Experience Hunting In Conservation Sites
 

Have you guys ever hunted on Conservation sites as listed on https://www.albertadiscoverguide.com/ ?

Any anecdotes or experiences you feel like sharing would be appreciated.

Decent for ducks. Not limits, but a couple here and there jump shooting if you’re not picky about species.
Ok for rabbits
Grouse tend to be shot out pretty quick.
Big game are non existent once the season opens. Treestands and cameras everywhere. Old tracks that get new hunters excited but no fresh sign.

FWIW, I stopped going to Hopewell for pheasants many years ago. It can be a dangerous gong show and it's polluted with fox tail.

The Conservation Sites can be hit and miss, but they give you access to land you may never have had an opportunity to hunt. Because of the foot traffic on such properties especially during hunting season my suggestion would be to pick a few sites for the game or birds you intend to hunt. Scout the land even in the offseason to get a feel for the type of game that is found on it. You may not see as much as you would on private land, but in some cases you may be pleasantly surprised.

hit and miss is about right. The further away from humanity you are the better the odds are. I've driven 2 1/2 hours to an ACA for birds, but my boys and I were the only ones on 600 acres of nice land.

Aca
 

My dad and I were archery hunting antelope and permission was really tough with the fire ban locking down most of the leased and private land in the zone we were hunting. Got super lucky and found a herd with a good buck on an ACA property. A short stalk, a great shot and success.

It’s tough sledding some times, but I’ve had some super memorable days pretty close to the big city. If you scout right, put the time in, and don’t go at peak times, you’ve got a good shot at making some memories. Probably no huge trophies, but great days afield nonetheless.

When I used to live near Wabamun I hit up all the sites around that area at some point or another. I did manage to get quite a few grouse and a number of rabbits over the years in a few of them. Also had my BIL shoot his first whitetail buck in one. Saw quite a few whitetail in them during archery season and a fair amount of moose in one or two areas. One year I would see multiple moose almost daily during rifle season as well - of course not one of the years I had a draw. I did have more productive spots a little further west, but for the short drive I had to a couple of these sites, I could never complain about the amount of game I did see.

General elk hunting
 

Where can I hunt general elk

Over back the way you came from