bashaw
AH enthusiast
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2009
- Messages
- 285
- Reaction score
- 659
- Location
- Oregon most of the time
- Media
- 26
- Member of
- SCI, NRA,Oregon Hunters Assoc.
- Hunted
- USA, Zimbabwe x2 , Australia, Mozambique, Namibia, Canada & South Africa
Two friends and I went to Sakatchewan to hunt with Northway Outfitters December 2-6, December 1st we arrived, checked Rifles, and met the other hunters and most of the staff in camp. Day 1 C and I went with a guide to our stands, Buddy the owner took K to his stand. C shot a last day Buck on the first day in the morning, which turned out to be a good decision. K seen several small Bucks and several Does first day I seen 5 Deer 3 of them were in the dark could only see with binoculars.
Day 2 K and I went with my guide from the day before since C was tagged out. I seen more Does in first 30 minutes than I seen the day before and then started seeing Bucks, "I talk Western count so a Forked horn to me is a 6pt eastern count" I seen several Forked horns and 3pts and one 4 pt lost count of the Bucks I was seeing but nothing big, BUT this is what I was expecting lots of deer to see and just a matter of time til the Big Buck walks in. Day 3 I was expecting to go back to the same stand since I was seeing Deer and K a mile away was also seeing Deer, but they moved us to different stands, wasn't sure at this time if they were doing the same to the other hunters. I seen 0 Deer Wednesday K seen 3 or 4. The whole day I'm wondering why we did not go back to same spot as day before. Day 4 I figured out what was happening the guides took us to the furthest stands the first day and started working closer to lodge every day, that way they could start pulling stands so when Saturday came they only would have a few stands remaining to pull, then Saturday night they could all go home. I seen a Doe and a Fawn on that day. Day 5 Friday I seen 0 again, I was pretty disgusted about this hunt.
Lodge was a dormitory style rooms, beds were comfortable bathroom clean and ventilated well since we were sharing. Suppers were comfort food but nothing special clean kitchen. Breakfast needed meat every morning only had meat 3 mornings for sitting in a blind with below zero temps we needed the protein, the day we left boxes of cold cereal on table. The entry way where we took our boots off, so not to track snow in, was the smoking room I have no problem with people that want to smoke but when most of the staff is in a room 10'x 14' the smoke is very thick it is not enjoyable your boots will definitely smell like smoke, but just the few minutes taking off or putting on boots was enough to make hunting clothes stink.
We went the 4th week of the season because none of our schedules matched up for earlier hunts. so maybe it would be better earlier, but their is no good reason to move you from a stand you are seeing Deer to another, just because the staff is getting short timers disease.
There were 14 hunters in camp 9 Bucks killed only 3 of them were what I thought was what we were looking for, none of those 3 Bucks scored over 140.
From my experience in Africa you really can't compare it to North American hunting camps or lodges. Africa hands down hunting is better and you'll probably gain weight because of the delicious food . I've been on guided hunts in Texas with West Texas Hunt Organization and British Columbia Love Bros & Lee, on a North American hunt 1-5 scale both of them rating a 4. Northway Outfitters in Saskatchewan a 2 represented by Worldwide Trophy Adventures
Day 2 K and I went with my guide from the day before since C was tagged out. I seen more Does in first 30 minutes than I seen the day before and then started seeing Bucks, "I talk Western count so a Forked horn to me is a 6pt eastern count" I seen several Forked horns and 3pts and one 4 pt lost count of the Bucks I was seeing but nothing big, BUT this is what I was expecting lots of deer to see and just a matter of time til the Big Buck walks in. Day 3 I was expecting to go back to the same stand since I was seeing Deer and K a mile away was also seeing Deer, but they moved us to different stands, wasn't sure at this time if they were doing the same to the other hunters. I seen 0 Deer Wednesday K seen 3 or 4. The whole day I'm wondering why we did not go back to same spot as day before. Day 4 I figured out what was happening the guides took us to the furthest stands the first day and started working closer to lodge every day, that way they could start pulling stands so when Saturday came they only would have a few stands remaining to pull, then Saturday night they could all go home. I seen a Doe and a Fawn on that day. Day 5 Friday I seen 0 again, I was pretty disgusted about this hunt.
Lodge was a dormitory style rooms, beds were comfortable bathroom clean and ventilated well since we were sharing. Suppers were comfort food but nothing special clean kitchen. Breakfast needed meat every morning only had meat 3 mornings for sitting in a blind with below zero temps we needed the protein, the day we left boxes of cold cereal on table. The entry way where we took our boots off, so not to track snow in, was the smoking room I have no problem with people that want to smoke but when most of the staff is in a room 10'x 14' the smoke is very thick it is not enjoyable your boots will definitely smell like smoke, but just the few minutes taking off or putting on boots was enough to make hunting clothes stink.
We went the 4th week of the season because none of our schedules matched up for earlier hunts. so maybe it would be better earlier, but their is no good reason to move you from a stand you are seeing Deer to another, just because the staff is getting short timers disease.
There were 14 hunters in camp 9 Bucks killed only 3 of them were what I thought was what we were looking for, none of those 3 Bucks scored over 140.
From my experience in Africa you really can't compare it to North American hunting camps or lodges. Africa hands down hunting is better and you'll probably gain weight because of the delicious food . I've been on guided hunts in Texas with West Texas Hunt Organization and British Columbia Love Bros & Lee, on a North American hunt 1-5 scale both of them rating a 4. Northway Outfitters in Saskatchewan a 2 represented by Worldwide Trophy Adventures
