Elk in saddle hills

[Labradorhunter90]

Does anyone know how the elk are doing in the saddle hills area

[JohnB]

[IR_mike]

They moved east to the Eaglesham area as the New hutterite colony is doing there best to make it into prairie habitat.

Elk like grasslands.

[West O'5]

Thousands of em...more elk then cattle....I seen a couple hundred right beside hiway 43 around Wembley/Beaverlodge.

[finner-duramax]

They all winter killed, better off going to Edson

[mightybuck]

Never seen an elk in the saddle hills .....LOL

[gloszz]

Originally Posted by finner-duramax

They all winter killed, better off going to Edson

Nah, there are none left in Edson. I think the wolves all got them. Only wolves, deerts and moose on my cameras. Better off going to hunt the army bases or porcupine hills. Near elk island park is good as well if you get permission. Oh, and Athabasca, lots of elk feeding by the road, and Canmore.

[honda610]

Lots in saddle hills make sure you bring your .223 win for the long shots and your .338 lapua for the real close work. Load up on pool noodles for your black dodge dually and only pee in front of trail cameras while stealing tree stands. Enjoy

[NayNay]

Ah, must be getting close to hunting season with a saddle hills elk thread starting up

[Buckhorn2]

I got a semi serious question about edson or saddle hills elk. Or other popular areas. I always hear the stories road hunters etc. Is there room in these areas to get off the road and hunt. Ive gone to some places around calgary that is a boat load of trucks driving. But the minute im 2-300 yards into the bush im usually alone. Is it not like this in those other areas. I know edson has so big country cant be super crowded on foot?

[3blade]

Originally Posted by Buckhorn2

I got a semi serious question about edson or saddle hills elk. Or other popular areas. I always hear the stories road hunters etc. Is there room in these areas to get off the road and hunt. Ive gone to some places around calgary that is a boat load of trucks driving. But the minute im 2-300 yards into the bush im usually alone. Is it not like this in those other areas. I know edson has so big country cant be super crowded on foot?

You’d think, but the elk aren’t spread out evenly. Edson for example, they are mostly located on private property, that you won’t get permission for unless you happen to show up after a landowner has hit one and wrecked a truck. The singles or small groups that live in pockets of suitable crown habitat are pursued every single day of the year by unregulated hunters and wolves, 5 times as much in the fall.

Everyone reads the US hunting mags and thinks “man if I learn to shoot a bow and hike, I could have it all to myself” ....well, no. We don’t have as many elk, and people have been taking that approach for a long time.

[skidderman]

You might find elk but better luck finding another hunter around every corner.

[Grizzly Adams]

Originally Posted by NayNay

Ah, must be getting close to hunting season with a saddle hills elk thread starting up

Isn't that one of those places that turns into a zoo come hunting season ?

Grizz

[Bulldog Edm]

Aren't over 40% of the elk harvested in alberta from the GP/Saddle Hills area?

[Steyr Luxus]

What I can say is that there are several areas posted with locked gates with no no trespassing with motorized vehicles of any type. The Elk are there but you have to work for them they are not a gimme by no means. The areas with these locked gates are due to area being identified as wildlife habitat enhancement plan.

[Big Grey Wolf]

Yes, more than 50% of elk shot in Alberta are now from Grand Prairie and Peace River Country including Saddle Hills. However lots of company from fellow hunters to get your elk out of the bush.

[mac1983]

Last night I seen a cow and calf elk then 5 minutes later a black bear sow with 3 cubs running hot on her trail.

[beaver hunter]

Never mind road hunters, I saw the funniest thing ever last November. two large grain bags in farmer's field, guy sitting in truck with sxs on the sled deck, parked about 30yds from grain bags. To top it all off, he had a doe decoy set up near the grain bag. He sat in that truck all weekend, this whole scenario blew my mind...

[DJS]

Sorry for my lack of knowledge...but which WMU are the saddle hills located in? I always assumed it was down south but after reading this thread it would seem I was way off.

[obsessed1]

Originally Posted by DJS

Sorry for my lack of knowledge...but which WMU are the saddle hills located in? I always assumed it was down south but after reading this thread it would seem I was way off.

357,358 for the most part is where all the fun is .the saddle hills run east west about 1/2 north of GP from the smokey river to the bc border

[Norwest Alta]

In all truthfulness the elk are where you find them. If 50% of the elk are shot in the saddle hills it’s possible that there’s 50% more hunters there.

[Big Grey Wolf]

Northwest, it is not 50% in Saddle hills it includes Sturgeon lake, Hines Creek, High Prairie, Manning areas etc in the total Peace Country count. When I grew up their we had no elk, you guys have been feeding them well in your canola and alfalfa fields.

[Norwest Alta]

Originally Posted by Big Grey Wolf

Northwest, it is not 50% in Saddle hills it includes Sturgeon lake, Hines Creek, High Prairie, Manning areas etc in the total Peace Country count. When I grew up their we had no elk, you guys have been feeding them well in your canola and alfalfa fields.

I know what you mean and i guess i should of said the areas around and including the saddle hills. Personally ido t hunt in the saddle hills but have worked up there a fair bit. In all truthfulness ive seen more elk away from the hills then in the hills. Other then right locally ive seen lots of elk down south of gp towards the canfor and ftr intersection.

My great uncle who homesteaded in my area said the same thing about the elk.

[obsessed1]

There are far less elk in the saddle hills than guys want to believe. Don't get me wrong they are there and if a guy works at you can fill your tag, but they are harder to find than many think

[marlin1]

saw 20 head or so at bragg creek turn off from hwy1 Sunday all cows go get em lol

[Mountain Guy]

Originally Posted by Big Grey Wolf

Yes, more than 50% of elk shot in Alberta are now from Grand Prairie and Peace River Country including Saddle Hills. However lots of company from fellow hunters to get your elk out of the bush.

Where's the other 50% from?
Maybe I'll go there..

[1bowhunter12]

^^^ I’ll see you there

[Norwest Alta]

Originally Posted by Mountain Guy

Where's the other 50% from?
Maybe I'll go there..

Vegerville. Nice short drive from the big smoke

[Big Grey Wolf]

Mountain Guy, the other 50% are in the 400 and 300 wmu's.

[Bigwoodsman]

From what I've read on the internet, it's the easiest Elk Hunt you will find on the planet!

BW