Hunt Recommendation

AR15meister

AR15meister

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I am thinking about booking a hunt for 2015 with an outfitter.

Background is I am 30, live dtown Toronto, love to hunt. Just hunted Cape Buffalo this year for my 30th B-day present to self over in Africa. Had a wicked time.

Thinking about heading somewhere in the fall. Haven't ruled out Africa but I spent 30k on the previous hunt and don't want to do that again. Even a cheap hunt over there is 12-15k once it is all said and done.

Any ideas for a hunt within North American for like 5-10k (including taxidermy) that will be exciting? Any recommendations for an outfitter? I was thinking about Mountain caribou in NWT or Yukon. Gana River and Redstone have hunts in the budget.

Also considering a backpack hunt for Mulie in AB or BC.

I hunt whitetails in Ontario all fall/winter with rifle/muzzleloader and bow and have also killed a few good bucks in Alberta, including one really nice one. Plus I have lots of time to hunt whitetails from a stand when I am old.

I am thinking I want to do something harder, physically. I am definitely drawn to the mountains. Though, I am not really interested in a mountain goat hunt...unless I can be convinced otherwise.
 
You likely won't do a mountain caribou hunt, all-in, for that price, at least in Yukon or NWT...possibly BC but expect much smaller bulls. The logistics of hunting mountain caribou make them a fairly expensive hunt. Not much for backpack hunts in Alberta. There are some great prairie mule deer hunts but primarily by vehicle and some outfitters do offer horseback hunts. I have one buddy that was considering doing some backpack mule deer hunts in Alberta...if he gets tags I can pass along the info to you.

If you want a physical hunt that offers an incredible adventure I'd say goat in BC is likely your best option in your price range. For a couple thousand more you could do tur in Azerbaijan? What about tahr and chamois in New Zealand? Ibex in Kyrgyzstan?
 
I thought about Kyrgystan but I am nervous about the cost and sending my money to some sketchy dude in an old soviet country.
 
Mountain caribou is a very interesting hunt. If you have already found an outfitter that you think looks good, go for it! I have been on three mountain caribou hunts, one of my favourites.
 
Do an on foot tahr/chamois hunt in NZ. Southern Alps can be pretty physically demanding. Private land can get you easier terrain and bigger heads. Crown land can get you tough terrain, big heads if you're with the right outfitter for a lower cost than the private hunts.
 
timing isn't a big issue as I own my own business.

I just don't want to wait around for a cancellation and then not be able to go if I cant find one.

would rather pay a bit more and know I am booked.

There are a few Caribou hunts on the SCI show auction list as well in the "range". I might contact some outfitters and see if they can work a deal in CDN $. Unless they have a house in the US it is almost a wash to change the money back anyways (at least in my experience dealing in US currency). That would present a savings for me that wont cost an outfitter anything.

A lot of the Mule Deer hunts out west I have found are don't "Alberta style" driving around in a truck. I am not judging, I know how cold it can be in November and I know it is a good way to cover ground but I don't want to hunt like that while I am still young enough to work my ass off. I found a couple that are Alpine hunts and they are quite reasonable but I am worried about the trophy quality and the chance that we might not see anything. As a city guy, I don't have too much time to hunt and I like to see lots of wildlife and have some opportunity. Where I live/work in Toronto I don't really get the immersion in Nature that I crave when I hunt.

Anyone have experience hunting Mulies in AB or BC up in the mountains?
 
Mountain Caribou is a fun hunt. I've got to be honest I don't really know the going rates for a guided hunt, but I'm sure you could find something in your price range in BC. As stated the average bull is probably a bit smaller than YT or NWT, but if you head up to NW BC you should be able to get a decent one. Also, for the price savings compared to the territories you might be able to justify adding on a mountain goat hunt. Which is truly one of the under appreciated game animals in my opinion.

http://littledeaseventures.com/rates.php
 
I know you said you're not really into mountain goat, but that is as mountain as it gets and one hell of a hunt, literally everything you're looking for. They also choose utterly some of the most beautiful parts of the province as home. Pretty iconic species in North American hunting as well, the challenge and workout you're after as well.
 
I live two hours outside of the GTA (N-East). If you want mountains, then Ram Creek Outfitters would be a place to start. They are in the Cranbrook/Fernie area of BC. I have hunted twice (2012/2014) with Ram Creek. All I can say is that Steven and Stephanie Leuenberger have a great operation. They don't have Mountain Caribou, but they have just about everything else you can hunt in BC, and they fall within your price point.

http://ramcreek.ca/
 
thanks guys.

Us Toronto dudes aren't spoiled like you guys out west with amazing hunting within a few hours drive (or a few minutes). this is all great info.

I am going to take an afternoon in early January and start calling around. compiling a list now.

side question....has anyone done an alpine hunt for mule deer? is it worthwhile? found a few elk/mulie combo hunts under 10k.
 
I don't know about costs but it sounds to me like you would enjoy elk hunting. I think you can get on elk/mulie hunts for around 8k, but that might be in parkland.

They can be hunted all throughout the rockies so I'm sure at least one state has cheaper outfitters, I know someone who shot a crazy bull in New Mexico.
 
I think I would be looking into bow hunt for moose in Yukon or NWT. Calling big bulls in the rut with a bow would be the ultimate hunt IMO!! Might be above your price range, not sure......
 
All of Ram Creeks hunts are high alpine. My hunt with them in 2012 was a combo Elk, Mule Deer, and I bought a wolf tag in the off chance we saw one. I shot a real nice bull at about 6000 feet. My hunt this past fall was a for Mule Deer, and I also bought a tag for Whitetail, and wolf. I shot a decent Mule Deer. We hunted most off the week at 6000 feet or higher. I shot my Mulie at about 6200 feet. I think you would call that high alpine hunting.
 
DVXDUDE said:
I think I would be looking into bow hunt for moose in Yukon or NWT. Calling big bulls in the rut with a bow would be the ultimate hunt IMO!! Might be above your price range, not sure......
Click to expand...

Pretty easy to spend $20k plus on a Yukon or NWT moose these days.
 
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