Zama bison

eclipse2004 · #1 12-15-2016, 06:51 PM

Looking to head up to zama for bison hunt last week of dec or first week of January. How is the conditions up there? Can you still get around with quad or time to bring sled out?

Rambling · #2 12-17-2016, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eclipse2004

Looking to head up to zama for bison hunt last week of dec or first week of January. How is the conditions up there? Can you still get around with quad or time to bring sled out?

Good luck, got my bull up there last year.

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Dean2 · #3 12-17-2016, 12:32 PM

Quad is fine. Still not all that much snow in most places.

dale7637 · #4 12-18-2016, 07:48 AM

I don't know about zama, but high level is getting peperred with snow pretty good right now, we will see how long it lasts.

Its right at that in between stage where there is just enough for a sled, but the quads can still get around

astepanuk · #5 12-18-2016, 08:49 AM

Were headed North on January well have a snowmobile to help out if required. Hopefully we can track down a herd.

GMX · #6 12-19-2016, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astepanuk

Were headed North on January well have a snowmobile to help out if required. Hopefully we can track down a herd.

Careful up there I hear the roads are slippery that time of year.

astepanuk · #7 12-19-2016, 03:35 PM

Haha I'll be stuck in the truck on this one.

Z7fulldraw · #8 12-19-2016, 06:54 PM

Any pics or success stories as of late

eclipse2004 · #9 12-21-2016, 08:03 AM

Guys that are lucky enough to get their bison, how do you process animal. Of course but then do you leave and process at home. ( after a 12 hour drive)..or do you skin and quarter in field when it's -20? Anyone ever look for a butcher around high level to skin and quarter?

eclipse2004 · #10 12-21-2016, 08:05 AM

Of course gut in field

elkhunter1234 · #11 12-21-2016, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eclipse2004

Guys that are lucky enough to get their bison, how do you process animal. Of course but then do you leave and process at home. ( after a 12 hour drive)..or do you skin and quarter in field when it's -20? Anyone ever look for a butcher around high level to skin and quarter?

Get the hide off the shoulders and bump area as soon as possible. We gutted in the field and loaded ours on a trailer and had a 16 hour drive to get home in -25 weather and ended up loosening a lot of the fronts to spoil.. next time I would definitely break it apart in the field..

Jim...

James_B · #12 12-21-2016, 01:33 PM

Yes,
quarter everything and get the hide off completely! I had no meat spoil last year and we were told by a guy out of Brooks, loosing about 200lbs of meat. Those quarters are so big that they retain so much heat in all the muscle groups even if it's-20 out!

stevenjohnston2 · #13 12-21-2016, 05:52 PM

Heading to Zama Jan 3 if anyone wants to team up so that we can cover more area and try to be successful. Also if the hunt goes well we are going to stop at wmu 522 and try for elk, what are the odds that anyone out there knows of a butcher near GP, rycroft, spirit river area that might be able to process the bison while we are there for a couple of days hunting elk. I know it is better to leave it hang in the cooler for a bit so even if I have to go back u and get the processed meat I'd rather that than loose some.

Dean2 · #14 12-21-2016, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevenjohnston2

Heading to Zama Jan 3 if anyone wants to team up so that we can cover more area and try to be successful. Also if the hunt goes well we are going to stop at wmu 522 and try for elk, what are the odds that anyone out there knows of a butcher near GP, rycroft, spirit river area that might be able to process the bison while we are there for a couple of days hunting elk. I know it is better to leave it hang in the cooler for a bit so even if I have to go back u and get the processed meat I'd rather that than loose some.

Wapiti Meats is just south of gp. They have been doung our meat for 15 years. Great work at reasonable price and it will be ready when you want it.

walking buffalo · #15 12-21-2016, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eclipse2004

Guys that are lucky enough to get their bison, how do you process animal. Of course but then do you leave and process at home. ( after a 12 hour drive)..or do you skin and quarter in field when it's -20? Anyone ever look for a butcher around high level to skin and quarter?

Check out this old Bison thread.
http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showt...=bison+forward

Hope you have a great hunt.

Big Grey Wolf · #16 12-22-2016, 09:31 AM

Large animals like moose or bison need to quarter and cool meat even in -20oC weather. Also some guys have reported a turbo diesel exhaust system runs very hot and heats up truck box and can spoil large animal during long drive home.

AlbertanAngler · #17 12-22-2016, 05:24 PM

I am planning on heading up after Christmas.
Any News on conditions or Recent Kills from this years draw?
Getting pumped for the adventure.

HyperMOA · #18 12-22-2016, 05:41 PM

When I got my bison we gutted it. Then skinned one side as far as we could past the spine. Then we rolled that monster over. That is a lot harder than it sounds especially with the amount of snow in 2012. Then we finished skinning it. We lobbed off the head with a chainsaw. (Bought new for this hunt and only ever filled with canola oil) Then we removed the entire legs from the front quarters. The front quarters on a bison are larger than the hind quarters. We couldn't handle the fronts with the legs left on. Then we cut it into quarters with the chainsaw. We cleaned up as much bone residue form the saw. We then loaded it all into a trailer where it was frozen by the following noon. 0 spoilage. That was the greatest hunt I have had the pleasure of experiencing. You guys are in for a great adventure. Enjoy.

eclipse2004 · #19 12-22-2016, 05:57 PM

Any tips on skinning if looking to get cape done and a full head mount?

eclipse2004 · #20 12-22-2016, 06:32 PM

What do most guys do, after putting sled or quad in box of truck does not leave much room for a bison. Do you pull trailer up also? Then drive around with it all day?

ww2269 · #21 12-22-2016, 07:44 PM

Headed up on the 27th with a buddy as well.

JMac12 · #22 12-22-2016, 07:48 PM

We did the gutless method in my 2013 hunt. Four of us had it quartered and in the truck in under 3 hours. No spoilage. Caped for a shoulder mount anf the back half was turned into a rug.

RockyMountainMusic · #23 12-23-2016, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevenjohnston2

Heading to Zama Jan 3 if anyone wants to team up so that we can cover more area and try to be successful. Also if the hunt goes well we are going to stop at wmu 522 and try for elk, what are the odds that anyone out there knows of a butcher near GP, rycroft, spirit river area that might be able to process the bison while we are there for a couple of days hunting elk. I know it is better to leave it hang in the cooler for a bit so even if I have to go back u and get the processed meat I'd rather that than loose some.

Will be back up on Dec 31 for another crack at them will help you if I can, Hoping there is more snow and less hunters than the start of the season lol

WW2269, are you taking sleds or quads? have you been up there before?

elkhunter1234 · #24 12-23-2016, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockyMountainMusic

Will be back up on Dec 31 for another crack at them will help you if I can, Hoping there is more snow and less hunters than the start of the season lol

WW2269, are you taking sleds or quads? have you been up there before?

Good luck Alan.. hope to see pictures of you guys big buff early in the new year.. good luck to all you guys heading up. We cut ours up today after hanging in a buddy cooler for 18 day and man are they good eatin..

Jim...

eclipse2004 · #25 12-25-2016, 06:52 PM

Headed up to zama tomorrow from Edmonton, any reports on the road conditions? Anyone else up there looking for bison pm me and we can stay in touch if we see any

ww2269 · #26 12-26-2016, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockyMountainMusic

Will be back up on Dec 31 for another crack at them will help you if I can, Hoping there is more snow and less hunters than the start of the season lol

WW2269, are you taking sleds or quads? have you been up there before?

Hi RMM,
Ive been there a few times but only for work, never on a hunt. I am taking a sled and skimmer just in case we need it but from what ive been told its best to just pound the roads.

astepanuk · #27 12-26-2016, 06:47 AM

Pretty sure we're heading up January 3rd where's everyone staying were thinking of staying in Highlevel it's a little longer drive to hunt but for a little better hotel and grub were fine wth that. We're defiantly open to team up and help each other out.

Ken H · #28 12-26-2016, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astepanuk

Pretty sure we're heading up January 3rd where's everyone staying were thinking of staying in Highlevel it's a little longer drive to hunt but for a little better hotel and grub were fine wth that. We're defiantly open to team up and help each other out.

I have gone with friends 2 times. Both times we stayed at the econolodge. They have rooms with three beds.

astepanuk · #29 12-26-2016, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken H

I have gone with friends 2 times. Both times we stayed at the econolodge. They have rooms with three beds.

Thanks for the info..Any on Bison location I'm open to a Pm's LOL

RockyMountainMusic · #30 12-26-2016, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elkhunter1234

Good luck Alan.. hope to see pictures of you guys big buff early in the new year.. good luck to all you guys heading up. We cut ours up today after hanging in a buddy cooler for 18 day and man are they good eatin..

Jim...

Thanks Jim will be sending you pics this trip I hope lol