JeffDimitroff
03-02-2012, 09:18 AM
Was drawn for the elusive Bison this year so decided to make the trek up North to High Level/Zama. Went up in January when the weather was -30 to -40 and drove around for 3 days. I knew another guy with a tag and we met up there. Between our 2 groups, the fish and wildlife officer, and another group of hunters we didn't see any sign of Bison in 3 full days of driving around. Pretty disheartening.
Decided to go back in the middle of February as there was no way I could let this tag expire. My partner wasn't able to come this time so I met the other guy with a tag I knew and his partner and we decided to try our luck on Zama Lake on skidoos.
The first day we toured the North side of the lake and saw a bunch of sign but no Bison. That night we heard that a Bull was shot on the Habay road at the north end of the Assumption reserve. The next morning we got on sleds again and headed south to the Habay road. We ran into Mooseslayer and he had said a herd of 30 had been here the day before but were gone now. He also informed us we were still on the reserve so we made a plan to head west out onto the lake.
As soon as we were off the reserve we came up a little creek that went out onto a field and we seen a herd of 8 Bulls sitting in the field. There was also a herd of wild horses a pretty cool sight. The bulls started running to the woods so we got in position for when they walked through the bush we were able to get 2 down. Mine dropped with a double lung shot and the other took a few to put down. Mine was a 3.5 year old and my buddies was a 4.5 year old.
Once we finished celebrating and taking pictures we started skinning and gutting. Took 7.5 hours to get them skinned, quartered and loaded in the trucks. All our backs were shot after that.
What a great hunt. Anyone that gets drawn and doesn't go is crazy. The best part of the hunt is all the guys that either live up there or get drawn want each other to get the tag filled and it is really a community. Thanks to all on this forum for your help.
Decided to go back in the middle of February as there was no way I could let this tag expire. My partner wasn't able to come this time so I met the other guy with a tag I knew and his partner and we decided to try our luck on Zama Lake on skidoos.
The first day we toured the North side of the lake and saw a bunch of sign but no Bison. That night we heard that a Bull was shot on the Habay road at the north end of the Assumption reserve. The next morning we got on sleds again and headed south to the Habay road. We ran into Mooseslayer and he had said a herd of 30 had been here the day before but were gone now. He also informed us we were still on the reserve so we made a plan to head west out onto the lake.
As soon as we were off the reserve we came up a little creek that went out onto a field and we seen a herd of 8 Bulls sitting in the field. There was also a herd of wild horses a pretty cool sight. The bulls started running to the woods so we got in position for when they walked through the bush we were able to get 2 down. Mine dropped with a double lung shot and the other took a few to put down. Mine was a 3.5 year old and my buddies was a 4.5 year old.
Once we finished celebrating and taking pictures we started skinning and gutting. Took 7.5 hours to get them skinned, quartered and loaded in the trucks. All our backs were shot after that.
What a great hunt. Anyone that gets drawn and doesn't go is crazy. The best part of the hunt is all the guys that either live up there or get drawn want each other to get the tag filled and it is really a community. Thanks to all on this forum for your help.