|
Alberta, Canada Whitetail Deer Hunt By Dennis Wehling
I
have taken whitetails in Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska and Kansas, but I
had never taken a truly large whitetail buck.
Based on the recommendation of Garth I called Michael Terry for
references and information on his hunts.
All the references said the same basic thing; they enjoyed their
hunt, Michael was an honest and hard working guy and they had either
taken or had opportunities to take trophy whitetails. They also said it
could be cold in Alberta in late November. I
booked my first hunt for six days in mid November and began preparing
for the trip. The first
goal was to locate clothing that would keep me warm and dry while on
stand. In talking with
Michael he said he used ground blinds, tree stands, still hunting and
drives depending on the deer and the hunters’ ability.
The only clothing that seemed to meet all the needs was wool and
the best I could locate was King of the Mountain in their blow-down
camouflage pattern. Wool
clothing is quiet and the camo pattern was an excellent choice for
Alberta. The rifle I would
use was a McMillan Signature Sporter in 300 Winchester Magnum. During
that first trip I saw numerous bucks and everyone around me seemed to be
taking nice bucks, but as a trophy hunter I was having a hard time
telling great bucks from good bucks. The bucks always seemed to be
moving or were screened by brush. Michael suggested that if I saw a buck
with three points up and heavy dark mass I should shoot.
The next problem when hunting in Alberta is the bucks always seem
to be standing in some sort of brush that makes seeing points and mass
difficult. Hearing all of this Michael set me in a ground blind on a
power line cut. Michael thought the deer would cross just behind one of
the power poles. I used my
range finder and the power pole was 300 yards even.
Right at dark I looked up the power line cut and saw a buck
crossing right behind the power pole just as Michael had said.
I could see good dark mass, but he kept turning his head and I
was unable to count points. He
looked awful far way in my 3 X 10 scope which was set on 10 power. He
seemed like a good buck and I decided to take a shot out the window of
my ground blind. At the shot the buck jumped and was gone.
As I walked up the cut line I was pretty sure I had missed the
buck judging by his reaction. Upon
reaching the deer trail I noted no blood and only one small patch of
brown and white hair from the bottom of the chest.
I had shot under him! I
then looked back at the power pole which was now 70 yards behind me.
The shot had been at 370 yards not 300 yards and I had missed. From the ground blind I didn’t realize that the power
line cut flattened out right behind the power pole and the game trail
was actual 70 yards further than it looked.
I still dream of that buck and my missed opportunity.
During that trip I made friends with another hunter Chris
Aldridge from New York State. During
the trip Chris had taken a nice whitetail and a bull moose.
Over
the next few months I felt I had enjoyed my trip to Alberta more than
any previous guided hunt. It
seemed that every time Chris, Michael and I were together that we truly
enjoyed each others company and our time together.
I then talked to my wife about hunting Alberta again and she said
okay, but reminded me that I had not taken a deer.
I told her that was true, but I did have numerous chances and
that a true trophy hunter must pass lesser deer in order to take truly
great deer. However maybe I
should book a 12 day hunt and increase my odds.
I got her blessing to book the last 12 days of November and
celebrate Thanksgiving with the family upon my return.
I must say that none of my hunts would be possible with out a
great wife that supports this crazy passion.
She always supports me, but that doesn’t means she understands
it. Upon
arrival at camp Chris and Michael had set up some stands and Chris had
been hunting the previous week in the same area he had seem a monster.
He said he was” still” hunting through the area and saw a
buck was standing with his head in a pine tree watching him.
Chris thought it must be the monster and shot.
Well it was a nice buck but not the one Chris had seen
previously. Chris said I
should hunt the same area that he and Michael had placed a stand and it
overlooked 25 deer trails coming together at the end of a slough.
I kept asking Chris how will I know this monster buck if I see
him. Chris would just look
at me and say you will know. The
first night another hunter killed a 162 class buck.
Two nights later another hunter killed a 164 class buck.
I hunted all 12 days from light until dark and passed several
nice bucks waiting for a monster which never came by.
As the days went by Michael started asking and trying to find out
just how big of buck it was going to take for me to really shoot
something. I tried to
explain that I found hunting enjoyment does not necessarily come because
I shoot something. I find
it is the adventure and the people I meet along the away and sharing in
their success is what makes a great trip.
Over
the next few years I hunted Alaska and Africa which did not allow the
time to also hunt Alberta. Finally
I called Michael again about me and a friend hunting Alberta in the fall
if we did not draw any special tags.
Michael said he had only one opening and I decided to pass until
I knew what I had drawn. After
the drawings I decided I did have time and called to book that last
spot. Michael told me he
was already booked and suggested the next year.
I booked a trip for the following year and thought that just
might work out better anyway. I
decided to spend my time playing guide for family and friends.
In early November Michael called to say Chris had to cancel and
wondered if I was still interested in hunting Alberta.
The next few days where spent changing vacation days around,
booking airline flights, filling out paper work and packing for a quick
trip. I managed to book an
8 day trip just prior to Thanksgiving and I was determined to shoot
something on this trip. Over
the first few days the hunting was slow with only a few bucks seen.
I enjoyed seeing Michael again and he had a new assistant along
on this trip. His assistant
was his dog “Bell” who according to Michael is a French Water Dog.
She looks more like a standard poodle to me. He uses Bell to
track wounded game, track lost hunters and drag a sled with blinds and
tree stands in it. On the
third day Michael took me to a new location.
We walked in and set up a tree stand at a preselected spot in the
thick bush just off a field. Bell
brought in the stand! As
Michael left he basically said be real still and watch for deer in front
of you, off the left and off to the right.
Oh there is a good runway right behind you also so watch that to.
Basically sit real still and don’t move and watch 360 degrees
around the stand. Easy if
you’re an owl! As Michael
and Bell left I climbed into the stand and began getting ready.
I hooked up my safety belt, hung my rifle on a hook raised my
pack and got my deer call, water bottle and coat out which I also hung
on the same hook as my rifle. When
I turned around 50 yards away stood a great buck just watching me get
set up. He had good mass,
but I was unable to count points but I was sure he was a shooter.
He had seen my movement, but wasn’t sure what I was.
There was no way that I could get my rifle off the hook and
loaded when it was buried under all my stuff without spooking the buck.
The buck just walked off while I stood there with a stupid look
on my face. After the buck
walked off I quickly got set up, turned around and set my rifle in my
lap. I kept thinking I
should have known better and should have been ready for a shot has soon
has I got in the tree. A
three year wait and I just let a buck of my dreams just walk away.
Then about 15 or 20 minutes later here came a good eight point
buck walking in from a different direction and he walked to the same
spot the first buck was standing to check a scrape.
I let him to walk away. 30
minutes later a bigger eight point buck just showed up at the scrape.
He had come from another direction and then walked over to check
another scrape a few yards away. I
thought I must be in buck heaven. I
kept remembering what Michael said “three points up with heavy dark
horns”. After waiting
about an hour I was glassing through the trees off to my left when I saw
movement about 175 yards away. It
was the buck I had been looking for.
He was sneaking along a little ridge and had good mass with three
points up. As he continued
sneaking along the ridge there was only one small opening in which to
shoot. As he neared the
ridge it was now or never. I
had about a six inch opening and he was moving all the time.
Has he walked into view I shot.
Once I reacquire the sight picture again I could still see him
standing there. My thought
was he must have stopped at the shot and I missed or hit a limb along
the way. I quickly shot
twice more. I would like to thank Michael Terry and his wife Deborah for not only a great hunting trip but the friendship which as developed. Equipment
used McMillan
Signature Sporter 300 Winchester Mag Federal
180 grain Barnes MTX Ammo King
of the Mountain wool camouflage clothing Swarovski
8X30 Binoculars Swarovski
2x10 Rifle scope Sorrel
- 100 below boots UnderArmor
cold gear Arctic Shield over-boots About
the Author: Dennis Wehling lives in Larkspur, Colorado with his wife Vicki and their black lab Taz. Dennis just retired with 31 years in the fire service in south Denver. Vicki owns her own emergency medical billing business. Vicki and Dennis enjoy traveling, camping and fishing. Vicki loves to pheasant hunt with their black lab and Dennis loves all hunting. |
