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,604
Default

"But they are so wonderful and free" and identify as 'free spanish mustangs"....or some such "rot" that the horse huggy-kissy crowd keeps pushing in alberta.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11-19-2017, 06:16 PM
Pony Pony is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 71
Default

Does anyone know the history of the horses? Are they really "wild" horses or did they escape etc..
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 11-19-2017, 06:20 PM
YYC338 YYC338 is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,447
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pony View Post
Does anyone know the history of the horses? Are they really "wild" horses or did they escape etc..
I think in some cases if you don't want to pay to feed and board Trigger anymore he gets taken for a one way road trip to run away and be free.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 11-19-2017, 06:27 PM
Pony Pony is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 71
Default

So, is it illegal to get rid of old trigger by dumping him off in the woods?
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 11-19-2017, 06:52 PM
Ken3134 Ken3134 is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 279
Default Protected

Well just some quick online research, they do tend to take over areas from other members of the deer family, no natural predators, there is a wild horses of Alberta society? They fall under the stray animal act, so it is not legal to shoot, hunt, or snare them apparently. Well I’m glad I didn’t have to shoot them then. Approximately 900 in the foothills of Alberta. Government spends money all the time to manage the population to keep it from growing. They act towards humans similar to tame horses. Interesting.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 11-19-2017, 07:00 PM
YYC338 YYC338 is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,447
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pony View Post
So, is it illegal to get rid of old trigger by dumping him off in the woods?
Who'd know?
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 11-19-2017, 07:05 PM
normstad normstad is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 198
Default

There is no such thing as "wild horses" in North America.

They are all introduced and feral. Calling them wild just plays into many of the anti's.

They don't belong on the landscape. Period. And yes, they look majestic, but they don't belong there.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 11-19-2017, 07:14 PM
Ken3134 Ken3134 is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 279
Default Feral

Yes, feral would be a better description. They are apparently the product of logging operations in the early 1900’s.

I can’t see too many people dropping off their pet horse into the wild, wouldn’t they just sell it cheap instead?

I would rather have it that they didn’t exist, there is no shortage of horse **** all over the place and they seem to take over areas from game animals.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 11-19-2017, 07:16 PM
Pony Pony is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 71
Default

I agree they are not wild, even ferrel is a stretch, vermin is more appropriate, its sad that they are abandoned, but they shouldnt be allowed to pressure the native species, its interesting why they are so protected, it appears more than the true wild game, i still dont understand why they are protected?
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 11-19-2017, 07:40 PM
MugEye's Avatar
MugEye MugEye is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 509
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken3134 View Post
Well just some quick online research, they do tend to take over areas from other members of the deer family, no natural predators, there is a wild horses of Alberta society? They fall under the stray animal act, so it is not legal to shoot, hunt, or snare them apparently. Well I’m glad I didn’t have to shoot them then. Approximately 900 in the foothills of Alberta. Government spends money all the time to manage the population to keep it from growing. They act towards humans similar to tame horses. Interesting.


The stray animal act ? What actually does it state ? I thought you can shoot strays ? Like dogs and cats . I would eat one
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 11-19-2017, 07:47 PM
Pony Pony is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 71
Default

Does anyone know where it states they are legally protected?
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 11-19-2017, 07:51 PM
NCC NCC is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Leslieville
Posts: 2,482
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pony View Post
Does anyone know the history of the horses? Are they really "wild" horses or did they escape etc..
The wildies around Nordegg are descendants of the work horses that were turned loose when the coal mines shut down. I'm sure people have been trying to catch them since the first ones escaped or were set free, so I don't understand why they needed protection when the population has exploded for 50 years.
__________________
We talk so much about leaving a better planet to our kids, that we forget to leave better kids to our planet.

Gerry Burnie
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 11-19-2017, 07:57 PM
guywiththemule guywiththemule is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,604
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pony View Post
Does anyone know the history of the horses? Are they really "wild" horses or did they escape etc..
Escaped,abandoned and turned loose by loggers,guide and outfitters,eastern slope ranchers,first nation reservations,tourists,horse huggers and also farmed and selectively culled by some enterprising local ranchers. Started showing up in larger numbers after WW 2.
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 11-19-2017, 08:08 PM
Pony Pony is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 71
Default

So the Alberta Animal Protection Regulation governs horses, they clasify as livestock, so if the are abandoned is it not the responsibility of the government to spend our tax dollars to round them up? The spca rounds up strays all the time, why are these horses any different? Its not our Heritage that miners and loggers let horses run free, its the miners and loggers that are our Heritage, just my thought
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 11-19-2017, 08:11 PM
trogdor trogdor is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 13
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pony View Post
Does anyone know where it states they are legally protected?
Pony, my understanding and in the link, is that they are protected under the stray animal act. This is why the f&w officers are not involved in their management or any investigations. They are not consider wildlife.

http://aep.alberta.ca/land/land-management
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 11-19-2017, 08:11 PM
guywiththemule guywiththemule is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,604
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by MugEye View Post
The stray animal act ? What actually does it state ? I thought you can shoot strays ? Like dogs and cats . I would eat one
Under the Stray Animal Act they fall under domestic stray animals. So you are not allowed to shoot them. Livestock Inspector "directive"... inspect for visible brand if horse is "found" ...if nvb(no visible brand) , impound animal then try to contact rightful owner . After 14 days of impound and no owner comes forward .... sell at public auction"!

Yep. Wild horse.
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 11-19-2017, 09:00 PM
Prairiekid Prairiekid is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Rocky Mountains
Posts: 506
Default

I have always wondered why the wolves don't eat them up.
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 11-19-2017, 09:17 PM
Ken3134 Ken3134 is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 279
Default When they can

Quote:
Originally Posted by Prairiekid View Post
I have always wondered why the wolves don't eat them up.
From what I’ve read the odd one does get taken down by wolves. Happens to moose all the time. I would speculate that moose get caught by packs of wolves as they are often on their own, these horses seem to stick together and are less vulnerable as a prey animal as part of a herd?

Cougars as well they say.....
Reply With Quote
  #21  
Old 11-20-2017, 07:02 AM
1899b's Avatar
1899b 1899b is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Sherwood Park Ab
Posts: 6,279
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken3134 View Post
From what I’ve read the odd one does get taken down by wolves. Happens to moose all the time. I would speculate that moose get caught by packs of wolves as they are often on their own, these horses seem to stick together and are less vulnerable as a prey animal as part of a herd?

Cougars as well they say.....
And trucks. Don’t forget trucks...

__________________
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
  #22  
Old 11-20-2017, 07:47 AM
creeky creeky is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,316
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken3134 View Post
From what I’ve read the odd one does get taken down by wolves. Happens to moose all the time. I would speculate that moose get caught by packs of wolves as they are often on their own, these horses seem to stick together and are less vulnerable as a prey animal as part of a herd?

Cougars as well they say.....

and bears (wolves, cougars and bears).


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
__________________
#WISHING YOU A HAPPY WHATEVER DOESN'T OFFEND YOU


#I Am An Outdoorsman And I Approve This Message


#creativity can't wait for technology
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 11-20-2017, 09:34 AM
Big Grey Wolf Big Grey Wolf is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 6,230
Default

When snow get deep, elk will follow wild horses and use grass areas pawed down by feral horses. So guys leave them alone they have been part of our wilderness for many years. If you cannot find elk look at mr wolf, mr bear and mr cougar.
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 11-20-2017, 09:38 AM
sheep sheep is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 183
Default

West of Rocky there is a herd of geldings! so I guess people are dropping them off so they don't end up in a can OR maybe nature is joining the transgender theme.

When wolves go near the back end of a horse they soon realize deer / elk / moose are easier to deal with.
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 11-20-2017, 10:39 AM
Stinky Buffalo's Avatar
Stinky Buffalo Stinky Buffalo is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: A bit North o' Center...
Posts: 11,115
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by trogdor View Post
Pony, my understanding and in the link, is that they are protected under the stray animal act. This is why the f&w officers are not involved in their management or any investigations. They are not consider wildlife.

http://aep.alberta.ca/land/land-management
That's the one... Just drilled down a bit from your link to the pony-specific stuff:

http://aep.alberta.ca/land/land-mana...s/default.aspx
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 11-20-2017, 11:21 AM
remmy300 remmy300 is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Back in the Rat Race....
Posts: 550
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Grey Wolf View Post
When snow get deep, elk will follow wild horses and use grass areas pawed down by feral horses. So guys leave them alone they have been part of our wilderness for many years. If you cannot find elk look at mr wolf, mr bear and mr cougar.
The horses have the prime areas picked down to nothing. Your theory is great but incorrect. The horses have always been there but in small numbers. As a kid if we seen 5-6 in a weekend we thought it was pretty cool. Now i can see 50-60 in a few hours.

Wolves, bears and cougars may play a part but in some of the zones the Horses have completely pushed most of the wildlife out.
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 11-20-2017, 01:41 PM
creeky creeky is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,316
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by remmy300 View Post
The horses have the prime areas picked down to nothing. Your theory is great but incorrect. The horses have always been there but in small numbers. As a kid if we seen 5-6 in a weekend we thought it was pretty cool. Now i can see 50-60 in a few hours.

Wolves, bears and cougars may play a part but in some of the zones the Horses have completely pushed most of the wildlife out.

Cattle.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
__________________
#WISHING YOU A HAPPY WHATEVER DOESN'T OFFEND YOU


#I Am An Outdoorsman And I Approve This Message


#creativity can't wait for technology
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 11-20-2017, 01:45 PM
creeky creeky is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,316
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken3134 View Post
Being from Saskatchewan, I have very little experience or knowledge about wild horses and how they behave towards other animals and vice versa. I saw a couple of them out today and just gave them their space. I did notice their presence in this area for sometime now but this is my first time being up.close to them. I have noticed that there seems to be considerably less deer sign in this area where they seem to frequent? Please share any words of wisdom and advice. Thanks. Ken



Photos.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Attached Images
File Type: jpg WHWap.jpg (92.1 KB, 127 views)
File Type: jpg WHW.jpg (60.3 KB, 117 views)
__________________
#WISHING YOU A HAPPY WHATEVER DOESN'T OFFEND YOU


#I Am An Outdoorsman And I Approve This Message


#creativity can't wait for technology
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 11-20-2017, 02:36 PM
remmy300 remmy300 is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Back in the Rat Race....
Posts: 550
Default

Not too often cattle make it off of the roads and pipelines. Horses end up in every valley, at the top of every ridge....

Quote:
Originally Posted by creeky View Post
Cattle.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reply With Quote
  #30  
Old 11-20-2017, 03:10 PM
Northern5's Avatar
Northern5 Northern5 is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Spruce Grove, Alberta
Posts: 7
Default

A few weeks ago, I was out hunting just south of the elk river road and there were wild horse tracks everywhere. plenty of wolf tracks as well!
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 PM.


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