Looking for guidance in 356/357.

[gloszz]

Hello everyone,

Trying to get an early start on scouting for some elk. I talked to a landowner near Grovedale and said he has seen some elk, not many moose or black bears. Did mention he did see grizzly tracks in the area. Is it worth hunting this area coming up from Edmonton? I had a tag for late season cow elk in 523 and didn't see a thing. Is Grande Prairie and Peace River too close to these WMUs to be promising? I plan to set some cameras up come June to see what wanders around.

I have seen elk around the Hinton area but all on private land.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks

[Norwest Alta]

Elk are where you find them. Don’t expect to come out for a weekend and go home with one in the back of the truck. If you do you’ll be disappointed. Lots of elk hunting close to Edmonton but if you figure 356 or 357 is the sure thing fill your boots.

[300magman]

Originally Posted by Norwest Alta

Elk are where you find them. Don’t expect to come out for a weekend and go home with one in the back of the truck. If you do you’ll be disappointed. Lots of elk hunting close to Edmonton but if you figure 356 or 357 is the sure thing fill your boots.

The only place to kill an elk in Alberta is in saddle hills man, you know that. Stop trying to keep that area a secret.

[gloszz]

Originally Posted by Norwest Alta

Elk are where you find them. Don’t expect to come out for a weekend and go home with one in the back of the truck. If you do you’ll be disappointed. Lots of elk hunting close to Edmonton but if you figure 356 or 357 is the sure thing fill your boots.

That's not what I'm expecting. Would you go hunt snow geese in Hinton? No you wouldn't, same with big game. I hunted windfall, whitecourt, edson, and Hinton area for a good month collectively and didn't hear a single bugle. I just don't understand why you need to be rude when I'm just asking for guidance, not your gps coordinates to your permission.

[Norwest Alta]

Originally Posted by gloszz

That's not what I'm expecting. Would you go hunt snow geese in Hinton? No you wouldn't, same with big game. I hunted windfall, whitecourt, edson, and Hinton area for a good month collectively and didn't hear a single bugle. I just don't understand why you need to be rude when I'm just asking for guidance, not your gps coordinates to your permission.

If you think that is rude you need a thicker hide. What has snow goose hunting got to do with elk hunting? There is elk in the bush from here to there.

[Norwest Alta]

Originally Posted by 300magman

The only place to kill an elk in Alberta is in saddle hills man, you know that. Stop trying to keep that area a secret.

Lol it's a little early for secret of the saddle hills to come out but I heard that there's elk around every corner. Some even stand in the middle of the road. You can get it all done before lunch on opening day. Even the poorest hunters that go snow goose hunting in Hinton are successful. I don't know why they sell elk tags in the wmu 's that lead to the hills. I think it must be a gov't conspiracy to mislead people to think that there's elk in whitecourt or edson.

[Somehunter]

Send me a p.m i can probably help you out, no promises tho.

[Slicktricker]

Edson whitecourt and hinton are great elk areas. Lots of action. If your in an area and no action move to another spot or go deeper into the zone.

[bighornram]

elk hunting around the athabasca area is great, dont have to go all the way to the saddle hills.

[mk63]

Check out mywildalberta.ca for harvest reports, its a good starting point to see which WMUs have the highest success rates and overall harvest numbers.

[300magman]

Originally Posted by Norwest Alta

Lol it's a little early for secret of the saddle hills to come out but I heard that there's elk around every corner. Some even stand in the middle of the road. You can get it all done before lunch on opening day. Even the poorest hunters that go snow goose hunting in Hinton are successful. I don't know why they sell elk tags in the wmu 's that lead to the hills. I think it must be a gov't conspiracy to mislead people to think that there's elk in whitecourt or edson.

Hahahaha!! Good call on the conspiracy. I can say one thing you said is true for me, I’ve never stayed in saddle hills longer than lunch on day 1 lol.

[Norwest Alta]

Originally Posted by 300magman

Hahahaha!! Good call on the conspiracy. I can say one thing you said is true for me, I’ve never stayed in saddle hills longer than lunch on day 1 lol.

Lol. I went there for lunch but ya that's good enough to experience the hills.

Good skidooing and quading though.

[husky7mm]

Very often these days elk don’t bugle, you need to hunt sign not just sound. The zones your asking about have been heavily depleted as far ungulate popultaions go. Exploding predator numbers, stupid amounts of access and heavy hunting pressure all play a factor. There are many, many threads on this. I don’t know why sooo many people keep asking about it. You will be driving past huntable elk populations to hunt the peace country. The best thing that you can do is hunt the closest zone to you that hold elk. That will get you out in the elk woods fast and as often as possible. Get those cams out and figure out patterns. “Hunt” all year. How bad do you want an elk?

[spellswrong]

Send me a pm