Question about MU 5-12 A

[Wayne]

I got a bull moose draw this year for MU 5-12 A. I am going there for Remembrance day week, but never been there before?

Can anyone direct me to a good FSR where I can make a camp and meet some moose?

What are the coditions ther right now? Any snow yet? Is it frozen or muddy?

[the rifleman]

5-12A can be a great area for moose, but a later season hunt can have its problems.
First off you cannot use an ATV at all, not anywhere, not at any time of day.
I have been in there in late October, and have had some serious dumps of snow, which can happen overnight. Other years its been dry, but very cold, (very, very cold some years).. Fortunately this means the roads are frozen up, so mud is not usually an issue, and most of them are still passable in a decent 4x4.
I have hunted that zone from the southern end, as well as from the northern end. I prefer the northern end of the zone, although it means further travelling if your coming from the lower mainland, as you would need to go in to it from Quesnel, towards Nazko The 4200 FSR south road off of the Michelle Baezaeko Road is a good way to drop down into 5-12A, but you can't hunt for moose on the way in or out, as it's all a different zone for most of the trip. The last time I went in that way, the MU boundaries were marked on the road, so you know when your OK to start hunting.
This area is pretty good for a late season moose. There are some huge moose swamps, a few lakes you can camp near, and overall a nice hunting area. You will find very few other hunters in there, (or anyone else for that matter), as it's the long way in to that zone. A second "back up" vehicle is not a bad idea, as if you had a break down back in there, it's a long hike out. Likewise if the snow starts to fly heavy, there are a lot of hills to climb back out of this area, so make sure your vehicle is well equipped, chains, winch, extra fuel, etc..There should be several good spots to park your base camp, which in some cases will already have meat poles hung up, left from the earlier season LEH hunters. Water is not usually an issue, as there are several creeks in the area, but boil the water before drinking it.
The main roads are fairly good all the way in, but some of the side roads can be a little rough, not unpassable, just a hard ride.

If you decide to go in from the southern end of the MU 5-12, via Hwy 20, up towards Anahiem, there are very few roads that will get you that far back into that zone. There is one small obscure road that runs north off of Hwy 20, very easy to miss, as it looks like it is leading into a ranch, is the Todystan Road. This will take you far enough back that you can reach the 5-12A zone. Some wonderful moose areas in there.
You may also try entering 5-12A from the Puntzi Lake region, or north into it, from the Chilanko Forks area. Watch for road restrictions, and possible de-activated roads. It's been a few years since I have been in that way.
I believe the Morrison Meadow Rd, is the boundary between the two zones, so it may be possible to hunt north off of that road. This road is found off Hwy 20, between Nimpo Lake and Anahim, running north and east.

Just as an aside...the temperature this morning around Nimpo and Anahim is -15*C. Snow is forecast in the 14 day trend..

Weather Forecast: Nimpo Lake, British Columbia - The Weather Network

Dress warm, and good luck!