There really is no game in the mountains!

raab · #1 10-04-2020, 01:59 PM

Whats everyones take on the Bighorn mountain WMU's 418-434? I went out this weekend for a quick look for Sheep again. Got a nice spot where I could glass for miles, with quite a few meadows, and openings I could see. I didn't end up seeing one thing for miles. No sheep, no deer, no elk, no moose. I guess the harvest reports don't lie in these particular WMUs.

If its the case that theres very few animals in these zones. Is the province allowing prescribed burns or logging to help improve the habitat in these areas? Or are there any other options which could be considered to help the area? What are your guys thoughts on the situation?

41thunder · #2 10-04-2020, 02:53 PM

Shoot any predator you see
And the hot weather doesn’t help finding game

slough shark · #3 10-04-2020, 03:31 PM

There are still animals in pockets, numbers are nowhere close to what there should be, predator hunting needs to become a lot more prevalent in several of those zones. I’ll be trying to do my part this winter on the wolves on my trapline.

buckman · #4 10-04-2020, 04:27 PM

Its hungry country alright.Wolves,Cougars ,Bears,Coyotes and hunting have taken there toll for sure.

Combine that with poor management, and you have a recipe for what we have now. It makes me angry and sad to see the prefect game habitat so lacking in the numbers they could,should and used to hold.

Yes the warm weather can be a factor in spotting game, but even in the right conditions some areas that were prime are way down.

I shoot Wolves on sight and have killed my share, however we need a proper cull in order to make a dent in the overall population.

As for the Cougar problem the numbers seem way up judging by the amount of tracks I see. Mule deer have suffered huge declines in the areas I hunt.

DiabeticKripple · #5 10-04-2020, 04:30 PM

Been trying to hunt elk out west, found a small pocket of them but I’m seeing more bears and wolves than elk. Also a big ass cougar.

Plan this winter is to go out with a bait site and try and get some wolves, bear is on the radar for fall and spring. If only I could get rid of the grizz too.

buckman · #6 10-04-2020, 04:38 PM

Its hungry country alright.Wolves,Cougars ,Bears,Coyotes and hunting have taken there toll for sure.

Combine that with poor management and you have a recipe for what we have now. It makes me angry, and sad to see the prefect game habitat so lacking in the numbers they could,should and used to hold.

Yes the warm weather can be a factor but even in the right conditions some areas that were prime are way down.

raab · #7 10-04-2020, 05:01 PM

Yep, predators are definitely an issue. But I think we could be creating more habitat to help the herds through prescribed burns. Lots of overgrown forests in that area that could be burned or logged to improve feed for them. On a side note I'm not as worried about the sheep population I know they're there. But there should be far more deer, moose, elk through that whole area. I think the wild horses are also having an impact on the area.

Was wondering if anyone knows what the government's plans are? Also think that the bighorn dam didn't help by flooding the meadow. Is there any way to remove it? Or does it supply to much of Alberta's energy?

I'll try to plan a few trips during cougar season to see if I cant help out with the predator population. Might even make it into the 300 zones around there as I already saw 1 wolf off the highway east of Nordegg.

wildwoods · #8 10-04-2020, 05:05 PM

Burns would go a very long way. I read the people and peaks book about the Willmore. About 120 + years ago, the natives would burn those valleys with prescribed burns. It would keep the willow and scrub brush down so the grass could grow for their horses. That grass was huge for the ungulates population. Lots more game back then. Still seeing deer, ek, moose, grizz, sheep, goats and wolves in that area. Wishing they would burn some of those valleys out again and help the critters though

hunterngather · #9 10-04-2020, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raab

Yep, predators are definitely an issue. But I think we could be creating more habitat to help the herds through prescribed burns. Lots of overgrown forests in that area that could be burned or logged to improve feed for them. On a side note I'm not as worried about the sheep population I know they're there. But there should be far more deer, moose, elk through that whole area. I think the wild horses are also having an impact on the area.

Was wondering if anyone knows what the government's plans are? Also think that the bighorn dam didn't help by flooding the meadow. Is there any way to remove it? Or does it supply to much of Alberta's energy?

I'll try to plan a few trips during cougar season to see if I cant help out with the predator population. Might even make it into the 300 zones around there as I already saw 1 wolf off the highway east of Nordegg.

Is this not a prime example where the GOA could provide numbers via drones on numbers of predators? I cant think it would be that expensive?

Why cant we have a cull in strategically determined areas via drone data?