Wainwright 2019

[Caza]

We hunted had for three days but came home without a cow moose 😞
We got reports of lots of other people seeing them but the only ones we saw were running! Saw lots of deer and a few bulls, one of them huge. Beautiful weather and good hunting partner. So is hunting.

[Andrew_Arsenault]

The primitive season can be tough. The first time I went was with an antlered moose tag and I came home empty handed.

[marky_mark]

The moose were there. They definitely didnt stick around for long in the mornings. Lots of places for them to hide out there

[Raptor]

Originally Posted by Caza

We hunted had for three days but came home without a cow moose 😞
We got reports of lots of other people seeing them but the only ones we saw were running! Saw lots of deer and a few bulls, one of them huge. Beautiful weather and good hunting partner. So is hunting.

Going to be there tomorrow for deer. If you still have your cow tag and are there let me know, and maybe we can help you fill the tag.

[4x4bowhunter]

I hunted hard for the first 2 days. Put on lots of miles on the boots and had chances both days. The last morning I got lucky and walked in about 1km in the Annex (off blue route) and found a yearling bull with a cow in a clearing. The cow spooked right away but the bull hung around just long enough for a shot. I couldn't tell if I hit him or not with the smoke but waited 1/2 hour before walking up to look for blood. There was non (instant disappointment). I followed his tracks for 40 more yards over a small hill and there he was dead. Not a single drop of blood, not even where he fell. Inside was a different story. Not much left of his heart. I thought the hunt was awesome. The military and F&W do an awesome job and most hunters were super awesome with sharing info on where the animals were. Good luck to everyone in the next 2 weeks.

[marky_mark]

Originally Posted by 4x4bowhunter

I hunted hard for the first 2 days. Put on lots of miles on the boots and had chances both days. The last morning I got lucky and walked in about 1km in the Annex (off blue route) and found a yearling bull with a cow in a clearing. The cow spooked right away but the bull hung around just long enough for a shot. I couldn't tell if I hit him or not with the smoke but waited 1/2 hour before walking up to look for blood. There was non (instant disappointment). I followed his tracks for 40 more yards over a small hill and there he was dead. Not a single drop of blood, not even where he fell. Inside was a different story. Not much left of his heart. I thought the hunt was awesome. The military and F&W do an awesome job and most hunters were super awesome with sharing info on where the animals were. Good luck to everyone in the next 2 weeks.

Was there 2 of you hunting together?

[4x4bowhunter]

Originally Posted by marky_mark

Was there 2 of you hunting together?

My son was with me but just a a helper. Glad he was there for the pack out to the truck, lol. He moved to Victoria a few years ago and he flew back for the week to help. Was so awesome to hunt with him again. From shot to quartering and deboning in the field to the truck 1/1/2 hours. It's amazing how much faster it goes with an extra set of strong hands and back.

[Rackmastr]

We got lucky and Dad shot a bull at noon on the first day. Passed up a couple smaller bulls in the morning and chased around a 40" bull with double droptines for a bit. Could have hunted a lot longer and held out for a big bull, but having a nice sized bull right near a trail we could back the truck into was a nice treat!

Had a good time connecting with friends and seeing some country. Saw a really nice mulie buck as well. On the drive home on the Friday morning we saw another 2 bulls off the highway.

[marky_mark]

Originally Posted by 4x4bowhunter

My son was with me but just a a helper. Glad he was there for the pack out to the truck, lol. He moved to Victoria a few years ago and he flew back for the week to help. Was so awesome to hunt with him again. From shot to quartering and deboning in the field to the truck 1/1/2 hours. It's amazing how much faster it goes with an extra set of strong hands and back.

Was that you we met on the line?

[Caza]

Thanks but the tag was only for three days.
Cheers

[Caza]

Originally Posted by Raptor

Going to be there tomorrow for deer. If you still have your cow tag and are there let me know, and maybe we can help you fill the tag.

Thanks but only a 3 day season unfortunately
Cheers

[NayNay]

We hunted the annex all three days, both me and my friend had deer tags. Got real tired of seeing elk and big bull moose but no big deer haha.

At last light on day two my friend shot at a 150-160 class wt. He hit him and we took up the blood trail after about 5mins. Bumped him out of his bed after ~200 yards. By this point it was already 5:20 ish and we called the check station to let them know we would be last. It started snowing and we decided to give it another go before blood got covered up. Tracked him until 6:45 and we could tell the check station was getting impatient. Flagged last blood and headed back in. Tracked and grid searched the area all day on day three, only found one other bed. Anyone hunting south of the FOB annex keep an eye open for birds please, never know.

I ended up shooting a little mule deer buck while looking for my friends deer.

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[GrandSlam]

I'll be there for the 12-14 deer hunt. Hoping to tag out

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[CBintheNorth]

Not much on the board after day 1.
Saw one decent muley at the check in, a 110" whitetail, a small bull moose, and some very small muley bucks and does. Not many at that. Very slow. We only saw 7 deer ourselves. Saw 1 bull elk get taken, but lots of elk sign. Put on 7 kms walking and way, way more driving.
I'm pretty sure everyone showed up for this one. A lot of guys. A LOT.
At the briefing they mentioned possibly adjusting the number of hunters per hunt in future years. Might be a good thought...
Pretty disappointing so far.

[2 Tollers]

CB if you get a chance read the information board on CWD. There is a statement on using hunters to control the spread of CWD thru increased harvest. The base is a good test area - increase the number of hunters, have the numbers of deer taken increase which in turn reduces density and see what the impact is for % on CWD presence over time. From my walking on the north end of that one area in the Annex there was very little in the way of deer sign. IMO while there are still good deer being taken there are more small deer coming in

[CBintheNorth]

I read it. Mission accomplished.

After rifle day1
28 deer, 6 moose, 6 elk..

[R3illy]

Originally Posted by CBintheNorth

I read it. Mission accomplished.

After rifle day1
28 deer, 6 moose, 6 elk..

6 elk in one day? That's a record. Didnt they say last year was 10 or 12 total?

[GrandSlam]

Any idea on how many hunters there on day 1?

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[CBintheNorth]

Originally Posted by GrandSlam

Any idea on how many hunters there on day 1?

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Going to estimate over 200.
Someone said 240, but I don't think it's that high.

[R3illy]

Originally Posted by CBintheNorth

Going to estimate over 200.
Someone said 240, but I don't think it's that high.

More people then chairs. They had to herd everyone into the area just so they could get the orientation. 200 easily max 240.

[Warrior]

Keep in mind that "most" people would have at least one helper. So not 200 hunters I wouldn't think.

Assuming everyone showed up for there drawn tags that would be 257 Hunters, not including helpers.
Deer - 150
Elk - 45
Cow moose - 42
Bull moose 20

[Warrior]

Keep in mind that "most" people would have at least one helper. So not 200 hunters I wouldn't think.

Assuming everyone showed up for there drawn tags that would be 257 Hunters, not including helpers.
Deer - 150
Elk - 45
Cow moose - 42
Bull moose 20

[bonedogg]

don't forget the indigenous and metis hunters gents....... there was 13 registered on the primitive weapons hunt, I'm going to bet there was more for first rifle......

[GrandSlam]

Is there a break down on how many drawn for each rifle hunt day?

[JonC]

Hunt numbers anyone?

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[reddeerhunter]

The bulls move onto the farms in the winter. Half mile from food bunks.

Has always been that way that I remember.
They need to get pushed into the base to be there at -30.

My observations anyhoo.


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[Ronji]

Just came back from our 3 day hunt. Not the best hunt I ever had on the base. I did not see the final numbers for this hunt, but I'm certain they are down.
We had a great hunt and were successful. But I do have to question the survey numbers that were taken back in February as I think they were high side. In conversations with other hunters, many were saying they seen nothing.

[JonC]

I'll be chasing bull moose dec 9-14. This is my first moose tag. If anyone wants to exchange numbers, DM me. We can help each other out.

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[Torkdiesel]

A friend had the second rifle hunt for deer so I went down with him to check it out.
The base is a cool place, and it was interesting to see how everything works for this hunt. There’s a decent number of deer there, and as a bonus tag and extra opportunity to hunt I’d give it a thumbs up.
As a place where you think you’re going to find a quality mule deer or whitetail buck, I’d say you’re wasting your time. Including the 150 hunters while we were there, and the 300 before us I didn’t see a deer, or picture of one that I would shoot.
Now I guess there could of been one I didn’t see, but from the pictures posted and the ones the guy from the base showed me there wasn’t.
We did see one 120” mule deer buck and found a 150” Whitetail, other then that it was just does (20 per day kind of thing)

If we end up doing this hunt again I would likely take a later hunt with a lower priority required so you could go as a group of 4-5 hunters. Pushing bush might produce a bigger more mature deer that’s hunkered down from the masses of truck traffic. There is a ton of places for deer to hide in those swamp bottoms and no way to still hunt through quietly because it’s so thick.

That or take the first muzzleloader hunt and hope for a big buck on day one that isn’t fleeing for its life.

On a cool note I did see a legitimate B&C porcupine. When I first saw it I thought it was a small colour phase bear out of its den. Thing must have been 70 pounds !

[Torkdiesel]

Also for pure comic relief watching the guys sprint out of the morning briefing was a riot. Literally at a full on run to their trucks.

Priceless!!!!