Mild winter weather portends great bucks in 2012

This hunt produced 100% hunter success again in 2011. The average size was down a bit to 153 Boone and Crockett points because one hunter shot a buck that scored in the 140 class. The outfitter said he has been watching several really big bucks that survived hunting season and are almost sure to survive the winter due to a lack of snow and mild temperatures. "We saw a 180 class buck several times before the rut ended and he moved off," he said. "Lately I've been watching a herd of five bucks that will all be great animals this fall, particularly two of them that should end up in the 180s."

"We had 14 bucks registered in our local hunting club two years ago over 180, which has never happened," he said. "The best typical scored 193 B&C. And then in the province we had about 20 bucks that netted over 180, including six over 190. There was a 255 nontypical net taken just behind our camp. There was a 268 nontypical net killed in another unit.

"We saw a lot of big whitetails after the season, and we think this will be one of our best years ever, not only on whitetails but also on muleys, elk and moose." Details.