Elk in 246 - pigeon area.

[Skoaltender]

Moved to leduc last year and managed to get a WT buck in 246 on the east side of pigeon.

New to the area, curious if I’d be wasting my time going after elk in the area.
Are the numbers fairly good? I have a fair bit of permission in the area and some of the locals complain about elk but I have yet to see any. I plan on putting out lots of cameras and doing my fair share of scouting this summer.

If any of you have any experience in that particular area and are willing to share some knowledge I’m all ears!

[calgarychef]

I’d skip the cameras and use binos. Elk are where you find them, they change places all year long.

[Red Bullets]

10 to 25 years ago there was a herd of 20 or so elk running around Wizard Lake. I watched them and encountered them and even looked for their drops. They had a range of several different stands of bush. They could be in bush from 40 acres to full quarters of bush. Between Wizard and Pigeon has enough bush for them to confuse you for a few seasons. There have been elk east of the lakes close to Millet too. You may see them driving by but not where you can hunt. Even got one lone trail cam pic of a young cow elk near the river in 246 a couple years ago. Never saw her again. Pretty ghostly in this WMU unless you have a old growth bush property around the lakes to hunt. Pigeon, Wizard, Watelet and Long lake areas all have potential.

You'd be better off hunting 224 or 332 and it would still be challenging to find them where you want them. 334 has a few elk too but they are somewhat elusive there too.

[Hooter]

My dad shot a bull elk south of pigeon lake a few years ago as a complete fluke , but as Red Bullets said they’re VERY elusive and they would be very difficult to target. They’re there, but from what I’ve heard they move around a lot and it would be difficult to know where they are at any particular time. Good luck on your endeavour.

[Skoaltender]

Thanks for the info, I’ll be in contact with one of the land owners shortly. He runs a big cattle farm and is always complaining about the damn elk mowing down his fences/ eating his cattle feed.

[prodogg02]

There is an elk farm south of leduc, this winter i seen 5 bulls outside the south end of the fence seen i there aswell about 5 years ago

[Red Bullets]

Places to sort of look around would be near elk farms too. The wild bulls sometimes hang around the high fences to try to get at the farmed cow elk during rut.

Sounds like the landowner you know might be instrumental in a a successful hunt.