2007 Hunting Draws Summary

[getasheep]

Here it is:

http://www.srd.alberta.ca/fishwildli...wssummary.aspx

Thanks for the link.....been waiting for it.

A few surprises for sure...the biggest being only three tags for the late-season 408 sheep.....no wonder I didn't draw.....152 priority 4s left....only 50 years to wait.

[Cordur]

Well at least it's only an average of 200 years for a goat draw. I think a goat draw for 400-404 should be opened up though. I took more pictures of goats in that area this year than I saw any other animal. Seriously. I'm surprised so many people put in for Elk in the Ya-Ha-Tinda area. Seems like you'd be wasting your time to me. Maybe just people who work in the area and know where the herd is sitting.

Oh well, just going to have to put more time in with my bow and screw paying and waiting 9 years for a chance to harvest a moose.

[Chet]

Originally Posted by sheephunter

Thanks for the link.....been waiting for it.

A few surprises for sure...the biggest being only three tags for the late-season 408 sheep.....no wonder I didn't draw.....152 priority 4s left....only 50 years to wait.

Ouch - 3 tags. Hopefully some of those priority 4's throw in the towel.... I know I won't be.

[honda450]

2013 at the earlyist for me. Might have to trade in the quad for a wheel chair.

[Huntnut]

I think that for some of those areas like the Peace region espicially will have a big drop in tags due to last winters large winter kill.

[dennisb]

Is it me or is the Archery Antelpoe & Trophy Antelope %'s seem to be out of Wack. I know Antelope Quota's can vary greatly from year, it all depends on how the Helicopter flys that day.

Originally Posted by dennisb

Is it me or is the Archery Antelpoe & Trophy Antelope %'s seem to be out of Wack. I know Antelope Quota's can vary greatly from year, it all depends on how the Helicopter flys that day.

Out of whack how?

When setting the numbers, I think they factor the number of applicants and the harvest success to come up with that number.

[Bull Shooter]

Just checked the Hunting Draws Summary and compared it to my current draw priorities... yikes! Unless there are a whole bunch of “999’s” that come out of the woodwork I’m set to be drawn for just about everything next year.

- Non-trophy sheep
- Bull Moose
- Camp Wainwright Deer
- Antlerless Elk
- Antlered Mule Deer
- Trophy Antelope (very likely)
- Archery Antelope

I guess I will have to sit down and figure out the ones that I want and defer a few until 2009 and/or 2010. I’m really looking forward to cutting my teeth with the sheep hunting, but need to get into much better physical condition.

It looks like the Missus is going to be getting diamonds for Christmas this year... I’m going to have to build up a lot of brownie points! Regards, Mike

[honda450]

Holy smokes there bull looks like you got a little hunting to do next year. Yeah hear you on conditioning for the sheep I would be the same.

My list is definitely a bit shorter bull shooter but I did draw quite a few this year. You're going to have to choose between archery and trophy antelope though as you can only draw one. Good thing is that you can apply for both and if you don't draw the trophy tag, you can still draw the archery one. I've got a chance at archery antelope next year. After what I saw out there this fall, I can't wait.

[ram crazy]

Hey bull shooter,If you have a priority 10 for non trophy sheep you drive right to the sheep in 402. A friend of mine got drawn this year and we were done in a day. Drove the quad right to the sheep. Left the truck at noon and back by 5:00. As for me I should get antelope, mule deer, moose and maybe my bull elk, but not holding my breath on the elk.

[honda450]

I thought I was the only one who knew those secret spots in 402

[Bull Shooter]

LOL @ Ram Crazy!!! For the past 9 years I have been waiting anxiously to get drawn for non-trophy sheep as a way to kick-start my way back to a more healthy life style and you're telling me I can drive my quad to the sheep? Good Lord man... are you trying to kill me?

To me, sheep hunting is the epitome of hunting. If I am going to do it, I want to do it right and prepare myself for some rigorous physical exertion. If I get lucky and take an animal by the "parking lot"... well then I guess it was just meant to be.

Many thanks for the 402 "heads up". Definitely good to know for "Plan B" if my motivation and ambition come up short. Regards, Mike

[ram crazy]

Bull shooter, your not by no parking lot. We even see four rams in there. Two which were about an inch short. Seen lots of rams this year I even got a poke at about a 175 ram.

[LongDraw]

Originally Posted by sheephunter

A few surprises for sure...the biggest being only three tags for the late-season 408 sheep.....no wonder I didn't draw.....152 priority 4s left....only 50 years to wait.

The 408 draw was concieved because when the Spray Park gobbled up most of the 408 sheep habitat there were no rams killed the year after this. I believe it has been 6 years now since the Park was introduced, and every year there are more rams killed in the general season, and this is meeting management goals. This is why tags have been reduced.

[Bull Shooter]

Ram, that's beautiful country back in 402 and, of course, I was just kidding about the "parking lot". A few of the regulars I hunt with are pretty avid sheep hunters and ironically have never shot a sheep. They absolutely love the challenge of the hunt and conditioning. I don't think they would be too pleased if I was able to "seal the deal" in my current physical condition or my first time out. Personally, I'm more interested in the meat, as I hear that sheep is among the best (if not the best) game for the table.

I worry that my respect for serious sheep hunters would be greatly diminished if I was able to put my tag on one of these fine animals . Cheers, Mike

Wow, Alberta is a mulie hunters dream right now!! Guys getting buck tags in some great zones on 0 and 1 priority, wow! Where i hunt tags were reduced but it looks like a lot of guys got drawn a year earlier than i thought possible two or three seasons ago. It explains all the nice 4X4's still walking around December 1st. Too much walking for most i guess, i can't wait till next November.

Originally Posted by LongDraw

The 408 draw was concieved because when the Spray Park gobbled up most of the 408 sheep habitat there were no rams killed the year after this. I believe it has been 6 years now since the Park was introduced, and every year there are more rams killed in the general season, and this is meeting management goals. This is why tags have been reduced.

Think you are right Long Draw plus the success rate was really high in 2006 with the bow hunters....higher than ever before and the sheep counts were down slightly in 2007 so I guess it all adds up to less tags but damn...it doesn't make me very hopeful of drawing a tag any time soon.

I was shocked when I heard how long it took to draw a ewe tag in 402...man, I like eating them way too much to wait that long. Thankfully there are lots of WMUs that require no priority or only a year or two.

[Faststeel]

Geez I saw some great bucks in this zone that are going to die from old age with the number of tags available. FS

[LongDraw]

Originally Posted by sheephunter

Think you are right Long Draw plus the success rate was really high in 2006 with the bow hunters....higher than ever before and the sheep counts were down slightly in 2007 so I guess it all adds up to less tags but damn...it doesn't make me very hopeful of drawing a tag any time soon.

I hear 'ya on this. I am now commited with this draw as well, although I have 3 points for 410 as well. I plan to stick with the 408 draw and hopefully I get lucky. I just hope they keep this draw, as it seems the summer sheep range is slowly changing in 408- expanding into areas that traditionally only held rams later in October and November. Seems more rams are being killed in 408 over the past few years.

Sheep;
Do you know how many Rams were killed this year in the 408 general season? What about the draw?

I've only seen a photo of one ram from the late 408 season but not sure how the other two did and no, I'm not sure of the number of rams taken in 408 in the general season but I personally know of 6 and I'm sure there were more. Considering there wasn't a single ram taken in 408 in 2002, things have changed. I think it's partially because there are more legal rams now but there may be other factors. It will be interesting to see what the spring counts show.

[LongDraw]

Wow, 6 rams and probably more. I hope they still throw us a bone and keep a few late season tags for the archers. I know one thing that will screw the 408 late season draw up is if young age class rams are taken. I was at the meetings when John Jorgensen first discussed this draw, and the whole purpose was to kill a few older rams on the winter range because none were being killed in the general season, things sure have changed.

The photo you saw of the 408 late season ram, was it an older sheep?

Yes it looked like an older ram...reportedly scores 180ish. Interestingly, none of the rams that I know that were taken in the general season came out of the area that's open in November so it is quite possible that the November season is targeting just those park rams.

Actually, the average age of rams seemed up this year and all of the ones I know of were over 7. I think we are finally getting over those tough winters of 1996-97 and we are finally getting some mature rams. I know I saw more this year than I have for a lot of years.

pm sent longdraw!

[dennisb]

I was told yesterday when at my taxidermist's that there was 15 rams taken in total in K-Country & 5 between WMU 400&402.....Not sure where he got his info, however he is a sheep nut himself.

So that would be 404-408 dennis? I know of 10 for sure, so not hard to believe. It was a good year for rams. We left one legal one on the mountain the last day so hopefully he gets a couple more years under his belt. It was a weird year. The rams weren't where they were supposed to be but once we started hunting where they weren't supposed to be, we found sheep....go figure....lol

[LongDraw]

Since we are on the topic of rams- Any reports from 410 this season? In the late 90's it kinda went downhill, but seems to be producing more rams the past few years.

I remember hunting 410 on a general tag in November, seeing LOTS of legal rams every day, Its only been 5 weeks and I am going through sheep withdrawl.....

[dennisb]

Its always a weird year for me. We saw tonnes of sheep, just never a legal one. oh well, you can't beat the excercise and the scenery