Prairie Elk Draws

[220swifty]

here's my situation. I have been putting in for bull elk for 5 years now with the eventual plan of gewtting a coveted tag in a mountain or foothill WMU, but as of late, the good elk hunting seems to be in short supply in these zones. I was just looking at the draw summary report and got to wondering what the elk hunting was like in the southeast part of the province, and if you guys could give me tips on what zones and seasons are producing as of late, so that i can look into it as a viable option for future years.

Thanks

[whitetailhntr]

From what i gather the prairie zones will be just as hard if not harder to be drawn in.With every big bull harvested and shown off, on this site as well as others, the odds of drawing will be reduced with the influx of hunters applying for these zones. There are still big ones to be had in the mountain/foothills zones but the effort required is greater than it used to be.I am also revamping my elk draw strategie and weighing options...it will bee 999 for a while to see how things shake out over the next few years.there are some pigs comming out of the prairies but i'm sure there are a few left in the hills.

[Rackmastr]

Well...what do ya want to know Swifty?

There is good elk hunting in the prairies right now in a few zones...but there actually has been for quite a few years. Hell it was probably late 1990's when the first WMU 102 hunt opened up and they killed some giant bulls in there. WMU 104 has always produced some good bulls if the weather cooperates and now there are a few other zones open with 148/150/151 hunt and the WMU 108 hunt.

All areas are producing elk.....some more than others, yet some have more tags than others. Some are easier to kill an elk, and some are tougher but have higher chances for a big bull.

As with any zone (mountain, foothills, prairies) it all depends on doing your homework and talking with as many people as possible. There are still some giant bulls taken in the mountains every year and the zones around Wainwright have produced some big gagger elk as well.

So ya....nothing is a gimme....and some of the better elk zones are taking a P8 or higher to draw.....heck some a P9 will only get you a chance at a tag......

Its kinda like any other animal. All depends what you want in a hunt and what type of hunt/experience/animal you want. No secrets shared here....just honest truth. As with any draw with a high priority, you wont find everyone giving up all their secrets either......heh

[6mmhunter]

Where would a person stand the best chance at an elk if just looking for a cow? Dad is in his 70's and has never taken an elk and I would like to line up something for next year for him. Any suggestions?

[Rackmastr]

Where would a person stand the best chance at an elk if just looking for a cow? Dad is in his 70's and has never taken an elk and I would like to line up something for next year for him. Any suggestions?

Depends where ya live and what type of hunt you are looking for. WMU 312 has a hell of a cow elk hunt in the late season. If you talk to the right landowners its a pretty safe bet you will kill a cow in early December....

[220swifty]

I have been hunting in 152 almost every season for the last 7 years, and i have become partial to big country hunts. I like the glass and stalk hunting alot, and thought that if this hunt is like a coulee mulie hunt, i would thoroughly enjoy it. This is the big part of the draw. The late season also appeals to me, as my life has become much to busy for my liking lately, it would be nice to get in that extra hunting after most general seasons are closed. How do the late seasons stack up for opportunities?

Not asking for secrets Trev, just truth, although now that you have your bull, you can probably afford to give a few secrets away too, :lol:

[Rackmastr]

Not asking for secrets Trev, just truth, although now that you have your bull, you can probably afford to give a few secrets away too, :lol:

You forget that I have a wife that is always building priority...heh

She's a 5 for her Antlered Elk and a 5 for her Antlered Moose....so always makin sure I keep a few secrets close.....

[Donny Bear]

I will be interested to know how many will ask the Rack for a bit of info. As Rackmastr says talk to as many people as you can. With Postings of one of the nicest prarie bulls I have seen it is logical to go to the Rackmastr for a bit of info. That said the man has a wife and I am sure close friends that deserve to be privy to info that others like myself are not likely to be given.

It comes down to choices I Presently have friends that have harvested bulls by Hardisty that rival Rackmastrs bull one may one up it at 375ish. I have permission on land where for 2 years a dozen or more bulls have wintered a couple nice bulls, but the biggest bull I have ever seen was during the rut 20 miles south in the next zone. My elk hunt will start in late december of this year under the guise of preditor calling I will watch bulls in winter range and have coffee with the land owners. I will begin again in june hoping to decide at the last minute for sure where to apply and then spend the summer weekends looking watching and talking but still have to pick the season the place and then hope it all comes together. If I break 340 then the Nine years have paid off if not then my effort, choices, may pay when my son gets his draw or my hunting partner. In the end I hope I am smarter and need a bigger house for the elk:lol: JM2C

All this Bable comes down to I will take any honest info Rackmastr will allow me to have every bit helps in the decission process. I do know that one of the zones I am looking at has far more permission available. I also hope to find the sheds of the one bull this winter. He should be 320 if he lives maybe he will be the one.

[220swifty]

Fair enough Rack, i suppose i would rather my wife fill her tags than some shmoe on the internet. I still ahve to thank you for inspiration though, monster killer.

Donny, i think you just gave me a hell of an excuse to hunt coyotes in new areas.

[sjemac]

Around here, every bull with more than 2 points is dead by the second of Nov. Many are dead on the 31st of Oct.:cry:

[gman1978]

Permission is a tough thing to get in some of the better areas and the bulls are not always in the winter areas in November, but with the extended season this may not be an issue. They can move miles in night especially when they are pressured. Or in to area that is restricted!!!!

[DoubleCam]

I will tell you folks right now that Rack doesnt give out s**t for information! lol and for good reason. I wouldnt give out my honey holes either.. for elk, white-tail, mulies or squirrels ( I know where some poper's roam freely ).

However, what I would do is just sit back and check out forums and see where all these big bulls are shot. I will almost promise you that they are spread out throughout the province. The Suffield hunt that has happened this year is a blessing for many people with it just opening... and I will almost gaurante that in a few years it will slow down to, like the rest of the zones. NOT saying there wont be 360" + Bulls anymore it will just get more difficult.

I know of monster bulls in wmu 400, 510, 506, 116, 338, 336... need I say more? They are everywhere.. Homework, Homework, Homework.

IF ya wanna know where im putting in... it is in the Cypress Hills! Should get it in a year or two... and there are monster bulls in there aswell.

G'Luck:tongue2::):innocent:

[Donny Bear]

Permission is a tough thing to get in some of the better areas and the bulls are not always in the winter areas in November, but with the extended season this may not be an issue. They can move miles in night especially when they are pressured. Or in to area that is restricted!!!!

All to true but with that said if I was willing to let the info out I would bet a Grand I could Drive you to bulls same hill day in day out Nov, Dec, Jan 3 years running.:huh:

[packhuntr]

Good Lord.... This has to be the saddest thread ive ever seen on here. Some pretty limp posts guys. If ya wanna spend your time hunting big animals, dont beg for info on the net, get out there and get scouting. :rolleye2:

[209x50]

x2 pack, I'm sitting with 9 elk points just because I don't have the time to do the tag right. Someday...

[depopulator]

And to think all the big bulls come out of the 'big' draw units is a mistake. As many or more 350" bulls come out of lower priority and/or general units in Alberta every year, it is just that those bulls and hunters do not post on forums - they are simply hunters that hunt. The prairie draw units are just, if I may, easier opportunities at the big bulls due to where they are found. I have been sent several photos from "people in the know" of foothill permit and general season bulls taken this year in Alberta that are close to the special draw prairie bulls posted on this forum.

[gman1978]

Donny Bear, totally agree, I see bulls in the same area in bow season as I do all year long unless they see a little pressure then they migrate to the safe place. But they usually show back up. This extra season in Dec Jan and Feb might clean out a few big bulls

[Donny Bear]

Good Lord.... This has to be the saddest thread ive ever seen on here. Some pretty limp posts guys. If ya wanna spend your time hunting big animals, dont beg for info on the net, get out there and get scouting. :rolleye2:

Darn Pack you made me read the whole thread again looking to see how limp the post was. I think the whole post is about encouraging people to get out and do some leg work. It also pays a bit of omage to Rack for a fine job and a great animal. If this is the saddest post you have read on this forum then to bad we all could not be so correct as you. Please find it within yourself to forgive all who seek information from the people worth talking to.

[220swifty]

Well Packhuntr, nice of you to show up. I was simply asking for tips, not coordinates of the next world record. I have no fear of scouting, but at 1.25 a litre for diesel, a full time job and being married, i have a tough time finding the resouces necessary to drive all the back roads of the southeastern corner of our province, just to know where i should put in. If you have noticed, i don't exactly live in the thick of it. Normally i tap my buddies for info, but because i have not met anyone in person who has had any elk opportunities down there, i have chosen to use the internet for info. If this is the saddest thread you have seen, you had better stay out of the general forum or you are in for a sob-fest. If you have nothing useful to say, stay in your corner and pat your own back, super-scout.

[forest walker]

There are a lot of good prairie elk spots and that being said I can feel the frustration of trying to pick one. It takes so long to get drawn you really want to be able to get a good bull for the patience

[packhuntr]

Well Swifty, we all are juggling the same things you just sobbed out in one big tear filled sentance. Some advice to help ya out abit, there tweedle-dum. Get the priority points, and if the tag means anything to ya, ie: drawn for a multi year elk,,,,, dump a month into it, and kill the biggest bull the zone has in it. But get out and do the work. Instant gratification cannot be expected,,,, nor should it be ones primary objective. If your as accomplished as you seem, you already know the game. Besta luck with your elk draw.

[220swifty]

When the draw is in the bag, that is likely my plan, but it would be nice to have a slight idea where to draw. Thanks for your uselessness packhuntr, move along, i am sure there are others you are better than around here.

[jrs]

I saw these down in 102 while antelope hunting, i still have to post those pictures and stories but the bulls looked okay. I was thinking 300'' or so for the big one in the back? (assuming 7X7 frame). they approached us while we were dressing my dads loper, i think i may go for cow elk there in a few years as i've never taken an elk. Another zone worth considering.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/edsicom/IMGP0250.jpg

[Jamie]

Well Packhuntr, nice of you to show up. I was simply asking for tips, not coordinates of the next world record. I have no fear of scouting, but at 1.25 a litre for diesel, a full time job and being married, i have a tough time finding the resouces necessary to drive all the back roads of the southeastern corner of our province, just to know where i should put in. If you have noticed, i don't exactly live in the thick of it. Normally i tap my buddies for info, but because i have not met anyone in person who has had any elk opportunities down there, i have chosen to use the internet for info. If this is the saddest thread you have seen, you had better stay out of the general forum or you are in for a sob-fest. If you have nothing useful to say, stay in your corner and pat your own back, super-scout.

220 The net is a great tool for narrowing down the search. Myself I personaly owe the net a big thank you for my Antelope. and a personal thank you to both Bruce and elkhunter123 from this board. Dont be discouraged. Good luck on your elk draw.. Myself.. Well lets say I burned 4 or 5 points in WMU 300 :cry::cry:

Jamie

[Rackmastr]

I saw these down in 102 while antelope hunting, i still have to post those pictures and stories but the bulls looked okay. I was thinking 300'' or so for the big one in the back? (assuming 7X7 frame). they approached us while we were dressing my dads loper, i think i may go for cow elk there in a few years as i've never taken an elk. Another zone worth considering.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/edsicom/IMGP0250.jpg

Great pic!!!

That bull in the back looks like he's a 6x6....and looks to be a pretty decent bull for sure!

[220swifty]

Good pic JRS, and thanks for the encouragement Jamie. Might have to check prorities on cows in those zones, might be a good way to get in and chase a few elk around while getting to know the country when im after the big guy

[Rackmastr]

Good pic JRS, and thanks for the encouragement Jamie. Might have to check prorities on cows in those zones, might be a good way to get in and chase a few elk around while getting to know the country when im after the big guy

The problem with hunting cows is that you cant apply for a cow draw while building priority for a bull draw. If you have some friends that want to shoot some cows its a GREAT idea and one that I used to scout out an area and helped some friends shoot a couple cows....

[220swifty]

Oh yeah, i know, but like you Trev, my wife hunts:D

After eating a few steaks of my buddies wife's cow, i think she may be into shooting one of her own.

[Rackmastr]

Oh yeah, i know, but like you Trev, my wife hunts:D

After eating a few steaks of my buddies wife's cow, i think she may be into shooting one of her own.

Ah ya...thats a good bonus then.

All of the prairie zones have some pretty good cow elk hunts.....some are easier hunts than others, and some are a bit tougher but are more successful. I would say the only one that can get a bit tricky is 104 as the weather plays a big role. There is sometimes the odd undersubscribed in 104 as well....