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Hey guys, nothing said will scare me away or does it offend me. I just appreciate all input and you guys are all great. I will be hunting the week of May 20, 2012. Thanks again.
-------------------- Black Widow PSAX RH 58" 53#@28 Black Widow PSAX RH 58" 47#@28 Big Jim Buffalo LH 62" 48#@28 W.Va. Bowhunters Association life member Pope and Young associate member Posts: 708 | From: West Virginia | Registered: Sep 2008
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That will be a good time frame up there. I have guided along the Athabasca River in that area but haven't kept tabs on which outfitters are in the area. Everybody wants to hunt the river, it is a neat experience, really wild and the bears travel along it like a hiway, hitting the baits like we stop for supper. There are big bears scattered everywhere, I have had the pleasure of extracting 19"-20"+ bears from bait sites scattered along the river AND from within sight of the main hiway to Fort McMurray. I felt guilty setting a hunter up in a stand where he could get license plate numbers off the vehicles until we were dragging his huge cinnamon bear out. Have faith in where the guides put you is the message I am trying to get across, you don't know where the big boars are going to show up. That and try to not shoot the first bear that shows up unless he makes the barrel disappear as he walks by it. The majority of the bears up there will measure 5-6ft nose to tail when they are walking. Taxidermist's measure from the nose to one of the hind feet so there is a larger number involved. The big bears are taller and much thicker, watch for a huge front end, shoulders and neck to go with the tips for judging a bears head. Watch the little bears, take your time on larger bears and KILL the huge one as soon as possible when he shows up, the boars should be starting to cruise and will just swing through for a sniff before carrying on. They may grab a cookie or a chunk of beaver but usually just walk through sniffing. Torrential downpours or blizzards are good times to be waiting, bring rain gear. They know the baits and just check in to see which girls are hanging around.
Bring a thermacell or 2 as the mosquitoes may be hatching by then, temps from 0'F to 70'F are possible in the same day. It is usually pretty nice, 45-60'F The hiway is in good shape in May, just remember that the majority of the travellers are heading to or from work and are usually in a hurry, just pull well off for pit stops, the traffic volume is no where near what you guy's experience in the City's.
This is just based on my experience up there, somebody else can jump in with their notes.
Terry
Posts: 459 | From: Central Alberta | Registered: Mar 2005
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Hitman, I think your timing will be great!In my experience hunting that far north the May long weekend (3rd weekend)till the end of May is the best time to be in the woods sitting on a bait.
I used to run my own baits between Lac La Biche and Fort Mac, that week was always the most consistent for activity.
X2 on Bowshot's suggestion of a thermacell they are a must have when on stand.
Good luck and remember to post your adventure and pics for us to see.
Posts: 211 | From: Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada | Registered: Feb 2009
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Many thanks to everyone for all the great info. I'm really looking forward to seeing some great country.
-------------------- Black Widow PSAX RH 58" 53#@28 Black Widow PSAX RH 58" 47#@28 Big Jim Buffalo LH 62" 48#@28 W.Va. Bowhunters Association life member Pope and Young associate member Posts: 708 | From: West Virginia | Registered: Sep 2008
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