Wanting to hunt a bison, where is the best opportunity in the country to do so?

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Northern Shooter

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Ever since I started out hunting I've always wanted to hunt a Bison. It seems to be one of the quintisential North American hunts. My recent interest in big bore rifles has only afirmed this interest. I also especially love the meat and purchase it semi-regularly.

I'm trying to sort out all the details as I'm from Ontario so will need to travel for this hunt.

From what I've read it sounds like my options are AB, BC, YT and NWT.

Im assuming that there is a very limited draw in each of these regions where a tag is hard to come by.

As a non-resident im guessing that a guided hunt would be required and I'm willing to pay the money for it, but if anyone has any details to the contrary I'm all ears.

For those of you that have hunted bison as a non-resident, which route did you go?

Which Province / Territory?

Guided / unguided?

Free range / "hunting range" ?

How did it work with exporting the meat ?

I'm all ears.
 
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The return of the Hay-Zama hunt in northern Alberta is what got me thinking on a possible hunt for 2023/2024 as that would be the closest to Ontario.

It looks like only residents can apply to the draw for hiring a guide would be required.
 
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Northern Shooter said:
The return of the Hay-Zama hunt in northern Alberta is what got me thinking on a possible hunt for 2023/2024 as that would be the closest to Ontario.

It looks like only residents can apply to the draw for hiring a guide would be required.
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Used to hunt them in AB up around the Caribou Mountains, haven't checked the regs recently about that area however. AB also has what used to called the guest guide program, no idea what they call it now, whereby an Albertan could become a "guide" for friends and family they brought hunting with them. - dan
 
dan belisle said:
Used to hunt them in AB up around the Caribou Mountains, haven't checked the regs recently about that area however. AB also has what used to called the guest guide program, no idea what they call it now, whereby an Albertan could become a "guide" for friends and family they brought hunting with them. - dan
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Good to know, I heard YT has a similar arrangement. My buddy living in Northern AB doesn't hunt but I'm working on it.
 
the special guiding for bison here is limited to 25 permits and any yukon resident over 19 years old can do it after a draw. for us it is an otc tag.

it is free range and might not be as easy as some can think.

if you re willing to an outfiter is offering as well some hunting but i do not know what are the costs involved.
 
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medvedqc said:
the special guiding for bison here is limited to 25 permits and any yukon resident over 19 years old can do it after a draw. for us it is an otc tag.

it is free range and might as easy as some can think.

if you re willing to an outfiter is offering as well some hunting but i do not know what are the costs involved.
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I've only been able to find a couple prices so far for both free range and canned hunts in AB. They range from $8500 on a ranch to $20,000+ free range hunt, both in northern AB.
 
Cheaper to just go to a bison ranch and buy one and go shoot it in the pasture. Friend did it with a bow once was actually exciting because the others were snorting around the dead buffalo .
 
I’ve folded one up, it did seem like an achievement. Got mine in Northern Ab. Wife got one too! I’ve heard things have changed up there because of the fires. If you have the money, I’d suggest going through an outfitter now. Best odds. Of course, if you want to be sure you’re going home with a hide, head and lots of meat.. Go to a ranch, there’s some in Saskatchewan.

Cheapest way to do it is through a farmer though. Not sure if it’s legal. Canned operations just buy their bulls from farmers and turn them out on their own land. Charging you over double what they pay for em. Pretty sure $3-4000 would fetch you a big old bull on a bison operation. IF you’re going the canned route.
 
pipeliner said:
I’ve folded one up, it did seem like an achievement. Got mine in Northern Ab. Wife got one too! I’ve heard things have changed up there because of the fires. If you have the money, I’d suggest going through an outfitter now. Best odds. Of course, if you want to be sure you’re going home with a hide, head and lots of meat.. Go to a ranch, there’s some in Saskatchewan.

Cheapest way to do it is through a farmer though. Not sure if it’s legal. Canned operations just buy their bulls from farmers and turn them out on their own land. Charging you over double what they pay for em. Pretty sure $3-4000 would fetch you a big old bull on a bison operation. IF you’re going the canned route.
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My search has brought up a place called Silvertine Wildlife Co. Has anyone hear hunted at this property? Sounds like they have bison, elk, moose, sheep. All sorts of animals on this 800 acre preserve. The prices are still higher than I expected for a canned hunt.
 
conor_90 said:
Will you be using your Rigby? :dancingbanana:
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Not if I end up doing this hunt in the next year or two, 2026 ETA for the rifle.

I'm actually having second guesses on that down-payment... I'm considering backing out (have until the end of Oct 2023) and spending that same amount of cash on 3-4 different rifles.

Shortly after I put the order In I was seeing Heym Express rifles in 416 for less than half of what I paid.

I could almost swing a Heym Double + Express bolt rifle for the price of the Rigby.

Or the Heym + Another Model 70 + Ruger M77 + Nice shotgun etc.

But there is something to be said about shooting 416 Rigby, out of a Rigby rifle.
 
Northern Shooter said:
Good to know, I heard YT has a similar arrangement. My buddy living in Northern AB doesn't hunt but I'm working on it.
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Nowadays, you're taking your life in your hands in that neck of the woods, the Natives have no sense of Ha Ha with Whitey hunters and you might come back to find your truck and camp torched. Anyone lucky enough to be drawn for the Zama Hunt might have the same issues. Different place, same deal.

http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?t=425402

Grizz
 
Grizzly Adams said:
Nowadays, you're taking your life in your hands in that neck of the woods, the Natives have no sense of Ha Ha with Whitey hunters and you might come back to find your truck and camp torched. Anyone lucky enough to be drawn for the Zama Hunt might have the same issues. Different place, same deal.

http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?t=425402

Grizz
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even non first nation hunters are going after hunters if they re not from the same clique ... do not think only one kind of the population is doing something bad ... sometimes if is your buddy doing bad stuff ... like blaming the immigrants for everything bad happening here ...
 
Back on topic, has anyone ever "hunted" on a game ranch? Yes this would be more of a harvest vs hunting but I'd still be open to such a scenario for the meat.

Are there any places that don't charge $10,000+ to "hunt" and have butchered a bison?
 
$10 K is a pretty low bar to fit under
even Texas will cost that for a trophy, a meat hunt is cheaper though

you might get satisfaction enough out of spending the same for a multi species African hunt
 
Northern Shooter said:
My search has brought up a place called Silvertine Wildlife Co. Has anyone hear hunted at this property? Sounds like they have bison, elk, moose, sheep. All sorts of animals on this 800 acre preserve. The prices are still higher than I expected for a canned hunt.
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800 acres isn’t hunting, frankly, that’s adventure themed protein shopping, which is fine meat dies to enter the freezer. It’s just not a “hunt”. Message me for a contact for an outfitter on wild bison in Northern Alberta, but it’ll cost around what the Rigby did. You’ll also make real memories with that Rigby, winter hunt on the edge of Wood Buffalo National Park.
 
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