Backpack style mule deer hunt

[summit151]

Wondering if anyone has done a backpack style hunt in WMU 102 or a southern zone with little road access?

I hunted 102 9 years ago and did some short hikes in the area but nothing more then a few miles. I am wondering how the deer population is doing down there with the abundance of tags given out over the years. Also wondering how the trophy quality would be if a guy was able to hike far from the roads and camped back in there for a week during the archery season. Please send a message if you would like instead of posting

Thanks

[walking buffalo]

While it is a great idea in a romantic way....
In centuries past I often camped out there for a week or two throughout the year.

Camping restrictions make this really tough except on private lands.
You will be very limited on where you can legally random camp.

While roadless compared to most of Alberta, you still can't get that far away from a road.
Nothing that can't be walked to in a day.

Water? Steri straw cow ****?

Trophy quality is non-existent compared to the past regardless of where you go.
That bigger buck is just as likely to be in the sanctuary next to the ranchhouse than anywhere else.


I say go for it, with an understanding that you will need to base your travels on water and legal camping locations, not on where you desire to wander.

[3blade]

Myself and others have posted this exact same idea several times over the years, probably all after reading teddy Roosevelt

To date only one person has made anything close happen - the famous wagon hunt. I don’t remember who it was on here. Plenty of antelope hunters sleep in their trucks the night before opening day.

Reality is as WB said. It’s cut up by roads and you are tied to the truck for water anyway. You won’t get permission to camp unless you already have it. Hard to get permission to hunt regardless if it’s GL or not.

I decided not to pursue it, can’t get the right kind of experience here unfortunately.

[Dubious]

Do it in the porcupine might get your self an elk at the same time

[thumper]

If you're intent on pursuing that route, perhaps concentrate on area that do NOT have oil infrastructure. If there's well-heads, there'll have to be a spiderweb of roads connecting them. And where there's roads or trails, there'll be pick-ups - even in the most out-of-the-way areas.

The area south of the Cypress Hills still holds some areas remote from any road, trail, or well-head - and a good mule deer population. Getting permission to o/night camp will require a bit of door knocking - emails or phone calls aren't going to cut it.

[summit151]

Originally Posted by thumper

If you're intent on pursuing that route, perhaps concentrate on area that do NOT have oil infrastructure. If there's well-heads, there'll have to be a spiderweb of roads connecting them. And where there's roads or trails, there'll be pick-ups - even in the most out-of-the-way areas.

The area south of the Cypress Hills still holds some areas remote from any road, trail, or well-head - and a good mule deer population. Getting permission to o/night camp will require a bit of door knocking - emails or phone calls aren't going to cut it.

Definitely seems to be less oil and gas in 102 then some areas in Alberta and road infrastructure. I have hunted south of cypress in the past and land owner permission was a struggle

[summit151]

Originally Posted by thumper

If you're intent on pursuing that route, perhaps concentrate on area that do NOT have oil infrastructure. If there's well-heads, there'll have to be a spiderweb of roads connecting them. And where there's roads or trails, there'll be pick-ups - even in the most out-of-the-way areas.

The area south of the Cypress Hills still holds some areas remote from any road, trail, or well-head - and a good mule deer population. Getting permission to o/night camp will require a bit of door knocking - emails or phone calls aren't going to cut it.

Sorry I was referring to the zone north of cypress. Not south

[smith88]

119? You won't hike for 2 hours there without hitting a road much less two days. Maybe a float down the South Saskatchewan? You would have water at least.

[AB2506]

Originally Posted by summit151

Wondering if anyone has done a backpack style hunt in WMU 102 or a southern zone with little road access?

I hunted 102 9 years ago and did some short hikes in the area but nothing more then a few miles. I am wondering how the deer population is doing down there with the abundance of tags given out over the years. Also wondering how the trophy quality would be if a guy was able to hike far from the roads and camped back in there for a week during the archery season. Please send a message if you would like instead of posting

Thanks

We've hunted 102 a fair bit in the last 10 years. Have not seen a true "trophy" buck. Remember the abundance of tags given out and it is a CWD zone. CWD is harshest on mature bucks.

However, if you got into the canyon area, you might find a trophy, just because of poor access.

[Ackleyman]

Hunted 102 6 years ago and got lucky and was drawn this year also. The first trip we saw at least 80-100 Mulies everyday and some real good bucks. I was getting too picky and ate my tag.
This year it was very cold but the killer was very high winds...it was brutal. nothing moving even at dusk. Probably a bit nicer weather in Archery season.
You will find a good buck there but be prepared , very difficult to retrieve if you shoot one in a coulee , creek with winding oxbows or even on a steep sidehill and generally [with walk only] a long haul back to vehicle. Would strongly recommend getting a buddy to hunt with and help out.

[MooseRiverTrapper]

Do you see any elk in 102?

[Ackleyman]

No Elk this year but a buster of a bull moose first trip

[Rackmastr]

Used to love some of the long hikes in 118 back in the day. Have chased some great bucks back when that zone really carried a lot of them. Great zone to hike all day and not be close to a single road though for long stretches of time.

Have also hunted 102 a bunch but as pointed out, netiher are the 'trophy' zones that they once were.