I'm just throwing this out to see how many hunters east of Manitoba would love to hunt a big Saskatchewan/Alberta whitetail?..........hunters (whitetail nuts)who dreamed but could not go for some reason. I could think that many would like something different to hunt, like an antelope, mule deer, or elk, however; the whitetail is the more sought after big game animal in North America.
****Saskatchewan/Alberta Trophy Whitetail Hunt****
- Thread starter track
- Start date
- Location
- Prince Albert, Sk
We don't have any whitetail left in Saskatchewan, all gone, don't even try. 
We don't have any whitetail left in Saskatchewan, all gone, don't even try.
tssk tssk
x2 me too me too!!!
- Location
- Saskatchewan
Good luck finding a deer, is was a turkey shoot this past season.
I'm born and raised in Ontario, and have hunted Whitetails here for several years, but I would LOVE to hunt whitetatils & Muleys out West. I've considered the option of going with a guide, and even contacted some of them, but at the end of the day, I can't justify the cost. $5000 for a 6 day hunt, not including travel costs??? Too much for me. Especially considering that with a little work and some networking, I can buy my own non-resident tags for Saskatchewan, or with a "hunter host" buy tags for Alberta. Sure, it takes longer, and may not guarantee the size deer that outfitters boast about, but in my opinion it's worth it.
Unfortunately comitments to my work have kept me from taking any hunting trips in the last several years. Hopefully this year I'll be able to go with a friend on his family's property near Vermillion AB, and I'm also looking at the non-resident gun season in SK.
I have to admit, the thing that bothers me the most about booking a guided hunt is the gratuities. I've talked to several outfitters, as well as a number of hunter's who have gone on guided hunts. It would seem that a guide EXPECTS to be tipped 20-50% of the actual hunt cost, even if you don't take an animal. I find this very distastful. A tip should be something that is earned, by going above and beyond what can be reasonably expected. I hate that tips are expected, even relied upon, in many proffessions now. For me to want to tip someone for doing their job, they'd have to take me to a new world record animal that they'd specifically scouted.
Since you mentioned Antelope, I think you might be interested to know that I looked at pronghorn hunts as well. If I do go to a guide for pronghorn hunting, it will be in Montana. From my research they seem to have the best rates, as well as the best chance of success.
Unfortunately comitments to my work have kept me from taking any hunting trips in the last several years. Hopefully this year I'll be able to go with a friend on his family's property near Vermillion AB, and I'm also looking at the non-resident gun season in SK.
I have to admit, the thing that bothers me the most about booking a guided hunt is the gratuities. I've talked to several outfitters, as well as a number of hunter's who have gone on guided hunts. It would seem that a guide EXPECTS to be tipped 20-50% of the actual hunt cost, even if you don't take an animal. I find this very distastful. A tip should be something that is earned, by going above and beyond what can be reasonably expected. I hate that tips are expected, even relied upon, in many proffessions now. For me to want to tip someone for doing their job, they'd have to take me to a new world record animal that they'd specifically scouted.
Since you mentioned Antelope, I think you might be interested to know that I looked at pronghorn hunts as well. If I do go to a guide for pronghorn hunting, it will be in Montana. From my research they seem to have the best rates, as well as the best chance of success.
New regs are going to make out of province hunters apply for a draw in order to hunt so be sure to look into that.
Not kidding about winter kill though. Around me it has been an aweful winter and older mature bucks tend to take a sh*t kicking in these conditions because they go into it with no fat reserves. Couple that with the fact in melted and froze twice makes the effects multiply.
Finding deer will take some doing this fall. Too bad because they were bouncing back nicely from the last crappy winter.
I get a kick that a lot of people think there are 170 plus bucks running around everywhere. Fact is they are few and far between. Yes some people do get them and some even on a regular basis but don't be fooled by the hype. Sask./Alberta is like every where else. The only plus is that the genetics here do produce some nice animals and the northern deer are bigger than average white tail. I read an article many years ago that in areas with good populations and genetics only 1-2 in a thousand bucks are Boone and crocket material so you do the math.
Not kidding about winter kill though. Around me it has been an aweful winter and older mature bucks tend to take a sh*t kicking in these conditions because they go into it with no fat reserves. Couple that with the fact in melted and froze twice makes the effects multiply.
Finding deer will take some doing this fall. Too bad because they were bouncing back nicely from the last crappy winter.
I get a kick that a lot of people think there are 170 plus bucks running around everywhere. Fact is they are few and far between. Yes some people do get them and some even on a regular basis but don't be fooled by the hype. Sask./Alberta is like every where else. The only plus is that the genetics here do produce some nice animals and the northern deer are bigger than average white tail. I read an article many years ago that in areas with good populations and genetics only 1-2 in a thousand bucks are Boone and crocket material so you do the math.
I have been hunting white-tail deer for 30 years now in Quebec and for the last 2 seasons I've been blessed to have the opportunity to hunt Saskatchewan with a friend who has lived and hunted in Saskatchewan for 65 years. It is true that I was drawn to hunt Sask. because of the great big bucks, but after hunting hard for the last 2 years I can tell you that book deer are far and few between. I have seen many 140-150 class deer which any Quebec hunter would sell his soul to shoot but I've seen only 1 180 class deer. I personally have taken 2 71/2 year old deers out of the herd. They were well past their prime, but being there for the rut is priceless. To witness the rubs and scrapes at that magnitude is incredible . I have also heard from my friend that the winter is taking a toll on these deer. There is still too much snow and the deer are having a tough time to get around. All this to say that I pray that I will always have the opportunity to get down to Saskatchewan and hunt with a great friend for many years to come because the alternative which is to hunt in Quebec does not interest me anymore. We as hunters in Quebec have the mentality that if it has wood then he is a shooter. I understand the concerns of Saskatchewan residents but personally I know we come to hunt deer with great respect both for the animal and the land they roam. See you in November
Danny
Danny
- Location
- WMU248 near Edmonton
oh lots of snow this year is going to be hard on them, Saw a herd the other day looking for feed, Farmers that had hay bails out in the feild and didn't get them off last fall are in for a surprise in the spring.
there are some big ones out there, and if you hit the rut (it was late last fall where I was hunting) your in for some fun.
there are some big ones out there, and if you hit the rut (it was late last fall where I was hunting) your in for some fun.
Saskatchewan is a Go
I Got my 25 day Holiday booked for hunting alberta and saskatchewan.
Deer took abit of a beating this winter in AB and SK, however i'll still go hunting and try my luck for a big buck.
No matter what the critics say,there will be plenty of deer in saskatchewan this Fall!
I Got my 25 day Holiday booked for hunting alberta and saskatchewan.
Deer took abit of a beating this winter in AB and SK, however i'll still go hunting and try my luck for a big buck.
No matter what the critics say,there will be plenty of deer in saskatchewan this Fall!
