Outfitters prices for Elk & Moose hunts

[jtoews80]

I've been browsing some outfitters sites and getting prices for a Moose or Elk hunt. My dad is about 55 and I'd like to take him on a memorable hunt before he turns 60. This likely will not happen in the next two years due to starting a new business this year.

My dad is an avid moose hunter and has been for years. Except for a few small moose shot over the years he hasn't been really successful at it. He loves moose meat so it hasn't been a total loss, but between a family of 6 kids and lottery draw licenses the hunting hasn't been the best.

Now the best price I've seen from an outfitter in BC is 4300 for a 7 day hunt that offered an elk and one of three other game animals with kill fees. I have no idea if the quality of OUtfitter. In the Yukon, prices range over 15000 for one person, but the hunt covers Moose as primary, with 4 sub species: Grizzly, Caribou, Wolf, Wolverine & Black Bear. I realize these are exclusive hunts and would be very memorable, but I have a hard time justifying that. Heck, one could buy a very nice car for the cost of us going on that hunt.

I think we`ll be trying to go out toward Edson & Hinton, Alberta and trying the general season this year.

Any tips or suggestions on how to go about finding a reasonable outfitter. It doesn`t seem to be legal to self guide in most provinces if you`re from out of province.

JT.

 

[HunterJim]

www.hunts.net is Rich LaRocco's website, you can check the outfitters he is representing there. I used to work for him, and he is tough on outfitters, only keeping those who don't have problems.

jim

 

[DrMike]

jtoews,

I know that this doesn't answer your question directly, but are you focused on using a guide/outfitter? According to the BC hunting synopsis, "A non-resident of BC who is a resident of Canada or a Canadian citizen may be accompanied by a resident of BC who holds a Permit to Accompany. Only one Permit to Accompany will be issued to a person in a licence year." If you know someone living in BC, it is possible that they could secure the Permit to Accompany and give your dad the opportunity to hunt here.

Along the BC/AB border, I have seen lots a elk and moose, to say nothing of white tail and mule deer. What about hunting in AB WMU 358 and 359. Many of the farmers in that area seem willing to give permission to hunt their land, if asked.

How rigorous a hunt is your father looking for? Is he adverse to hunting farm land? Or does he prefer a wilderness hunt?

It is possible that I have misunderstood, and you want to do this as a gift for your dad, in which case you are free to ignore what I just said. Consequently, I think it is great that you want to take your dad on such a hunt.

 

[jtoews80]

Wow that site is a goldmine. It gives a pretty good idea of what prices should be for a normal hunt. I find it funny that alot of the really great hunting areas are with my home province or the next one. I always knew we were blessed with a really good variety of game animals, but if one has the time there is great hunting here.
Now to find the time to enjoy it.

JT

 

[jtoews80]

I would be all for a self guided hunt. My dad isn't really fussy about where he hunts, if there are Elk or Moose there it's the perfect place. I am not familiar with the 358 game area, I was thinking of trying the 340 & 342 simply because I've worked in that region and the fact that it is a general tag WMU. I will have a look and maybe try to contact a few landowners out that way. Thanks for the tip.

JT

 

[DrMike]

There is some excellent hunting over toward the Peace in WMU 359. However, the farms there seem always to have game on them. I hope to get an invitation to hunt Alberta this fall. I hunted the BC side if AB WMU 359 this past fall with good success, and I know of friends that have had good success across the border. I am not saying that there is not good hunting further south, but I know there is fine hunting here in the Peace region. From all the moose crashes on the highway to Grande Prairie, I'd say that 358 is chockablock full of moose.

 

[jtoews80]

I worked in WMU 355 on the "Weyehauser North long haul logging road" for most of the winter of 04-05. It has alot of Elk in it, but I never seen anything over 3 point while we were there, however that could have been because we were working on a drilling rig and not wondering around in the bush.

It is my understanding that Weyehauser will give permission to hunters to use the road if one has a two way radio with thier freq's programed in so you can call you km on the way in and out. This is your typical Off road driving experiance.The KM's are marked with white signs that you don't have to call and orange signs by ocstructions and low visibility curves etc. you know: "Rider (pick up) MT(going in) @ km 58 on the Main. or Loaded rider @ KM 8-125 on the Redrock. the main and redrock are both spurs off the weyehauser. When on a spur you call the spur number, km & then name the spur as well. This is due to the logging traffic on the road, they're 14 feet wide, log tails 20 feet long sticking out the back with a gross weight of 55,000 KG running ice roads on grade of up to 8% and with alot of one lane bridges and hairpin curves. The place is alot of fun to drive with a pick up.

The early season there should not have alot of traffic as it rains up there a bit in mid-lat september and makes the road too soft to haul timber. Just might have to get better tires for my ford tho. I think I'll call Weyerhause and make sure I can use that road before I make to many plans tho.

JT.

 

[DrMike]

WMU 358 & 359 has elk and moose. I have seen a number of 5 and 6 point elk while visiting friends across the border. There are a fair number of cows as well. The moose that I have seen are decent Canada moose, and as would be expected, I have seen more cows and calves than bulls in that area.

On the BC side of the border the regulations in the last two weeks of August are any bull. After September 1, moose must be either a fork-horn, a tri-palm or have a total of ten points on one side. There are moose around, but it does require time and care in order to assess the animals. I confess that I hunt a number of farms in this area, and on the day after the season closed, I counted 13 bulls in one field. I think those critters read the regulations!

 

[phutch30]

Me and and a buddy did an elk hunt with mountain country outfitters out of Hinton last Sept and had a great hunt. Passed up a 280-300 class bull every day and shot my 346 gross bull on day 6. My buddy missed a 340-350 bull on the last night. I did a 10 day hunt. Deer and bear can be added for additional fee. Id go back in a second.
http://www.mcohunting.com/

 

[jtoews80]

That is a great looking bull, congratulations.

JT.

 

[DrMike]

phutch,

Were you hunting toward Cadomin out of Hinton? The picture looks as if it could have been taken in that area. Great bull.

 

[phutch30]

I was pretty close to that area. I could take you right to that spot but couldnt tell ya how to get there if that makes any sense. We drove through the mine to get there.
I should also mention a 7mm with a 160gr Partition handload was responsible. He makes 10 bulls taken with that load and have never had to blood trail a single one.

 

[DrMike]

160 Partitions are the ticket for 7mm, no doubt. Yeah, I'm somewhat familiar with the area.

 

[hardpan]

JT,
i actually do a fair number of guided hunts for Elk. I think the critical thing to decide is what you want for the hunt itself. For instance, Elk rut and bugle starts in Sept, but continues through Nov sometimes. So weather can range from hot to freezing... rain, sunny snow etc...

What kind of terrain do you want to hunt? That can help narrow down the choices. For some hunters, the really rugged country is just too challenging, but for others, it is heaven. I have seen some great elk hunting in flatlands, and some great hunting in mountains that require you to be in very good shape. For some hunters, altitude sickness plays a role, and if you plan to hunt high, and are not used to it, you may find yourself sick for a couple of days.

What kind of hunt? there are good outfitters that get you deep into wilderness, which is a blast, but it can get so hard that some hunters hardly leave camp. Many fellow hunters will not hunt a high fence, but there are ranches that have 10,000 acres behind the fence, and that is a lot of square miles.

What kind of accomodations? Some like camping, some motels, others lodges. Same question for food. This can range from beans to steak and lobster.

Most of the hunters on this forum like to hunt elk in their natural habitat. In california, we have natural herds outside of bakersfield, 30 miles from Oakland (no kidding!)... But the land is private. There are some good places in the south that you can combine elk and other game, not moose, and some is free range and some is high fenced.

The better that you can describe your ideal hunt, the higher your chances are of obtaining it. In general, I see prices starting around $7500 for a 350 class bull, much cheaper than that in the south, and often cheaper than that in areas with low kill ratios.

SCI just had their show in Reno, but there may be a sportsmen's expo coming to a place near you where you can talk to outfitters and guides. Remember, you are going to spend several days with them, and it can be pretty miserable to spend that much time with someone that is not compatible with you.

Just some ideas,
Best,
Hardpan

 

[johnwilson007]

Wow that site is a goldmine.