Size

175 square miles approximately

Game Species

Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat, Shiras Moose, Grizzly, Whitetail & Mule Deer, Elk, Black Bear, Cougar, Bobcat, Lynx, Wolf

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep
This area boasts one of the highest Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep quotas in British Columbia, which speaks for itself.  On the earlier hunts the summer range is hunted and on the later hunts the Sheep are intercepted while on their migration route to different winter grounds.  Heavy snowfall can be very productive, since Bighorn Sheep do not linger in heavy snow for too long.  These Sheep hunts take place in steep, rugged mountains with elevations ranging from 5000 – 8500 feet

Rocky Mountain Elk
Elk populations are strong, with great chances of harvesting a gorgeous bull with either bow or rifle. During rutting activity, bugling or cow calling can bring bulls within close bow range.  Tree stands also assist with better spotting and shooting opportunities. These hunts are conducted by horseback, 4x4, ATV and backpacking on day trips. This area is one of the few spots left in North America where hunters can hunt Trophy Class Elk in the rut with a rifle.

Mule Deer
This area is noted for Trophy Class Mule Deer, both body and antler size is larger than average due to a great gene pool and winter range. These Mule Deer can be hunted throughout the entire deer season with very good success. The best hunts are early in the season, before hunting pressure in higher elevations pushes the Deer into darker timber.  Hunts later in the season are also good during colder weather when the Deer stay out longer and can be spotted in Alpine meadows, so you can utilize 'spot and stalk' techniques.

Mountain Goat
Mountain Goats in this area are truly ‘Beautiful Monarchs of the Mountains’ and are best hunted in November, when their capes are full making for a really striking trophy. Due to the excellent genetics in this area’s Mountain Goat herds, it is not uncommon to see Nannies with 11" & greater sized horns. Therefore, depending on the client’s physical condition, the current outfitter does not take any Billies under 9” and strongly discourages any shooting of Nannies. They only harvest Trophy Class longhaired Billies since the permits are limited and always booked well in advance. This hunt has always been 100% successful. These hunts take place in steep, rugged mountains with elevations ranging from 5000 to 8500 feet.

Black Bear
Black Bear in this area are hunted both in the spring and in conduction with the main species in the fall.  Black Bear hunts are conducted from the Main Camp and chances of harvesting a great Trophy are good since local hunting pressure is minimal and food is abundant throughout the area.  There is a 40-50% chance to harvest a color-phased blond to chocolate brown Black Bear.  Bears taken in this area range from 5 ½’ to 7’, when measured nose to tail.  This hunt is usually done with a ‘spot and stalk’ technique.  The option to use hounds is also available.

Grizzly
Grizzly Bear populations are at an all time high in this area.  Hunting pressure in the last 5-6 years has steadily decreased, due to a limited number of permits being allocated to resident and non-resident hunters.  This decrease in permits is definitely not due to a lack of bears.  For these true Silver Tipped Mountain Grizzlies ‘spot and stalk’ techniques are utilized on slides in the spring when their hides are exceptional.  These Grizzlies come in at 6 foot to 8 foot.

Shiras Moose
Hunting Shiras Moose in the Wild Horse is exceptional, with most Trophies taken ranging from 45-53 inches and having a 100% success rate.  The current outfitter hunts mature bulls only late in the season, where chances for a Trophy Mule Deer are excellent as well.  During this time, most Bull Moose have already congregated into smaller bachelor groups.  As well, some of the cows, which have not been bred in the first rut, come into season again and can often bring several bulls at once.  This hunt is an exciting and enjoyable one with action everyday.  Hunting Bull Moose in this area is generally a Boone & Crocket experience!

Cougar
Cougar are one of the most elusive predators in North America.  These hunts are totally dependant on weather, if there is enough snow on the ground then the magic of the hunt starts. The hunt takes place by driving roads via 4x4 and snowmobile and searching less accessible areas on foot.  Once the track is found the hounds are brought in and turned loose and this is where the fun begins. This hunt takes place for Cougar, Lynx, or Bobcat.

Other activities
Along with hunting in this area there are many eco-tourism and fishing opportunities.  The current outfitter has been performing vacation trail rides, game spotting expeditions, and fishing trips during off seasons.

WMU

4-21

Area Data

Fort Steele:
Fort Steele, first known as Galbraith's Ferry during the 1864 Kootenay Gold Rush, was renamed in 1888 in honour of Superintendent Samuel Steele of the North West Mounted Police, who peacefully settled tensions between white settlers and the Ktunaxa people.

During the mining boom of the late 1890s, Fort Steele thrived as the commercial, social and administrative centre of the region. However, Fort Steele declined after 1989, when the BC Southern Railway bypassed the town in favour of nearby Cranbrook.

Today, Fort Steele is a Heritage Town, where visitors can travel back in time to the 1890s and enjoy daily re-enactments of the town's past history and heritage year-round, with full programming from mid-June to Labour Day. Throughout British Columbia, diverse historic 19th-century forts have been preserved as reminders of how the west was settled by Europeans. Fort Steele Heritage Town, near Cranbrook on Highway 93/95, is undoubtedly the best example and is well worth a day's visit when traveling through the East Kootenays in summer months.

Cranbrook:
The largest city of the Rocky Mountain region, and the sunniest place in British Columbia, Cranbrook is located in the Columbia Valley, offering the best of city and country. The vistas of snowcapped mountain peaks, lush green valleys and crystal clear lakes are sure to take your breath away. For those seeking an oasis of civility in the rough Rockies, there is shopping galore, boutiques and cafés, an arts centre, several heritage centres and an abundance of other attractions to entertain visitors.

Cranbrook's history is rather colourful, and filled with interesting characters. It is said, however, that the railway made this city. There is virtually no other reason for its existence, as it is neither on a major lake nor on an easily navigable river.

Prior to the entire rail goings on, the Cranbrook region was inhabited for over ten thousand years by the Ktunaxa (pronounced "Too nah hah") Native people. They followed retreating glaciers into the Cranbrook area from the great lakes to the south. As the land evolved and changed, they passed down many legends and stories. The Hoodoos, for example, are said to be the bones of Yawo'nek (pronounced "Yehwoonik"), a great water monster whose bones were thrown up onto the banks of the river. The area now called Cranbrook was called "The Pine Tree in the Centre" in the Ktunaxa language.

David Thompson, an early explorer, was the first white man to explore the Kootenay River in the early 1800s. He established trade with the Ktunaxa, who sustained themselves in the hunting, fishing and gathering lifestyle of their ancestors.

Fur traders, missionaries and prospectors soon arrived in the area, calling it "Joseph's Prairie", because the chief of the band was called Joseph. It was renamed Cranbrook by the city's founder who named it after his ancestral home of Cranbrook in Kent, England.

Top of the World Provincial Park:
High in the Kootenay Ranges of the Rocky Mountain region of southeastern British Columbia is an alpine gem.  Top of the World Provincial Park. An area of great beauty, the park is part of the Top of the World Plateau, most of which is at an elevation in excess of 6600 feet. The jagged peaks of the Hughes Range form a backdrop to the west of the park, and the Van Nostrand Range dominated by Mount Morro--at 8800 feet marks the highest point in the park.  Top of the World Park is located 35 miles northeast of the village of Kimberley. There are two access routes to Top of the World Park. Both routes utilize logging roads, and extreme caution must be exercised at all times while traveling these roads. Both access routes are normally passable from late May until mid-November.

Premier Lake Park
Nestled against the west slopes of the Rocky Mountains, situated 35 miles north of Cranbrook.  Premier Lake is one of the key recreational fishing lakes in the East Kootenay. The emerald green lakes of Premier and four smaller lakes, Canuck, Yankee, Cats Eye and Quartz offer a unique and varied fishing experience in a secluded and pleasant park atmosphere.

The area is rich in wildlife. Premier Ridge, west of the lake, is an important wintering range for elk, whitetail and mule deer, and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. Forests of Douglas fir and western larch are common in the park. Osprey, eagle, heron, king fisher, numerous forest birds and waterfowl can also be seen

Improvements

1 - Main Cabin
2 – Guest cabin
1 - Guide's Cabin
1 - Shower House
1 - Tack Shed
1 - Meat Shed
1 - Smoke House
2 – Outhouses
1 – 2006 Yamaha Rhino 660 ATV
1 – 1991 GMC 4x4 extra cab pick-up

Main Cabin with fully equipped Kitchen/Living room
- 2 large propane stoves
- new full size propane fridge
- 12-volt freezer
- new electric chest freezer
- 12-volt battery pack with charger
- 12 volt solar system and batteries c/w inverter
- large water holding tank gravity and force-fed
- 3500 Honda generator
- propane hot water tank for continuous hot water in kitchen and bathroom
- 2 wood stoves
- new leather couch, loveseat and chair
- new end tables
- TV c/w DVD and VCR combination

Guest Cabin - sleeps 6
- wood stove
- bunks and foamies
- Misc. tables & chairs

Guide’s Cabin - sleeps 6
- wood stove
- bunks and foamies
- Misc. tables & chairs

Cook/Guide’s cabin - sleeps 4
- wood stove
- bunks and foamies
- misc. tables & chairs

Bath House - shower
- flush toilet
- sink

Tack Shed - contains various tools, lanterns, jerry cans, building supplies, pipes, nails, etc. - 45 gallon drum with pump

Meat Shed - 4 x 100 lb propane bottles, wheelbarrow, ladder, hay

Spike Camps:

#1 - 20 x 30 Log cabin with attached sauna, sleeps 8, fully equipped, propane fridge, propane stove, wood stove, propane light, tables & chairs.

#2 - sheep camp 20 x 30 log cabin with large covered porch built in 2004, sleeps 4, fully equipped kitchen, propane stove, propane fridge, 1000 watt Honda generator, large eating table, wood stove, new couch and chair. Attached shed with electric chest freezer, tools, jerry cans, propane bottles

#3 - 12 x 14 - sleeps 4 hunters, wood stove, tables & chairs.

#4 - 4 - 45 gallon drums with all essentials for sheep camp.

#5 - 1 - 45 gallon drum with all essentials for a wall tent camp.

Photos