Mule deer in WMU 400!?!?

lambski · #1 07-26-2018, 08:05 AM

A buddy of mine has been drawn for mule deer in wmu 400 and it's lookin like I'm going to be his wing man on the hunt and will be running the camera for the entirety of the hunt! I personally have never hunted terrain like we will be in and would greatly appreciate any info on this particular zone...is there some big deer kicken around as he is setting the bar at 180"...if anyone has spent time in the area would be able to part with some knowledge of what will be lookin at!

bobalong · #2 07-26-2018, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lambski

A buddy of mine has been drawn for mule deer in wmu 400 and it's lookin like I'm going to be his wing man on the hunt and will be running the camera for the entirety of the hunt! I personally have never hunted terrain like we will be in and would greatly appreciate any info on this particular zone...is there some big deer kicken around as he is setting the bar at 180"...if anyone has spent time in the area would be able to part with some knowledge of what will be lookin at!

"A buddy of mine"....LOL good luck with your mule deer hunt.

Scott N · #3 07-26-2018, 11:30 AM

remember to check the new status of the area too.. some areas that you could hunt a few years ago are closed now due to the reclassification of the park / wildland areas.

matt1984 · #4 07-26-2018, 12:20 PM

They've closed many of the roads to access much of the area. Horses would definitely help, or be prepared to put on a lot of miles on foot and do a back-pack style hunt. Watch out for the food trucks!

J.B. · #5 07-26-2018, 12:29 PM

There are big deer there, but few and far between, will take lots of time in the field to find a 180. I have the tag also this year, and have turned up some old bucks scouting, but no 180s yet lol.

Pasc43 · #6 07-26-2018, 01:20 PM

Does anyone know what roads are still open? Is Lost Creek road a go?

lambski · #7 07-26-2018, 04:09 PM

Ya a buddy of mine.

elkhunter1234 · #8 07-26-2018, 06:46 PM

It’s a “Mr Dressup” kinda zone for big mule bucks, look up, look wayyy wayyy up. Above the sheep is where you’ll find those big mountain mules...

Jim...

crawfy · #9 07-26-2018, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elkhunter1234

It’s a “Mr Dressup” kinda zone for big mule bucks, look up, look wayyy wayyy up. Above the sheep is where you’ll find those big mountain mules...

Jim...

Totally agree Jim have seen some real big ones up there the last few years. North lost as well as South lost but up high.

cdales · #10 07-26-2018, 08:53 PM

Yes you should be able to find a 180” out there. How much time do you have to hunt? Might get a break on your first weekend out or it could take a good 14-21 days of hunting to find one. Whatever the case setting a goal like that and achieving it would be awesome! Much more impressive than a 180” Prairie Buck.

artie · #11 07-27-2018, 08:22 AM

https://www.albertaparks.ca/media/64...r-brochure.pdf

you would need a discharge permit if in the park
sounds like you cannot take a highway vehicle up any trails. eg lost creek trail
was there last week and was told the fine is $250.00 for having a OHV on the Sortoris road. ( do not know if that is true) It is hard to access the Lost Creek trails from the three staging areas in the park. We came over from York Creek but the road is very bad from York creek into Lynx Creek. some people turned around as it was not worth the chance of rolling or damaging a machine. I would not go that way again. I think instead of fixing up some trails they want to shut them down.
Not happy with the whole situation the government has created. Lots of confusion in Castle Park and in the Livingston of what to do.

husky7mm · #12 07-27-2018, 08:24 PM

What is the name of the outfitter in the unit? Any packers in the area, did you guys consider a horsebback trip?

LCCFisherman · #13 07-28-2018, 12:35 AM

Get some horses or get in shape!

Weebo · #14 07-28-2018, 09:13 AM

Was moose hunting there last year, just as jim says, up up and away! Saw some big boys way above the timber lines but I bet it woulda been 3-4 hours to get to them, start getting in shape now! And no motorized help to get one out so your gonna have to pack it out on foot. Get in shape.Get in shape.Get in shape.

lannie · #15 07-30-2018, 07:05 AM

I think many areas of 400 have had the Mulies thinned out quite a bit with deep snow and lots of predators. If i was after a deer in 400 this fall I think i would be hunting the edges of 400 where they transition into the lower elevations.

ram crazy · #16 07-30-2018, 07:56 AM

Barnaby ridge is where I’d start looking southfork lakes.

LCCFisherman · #17 07-30-2018, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lannie

I think many areas of 400 have had the Mulies thinned out quite a bit with deep snow and lots of predators. If i was after a deer in 400 this fall I think i would be hunting the edges of 400 where they transition into the lower elevations.

I think with Waterton torched there should be some good quality deer in there. Depends on how hard 300/302 are hunted early on.

xrem597x1977 · #18 07-30-2018, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elkhunter1234

It’s a “Mr Dressup” kinda zone for big mule bucks, look up, look wayyy wayyy up. Above the sheep is where you’ll find those big mountain mules...

Jim...

lol...Sorry, but I do believe that you're referring to "the friendly Giant" not "Mr. Dress-up"

the friendly giant had rusty the giraffe. "look up, look waaay up, and i'll call rusty"

i just had to.

elkhunter1234 · #19 07-30-2018, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xrem597x1977

lol...Sorry, but I do believe that you're referring to "the friendly Giant" not "Mr. Dress-up"

the friendly giant had rusty the giraffe. "look up, look waaay up, and i'll call rusty"

i just had to.

Oh crap.. ya you’re correct, damn old age is showing its self again..
biggest mule I’ve ever seen on the huff was in the backend of Grizzy about 20 years ago. Easy 215” typ, and heavy as a tree.

Jim...

H380 · #20 07-30-2018, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J.B.

There are big deer there, but few and far between, will take lots of time in the field to find a 180. I have the tag also this year, and have turned up some old bucks scouting, but no 180s yet lol.

You know your stuff and if anyonr could find one it would be you .. good luck Johno ..

HoytCRX32 · #21 08-01-2018, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xrem597x1977

lol...Sorry, but I do believe that you're referring to "the friendly Giant" not "Mr. Dress-up"

the friendly giant had rusty the giraffe. "look up, look waaay up, and i'll call rusty"

i just had to.

Rusty was the Rooster...Gerome was the giraffe
Sorry...I just had to

dicknormal · #22 08-02-2018, 09:27 AM

Not as high the last two weeks of Nov, rut pulls them lower but a lot more cover. Find the pockets of does and the bucks will follow.

Pekan · #23 08-14-2018, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elkhunter1234

It’s a “Mr Dressup” kinda zone for big mule bucks, look up, look wayyy wayyy up. Above the sheep is where you’ll find those big mountain mules...

Jim...

Love those high country deer.....

landowner · #24 08-15-2018, 03:21 AM

These fires keep popping up , thick smoke, dry conditions, could mean this area gets shut down for hunting again this fall.

ram crazy · #25 08-15-2018, 06:08 AM

That's pretty much a given.

newdrenalin · #26 08-15-2018, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xrem597x1977

lol...Sorry, but I do believe that you're referring to "the friendly Giant" not "Mr. Dress-up"

the friendly giant had rusty the giraffe. "look up, look waaay up, and i'll call rusty"

i just had to.

I think you are referring to Rusty the rooster and Jerome the giraffe. Was a favourite of mine years ago LOL

SWS_01 · #27 08-17-2018, 02:31 PM

a many have said in this thread - look high. Saw lots of mule deer in there....but reality was only one decent buck....hidden in about a cluster of 5 trees on a shale slide at 6000ft

landowner · #28 08-18-2018, 02:31 AM

With all the smoke and multiple fires in the area , I’ll be amazed if this WMU isn’t shut down to access soon.

ram crazy · #29 08-18-2018, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by landowner

With all the smoke and multiple fires in the area , I’ll be amazed if this WMU isn’t shut down to access soon.

It isn’t hunting season yet. The general public has to enjoy it first then Shannon can close it just after the long weekend coming up. At least that’s what a CO told us last year when I asked why they waited so long just to close before hunting season! So I said. Me being a hunter I’m not part of the general public, they said that’s not what we meant. I said that’s exactly what you meant!

landowner · #30 08-18-2018, 07:59 AM

Except this year we are a month earlier in both dryness and active fires.