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04-06-2015, 07:32 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Alberta
Posts: 273
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still Worth putting in for Bull elk around Suffield??
Hello Everyone
This is my first post on this site. Yahoo. I been hunting in alberta since i was just a wee lad and wanted to pose a question to the folks that are more familiar with the areas surrounding Suffield.
So as everyone is aware of the all of Bulls that were shot this past fall. And i dont want to bring that issue up again as i am sure it has been beaten up pretty hard already. I want to know if it is still work putting in for Bull elk surrounding the base. I have a pretty good Priority for Bull and do no want to waste it. My plan for the last couple of years has been to use it out in that area. But i am not sure now what affect the last Years Bull Harvests will have on the total populations.
Is there anyone who can provide some info on wether i should hold on to my priority or use it now before things get even worse? I could probably get drawn for my first choice and if not definitly my second choice. unless things change durastically! i am talking 2015 fall hunting season.
Thanks in advance to those who respond.
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BOBBYDEE
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04-06-2015, 07:49 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Calgary
Posts: 2,154
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There are still plenty of bulls around there. I think the key issue would be scouting in advance and getting permission from landholders.
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The trap I set for you seems to have caught my leg instead.
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04-06-2015, 07:50 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Bazeau County East side
Posts: 4,177
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8000 plus elk. maybe 500 bull elk shot. I would think there are more than a few around.
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04-06-2015, 08:24 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Sylvan Lake
Posts: 654
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Still plenty of bulls around. Scout hard and find animals that are off the beaten path. Permission has been easy in most areas. Good luck!
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04-06-2015, 08:26 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 401
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If rumors like the priority point cap and on base bull season are true. This is definitely the year to cash it in.
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04-06-2015, 09:08 AM
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Banned
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Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 370
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The rumor mill has certainly circulated doom and gloom but for the most part the giants still roam in very strong numbers here. As for permission, this will be the key to anyone's success and the land owners here are not nearly as open as in pervious years for permission...
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04-06-2015, 09:22 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Alberta
Posts: 273
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Well that is reassuring. I will definitly go out and do plenty of scouting and try to get as much permission as possible.
Thanks for the responses.
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BOBBYDEE
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04-06-2015, 09:35 AM
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Banned
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: rollyview
Posts: 7,860
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i'd say you have 3 or so years left of decent animals
unless we pull and "Alberta" this fall
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04-06-2015, 09:42 AM
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Banned
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Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 370
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fish_e_o
i'd say you have 3 or so years left of decent animals
unless we pull and "Alberta" this fall
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Not sure I understand what you are inferring here ? Where do you come up with this "3" year analysis of the area in question ?
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04-06-2015, 10:04 AM
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Banned
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: rollyview
Posts: 7,860
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Leafy
Not sure I understand what you are inferring here ? Where do you come up with this "3" year analysis of the area in question ?
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it's my personal guess
to go into more detail. the herd has been there for a long time but now there is big media attention, farmers crying out for help, base hunts, you name it.
so my prediction a hard winter combined with a disease (maybe one or the other) cuts the herd in half then "supplemental antlerless elk tags anyone? shoot 3 a year each!!" and we have a small herd, no media attention, no farmers employing hunters, and no work for the government.
Last edited by fish_e_o; 04-06-2015 at 10:15 AM.
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04-06-2015, 12:24 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 11,343
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fish_e_o
it's my personal guess
to go into more detail. the herd has been there for a long time but now there is big media attention, farmers crying out for help, base hunts, you name it.
so my prediction a hard winter combined with a disease (maybe one or the other) cuts the herd in half then "supplemental antlerless elk tags anyone? shoot 3 a year each!!" and we have a small herd, no media attention, no farmers employing hunters, and no work for the government.
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Fire is the danger, a big fire on the base will cause serious problems.
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“One of the sad signs of our times is that we have demonized those who produce, subsidized those who refuse to produce, and canonized those who complain.”
Thomas Sowell
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04-06-2015, 01:10 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,224
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dmcbride
8000 plus elk. maybe 500 bull elk shot. I would think there are more than a few around.
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Yup. Last years harvest was possibly just enough to keep the herd level from increasing this year. The 400 bulls killed last year equates to about 10% of the bull population. There will still be hundreds of old bulls in the herd this fall.
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Alberta Fish and Wildlife Outdoor Recreation Policy -
"to identify very rare, scarce or special forms of fish and wildlife outdoor recreation opportunities and to ensure that access to these opportunities continues to be available to all Albertans."
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04-06-2015, 01:24 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: rollyview
Posts: 7,860
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pikergolf
Fire is the danger, a big fire on the base will cause serious problems.
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that's not out of the question either with all the training going on a fire could easily happen they even have their own fire crews for that reason
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04-06-2015, 01:29 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 11,343
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fish_e_o
that's not out of the question either with all the training going on a fire could easily happen they even have their own fire crews for that reason
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Fires are a regular occurrence. We have been lucky is SE Ab. and have had good moisture. A really dry year and one bad wind storm could be disastrous.
Having said that, the base is on top of all that stuff, but still accidents happen and things can get out of hand quickly.
__________________
“One of the sad signs of our times is that we have demonized those who produce, subsidized those who refuse to produce, and canonized those who complain.”
Thomas Sowell
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04-06-2015, 04:20 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 370
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fish_e_o
it's my personal guess
to go into more detail. the herd has been there for a long time but now there is big media attention, farmers crying out for help, base hunts, you name it.
so my prediction a hard winter combined with a disease (maybe one or the other) cuts the herd in half then "supplemental antlerless elk tags anyone? shoot 3 a year each!!" and we have a small herd, no media attention, no farmers employing hunters, and no work for the government.
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As Walking Buffalo indicated there may have been 10% of the bull population removed by FN and if 3% of these were trophy I would be surprised. Disease is certainly a possibility as we live in a CWD zone here. Not to mention the only reported case of CWD in a moose was just east of CFB on a road kill on the 41.
Regarding the media attention and more pressure, well this has done the opposite where tracks of land are being closed due to the pressure and idiots flocking to this area.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pikergolf
Fires are a regular occurrence. We have been lucky is SE Ab. and have had good moisture. A really dry year and one bad wind storm could be disastrous.
Having said that, the base is on top of all that stuff, but still accidents happen and things can get out of hand quickly.
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You may want to rethink the conditions here, it is dry as heck man... Cypress county issued a fire ban in March as we only got half the moisture needed from the limited snow this winter. I and many are wishing for a wet spring to help as there is no moisture in the ground.
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04-06-2015, 04:25 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,158
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It could be a good hunt but the Indians are out killing Bulls a week before the season so getting permission and putting one to bed is not much of a plan now.
When are they letting the regular white guy on the base to cull a bull? That's the real question.
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04-06-2015, 04:27 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 11,343
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Leafy
As Walking Buffalo indicated there may have been 10% of the bull population removed by FN and if 3% of these were trophy I would be surprised. Disease is certainly a possibility as we live in a CWD zone here. Not to mention the only reported case of CWD in a moose was just east of CFB on a road kill on the 41.
Regarding the media attention and more pressure, well this has done the opposite where tracks of land are being closed due to the pressure and idiots flocking to this area.
You may want to rethink the conditions here, it is dry as heck man... Cypress county issued a fire ban in March as we only got half the moisture needed from the limited snow this winter. I and many are wishing for a wet spring to help as there is no moisture in the ground.
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I was talking generally and for the last few years, although last year was starting to get dry. Yes this winter was fairly dry and this spring has not helped....yet, hopefully we get a good spring.
__________________
“One of the sad signs of our times is that we have demonized those who produce, subsidized those who refuse to produce, and canonized those who complain.”
Thomas Sowell
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04-06-2015, 04:28 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 370
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Deer Hunter
It could be a good hunt but the Indians are out killing Bulls a week before the season so getting permission and putting one to bed is not much of a plan now.
When are they letting the regular white guy on the base to cull a bull? That's the real question.
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^^^ Incorrect on so many levels it is tough to even respond....
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04-06-2015, 04:36 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: rollyview
Posts: 7,860
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Leafy
As Walking Buffalo indicated there may have been 10% of the bull population removed by FN and if 3% of these were trophy I would be surprised. Disease is certainly a possibility as we live in a CWD zone here. Not to mention the only reported case of CWD in a moose was just east of CFB on a road kill on the 41.
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i don't think it's fair what happened but i don't think the fn will responsible for the downfall of "easy" trophy animals in that herd, not a chance, it'll take more than that. i believe we'll all do that together combined with a die off from natural events.
i'm also going to put odds at
1/200 odds on cwd
1/20 odds on ticks/parasites
1/4 bacteria
fell free to add and we can take bets!
$5 on ticks/parasites just because they freak me out
but just based on past examples that's how i think it'll go.
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04-06-2015, 07:54 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Look behind you :)
Posts: 27,779
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Now the guys who get drawn and don't kill a 400 inch bull will have an excuse as to why they didn't get one....it will have nothing to do with poor planning, not doing their homework or not securing permission
LC
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04-06-2015, 11:54 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: AB
Posts: 1,325
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lefty-Canuck
Now the guys who get drawn and don't kill a 400 inch bull will have an excuse as to why they didn't get one....it will have nothing to do with poor planning, not doing their homework or not securing permission
LC
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Nope it will be cause its on the base.
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04-07-2015, 08:05 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 401
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fish_e_o
i don't think it's fair what happened but i don't think the fn will responsible for the downfall of "easy" trophy animals in that herd, not a chance, it'll take more than that. i believe we'll all do that together combined with a die off from natural events.
i'm also going to put odds at
1/200 odds on cwd
1/20 odds on ticks/parasites
1/4 bacteria
fell free to add and we can take bets!
$5 on ticks/parasites just because they freak me out
but just based on past examples that's how i think it'll go.
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1/5 due to army related activities, whether accidental(fire, herd running across some lost explosives etc) or on purpose
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