Wainwright

[Dick284]

Originally Posted by Sitkaspruce

https://calgaryherald.com/news/local...-training-base

Will the camp be closed?

Cheers

SS

Suffield has the British component, Wainwright is mostly if not exclusively a Canadian base.

[Full Curl]

How is phone service throughout the base?

[marky_mark]

Originally Posted by Full Curl

How is phone service throughout the base?

It’s a active military base
So gps and cell service is spotty

[dustinjoels]

Trophy potential should be better than it has been in years since there was no hunt last year and the number of hunters was reduced by 50% for this year.

Good luck to everyone going.

[Full Curl]

Can anyone tell me how much snow is on the ground there now?

[Dean2]

Unless it snowed in the last 2 days, not much when I went through there. There was a about 3 inches unless it was where it drifted.

[oldgutpile]

There are a few spots where it has drifted, but unless there is any kind of canopy for shade, the bulk of the area is cleared off. Sporadic rains over the last few days helped wipe out the earlier 2-3 inches that were dropped, and some of the roads got pretty slimy. Early and late in the day, while the temps are freezing good, the travel is good(better) but watch out travelling on some of the roads with steep grades.
I hunted across the river from the base all season. The earlier snow was really welcome to help spot game. Now, it's almost a worse case scenario for making them tough to pick out in the trees.

[MonsterBuck]

Got drawn for 2nd hunt (December 9-11), getting pretty darn excited. Best of luck to the hunters in first couple hunts. Looking forward to some updates , curious to hear what deer numbers are like and how much snow they get up there in next few days.

[Hilgy]

Originally Posted by MonsterBuck

Got drawn for 2nd hunt (December 9-11), getting pretty darn excited. Best of luck to the hunters in first couple hunts. Looking forward to some updates , curious to hear what deer numbers are like and how much snow they get up there in next few days.

Hey MB

Diabetic Cripple and I will be there at the same time. If you want to exchange #s incase you need a hand or something send me a PM.

Looking forward to checking the place out. Hopefully get to lay eyes on a few deer.

Hilgy

[SageValleyOutdoors]

Day 1 was full of game. Despite a couple hours of near whiteout snow, we saw tons of moose, a herd of 200 or so elk, a bunch of whitetail does, one 140ish whitetail buck, and my son got his 2nd mule buck ever. Back at it tomorrow with the hopes of crossing paths with a big whitetail.

[Hilgy]

Sage,

Well any day you can lay eyes on 200 elk is a good day. Congats to your boy on the MD.

How are the conditions for moving around?

Looking forward to getting out there to look around next week.

[Big Dog Al]

I will be there Dec 9-11 as well. Hopefully the weather continues to hold and the animals are lingering around. Much for base maneuvers and associated closures?

Al

[SageValleyOutdoors]

There hasn’t been any closures except for the large areas of the base that are ALWAYS closed to the public. Snow cover is pretty good. Some old snow in the drifted areas. Yesterday morning it was mostly bare, but we had whiteout conditions for about 2 hours that gave us a good 2” or so. Helps with visibility for sure!
I’ve heard that in non-covid years they give out double the tags and don’t restrict hunter-helper numbers, so there’s sometimes 250-300 people bombing around looking for animals. This year, with 48 deer licenses per week, there’s about 100 people total, so it’s not bad. First thing in the morning it seems like everyone races out, but before first light, we were on our own. I haven’t been down to the annex, so don’t know how busy that part was yesterday and today.
It’s been a good hunt so far! Beautiful country.

[OL_JR]

I did the second rifle last year. Only been there the one time and didn't fill a tag but definitely had opportunity to do so. When I went the freezer was jam packed with elk, moose, and deer and had no interest in filling a tag unless it was something decent. Honestly had to force myself to go as I was about ready for a break but glad I went looking back.

Spent the whole time in the annex and the first morning was right about in the middle east far side. Lots of sign but didn't see an animal. Later in the day moved to the very north east and that's where I spent the rest of the time over the hunt. All mulie but lots of them including a dandy that just wouldn't give me a shot. Lots of little cutlines in the area and seemed like there was always something moving, towards dark seemed like a zoo.

[OL_JR]

Originally Posted by OL_JR

I did the second rifle last year. Only been there the one time and didn't fill a tag but definitely had opportunity to do so. When I went the freezer was jam packed with elk, moose, and deer and had no interest in filling a tag unless it was something decent. Honestly had to force myself to go as I was about ready for a break but glad I went looking back.

Spent the whole time in the annex and the first morning was right about in the middle east far side. Lots of sign but didn't see an animal. Later in the day moved to the very north east and that's where I spent the rest of the time over the hunt. All mulie but lots of them including a dandy that just wouldn't give me a shot. Lots of little cutlines in the area and seemed like there was always something moving, towards dark seemed like a zoo.

Sorry not last year had a brain fart 2019. Don't even think they had a hunt last year. Anyways just my experience I'm sure there are better areas but one trip is not enough time to explore the whole thing and hunt.

[59whiskers]

Any moose or elk shot this year?

[marky_mark]

Originally Posted by 59whiskers

Any moose or elk shot this year?

Seasons aren’t open

[SageValleyOutdoors]

Originally Posted by 59whiskers

Any moose or elk shot this year?

It’s open for treaty Indians and metis harvesters in area “d”.

I know of one moose killed yesterday by a metis teenager

[DiabeticKripple]

Originally Posted by SageValleyOutdoors

It’s open for treaty Indians and metis harvesters in area “d”.

I know of one moose killed yesterday by a metis teenager

Which is complete BS, but I won’t go down that road.

Hope all the big ones get left for 2nd rifle!

[marky_mark]

Originally Posted by DiabeticKripple

Which is complete BS, but I won’t go down that road.

Hope all the big ones get left for 2nd rifle!

The animals are usually pretty educated by the time the second rifle season rolls around. They make a dash for the permanently closed areas, or the boundary

[-CLM-]

Just got home from the Primitive hunt. Had a great time and saw plenty of deer (Mule and Whitetail) Moose and Elk each day. Our group of two took two Mulie bucks and two Whitetail bucks. Not sure on the exact totals for Primitive but I think its around 50 deer, One Moose and One Elk. Maybe Shed will chime in and clarify.
Make sure you have your Vax pass or Negative Covid test ready for check in. Snow level is minimal and the drifts aren't too bad yet so you can get around easily in most areas. The snow is super crunchy though, making still hunting very difficult so you may have to get creative. There's still a bit of rut activity going on especially with the Mulies. We saw several bucks working does and heard of other guys grunting/rattling bucks in.
Good luck to the rifle hunters who got drawn, you will enjoy the reduced hunting pressure this year.

[shedcrazy]

PW: 52 Deer

37 MUDE bucks
8 WTDE bucks

5 MUDE does
2 WTDE does

A couple 180+ MUDE
A couple 150+ WTDE

[dustinjoels]

Sounds like a good first hunt. Thanks for posting the numbers shed.

[Snap Shot]

Originally Posted by shedcrazy

PW: 52 Deer

37 MUDE bucks
8 WTDE bucks

5 MUDE does
2 WTDE does

A couple 180+ MUDE
A couple 150+ WTDE

Any chance you could give the numbers of moose and elk harvested by First Nations?

[SageValleyOutdoors]

Originally Posted by Snap Shot

Any chance you could give the numbers of moose and elk harvested by First Nations?

From what i understand there was one elk and one moose taken.

[Who Da Fisherman]

Originally Posted by Snap Shot

Any chance you could give the numbers of moose and elk harvested by First Nations?

Why?
WDF

[MooseRiverTrapper]

Originally Posted by Who Da Fisherman

Why?
WDF

Why not?

[Snap Shot]

Originally Posted by Who Da Fisherman

Why?
WDF

To get a idea if it’s getting pounded out & worth while for future “civilians” to apply for future draws?

[SageValleyOutdoors]

Originally Posted by Snap Shot

To get a idea if it’s getting pounded out & worth while for future “civilians” to apply for future draws?

It definitely isn’t getting “pounded out”
We saw 5x as many elk as deer, and about 40 different moose during our time looking for whitetails… i would imagine someone focusing their search on blocks of willow brush and better moose habitat would see plenty more.
Moose and elk are THICK in there.
I’d honestly rather see someone with treaty or harvesting rights taking an elk or a moose out of an area like that as opposed to the areas in the west and north parts of the province with high wolf/bear/cougar numbers. You go into those areas now and seeing a moose is a nice surprise.
As long as it’s sustainable, I’d rather see sustenance hunting in areas with high moose/elk numbers, instead of where predators have decimated the populations.
Indigenous hunting isn’t going anywhere. B*tching about it won’t change that.

[marky_mark]

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