Alberta Deer Hunt-Please Help!

[WyattNight]

The Wildlife Management Unit WMU is 535 it takes in High Level, Fort Vermilion, and Lecrete. I am really looking hard at going hunting up there this November. I was in Alberta last Fall and fell in love with your country, although I didn't take a shot at one of your deer. I was in Robb and didn't see much activity whatsoever. I'm going with James A. Smith Outfitting. He just got the allocations last year and my guide would be Cole Patmore. Does anyone have any information (good or bad) that would help me. My heart can't afford another hunt like the last.

Thank you!

[Springer]

It was tough to find good sized bucks for most of us Hunting Alberta last year.November was really warm and lack of snow.
You should have done fine last year normally and the zone your going to this year should produce some Big Bucks. Do you put in for extra draws for Mulies?
I dont know anything about your outfitter however.

[WyattNight]

Originally Posted by Springer

It was tough to find good sized bucks for most of us Hunting Alberta last year.November was really warm and lack of snow.
You should have done fine last year normally and the zone your going to this year should produce some Big Bucks. Do you put in for extra draws for Mulies?
I dont know anything about your outfitter however.

I appreciate any info I can get. The outfitter is James A. Smith. He just got the tags last year for that area and only took 3 hunters. The guide that helps him used to work the same area for Charlie Stricker when he had them. Cole Patmore is the guide. There was a 160' killed there and a 180 grossing buck last year. Could there be many 5 year old bucks up there due to the last winter or two. I really am just trying to learn all I can before I make a decision.

Thank you again, so much!

[209jones]

As they were (are ?) doing a lot of logging in that area, I'd be hitting the new roads & cutblocks they are cutting this winter. By next fall they will be on them, and, if the natives haven't been there before season, you should see some good stuff then. If there are some farms in the area next to the forestry, that will be the best bet for horns.
Talk to the outfitter, he can give you an idea where he wants to take you, check it on google maps, it'll give you a general of what you'll be getting into. You can order maps if you want from Mapworld in Calgary, get a 1/50,000 topo map and have a look at the area he says you'll most likely be hunting.

[WyattNight]

Thank you all for the information. I appreciate all of it. I haven't put in for a mule deer as he doesn't have allocations for those up there. However, I am trying to work something out for it to be very possible to take a wolf while I'm there. He does have lands in the farm country that joins the bush. They took only three hunters last year as it was the first year for them. They took a 180 class, a 160 class and a guy missed a 160 class. I have heard many good things about the unit from other forums. It's just a long way to travel to not have a good hunt. Thanks again.