The winterhunt is a drive-in hunt and is lots cheaper than the fall fly-in hunt. figgure on about $1500 for the outfitters fees (cheaper as the season progresses and the season lasts into late winter), $300 for the licence and whatever your travelling expenses are. Gas is REAL expensive up there. The James Bay highway is a good road to drive on, but the Trans-Taiga road can be real treacherous, 400 km of ice, icy hills, icy curves and more ice. Did I mention ice?. Whatever you do, don't run yourself off the road, a tow truck will cost you a grand.
Winter Caribou hunting - reference/price check
- Thread starter Campbery
- Start date
It just goes to show you that everyone can have a different experience. We went with EXPLO SILVA in 1997 and I have stated on this site before - they were dishonest and incompetent - ruined a hunt of a life time. I make a point of saying that to anyone who asks and if they are at a hunting show, I make sure I go up and tell as many people as possible who are standing in their booth.
I have a number of friends who have hunted with MIRAGE, generally all have had positive comments about the people and the facilities. Again, experiences vary depending on how far you are willing to get off the road. One of my friends was hit in the thumb with a bullet while cleaning a caribou - they were in a draw down from the road and some gravel guners started blasting at caribou that were between them. Luckily, other than a bruise and sore vocal cords from screaming at them, he was OK - he still has the bullet. My freinds have also told me of finding lotss of caribou which were shot and left in the bush.
Overall, thats not the type of experience I want, so I wont go. I will also say to bring a new and mechanically reliable truck / trailer with you - its a very long drive with virtually no place to get gas or repairs. One of my friends had to leave his running 24 hours a day as it was so cold he was worried they would not be able to start the truck.
And as far as taste, caribou makes moose and deer (which I like) taste like mud duck ......
I have a number of friends who have hunted with MIRAGE, generally all have had positive comments about the people and the facilities. Again, experiences vary depending on how far you are willing to get off the road. One of my friends was hit in the thumb with a bullet while cleaning a caribou - they were in a draw down from the road and some gravel guners started blasting at caribou that were between them. Luckily, other than a bruise and sore vocal cords from screaming at them, he was OK - he still has the bullet. My freinds have also told me of finding lotss of caribou which were shot and left in the bush.
Overall, thats not the type of experience I want, so I wont go. I will also say to bring a new and mechanically reliable truck / trailer with you - its a very long drive with virtually no place to get gas or repairs. One of my friends had to leave his running 24 hours a day as it was so cold he was worried they would not be able to start the truck.
And as far as taste, caribou makes moose and deer (which I like) taste like mud duck ......
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... we got sheitloads of tuktu all the time ...
Kanuiven Otokiak? Nice to see an Inuk on the board...I'm part Inuit myself. Not many tuktu where I'm too they're a little further north. We have some that we're not legally allowed to hunt. Next time you get a couple send me some niku!
If you are interested to see my Caribou hunting trip, from November 21 - 2007 to Novemver 27 - 2007 in northern Quebec.
At Nouchimi hunting camp on Trans Taiga Road.
Go at "video.google.fr/" and search for "voyage de chasse" and see at page 2 "caribous 2007"
We are 11 hunters, and, we have drop 22 caribous before noon.
Winter Caribou meat is first class, during summer, taste is like liver.
It's in French, but, hunting it's hunting.
At Nouchimi hunting camp on Trans Taiga Road.
Go at "video.google.fr/" and search for "voyage de chasse" and see at page 2 "caribous 2007"
We are 11 hunters, and, we have drop 22 caribous before noon.
Winter Caribou meat is first class, during summer, taste is like liver.
It's in French, but, hunting it's hunting.
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Thanks for the advice guys, great slide show (interesting choice of soundtrack), looks like you guys had a blast, can't wait, booked for the opener with Mirage.
direct link to the slide show:
http://video.google.fr/videoplay?docid=4484006655940759386&q=voyage+de+chasse&total=68&start=10&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=2
direct link to the slide show:
http://video.google.fr/videoplay?docid=4484006655940759386&q=voyage+de+chasse&total=68&start=10&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=2
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Wow, Chas, I'm sorry to hear that your hunt sucked. I was very close to booking with Explo Sylva, but wound up going with Mirage instead. My "hunt of a lifetime" went like clockwork, had a fantastic time. Didn't see huge numbers of caribou, but everybody got two by the end of the week. No record book heads, but all nice trophies that you'd be proud to hang on the wall. On the last day hunting, I spotted and stalked a bruiser of a bear. The hide measured a couple inches shy of eight feet long, and the skull makes Boone and Crockett. Best week of my life.
Campberry, when I was there I heard something about a bus-tour package that takes you up LG4 to the lodge. I wasn't paying that much attention, but if you're going for the winter hunt it might be worthwhile to look into it. Either way, you will have a fantastic trip. The garage at Mirage was full of newish, well-maintained snowmobiles, all set for the winter hunters. The entire operation was very well run. Good luck!
John
Campberry, when I was there I heard something about a bus-tour package that takes you up LG4 to the lodge. I wasn't paying that much attention, but if you're going for the winter hunt it might be worthwhile to look into it. Either way, you will have a fantastic trip. The garage at Mirage was full of newish, well-maintained snowmobiles, all set for the winter hunters. The entire operation was very well run. Good luck!
John
Its probably better not to go on the very first hunt, (nov. 15). If you have a choice try for the second or third hunt. around the end of November. It won't make any difference as far as how many antlered bulls you will see. The last couple of years the caribou haven't shown up until the first week of december at the road. If they are not yet to the road, you are S.O.L .- there is no way to walk throught the snow for 100km to get them, you can't run a snowmobile back to them for the same reason- no trails, lots of rocks, if 2 guys go hard all day they are lucky to go 20Km and back- trust me I tried.
If they are not yet at the road, you will still be able to get caribou at mirage, but they will have to fly you in with a helicopter. They usually take in 4 hunters at a time, drop you at a lake infront of the catribou, pick up the last group that they dropped off, and swing their 8 caribou in a net underneath. You get about an hour to hunt(depends on how far they had to fly you from the road). 2 years ago the price was $1600 per hour for the helicopter- It is NOT included in the $1500 + license deal you are talking about.
The drive is brutal, there is no other word for it. Make sure you can lay down and sleep in your vehicle. Book a room at Raddison, or Ruole Rouche right now if you want one because there are only 2 places to sleep and they will be full if you don't reserve well in advance. DON'T underestimate the drive. We drive from london to Red Lake every year for moose hunting (2500KM one way) and it is a cake walk compared to driving to LG4.
Mirage is by far the best outfitter of the 4 that are in that area. (Nouchimi, Asselins, and Kissemoung are the other 3)
All of these things said -if you time the migration right is is truly awe- inspiring to see the barren taiga come to life with thousands of caribou.
If you want shoot me a PM and I can answer pretty well any questions you might have for that hunt.
If they are not yet at the road, you will still be able to get caribou at mirage, but they will have to fly you in with a helicopter. They usually take in 4 hunters at a time, drop you at a lake infront of the catribou, pick up the last group that they dropped off, and swing their 8 caribou in a net underneath. You get about an hour to hunt(depends on how far they had to fly you from the road). 2 years ago the price was $1600 per hour for the helicopter- It is NOT included in the $1500 + license deal you are talking about.
The drive is brutal, there is no other word for it. Make sure you can lay down and sleep in your vehicle. Book a room at Raddison, or Ruole Rouche right now if you want one because there are only 2 places to sleep and they will be full if you don't reserve well in advance. DON'T underestimate the drive. We drive from london to Red Lake every year for moose hunting (2500KM one way) and it is a cake walk compared to driving to LG4.
Mirage is by far the best outfitter of the 4 that are in that area. (Nouchimi, Asselins, and Kissemoung are the other 3)
All of these things said -if you time the migration right is is truly awe- inspiring to see the barren taiga come to life with thousands of caribou.
If you want shoot me a PM and I can answer pretty well any questions you might have for that hunt.
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