Suffield Elk

[cketchen]

So CTV is covering a famers desire for an elk cull in Suffield do to the increased/ out of control numbers. I for one have been searching for the elk in zones that I have access to for the past 5 years. I have yet to find a legal bull or seen them on land that I have permission for.
If the numbers are that high and there that much of a problem then they should extend or make some allowances for that area to help with the population control.

If anyone on the forum is a farmer from that area and is having an issue with elk, I would gladly come down and bow hunt. I also have a small group that would appreciate the same gesture. Thank you.

Attached is a link to the article.
http://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/herd-of-8...cull-1.2052516

[wildside2014]

There are elk all over 232. All the way from Viking to wainwright. Talk to a few landowners all over the zone. You should not have much problem finding them.

[Lefty-Canuck]

CFB Suffield is by Medicine Hat.....you are a couple HUNDRED miles off....it is not Wainwright they are discussing.

LC

[cketchen]

Sorry about the mistake lefty.
Elk in WMU 348 are very hard to come by these days.

[Lefty-Canuck]

Originally Posted by cketchen

Sorry about the mistake lefty.
Elk in WMU 348 are very hard to come by these days.

No need to be sorry! Just pointing out the different area so you aren't disappointed later!

LC

[Bowstring]

There are approximately 5,000 elk in the suffield block 45km west of Medicine Hat

[SteveY66]

Tell that guy to rehearse before he shows himself on live tv. I think he needed more sleep at night.

As far as an elk cull????? GET LOST! I am tired of these farmers constantly complaining about damage when 70% of them do not grant hunting permission.

Can anyone vouch that this person allows hunting on his ranch?


Why not capture the elk and relocate them to zones that have lower elk population? Or where elk are non existent.

Everyone thinks of culls, culls. As hunters we spend all the money and always get the shaft.

Its disgraceful

[Bowstring]

There are approximately 5,000 elk in the suffield block 45km west of Medicine Hat

[pdfish]

Originally Posted by Bowstring

There are approximately 5,000 elk in the suffield block 45km west of Medicine Hat

Actually, 8-9000 according to the person I talked to at F&W

[mightybuck]

8000 is more accurate but probably low too. They expect 13000 in the next three years. I like the idea of relocating some of the elk to other areas of the province for sure. But the Cull out of a helicopter costs F and W a lot less money .

[roper1]

Originally Posted by SteveY66

Tell that guy to rehearse before he shows himself on live tv. I think he needed more sleep at night.

As far as an elk cull????? GET LOST! I am tired of these farmers constantly complaining about damage when 70% of them do not grant hunting permission.

Can anyone vouch that this person allows hunting on his ranch?


Why not capture the elk and relocate them to zones that have lower elk population? Or where elk are non existent.

Everyone thinks of culls, culls. As hunters we spend all the money and always get the shaft.

Its disgraceful

Is that 70% of the land or 70% of the landowners ? Maybe it is in the way you ask? You meet any of them ahead of the year drawn? Every single rancher I
personally know with an elk problem allows hunting, especially cow tags. They will show you how to hunt the elk in their haystacks.

[mich]

Originally Posted by SteveY66

Tell that guy to rehearse before he shows himself on live tv. I think he needed more sleep at night.

As far as an elk cull????? GET LOST! I am tired of these farmers constantly complaining about damage when 70% of them do not grant hunting permission.

Can anyone vouch that this person allows hunting on his ranch?


Why not capture the elk and relocate them to zones that have lower elk population? Or where elk are non existent.

Everyone thinks of culls, culls. As hunters we spend all the money and always get the shaft.

Its disgraceful

With an attitude like that I wouldn't let you hunt on my property either.....

You really need to take a drive out there, the elk herds are huge, even running north of the river

[Bowstring]

Can the the elk be relocated if they are in a CWD area.who would take them?

[oldgutpile]

never had a single landowner refuse me access when I was drawn for bull around the base. Had some that limited acess to a couple of people per day, which just meant taking a number and booking a day with them.
They want the number of elk reduced!

[RDW]

I am leaving for the base tonight I was out there for four days already had no issues with finding places to hunt I found most wanted to help any way they can

[Flight01]

I phone isn't cooperating right now. Does someone know the number of tags issued for the areas of concern and the hunter harvest as well?

Thanks

[Flatlandliver]

Originally Posted by Flight01

I phone isn't cooperating right now. Does someone know the number of tags issued for the areas of concern and the hunter harvest as well?

Thanks

5 seasons

68 of 100 bulls taken
32 of 200 cows taken
Thats outside the base, not sure of the base cow numbers.

[madatter]

Bulls off the base are an easier tag.....because you actually see them off base.
Cows are rarely off base....tend to stick in big herds.....on base.
Access is great around block....it is not an issue.
Lack of animals coming off IS!
Isolated areas where elk come off regularly get hit good but elk keep coming across.....these places are booked sometimes a year in advance.
Without connections to line up a hunt and booking into good spots,coming down here and expecting to kill an elk is a shot in the dark....and likely a lot of driving and frustration.
Drive the 884 to Jenner in am and you are likely to see hundreds of elk....sometimes scratching their heads on base fence!
If they cross its in the dark.
Government is delusional in thinking hunting will even come close to turning the population.....until hunting on block is allowed more flexibility.

[slough shark]

Access was not an issue for me and my buddy, only was limited on one landowner as a portion of his land was more strictly managed (one at a time) and declined on one landowner when we went out in early September, we hunted hard and managed to get our cows within a couple days. Should be interesting to see what happens with that new late season as that is when the landowners seem to have issues. Also should be interesting if the hunt on the base is going to get some of those big herds thinking about moving off the base, pressure is going to be greater on the base than off. If F&W wants to get serious about reducing the herd they ought to talk to the Brits about chasing some of the elk off the base so more could actually be hunted or opening up the season on the base even more as in pretty well giving a cow tag to whoever applies. Perhaps even make it like the primitive weapons season in 212 where one can apply and buy a separate elk tag still. Whatever they can do to bring the hunter numbers up on the base and get them moving off the base so they can be hunted separately or the numbers reduced in the area is what is needed.

[slough shark]

Just read more about the suffied proposals on CBC, oddly enough the fellow that they were interviewing there about the number of elk and he was saying that hunting wasn't going to do enough was the fellow who declined me permission for hunting . He did allow some hunters so I can't say too much bad but still...

[ruttnbuckcojack]

Why dont the ship a couple thousand back to the Ya-ha and the clearwater were they belong

[dshaw]

Originally Posted by ruttnbuckcojack

Why dont the ship a couple thousand back to the Ya-ha and the clearwater were they belong

Who's going to fund that bill? Plus those elk have they will say have been exposed to CWD which is not in the YA-HA that they know of even though i'm sure is. So they don't want to ship them back there for fear of spreading the disease further into Alberta.

[lostguide1]

Originally, most of the Suffield elk come from Ya Ha Tinda. Now Ya Ha elk population is at a all time low compared to the past. Maybe our wildlife " management" groups could transplant some wolves from Ya Ha to control the over population in Suffield. http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/image...napoutofit.gif

[Flatlandliver]

Originally Posted by lostguide1

Originally, most of the Suffield elk come from Ya Ha Tinda. Now Ya Ha elk population is at a all time low compared to the past. Maybe our wildlife " management" groups could transplant some wolves from Ya Ha to control the over population in Suffield. http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/image...napoutofit.gif

The "Suffield" elk came from elk island.

[JoshT]

I read the news article earlier today, if they really are serious about dwindling populations. Then yes I agree they should attempt to relocate them and/or up the tags. I think I'll apply for one next year. At least that way we can show the government people wish to hunt these elk and try to prevent a cull.

[Thunder Elk Hunter]

Another great hunting opportunity fixed by our know it all government.

Maybe they should put the Bison that they want to put in the Ya-Ha in the British block and elk back in the Ya-Ha.

Just seem that every year the government is trying to cut down our Alberta residents hunting opportunities.

There should be a controlled hunt similar to the Camp Wainwright.
I'm sure there is hunters out there that could use the meat or needy families could use it.

No lets shoot them out of a helicopter and use them for target practice.

TEH

[dannypee]

Guys the helicopter hunting rumour is completley false I promise you the problem is basically lack of fore thought ,if a cull plan(management plan) had been put in place in the first place the base wouldn't be in this pickle ,but unfortunately it is good luck if you have tags this year guts.

[Flatlandliver]

Just read a interesting arcticle on elk island. They have been using transplanting as the way of controlling the herd size there but are now finding that they cant keep up to the herd growth there. Now they are looking into other ways, wonder what that means.

That would be quite the roundup at Suffield if they wanted to live trap 3 or 4 thousand elk. What could possibly go wrong?

Open up the protected area on the east side of the base to foot only hunting, it was set up to protect burrowing owls, rattlers and the grass and I am sure the elk arent doing them any favors.

[residentguide]

Originally Posted by Flatlandliver

Just read a interesting arcticle on elk island. They have been using transplanting as the way of controlling the herd size there but are now finding that they cant keep up to the herd growth there. Now they are looking into other ways, wonder what that means.

That would be quite the roundup at Suffield if they wanted to live trap 3 or 4 thousand elk. What could possibly go wrong?

Open up the protected area on the east side of the base to foot only hunting, it was set up to protect burrowing owls, rattlers and the grass and I am sure the elk arent doing them any favors.

that is basically a national park. Good luck. Also if they ever did allow foot access no one would haul an elk miles out of the sand hills. So again good luck with that. Not trying to be negitive but this whole topic is a joke just like SRD and all there screw ups in the last 20 years.

[walking buffalo]

Originally Posted by residentguide

that is basically a national park. Good luck. Also if they ever did allow foot access no one would haul an elk miles out of the sand hills. So again good luck with that. Not trying to be negitive but this whole topic is a joke just like SRD and all there screw ups in the last 20 years.

Justin

Once again the facts seem irrelevant in light of your incessant desire to badmouth ESRD.


ESRD is not responsible for wildlife management decisions on the Suffield military base.