Elk on the prairies

[tbosch]

I went out to one of my favorite coyote haunts last weekend and spent an hour or so calling on the south side of the property. I had a few responses but no sales so to speak. I was watching the north side of the property with my spotting scope from time to time and saw many mule deer and a few white tail moving around the bushlines. I decided to give up on the yotes and took a hike over to the north side. I was numerous deer in the open and as I went further in to the forested area I noticed some larger tracks in the snow. I walked about a km in and was focusing on the ground for tracks and sheds. Well I came over a small bluff and was within 40 yards of two mature bull elk. Really nice healthy looking animals. So I'm wondering if anyone else has had any sightings or encounters with Elk on the prairies. This was in eastern Central Alberta where I saw these ones. It was really nice to see as My grandfather has told me many stories of Elk hunting in the 40's from carrot river saskatchewan through to red deer and the elk were very plentiful at this time.

[Bushmaster]

We've had an elk season here for at least 10 years....actually saw about 30 cows this morning driving over to Wainwright.

And history tells us that both elk and the grizzly bear were originally prairie dwellers.

[tbosch]

Originally Posted by Bushmaster

We've had an elk season here for at least 10 years....actually saw about 30 cows this morning driving over to Wainwright.

And history tells us that both elk and the grizzly bear were originally prairie dwellers.

Sorry I should have been more specific. The Elk I saw were not far east of red deer. I guess that wouldn't really be considered eastern alberta. My bad.

[Bushmaster]

We have the same type of country that is east of Red Deer, though. When I was a young guy (long time ago !!) I would have died laughing if you told me we would be hunting elk and moose here.

[FallAirFever]

I am not surprised at all.

A couple years ago I saw a herd of elk just West of Blackfalds. At first I thought they escaped farm elk, but I took a few pictures of the herd and no ear tags. I asked my Aunt who lives just south of where I had spotted the elk herd and she said that they had been around for as long as she can remember.

So not surprised you have seen some just East of Red Deer. The Red Deer river valley is prime habitat with great cover and feed near by.

[Bushmaster]

And I think lots of animals are more mobile than we ever think. We once shot a deer just south of here that was tagged that Sept. near Saskatoon...thas about 160 miles away.

I am convinced that our elk travel back and forth to Cypress hills.....I know a guy who tried following their trail south (he was in an airplane) and he finally turned back at Oyen and said the trail went straight south...they knew where they were going.

[tkhiebs]

Went back to sask. to hunt coyotes before the holidays saw four in a group in one spot. Then the next day we were calling for yotes and about 300 yards away two small bull elk stand up out of a rock pile. we could not believe our eyes as we have never seen elk out there before. I used my yote call as a cow call it actually sounded very close to what it should. The two of them came in to about 100 yards. It was unbelievable and lots of fun as they hung around for about 10-15 minutes. This all happened east of Swift Current and south of Rushlake.

[IR_mike]

In 1999 or 2000 a uncle of mine was working at joffre and commuting back and forth to Red Deer on a daily basis.As he hunts he would do a little bit of back roading/scouting in the evenings and told me he had seen elk on different occasions in the area.

In 2002 while hunting out north of Nordegg in late october, I ran into a fellow hunter walking the trails who told me he had seen elk earlier that year while bow hunting in the stettler area.

Prior to european settlement and unrestricted market hunting elk were distributied pretty much province wide except for the most northern part.

[jrs]

I've seen two herds within 10 minutes of Red Deer. 15 or so cows last winter, then 30-40 cows/ spike bulls in one big herd a few weeks ago. There were also a few bulls on the adjacent quarter when i saw the cows. They're definetly around the city, awesome to see. I hope the herds keep growing, maybe some more hunting opportunities in the future.

[tbosch]

Originally Posted by jrs

I've seen two herds within 10 minutes of Red Deer. 15 or so cows last winter, then 30-40 cows/ spike bulls in one big herd a few weeks ago. There were also a few bulls on the adjacent quarter when i saw the cows. They're definetly around the city, awesome to see. I hope the herds keep growing, maybe some more hunting opportunities in the future.

I agree that is quite exciting. I'd love to be able to draw for elk in 220. Or go for them with a bow.

[IR_mike]

Originally Posted by tbosch

I agree that is quite exciting. I'd love to be able to draw for elk in 220. Or go for them with a bow.

That could be sooner than you think, In 2006 a SRD biologist told me that there was a lot of thought being put into the idea of a either sex year round resident tag approach as harvest numbers are typicaly low for elk making them hard to manage and control in relation to agricultural conflicts.

[Grizzly]

This is understandable...
if you think about it. Elk were the KING of the prairies. Along with Antelope and Grizzly's...

Then the grizz and elk went to the foothills and what not. Recently they have been making their way back...

Its really no differant than the situation here is Southern Alberta. Specifically Cypress hills... Within the last couple of years, Cougars have made the hills its home, and they have been spotted in Medicine Hat along the South Sask River.

Not to mention, when i was surveying a lease, about 5kms west of the provincial park, i spotted 3 black bears, (momma and 2 cubs) making their way across the prairie, towards the hills...

Also this hunting season, my dad and i spotted a HUGE timber wolf on the top bench of the Prov Park....

So this does not surprise me at all... these animals are beinf pressured out of their home lands, and making their way back to their roots.
I think it is actually quite interesting. Amazing actually...

and about the elk.. The biggest herd of elk know in Alberta is in The British block at Suffield. Recently a draw has been issued for elk outside of the base.

Pretty neat stuff!

[johnguy243]

Saw 2 elk 3 miles S.W. of Vegriville last fall.

[Chris K]

There are some herds of wild elk 35 minutes outside of Edmonton. Chris K

[IR_mike]

Originally Posted by Grizzly

So this does not surprise me at all... these animals are beinf pressured out of their home lands, and making their way back to their roots.
I think it is actually quite interesting. Amazing actually...

Pretty neat stuff!

X2 on that. I live at the N.E. corner of 502 and growing up in the 80s I heard of the odd one seen and had seen for myself once (1985 or 86) of elk in N.E. alberta, But the reports or sightings were rare and always involved solitary animals never pairs or groups. And usually on a dead run and a one time only occurence (no resident animals.)

In the last 9 years more are being seen from the lloydminster to wandering river area usually in small groups. The fact is there is a lot of great habitat for them in N.E. Alberta just not many elk so the densities are low. But with good management the populations will expand in this area, Which is darn good in my opinion.

When I was younger I remember talking to A local old timer whose family was one of the first homesteaders in the area north of present day Bonnyville shortly after the turn of the century and he remembers elk being hunted in the area for food as well as the odd wood buffalo still being dropped, though no white tail deer were present yet. kinda interesting I think

[tracker]

Saw a huge bull near Carseland east of Calgary in the Bow Valley.

[eric2381]

I've seen elk east of Big Valley, years ago. And I've seen moose by Burstall, Saskatchewan. That is no where near moose country.

[IR_mike]

Originally Posted by eric2381

I've seen elk east of Big Valley, years ago. And I've seen moose by Burstall, Saskatchewan. That is no where near moose country.

The same biologist who told me about the proposed elk season in the earlier post also practices falconry and told me in 2004 at a falconry meet at stirling he seen a cow and calf moose there. That was suprising.

[riskytype]

Zone 242 north east of Edmonton has had elk for 10 years now. The black bears have also returned to that zone. This year my hunting partner from Chipman found 2 large herds of elk several miles north east of the village of Chipman. One of the bulls was a 330ish 6x6. I hope they regain the prairies and the available zone grow in the future.

Cheers,

[Anzacron]

These arent in Alberta, but found near Hafford, SK.

http://picasaweb.google.ca/Anzacron/...eat=directlink

[slingshot]

Good old Hafford old tramping grounds a friend from there told me his friend had some escape

[hayseed]

Took a huge cow , just west of Blackfalds last year. Had the late draw, gaining permission can be tough, but I made some friends and it panned out. A honkin elk roast to a friendly farmer goes a long way. That elk was one of the tastiest critters I've ever eaten, ever!

[Springer]

TBOSCH you must have seen those two Bulls at Lousana area ?? Yup their scattered around for sure,I found a 5 point shed at Pine lake a couple years ago,musthave been from that small local herd. Still really cool no matter where you see them especially when your not expecting it !

[lenardobc]

i have seen moose in between drumheller and hanna.. thought that was kinda weird.

[thrude1]

theres a herd of elk that run around east of the QE2 central to Torrignton I've seen them as far south as Acme and north to the Delbourne hwy and eat I've seen them by Three Hills?Trochue in the coulees. A few yrs back someone shot and killed a big bull out of the herd on Hwy 27at May City Rd about 10km east of Olds. The idiot only took the head and left everything else for the coyotes I dont think they where caught. It's a nice sight to see them out there.

[Justanotherbuck2]

My brother lives 8 miles NE of Strathmore and he caught a poor picture of a little 3 point bull on his phone camera by his house. While hunting mule deer North of Hussar I came across a nice 6 point bull on the road!No ear tags visible! My dad and brother had spotted about 10 cows and a couple of spikers in the same area a few weeks earlier. Also the odd sighting of elk by Gleichen as well.

[ww2269]

Seen elk, turkey vultures, and a racoon with little ones south of Vilna Ab. I now live in Fox Creek and have pictures of a mountain goat about 15km south of town last fall on a bush road. Crazy?

[mackillan]

Elk are now appearing in various parts of Saskatchewan moreso than 30 years ago. With first nations people hunting less and less young hunters we are seeing animals not seen for a generation. I saw antelope in the pine forest last year. Elk have always been in pockets in Sask but we are seeing them in the oddest places as we are seeing moose antelope etc. I may be wrong but I think there must be less hunters. The herds of deer north of saskatoon are much larger than I remember.

[mackillan]

From hafford tp carrotriver, Pa, Kelvington all the way to Hudsons bay seems to have quite a number of elk. Im hoping to go to Hudsons bay saskatchewan next year.

Originally Posted by Anzacron

These arent in Alberta, but found near Hafford, SK.

http://picasaweb.google.ca/Anzacron/...eat=directlink

[Mhunter51]

There has been a special draw season for Elk south and east of Saskatoon for a few years now. First year it was either sex, now it is cows only. I managed a tag a couple years ago and scored a nice cow. Seen probably 50 elk and one huge bull.