Alberta Hunting Articles
The Rut Trap
Whitetails have extraordinary eyesight. Their ability to hear the subtle snap of a twig is uncanny, and their sense of smell is remarkably acute. Simply put, whitetailed deer are the perfect forest dweller. Throughout most of the year, their ability to elude danger is impeccable. With this reputation, they are the perfect big game species.
What Trophy Should Really Mean
When we hunt we must work hard, we obey the law, we are ethical, and we are reverent. Every animal taken - young or old, buck or doe - is a "trophy". They are gifts of the land.
An Introduction to Trail Cameras
You've seen his tracks and they're huge! Nearby scrapes and rubs suggest he could be a monster buck. Now it's decision time. Which stand do you sit? If only you could lay eyes on him, or better yet, figure out when he uses that particular trail . . . you'd have it made!
Preventing Tick-Borne Diseases
Most of us have encountered ticks on our wilderness treks and, like mosquitoes, give them little pause for thought. Very few of us seriously consider the little pests to be much of a threat, usually we just pull the tick off and continue on our way, not realizing the potential danger the tick may present. A simple tick can carry a variety of diseases, all of which can, at the least, make you very sick and in the most serious cases even cripple or kill.
Preparing for a Bighorn Hunt
I'm fortunate enough to live less than two hours from some of the best bighorn hunting in the world. Hence, I've pursued sheep a number of years now, and over this course I have developed a few opinions pertaining to gear selection I feel is invaluable to anyone considering a bighorn hunt.
25 Things Every Elk Hunter Should Know
Elk hunting is tough for the experienced and can be daunting for the neophyte. Fortunately, knowledge can level the playing field and improve your odds when you're on your next elk hunt. Whether you're a new raghorn chaser or an experienced wapiti stalker the following twenty five tips offer advice every elk hunter should know.
A Black Bear Baiting Guide
Considered a predator, various states and provinces allow baiting of black bears (ursus americanus). As an Alberta-based outfitter, I’ve hunted bears in just about every manner possible. Although I favor the spot and stalk approach, for my money baiting is undeniably the best way to provide a hunter with an up-close and personal view before hitting the switch.
Where have our mule deer gone?
While there always seems to be a good buck harvested here and there throughout the west today, the general consensus seems to be the same; our mule deer are in trouble. Some of us have turned to hunting elk and are excited about the increasing elk numbers, while others have been riding out the storm in hopes of the deer someday returning to their numbers of the past.
Of Bulls and Barrens
With four bulls tagged, this brought a satisfying ending to a spectacular hunt. With only 24 hours left before our floatplane would return to take us back to civilization, we spent much of it fishing for grayling and lakers. All told, our arctic adventure had been all we'd expected and much more. And now, as I sit at my computer, reminiscing of bulls and barrens, I can't help but think of when I will revisit that rolling tundra landscape in pursuit of those majestic bulls again.
Welcome to Hell
I felt like a pincushion. Countless grueling stalks on hands and knees over a carpet of cactus, around boulder after crude boulder, and through a spirited tract of unmerciful landscape, had left my body in a state of agony. Two weeks prior I had pursued elk for four days in mountainous terrain – topography only fit for a mountain goat – yet on this day my lungs begged for mercy, my clothes sagged – saturated with perspiration – and my oxygen starved muscles screamed bloody blue murder.
Bowhunting for Prairie Goats
Somewhat vulnerable, I found myself crouching behind the silhouette of a young pronghorn buck. It can be a lonely feeling amid a vast expanse of prairie grassland, knowing full well, you're sticking out like a proverbial sore thumb. Somehow the mind-over-matter trick just doesn't cut it when all 175 lbs. of camo-clad hunter desperately attempts to convince himself he's part of the landscape.
A Field Dressing Guide for Elk and Deer
Field dressing game is as much a part of the hunt as target practice and scouting. Unfortunately, correctly field dressing game can be challenging and awkward for the inexperienced. If you have never cleaned out game in the field or have had trouble in the past this feature article walks you through how to field dress, debone, and pack out your next deer or elk kill.
Black Bear Hunting Primer
Stalking trophy black bears is one of the most challenging and intimidating pursuits in North American hunting, especially with a primitive weapon. Doing this when the autumn landscape is shrouded under a bounty of radiant tincture – the air thick with fall’s aromatic pleasures – is the biggest kick of all.
Deer Hunting the Post-Rut
When discussing whitetail deer hunting tactics you would be hard pressed to find a hunter that would not recommend hunting the pre-rut and peak rutting times in your area. However, little is discussed about hunting the post-rut, that time frame after peak rutting activity. From rattling to cover scents, Steve Chorney looks at how you need to shift your deer hunting tactics if you find yourself hunting the post-rut.
Bighorn Hunting the Rockies: A Full Curl Dream
Unless you've done it, it's tough to comprehend. I speak of hunting bighorns, arguably the true monarch of the Rocky Mountains. Among all North American game species, they exemplify the essence of majesty. Few creatures can survive where they thrive. Amid scrambling talus slopes, at altitudes that cause most mortals to gasp, bighorn rams are indeed a sight to behold.
Moose Hunting in Alberta
The first shot found its mark, yet the bull remained standing. At a thousand pounds on the hoof a full-grown moose is one tough customer. With that said, however, Dan settled crosshairs behind the front shoulder again and coddled the trigger on his .300 Winchester magnum. Responding with a loud smack, the 180-grain slug rocked the bull hard enough that he lost his footing, crashing to the ground at the base of a wrist size poplar tree he’d just finished thrashing to pulp.
Antelope Hunting: A Practical Primer
Pronghorn hunting presents unique challenges to the big game hunter. A pronghorn antelope can attain speeds of 70 mph and cruise at 30 mph for long distances. Their eyesight is phenomenal and compares to a human using 8X binoculars. In this primer, Judd walks through the basics you need to consider when hunting these speedsters of North America's semi-arid terrains.
Some Musings on Elk Hunting
When elk hunting there are a number of events that need to occur in order to assure success. Perhaps the most critical time in your elk hunt is the short time span between spotting a bull and pulling the trigger. How you have prepared for that moment and what you do in those few short seconds or minutes can make the difference between filling your tag or going home empty handed. While Gary focuses on elk hunting, his musings will be useful to the whitetail and mule deer hunter as well.
Whitetail, Finesse 'em or Force 'em
When hunting whitetail afield a common strategy is to use noise to attract in a buck. Most hunters agree that anything from rattling antlers to grunting calls will work. However there is a considerable amount of debate on what intensity should be used when creating these sounds. Some have success with ear-splitting, aggressive bellows while others adamantly believe the only way to go is with gentle grunts. This month's article discusses how much noise you should make the next time you're closing the gap on a trophy buck.
Fall Black Bear Basics
Many big game hunters have hunted the cervids (deer and elk). However fewer have gone after another big game species that inhabits the same areas: black bear. Black bear hunting takes a different set of skills than elk or deer hunting and with many states banning the use of bait/hounds, the challenge of black bear has only grown. This feature article walks you through the basics of black bear hunting from "spot/stalk" to the use of predator calls. Safety is also covered, since precautions are necessary when hunting a predator!