Alberta Hunting This Fall...

[BigIron]

Finally got the photo package installed to this new PC - bit of a rough go for one as challenged as I am at that sort of thing!

So, here's a bit of a summary of how fall went this year in Alberta:

First up was an American, who coincidentally happens to be my Pa! Gotta love it when I can Guide someone I would have been there regardless with! And what a hell of a time we had!

Launching the jet rig was interesting. Had to borrow a rancher's truck to get her backed out damn near half-way across the river to get her off the trailer! Hell of a machine! 502 Kodiak Racing engine delivering more ponies than you'd ever need, and a top end of near 80... MILES an hour that is!



Then a quick run to get Camp set up. Home for the next 4 days. Excellent spot, we saw several decent bucks right off the front door!



The South Saskatchewan River is a Magical Place! Quite different from anything we have in BC. Remote in that there are pretty well no roads into the area we hunted, and in fact, we didn't see another hunter the whole hunt! Beautiful, breathtaking vistas, and chock full of both HUGE Mule Deer and Whitetails!



The next few days were spent split between running the river in the jet, and climbing to various vantage points to look at the excellent scenery, and of course the animals it harbored:



And harbor it did! In the course of the first two days, we counted 66 bucks, and a full seven of those were judged to be "Book" quality or better. My Pa, now 74, has hunted a LOT of mulies in his time. At the end of the hunt, he shook my outfitter's hand and noted that he had seen more "Quality" bucks in those 3 days than he had seen in his entire hunting career. Not tough to believe! That area now ranks amongst the Very Best in North America for seeing/taking large, Trophy Quality Mule Deer! It now matches and at times exceeds both Colorado and Utah for this prestigious position!

More to come...

[BigIron]

Dad, in his eternal "fussiness" passed up many excellent bucks, and when he did decide to take one, it was actually somewhat smaller than 4 or 5 of the Biggies we had gotten close to! But, even with that said, it is damn tough to suggest the one he did take to be anything but ranking right up there amongst the "Large" Almost 400 pounds on the hoof, and one hell of a large and interesting rack!





When all was said and done, we wandered back to a Buddy's ranch, and spent a day running the hunt over in our conversations. As Pa shook my outfitter's hand, he noted: I'll be back next year, same time, same place. I do hope you both will be there with me! aYup! That we will my Best Hunting Partner! That we will!

Pa and I then wandered up to Calgary to visit Ma and my Sis. After a fine visit, the folks departed the day following, and I was off to chase whitetails...

The tale continues...

[BigIron]

I stopped at a Buddy's just North of Calgary for a couple of days, and although we saw nearly a dozen whitetail bucks, none were of the size to interest me (seem to have inherited some of that "fussiness" myself :sly: ). So, wandering North again, I landed on another Friend's doorstep, one I hadn't seen in well over a decade! We had an excellent time catching up, and of course checking out the local deer populations. Again, we saw many decent bucks, as well as elk and moose. But again, I was overly fussy, and as my time to get back to the guiding gig was fast approaching, I set out to our zones North and West of Edmonton.

A few days scouting suggested that there were some rather good ones about, and but a few days later, I met my Hunters for this area. Both American, and both Great Guys. One a repeat offender, and the other his buddy up for his first look.

Long story short, they both limited within days. The new gun took a whitetail and a mule deer (650 yard heart shot on the latter!) and although I personally didn't think them overly large, he was happier than a clam! Both the first muley he had ever seen, the longest shot he had ever made, and the largest whitetail he had ever drawn down on! Booked again, bringing a Buddy next fall. Guess that's a measure of success! :nana:

The other took a nice large Whitetail. It would have made "Book" except for a split brow tine. I wouldn't have hesitated!! And he was one HAPPY Man! He too booked for next fall, so I suspect we will be hunting together once again.
The largest of the season unfortunately came to the truck. He jumped out of the ditch just as we were passing, and slammed head on into the ol' Chev. Killed the deer, and killed the truck. Rad punctured through and the tine actually penetrated the block! Spewing oil and antifreeze all over, it was a good thing one of the other guides was close to tow us in! Even with the broken tine, that particular deer would make book had he been taken by a hunter! Really tells the story of what lurks in those woods!

A few pix:

The Mule deer in that area are not nearly as large as in southern Alberta, but a couple of decent ones came down:



The trio of whitetails that ended up on the meat pole. The "truck deer' is center, and the 'almost book" is on the right:



A closer look at the "almost deer" with one of the area's better guides:



Then, after running our guests back to the airport, it was time for some personal fun. We spent several days checking the deer out, and I saw over 85 bucks through that period. Only fired once, and missed dammit. Long story, another time, but suffice it to say that one was better than any in the pictures, and I proved that even a well experienced hand can still be rattled by a Monster!

Finally, my Buddy from Ukee made it, and he collected a fine buck on the second last day. No pix unfortunately, as the camera battery packed it in, and of course I had forgotten the charger

Came home with a smile over the hunting, tears over my old dog who passed while I was away, and a new wolf pup in tow. All in all, the time afield was excellent, and I am VERY much looking forward to next year's FUN!

Cheers,
Iron

[DLM]

Nice bucks. Wrong side of the rocks for me, I told the x that she could have everything east of the rockies when she left.

[Springer]

Great story Big Iron. The pics and adventure says it all hey. I have thought about a float hunt myself on the Red Deer,Bow or South sask through the badlands. did you see much for Antelope?

[~SteadyGirl~]

Awsome pics and story, those coolies look like such fun hunting

[the rifleman]

Good story's and excellent photos.
I have to agree with Pa's statement, of seeing so many quality bucks, both mulie and whitey out there.. Alberta has what it takes I guess..