Alberta Pro Hunting Tactics
slopes and peaks of the Alberta Rockies in search of those trophy rams will save you a lot of boot-leather and time. Once you and your guide locate a herd, you can focus on that area. As for equipment — ma ke sure you’ve got a sturdy, broken-in pair of insulated hiking boots and always wear wool or polypropylene socks (never cotton,
it will tear your feet apart). Multi-layered warm-and-waterproof clothing is also a must — including a moisture-wicking base layer. There are a lot of varying opinions in terms of rifle selection, but light weight (six pounds) is a must, and the rifle (and shooter) should be capable of outstanding accuracy to 300 yards.
ALBERTA’SMOSTSUCCESSFUL
MOOSEHUNTS
CALL MIKE AT 780.864.3770 WWW.MIKESOUTFITTING.COM
• Archery & Rifle Hunts • Black Bear • Elk • Moose • Mule Deer • Whitetail Deer Leo Schmaus Class ‘A’ & ‘B’ Guides RR2 Barrhead AB T7N 1N3 780-674-5471 48 | APOS | 2013
pronGhorn antelope
A lberta’s pronghorn antelope roam the wide-open spaces of the province’s southeast, as a result, are generally not all that difficult to locate. It’s the stalk that is tricky. First off, the antelope hunter must glass a great deal of country from vantage points that don’t give his location away — patience is key here — while searching for an antelope herd. Antelope have amazing vision; any movement can catch their attention, even from great distances. When glassing, position yourself below ridgelines or, if necessary, carefully sneak up to a hilltop while using natural cover such as a rocks, draws, hills, sagebrush or even a fence line. Avoid being skylined at all cost. If, after thoroughly glassing an area, you don’t find anything, move on to a new location and repeat the process. If you locate antelope, a spotting scope can save a lot of boot-leather by affirming the animal’s trophy quality. If the buck you’ve spotted is of the quality you seek, it is time to organize the stalk. However, this can prove more difficult than it may appear. Not only do antelope possess keen eyes but the country they occupy frequently offers very little in the way of concealment. Again, using natural features, slowly move in closer and closer. During archery season, decoys work wonders, as does camouflage (in all seasons) that is well suited to the open grasslands of Alberta. If the environment is preventing a successful stalk, setting up a ground blind near a water source will also work well. Your APOS guide will help determine which tactic to employ and will do everything in his power to aid your success. Mid-Winter Coyote hunts
Alberta has abundant — some say “overabundant” — populations of coyotes. This province is truly one of North America’s coyote-hunting hotspots and December, January and February are considered to be the best coyote hunting months. This is thanks to increased mobility as the snow crusts over, scarcity of food and an eagerness to socialize and breed — the “perfect storm” for coyote hunters. Some coyote females go into heat as early as January but most peak by mid-to-