Alberta or Saskatchewan?

PDub · Mar 29, 2008

My cousin and I are in search for a Classic Canadian Whitetail hunt. Rifle preferred, but will do archery. We're both looking for mature bucks...anyone with first hand knowledge out there willing to share some info? Alberta or Sask? And if anyone could point us towards some good outfitters would be fantastic. I appreciate any info. Thanks in advance.

Scott G.

kilowatt · Mar 29, 2008

Seems like I seen somewhere that Sask. has the bigger Whitetails. Check out the website of "Mr. Muzzleloader" Jim Shockey, he guides up there I think too.
P.S. Look for a post on here of Saskman and ask him for some advice and maybe he can give you some names to check out up there. Good luck on the hunts if you go.
Brian

WVHUNTER · Mar 30, 2008

One difference is that in Saskatchewan you hunt over bait and in Alberta you don't. Because of this you would normally see more deer and be more successful in Saskatchewan but some of the places in Alberta are pretty successful also.

In Saskatchewan you will sit in a blind all day 50-100yds from a bait pile. In Alberta you will probably sit in a stand watching a hay field or in the brush watching for one to cross a cut line. Not much spot and stalk in either place.

There are big deer in both places but they are aren't guaranteed.

I hunted in Saskatchewan in 2006 and I'm going back this year. Good outfitters book up two years in advance. You can still get a good Saskatchewan hunt for $4,500, the Alberta hunts may be more.

Lien2 · Mar 31, 2008

Another vote for Saskatchewan. And yeh, if you have the money I'd give Mr. Shockey a call as well.

Lien2

PDub · Apr 1, 2008

Thank you for the advise. We went to Illinois a few years ago and had a blast. We've always dreamed of Canada.
I'm definitely going to look around for guides and outfitter. WE hope to book for 2010 but we can wait till 2011 if we need to. If we get a big ole buck all the better, but we just love going out hunting together.
Thanks again...keep the ideas coming. It'll give me and my cuz good information.
Thanks again,

Scott G

muzzy125 · Apr 1, 2008

LAST EDITED ON Apr-01-08 AT 07:51PM (MST)[p]IMHO i think Alberta has killed bigger bucks then Sask in the last few years.

If i was booking a hunt here in Alberta i would book with Scott Taylor of Bearspaw outfitting or Mike U with Mike's outfitting.Both top notch outfitters with great track records.

Pm me if you have any questions.

I have posted these here before but we will do it again for u gents.

PDub · Apr 3, 2008

muzzy125-

WOW...nice pics. Great deer. I have contacted Bearpaw Outfitters and am waiting for some info to arrive in the mail.
thank for all the input and pics guys..I really appreciate it.
Thank you,

Scott G.

oilcan · Apr 6, 2008

Great pictures Muzzy thanks for sharing

bigbull1 · Apr 10, 2008

I hunted with Lee McNary at Alberta River Valley Lodge for both white tails and muleys last November. I saw a bunch of both and some huge bucks. I took a 191" muley with 11" droptine and a "ten point" 154" whitey, my first.

Great lodge with a ton of mounts, and super cook. He is a great guy, with some super sub guides. Do yourself a favor and check out his website and photo gallery.

The Hoyt bow crew was there in the archery season and stuck a 226 non typical muley. Supposed to be on video soon.

A hunter in camp the week I was there took a 177" non typical whitey with incredible mass.
http://www.rivervalleylodge.com/

Ed

PDub · Apr 10, 2008

Ed-

Thank you for the suggestion. I went to their site and they sure do a good job from the sounds of it. I saw your buck too...WOW! Congrats. I requested some info...thank you again.

Scott G

TK · Apr 14, 2008

I had a hunt booked with Diamond Willow a few years ago but had to cancel at last minute. I met some guys that hunted with them and they got some real whoppers. Those are some smoker Whitetails above. I wish we had deer like that down here. You guys don't know how good you have it up thar. EH

bigbull1 · Apr 15, 2008

Scott,

Lee wanted me to come back next year as he wanted me to get a "smoker" whitetail. I was really happy to get my "ten" point that broke 150". Both my whitetail and muley broke 300lbs as well.

There is a regular hunter, Randy, aka "Bou", that has been coming since Lee bought the business. He comes every year and is booked for the next five years. If you look through the galleries (I thought he was a subguide when I first looked) he is the hunter with all the Swarovski Optics, takes incredible muleys and whiteys every year. He took "Thomas" a non-typical muley this year that went 217", with incredible mass. His stories of the animals he has seen and taken are amazing.

I saw at least five muleys larger than my droptine buck afterwords, and missed three whiteys bigger than mine.

They truly try to exceed the goals of each hunter.

Ed