caribou hunt 99e or 116 weather warrior?

Camper

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I am going on a caribou hunt this September and I am wondering what rifle to bring. The 99e is in .300 savage 150 gr BT or AB and the weather warrior is in 7mm SAUM. 140 gr AB. I know both calibers are more than sufficient with the longer range going to the 7 mm. I am not concerned about access to ammo. What I would like to hear is peoples thoughts on what rifle they feel is more suited to caribou hunting i.e. weight and durability etc . I feel comfortable and enjoy hunting with both rifles equally. I will be hunting in northern Quebec (fly in). This will be my first trip of this sort so I am a little green however I am a seasoned deer hunter used to hunting in eastern Ontario terrain. Please post in the hunting section if not in the right form.
Camper
 
What kind of hunting turns your crank? Long range shooting doesn't require a live target to be exhilarating, but stalking caribou up close is a hoot. A few years back I belly crawled up on one lying in a dry tundra pond, while he watched my partner. I could have killed him with a knife! I've laid quietly on the side of a bald knoll and had them graze up to the toe of my boot, only to race away when I spoke to them. That said, either of those rifles, if they are in good shape, are suitable for big game out to 300, but if the weather sucks when you're hunting, you might prefer to carry the plastic one.
 
Use the one that you like to use the most. The hunt is not about the equipment, it's about the hunting. Both are very good caribou rifles, just different styles.
Wet weather is very common in the far north in fall. If you don't like maintaining rifles, the weather warrior will be more worry free. If wiping your rifle down at the end of the day with an oily cloth is part of your enjoyable routine, there is no good reason not to take the Savage.
 
Lucky you, wish I was going again. Went last year for my first time. They're not hard to tip over, I regret not bringing my 6.5x55. I brought a Tikka SS in .30-06. Whatever your comfortable with will work. Good luck
 
Bring them both... It never hurts to have a back-up... A few years ago a group of co-workers drove up to Northern Quebec for a hunt... They stopped for dinner at a diner in "Bonjour" Quebec... And said "Adios" to their rifles... Stolen out of the back of their trucks, parked right in front of a picture window. They had two guys bring spare rifles that were packed away deeper in the cargo... All six shot two caribou each with those two rifles. If the caribou movement is "on" you could use a pistol... But if it is "off" you will want all the reach you can get... And maybe more. If you only bring one gun, make it the one that you can shoot furthest most accurately... And have the most confidence in... All of my Boo's have been taken with archery gear.
 
For me it would have to be the 99E. It is more about nostalgia and fun than anything else - kind of like why when I hunted the blackpowder season I used a T/C Hawken instead of some fancy-pants in-line with a sabot. And boy, did it feel nice to shoot deer with that old Hawken!
 
as a nostalgic i guided in northern quebec for three fall seasons in the caribou hype.

my savage saves the bacon of some hunters for any good or bad reasons.

so if you like take it will work and we never had to shoot them at 300 yards nor i was doing flying to be into the caribou migration so it dépends on the knowledge and skills of your guide.

with which outfitter are you going

all the best.
 
Norma said:
He mentioned a fly in, it's the 65 lb baggage weight limit that's the problem.
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The fly-in camp I hunted in Quebec a number of years ago had a 60-pound limit IIRC. I took two rifles and met the weight limit without going to any extraordinary measures. Sleeping bags weren't required...bedding was supplied...and both guns went into soft cases for the fly-in. I left the hard case in my truck at the Montreal airport hotel. I was even able to bring two sets of antlers back on the fly-out, instead of waiting for the outfitter to deliver them later as they normally would do. :)
 
Cargair outfitters is the company. The weight limit is 126lbs per person. We get to bring 2 racks back, 1 full and 1 split along with 2 boxes of meat each. I think I will bring the plastic gun because of the unknown weather and banging it around in the boat etc. On the other hand I wipe the rifles down regardless so ahhh ####.... I don't know lol
 
Wow...with such a generous weight limit I don't know why you wouldn't take both guns. The bolt gun is a soulless utilitarian tool...just the thing to have along as a back-up, bad-weather gun. The 99 is a classic, classy rifle and you will probably kick yourself if you don't bring it and take at least one caribou with it. Why choose only one when you don't have to do so?
 
Camper said:
Cargair outfitters is the company. The weight limit is 126lbs per person. We get to bring 2 racks back, 1 full and 1 split along with 2 boxes of meat each. I think I will bring the plastic gun because of the unknown weather and banging it around in the boat etc. On the other hand I wipe the rifles down regardless so ahhh ####.... I don't know lol
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Camper,

are you driving up to their floatplane base around Reservoir la grande 2?

will be on a self guided or with a guide (not a camp man ...)?

be sure they re flying you after 60 north otherwise few chances to see the tail of one caribou.

all the best.
 
Dive up to LG4 base camp. Floatplane to north 56. I have heard some very good reviews about this outfitter. Clients being flown to different area camps to get closer to the migration.
 
jjohnwm said:
The fly-in camp I hunted in Quebec a number of years ago had a 60-pound limit IIRC. I took two rifles and met the weight limit without going to any extraordinary measures. Sleeping bags weren't required...bedding was supplied...and both guns went into soft cases for the fly-in. I left the hard case in my truck at the Montreal airport hotel. I was even able to bring two sets of antlers back on the fly-out, instead of waiting for the outfitter to deliver them later as they normally would do. :)[/QUOTE
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jjohnwm said:
It was my first fly in trip from Montreal, was stressfull to meet the 65 lb weight limit. HaHa We went end of Sept so we had to pack warm clothes and we needed sleeping bags. We also brought fishing gear. One American was under 50 lb and he brought 2 bows, he didn't wash or change clothes all week. LOL
Camper said:
Cargair outfitters is the company. The weight limit is 126lbs per person. We get to bring 2 racks back, 1 full and 1 split along with 2 boxes of meat each. I think I will bring the plastic gun because of the unknown weather and banging it around in the boat etc. On the other hand I wipe the rifles down regardless so ahhh ####.... I don't know lol
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You must have to bring your own food and booze with a weight limit that high? If I would do it again, I would bring my 20 gauge for ptarmigan.
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Camper said:
Dive up to LG4 base camp. Floatplane to north 56. I have heard some very good reviews about this outfitter. Clients being flown to different area camps to get closer to the migration.
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56 wont be enough closer ...

the main camp I was last was north 58.5 and the caribous were way up northern than lake minto ... in fact I think any operators not going over Kuujuak is a waist of time nowadays. but wish you the best.
 
Best of luck...I hope you have a great trip.

Just a suggestion: grab a bear tag as well as caribou tags. I bought one at the last minute and came home with the biggest black bear of my life, taken spot-and-stalk...one of the highlights of my hunting life. :)
 
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