Wmu 339

[The Spruce]

I was browsing through hunter harvest stats from last season. I know that they are not super accurate, but they are a great place to get an idea how a WMU is doing. I was being Elk specific, and it shows 0 elk harvested in WMU 339 in 2016. I am sure there was some, but clearly not many.

This used to be my goto. Has 339 gotten this overrun with wolves? Is it strictly development issues (these usually tend to help elk)? Have the natives shot them all out? This baffles me.

Maybe everyone is just going to better areas with less wolves. Was never elk littering entire zone, but if you knew the right ridges along the rivers....there were some crankers to be had. Wild Clydesdales always spooked me, I am sure they are still around.

If I can, I am going to make a point of going out there for a weekend this season, for sure next.

Anyone been in the Elk River, Peco, Brazeau area?

Spruce

[srs123]

I hear there is elk there, would be worth a day trip at least

[The Spruce]

I hear there is elk there, would be worth a day trip at least

I am not worried about shooting an elk, I do that every year needed. Just interested in my old favourite hunting area. Used to be some good herds in that area if you knew where to look. I just want to go see if there are still a few around...and maybe help out with the wolf issue.

Spruce

[dmcbride]

Wolves, 365 days a year hunting and a steady stream of road hunters from Sept. 17 till the end of November. There is elk there, just small groups and hard to find away from the roads. I haven't saw a bull in 3 years.

[The Spruce]

Wolves, 365 days a year hunting and a steady stream of road hunters from Sept. 17 till the end of November. There is elk there, just small groups and hard to find away from the roads. I haven't saw a bull in 3 years.

Wow, that is sad to hear. The road hunters were always a given, I figured the year round hunting might be the main issue along with depredation. Guess I will have to go see first hand...hopefully no one steals my truck while I am hoofing along the dismal in the dark.

Spruce

[dmcbride]

Wow, that is sad to hear. The road hunters were always a given, I figured the year round hunting might be the main issue along with depredation. Guess I will have to go see first hand...hopefully no one steals my truck while I am hoofing along the dismal in the dark.

Spruce

Doesn’t keep myself from trying. Good luck.

[Bushrat]

There is still elk but they're scarce compared to what they used to be. They are flighty and move around even more than they used to. Same with moose out there, just don't see either near as much as even 5 or 6 years ago, mule deer numbers down too. Still a fair amount of whitetails but not like in the past.

[Desert Eagle]

It's been a rough few years in 339. There is certainly a predation increase: black and grizzly bears, cougar and wolves. Also they have been just hammering the dense Bush with logging and I think it has made it easier for the wolves to find game and hunt it down. There are a few pockets of animals, but they are thinning every year and seem to move around a lot more than normal. I recall going down the river about 15 years ago and seeing 90+ elk every time. Now I have not even saw a track on the river. In the bush in the last year I have spotted 2 cow elk and that's it for elk or moose.

It's in my back yard and I'm driving many hours to a hopefully better zone to try to fill the freezer.

[ghostguy6]

This used to be my goto. Has 339 gotten this overrun with wolves? Is it strictly development issues (these usually tend to help elk)? Have the natives shot them all out? This baffles me.

Spruce

Yes to all the above. I know many hunters who grew up hunting this area but now refuse to go back because of "all the road hunters and certain ethnic groups breaking the laws without fear of prosecution".

[walking buffalo]

The hunting community needs to pay attention and get vocal over the "management" of our wildlife resources.

The answers to 339 elk are connected to those all along the foothill and mountain units.

This is the 2016 Elk harvest numbers.
Look at all those Zeros! Pathetic and very worrisome.

WMU - Male - Female - Young
400- 37 0 0
402- 33 3 0
404- 15 4 0
406- 8 0 0
408- 0 2 0
410- 13 3 0
412- 0 0 0
414- 0 0 0
416- 0 0 0
417- 0 0 0
418- 3 0 0
420- 0 0 0
422- 0 0 0
426- 3 0 0
428- 0 0 0
429- 3 0 0
432- 0 0 0
434- 3 0 0
436- 0 0 0
437- 7 0 0
438- 13 3 0
439- 0 3 0
440- 3 0 0
441- 0 0 0
442- 0 0 0
444- 7 0 0
445- 3 0 0
446- 7 0 0

[wildwoods]

The hunting community needs to pay attention and get vocal over the "management" of our wildlife resources.

The answers to 339 elk are connected to those all along the foothill and mountain units.

This is the 2016 Elk harvest numbers.
Look at all those Zeros! Pathetic and very worrisome.

WMU - Male - Female - Young
400- 37 0 0
402- 33 3 0
404- 15 4 0
406- 8 0 0
408- 0 2 0
410- 13 3 0
412- 0 0 0
414- 0 0 0
416- 0 0 0
417- 0 0 0
418- 3 0 0
420- 0 0 0
422- 0 0 0
426- 3 0 0
428- 0 0 0
429- 3 0 0
432- 0 0 0
434- 3 0 0
436- 0 0 0
437- 7 0 0
438- 13 3 0
439- 0 3 0
440- 3 0 0
441- 0 0 0
442- 0 0 0
444- 7 0 0
445- 3 0 0
446- 7 0 0

It's gonna take a leader like yourself. Propose the solution and I for one will get behind it

[Slicktricker]

I do not believe 429 is any where near accurate I have seen many come out of that zone

[kidd]

It's been a rough few years in 339. There is certainly a predation increase: black and grizzly bears, cougar and wolves. Also they have been just hammering the dense Bush with logging and I think it has made it easier for the wolves to find game and hunt it down. There are a few pockets of animals, but they are thinning every year and seem to move around a lot more than normal. I recall going down the river about 15 years ago and seeing 90+ elk every time. Now I have not even saw a track on the river. In the bush in the last year I have spotted 2 cow elk and that's it for elk or moose.

It's in my back yard and I'm driving many hours to a hopefully better zone to try to fill the freezer.

This is a perfect description of 339 imo. I had a trail camera out the last year and the elk were there. Just not many and not every day posing for pics.
kidd