Camp Wainwright First Time

[UTAH]

Hey Guys,

Heading out there for the first time 11-13th Dec, is it safe to walk around instead of driving everywhere? Where should I go? I have not harvested a deer this year and passed up many BUCKS, what are my chances of finding a BIGGER BUCK out there? What is the best tactic? Deer drives, walking, driving? Heading up there with 2 buddies. Any ideas?

[Raptor]

Wainwright is an experience of its own. Lots of open areas with patches of trees. Also nice deep valleys covered in trees. You will be orientated each day and told where you can and can't go. There is NO off road driving to speak of, and you have to walk everywhere. Doing so though lets you kick out alot of deer. With 3 of you going, 2 pushing bush and the other waiting, you should easily get your deer. I have found that hunting the east side of the base along the fence lines are a good area. You will often find a hole in the fence where people have cut it to allow the deer to pass through to tree stands outside the base. Also with 3 guys, the valleys are an excellent opportunity for you. 1 on each side of valley and 1 at the bottom should proove succesful. If you drop something far enough off the beaten track, the Range patrol (and I mean Patrol) will often help you retrieve your animal. Don't do anything contrary to what the patrol says or you will be escorted off the base and your hunt is over. This has always been a successful hunt for me and I have always filled my tags, whether it be bucks or doe's. Get off the beaten roads and out of your truck and push the bush. You WILL find your deer. I have taken a 180 class WT and 190 MD out of there over the years, so to answer your question, YES you should be able to bang a good buck, but as I said, WALK. Lots of moose and elk on the base as well.
Good luck and hope this helps you. Keep us informed on how you did.

[Raptor]

One more thing. You can go to MAP TOWN and puchase a map of the base. Shows all the valleys, draws and things. I found it very good to have, just for reference. It will give you an advantage on how to get to hard to get areas.

[roger]

Originally Posted by UTAH

Heading out there for the first time 11-13th Dec

HEY, we got same one, i know of a couple of pushable bushes that you three can push to me and chain2 heck, we will even give you a ride back to your truck as long as you ride in the box

this will be my 4th sortie there,
did you three all have tags or just you with two others as pushers...cause the last time i was there, non hunters couldnt leave the truck or had to be within a shadows length from you..like a over-your-shoulder cameraman,
and you might want to consider booking a motel room in advance..they usta give a map to everybody at the inservice...so why buy one. unless ya want to mark it up...i guess?? no speeding on base, no fires, no bird or coyote hunting, phone in to the range office if your gonna be late, always check in AND out, find out exactly where the bombing range is and stay out of it, although it is marked quite well, its quite confusing if you lose your bearings, as you have to drive through it (I think it is on the south east corner of circle route ), but you cant hunt off it.
and lastly...if you didnt drop it..dont pick it up.

Raptor, i have a question..granted i havent been in 3 years, but..
i know the east side (also called the annex) was a walk-on zone only, (it changed in about 2000, i think? to enhance the oppurtunity for still hunters ), when did the west side become walk only too??
and when on that annex side, was advised that there better be a gutpile at the end of your off-road excursion.
also I have always understood that range patrol would not assist in vehicle or animal retreival, and would only assist when a wounded animal from a safe zone hobbles into a forbidden zone.
maybe some of the 2008 BP hunters can clear these concerns up

[shedcrazy]

The walk-in in areas are coyote hill (always been that way), Wapiti and the annex. The rest is open to driving. You can get your animal out of the walk-in areas with the Veh but your weapon needs to be cased.
Roger is correct about the non-hunter.
Range Control will not help you get your animal out unless it goes into an out of bounds areas or off base.

[bowchaser]

had the first rifle season. Deer numbers apparently down and quality as well, likely partially to do with the cwd culling in the area. Did see deer each day and most time spent in the annex, more mules than whites everywhere. The muzzleloaders did well on the first day with 34 mule deer, the rifle hunters did about the same number on day #2 as they opened the west side of the battle river, I think it was 35 mulies and 12 whitetails on day #2 the highest of all 3 days. No elk taken in either season. Tons of moose. IF they open the west side of the river make sure you take advantage and push the river coulees and breaks and you will get mulies in there. Did not see any real big deer taken, maybe 170 mulie, 150 wt. I have never seen more skittish deer, even the mulies make for the next province at the first sight of orange. You will not convince me they don't know what that colour means. Can understand it when there are 200 guys with three tags each to use in 3 days. I will definently be hunting the muzzleloader season next time. Lots of guys do drive but it is an effective way to see lots of deer. If you are there in a group try to be very strategic about pushing, the bush is thick and they will usually be long gone by the time you see them, unless you are the guy they are being pushed to. It was my first time and lots of fun, bombs and heavy artillery going off all day.

I would hunt the annex on the north side of the circle route as well as the south side of the circle route between there and the fire road. Lots taken there. No snow to speak of. You won't find them out in the open too often, they will be in the thick stuff.

Have fun

[MODEL70]

can anyone tell me what the min for hunter orange is. to the best of my knokledge it is just an orange vest but please correct me if im wrong.

[gonefishin]

You're right, the minimum is just a vest.