WMU 349 - white tail and Bear

[NoobHunter]

Good Afternoon Folks,

First year/ time hunter, going out with a regular guy to Whitecourt / area this weekend (24th - 27th).

Wondering a few things -
first - from talking to a few of my colleagues who go out hunting i've been advised that a 30-06 220Grain is not good enough for Bear... is that true? if yes what rifle/caliber ya'lls suggest.

Second - how are the deer doing around WMU349 (?any update would be nice). My friend/guide seems very pessimistic about the area. I live in Edmonton - he lives in Sangudo .. Any thoughts and suggestions ?

in advance - thanks for taking the time and reading this mess of a post, and thank you for your reply.

Thanks,

[Thinlizzy]

There hopefully pulling your leg about a 30 06 shooting 220 grains isn't enough for bear.

[huntinalberta]

A 30-06 is more then enouf for bear. With good placement pretty much any high powerd rifle will take a bear down.

[leeaspell]

almost hit a couple does the other day by the casino lol

[greywolf]

Originally Posted by huntinalberta

A 30-06 is more then enouf for bear. With good placement pretty much any high powerd rifle will take a bear down.

X2 ^^^^

A 30-06 is enough caliber to successfully harvest any hunting animal in Alberta, except it may be abit light for a Buffalo. (With a Buffalo you shoot it twice ).
A 220 grain bullet is a bit heavy for a 30-06 unless your shooting at the closer ranges.
A 165 or a 180 grain bullet is perfect all around weight for a 30-06.

IMO.

[kory1]

Went hunting there last week to fill my mulie buck draw tag I got seen 1 mulie doe in 2 days no WT lots of grouse tho started by casino did every road and some in virginia hills no luck at all

[cfnewfie]

I was in 346 this weekend past and got a whitey doe, saw 4 more 3 of which were buck but missed opportunity as they were on the run, I'll be there again this weekend on groat creek road feel free to pm me and I may just share one of the honey hole locations lol

[1Heavyhitr]

Originally Posted by NoobHunter

Good Afternoon Folks,

First year/ time hunter, going out with a regular guy to Whitecourt / area this weekend (24th - 27th).

Wondering a few things -
first - from talking to a few of my colleagues who go out hunting i've been advised that a 30-06 220Grain is not good enough for Bear... is that true? if yes what rifle/caliber ya'lls suggest.

Second - how are the deer doing around WMU349 (?any update would be nice). My friend/guide seems very pessimistic about the area. I live in Edmonton - he lives in Sangudo .. Any thoughts and suggestions ?

in advance - thanks for taking the time and reading this mess of a post, and thank you for your reply.

Thanks,

Get a new guide lol. lots of good deer in 349/350. 220 gr in 30-06 (considered min for griz) works. period.

[NoobHunter]

Originally Posted by 1Heavyhitr

Get a new guide lol. lots of good deer in 349/350. 220 gr in 30-06 (considered min for griz) works. period.

He is a very nice farm boy that lives in the area.. We'll see what happens I guess..

I also wanted to express my surprise at how many responses I got to my post - this seems to be truly a good community and Once I figure out how to have multiple people in a reply i will thank every single one of you for your time..

for now please take this general thank you as show of my appreciation ..

[airbornedeerhunter]

30.06 is more than enough. Let me put it to you this way- I have a .303 that has dropped more bull moose in the last 60 years using 180.gr bullets than I care to count.

You're fine with a 30.06!

[Alberta Bigbore]

There was a bear living behind the gas station at Sangudo last year. 30-06 is more than enough. Its a " just right" cartridge and will serve you well in Alberta.

[Flatlandliver]

Originally Posted by Alberta Bigbore

There was a bear living behind the gas station at Sangudo last year. 30-06 is more than enough. Its a " just right" cartridge and will serve you well in Alberta.

X2 just buy a decent bullet. My 06 likes these in 168 or 180gr.

[last minute]

Originally Posted by NoobHunter

- how are the deer doing around WMU349 (?any update would be nice). My friend/guide seems very pessimistic about the area. I live in Edmonton - he lives in Sangudo .. Any thoughts and suggestions ?

in advance - thanks for taking the time and reading this mess of a post, and thank you for your reply.

Thanks,

your friend/guide seems very pessimistic about the area maybe with good reason happy hunting.

[NoobHunter]

Originally Posted by last minute

your friend/guide seems very pessimistic about the area maybe with good reason happy hunting.

Thanks for the good wishes i guess ?

[NoobHunter]

Well I thought i should share.. for my first time it wasn't bad.. we saw 4 deers , no clear shot ..
but i had fun and learned some..
will try again next week..

I read that most are saying WTD populations are down.. etc..

if I wanted to go for my black bear what other locations should I look into since seasons is now open everywhere..

I live in edmonton, dont mind a 3 hour drive each way ..

[leeaspell]

Swan hills

[NoobHunter]

any specific area in swan hills ?

I'm new .. so google and ESRD's site are pretty much my only tools till I learn more..

[cfnewfie]

Download the ihunter app and get the crown land subscription it is a really handy program to have

[leeaspell]

Originally Posted by NoobHunter

any specific area in swan hills ?

I'm new .. so google and ESRD's site are pretty much my only tools till I learn more..

Not really. Go around swan hills on hwy 32 or 33 and turn left or right. Lots of roads to get you as far as you dare to get off the highway. Google map shows all the back roads in the area and there's not many places you won't have cell service.

[Xiph0id]

Originally Posted by leeaspell

Not really. Go around swan hills on hwy 32 or 33 and turn left or right. Lots of roads to get you as far as you dare to get off the highway. Google map shows all the back roads in the area and there's not many places you won't have cell service.

Haven't gone far enough then!
Most areas I visit out there do not have cell service.

[leeaspell]

Originally Posted by Xiph0id

Haven't gone far enough then!
Most areas I visit out there do not have cell service.

If you use rogers you won't have service

[NoobHunter]

Thanks! ill check them out this coming week...

who needs phones when you got a compass and an army guy with you

[cds]

Originally Posted by NoobHunter

Good Afternoon Folks,

First year/ time hunter, going out with a regular guy to Whitecourt / area this weekend (24th - 27th).

Wondering a few things -
first - from talking to a few of my colleagues who go out hunting i've been advised that a 30-06 220Grain is not good enough for Bear... is that true? if yes what rifle/caliber ya'lls suggest.

Second - how are the deer doing around WMU349 (?any update would be nice). My friend/guide seems very pessimistic about the area. I live in Edmonton - he lives in Sangudo .. Any thoughts and suggestions ?

in advance - thanks for taking the time and reading this mess of a post, and thank you for your reply.

Thanks,

Just North of Whitecourt Up Highway 32 towards Swan Hills is very slow this year. I was hunting around Carson Pegus Provincal Park and Judy creek road two weeks ago and it was slow we saw 3 wt all day. Lots of bear sign.

Last week I was up in the Virgina Hills and on the Chickdee reads we spotted 5 WT all day. I would sugguest another area. and 30-06 with 220 is over kill. 180 or 165 nosler is better suited out of the 30-06.

[edmhunter]

30-06 will kill any animal in north america, have dropped moose at 400 yards with mine. I do believe that the best grain for a 30-06 is the 165 grain.

[Xiph0id]

Originally Posted by leeaspell

If you use rogers you won't have service

Yeah. I get crap reception.
Have a spot also.

I've heard Telus is better for rural cell reception.

[AndrewMcElroy52]

I am at a loss at how many people are concerned about caliber sizes for hunting big game. Simple matter of physics, and biology. You put a piece of metal into a vital organ and something is going to die. Government regulations say no smaller bullet diameter than 0.224. Realistically a 243 Win. is more enough gun to take down anything in North America with proper shot placement let alone a 30-06. 10+ animals with my 270 and none have gone over 30 yards; including bear. That's just loaded Hornady STS 130 Gr. at 2600 FPS which is relatively slow.

[cfnewfie]

Originally Posted by NoobHunter

Well I thought i should share.. for my first time it wasn't bad.. we saw 4 deers , no clear shot ..
but i had fun and learned some..
will try again next week..

I read that most are saying WTD populations are down.. etc..

if I wanted to go for my black bear what other locations should I look into since seasons is now open everywhere..

I live in edmonton, dont mind a 3 hour drive each way ..

Head over past Drayton Valley In wmu 339 plenty of black bear and a few cougar spottings this year

[Badone20]

Hey Noob Hunter

First thing comes to mind is what kind of bear, black or grizz? Second, 30.06 is a great round for hunting bush, a little slower velocity which lets those bullets do there trick, open up an make a large wound channel. 3rd, I have hunted with a 30.06 180gr bullet my whole life, has never let me down. I religiously used Winchester silvertips which they do not sell any more to my disappointment. So I am a little unsure of a round recommendation, but if it were me, power point or possibly accubond type of projectile. Something that will penetrate and open up as well. Balliistic tips, no go, for me. My 2 cents. 220 grain, go for it all day long if you are worried about the bear and not the quarry.

[Badone20]

NOOBHUNTER

I have spent a considerable amount of time thinking about and answering your question. I hope I did not waste my time noticing that you hunted this past weekend, but I was compelled to write a bit of a novel. You are looking for advice, and I would like to offer some as follows.

To echo what AndrewMcilroy52 has said,

Bullet placement is key. If you fail there, it does not matter. Although some misplaced shots will do more damage then others with the large 220 grain, no guarantee on anything. Once you choose to shoot, game on, you better be good and ready to react on a second or third shot at what may come next.

Bear, don't stop shooting till you know its down or your out of ammo. Same goes for Moose.

From personnel experience, I think a 180 grain 30.06 will drop anything you are hunting or may encounter based on what edmhunter has said in North America. My opinion is who ever is telling you a 220 grain 30.06 is not enough bullet to take down a bear does not know what they are talking about. That's my opinion though so....

Chances are, enough time spent in the bush will equal an encounter with a bear. How you choose to react to that encounter will set the wheels in motion as to how that encounter will turn out. Stay cool, keep your wits, and make a sound decision. That's the key more than the weight of bullet you choose to shoot.

If you choose to shoot, better be a good bullet placement.

The worst case scenario is you come face to face. In that instance you should be a somewhat good judge of what the animal is thinking and characteristics of aggression and not lose your senses and over react.

Bears are afraid of you as much or more then you are afraid of them. Give them an out to get away and I'm confident 9 out of 10 times they will take it. If you freak they may not do so cause they will enter the fight or flight mode. Do not remove the flight option for them but definitely don't let them go into the fight option. At the end of the day its you over them and if you feel threatened you take care of number 1.

If you encounter a sow, game is on, as she will do whatever it takes to protect her cubs from you if you end up in the middle. Key again is to remain calm and see how she reacts to your presence before you react.

Unfortunately there is no easy answer to bear encounters, the best thing is to educate yourself about them, their behaviour, and what you can expect out of them in certain situations to make a good call on how to engage if required.

To reiterate, if you are really concerned about bears, you really need to educate yourself on how bears react. Their signs of aggression or uneasiness are key to recognizing what you can expect next from them. Face to face you may not have that time, but it is amazing how a few seconds seem to turn into a few more minutes for those who know and understand their traits in a particular situation. My honest opinion is if you enjoy hunting, you should take the time to truly educate yourself and get the answers for you to hunt confidently.

[NoobHunter]

Originally Posted by Badone20

NOOBHUNTER
snip....

Not a waste, I check this thread every day for new posts and try to learn from them.
as I mentioned I'm new and I'm trying to soak up as much as I can .. so please let me say thank you for taking the time to write back with this much information.

and Yup, going back out again Nove 3/4 , nov 18/19/20 and nov 24/25/26

The Bear i wouldn't dream of going with out my farm buddy who's shot and and mounted I think 4 of them by now.. and Grizz is out since you can't really hunt Grizz right now.. so Black bears is what i am looking for - and that to be honest is because I had some really really good Bear sausage..but to the point I'm going with someone who is more experienced than I, and knows the areas better than I. I may also take my shorter legs buddy with me just in case we need to run I'll stick some bacon and fish on his backpack as well to be on the safe side..


the WTD My army buddy and I will keep trying. I saw alot of folks shooting out of their trucks, or getting out beside the road and shooting this last weekend (24-26th).. i dont think thats legal or legit.. so trying to find better places where my buddy and I can do the stalking / walking / setting up camp .. which I think is actually hunting..

p.s: thanks ya'lls for all your replies.
p.p.s: decent size, gravel roads...