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03-26-2015, 09:47 AM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 1,155
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Willmore elk hunt
Hey all. I'm thinking about doing a hike in elk hunt into te willmore this year. I haven't spent anytime in there in the past so I'm planning on doing a few long weekend expeditions in there this summer. I was just wondering if anyone would be willing to give me some suggestions, hints, tips, advice or anything. Not looking for any secret spots just general info on the area, feel free to pm me if you would like to keep it less well known. Thx in advance
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03-26-2015, 10:03 AM
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Banned
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Over That Hill
Posts: 3,872
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Hunt along the Smokey River. Don't know how you are going to take an elk out on your back, we go in by horseback.
Lot's of Grizz, so be aware! 
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03-26-2015, 12:28 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 1,155
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We are likely going to be going in with a pack horse and just walk in leading the horse, if not i won't be by my self, and we'll be taking out the meat in our packs
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03-26-2015, 01:05 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Olds, Sundre area Alberta
Posts: 2,134
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word of caution for you.......1 horse on it's own is maybe not the best situation. Just my opinion.
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03-26-2015, 01:09 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Beaumont
Posts: 3,389
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alpineguy
word of caution for you.......1 horse on it's own is maybe not the best situation. Just my opinion.
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Just curious as to why? I'm not a horse guy but I'm guessing a single horse is more vulnerable to predators?
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The kill is the satisfying, indeed essential, conclusion to a successful hunt. But, I take no pleasure in the act itself. One does not hunt in order to kill, but kills in order to have hunted. Then why do I hunt? I hunt for the same reason my well-fed cat hunts...because I must, because it is in the blood, because I am the decendent of a thousand generations of hunters. I hunt because I am a hunter.- Finn Aagard
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03-26-2015, 01:27 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 470
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More likely to go looking for other horses.
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03-26-2015, 01:30 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Gjoa Haven, NU
Posts: 34
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Depending on the route you go in a good pack and a decent game cart could solve your problem. A single game cart won't go looking for other game carts. They're easy to feed too.
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03-26-2015, 05:28 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Olds, Sundre area Alberta
Posts: 2,134
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zuludog
Just curious as to why? I'm not a horse guy but I'm guessing a single horse is more vulnerable to predators?
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Horses are herd animals and will want to be with other horses. There are many aspects to this but that's my experience. I'm sure there are horses out there that could do it alone but I personally, would never do it.
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Horizon Parent Society (Helping kids with disabilities)
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03-26-2015, 05:43 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: In a house
Posts: 7,778
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Jamie just don't bobble your horse. I tried that once and went from the 2nd crossing of the muddy and had to hike all the way back to the first crossing. Horses can go a long ways if they decide to head home lol I felt like shooting them all on the spot when I found them. I take a long rope and tie them to a tree. Feed them in the morning and in the evening and give them a long rope staked out for the day. I would hunt where i showed you on the map. Hopefully a few guys that have done it will give you some feedback of what they had for success in there. I have always wanted to do it but was too busy chasing sheep
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03-26-2015, 06:09 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Over That Hill
Posts: 3,872
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nube
Jamie just don't bobble your horse. I tried that once and went from the 2nd crossing of the muddy and had to hike all the way back to the first crossing. Horses can go a long ways if they decide to head home lol I felt like shooting them all on the spot when I found them. I take a long rope and tie them to a tree. Feed them in the morning and in the evening and give them a long rope staked out for the day. I would hunt where i showed you on the map. Hopefully a few guys that have done it will give you some feedback of what they had for success in there. I have always wanted to do it but was too busy chasing sheep
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You got that right nube!
The picture of the horses and me, in my avitar was taken in Wilmore on an elk hunt. We brought in a total of 6 horses. We hobbled them at night.
A big grizzly came into camp one night and the horses took off hobbled across the river. Had to wade the river in Jeans and track them down.
I can assure you that the Smokey IS REAL  COLD!!!!
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03-26-2015, 07:33 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Central Alberta
Posts: 21,399
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zuludog
Just curious as to why? I'm not a horse guy but I'm guessing a single horse is more vulnerable to predators?
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Horses are secure in each other's company. Got two horse tied, one get's loose, chances are he won't go far, two loose, all bets are off and you'll find them back at the trailer.  One lone horse, probably the same.
Grizz
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"Indeed, no human being has yet lived under conditions which, considering the prevailing climates of the past, can be regarded as normal."
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written in 1969
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03-26-2015, 07:39 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: In a house
Posts: 7,778
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Quote:
Originally Posted by edmhunter
You got that right nube!
The picture of the horses and me, in my avitar was taken in Wilmore on an elk hunt. We brought in a total of 6 horses. We hobbled them at night.
A big grizzly came into camp one night and the horses took off hobbled across the river. Had to wade the river in Jeans and track them down.
I can assure you that the Smokey IS REAL COLD!!!! |
Swam that river a few times lol One time holding onto my horses tail as he ROLLED down the river. After a mile he ended up on the far side where I wanted him and had the thought go through my head that I guess some horses can't swim either lol
I don't reccomend swimming horses to anyone now.
I was always in there early in the year before elk season. How is the hunting pressure in there for elk? I wouldn't think too many people go in there. Probably because it is a rugged hunt.
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03-26-2015, 09:13 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: North of the Kakwa
Posts: 3,973
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nube
Swam that river a few times lol One time holding onto my horses tail as he ROLLED down the river. After a mile he ended up on the far side where I wanted him and had the thought go through my head that I guess some horses can't swim either lol
I don't reccomend swimming horses to anyone now.
I was always in there early in the year before elk season. How is the hunting pressure in there for elk? I wouldn't think too many people go in there. Probably because it is a rugged hunt.
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Elk hunting in there now is pretty tough, I would look at some areas further north unless you were dead set on experiencing the Wilmore.
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03-26-2015, 09:20 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Over That Hill
Posts: 3,872
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nube
Swam that river a few times lol One time holding onto my horses tail as he ROLLED down the river. After a mile he ended up on the far side where I wanted him and had the thought go through my head that I guess some horses can't swim either lol
I don't reccomend swimming horses to anyone now.
I was always in there early in the year before elk season. How is the hunting pressure in there for elk? I wouldn't think too many people go in there. Probably because it is a rugged hunt.
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The last time I was there, didnt see anyone else ,but there were a few cabins, that looked used. The last time I hunted there was in 2004, so it's been quite awhile. Rode in about 8 hours south west of Grand Cache.
The hunt ended quickly because my buddy fractured his ankle and I had to take him out, poor bstrd was in lots of pain and he ruined my hunt!
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03-26-2015, 10:42 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,107
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If I was doing a backpack hunt for elk I'd throw a inflatable kayak or raft on a meat pack and hike it upriver a few hours on the smoky river trail towards Kvass flats. Cross the smoky river and you'll be hunting in country that is tough to access even with horses, and gets little pressure. Float your meat down to the blue bridge. Assuming you're comfortable on water.
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03-27-2015, 04:59 AM
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Banned
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Over That Hill
Posts: 3,872
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nube
Swam that river a few times lol One time holding onto my horses tail as he ROLLED down the river. After a mile he ended up on the far side where I wanted him and had the thought go through my head that I guess some horses can't swim either lol
I don't reccomend swimming horses to anyone now.
I was always in there early in the year before elk season. How is the hunting pressure in there for elk? I wouldn't think too many people go in there. Probably because it is a rugged hunt.
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Pretty cold water eh? lol
Had a GF, her father was a horseman and serious big game hunter. He and some friends went to Wilmore for a spring bear hunt on horseback.
When crossing the river his horse took a tumble and they both went downstream. He was found dead hung up in some trees a few days later. That river can be tricky and deadly!
As for hobbling, never again! Prefer to tie them to the biggest trees I can find.
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