Self guided caribou..........

[spice64]

Has any body done a self guided carbou hunt up north of quebec? I've heard of this and Iknow it is possible but does anybody have any info or suggestions thanks ahead.

[davidshane]

I've been on a guided hunt in Northern Quebec and in a good area. I had a great time but freely admit that harvesting a bou is not the hardest hunt. They really are stupid animals. Well, maybe I shouldn't call them stupid; I guess that when you rarely ever see humans, you do not assosiate them with danger. If you want to kill a large rack bou for the wall, go to a guided service.

A friend of mine went on one the the self guided hunts up there. Cost was much lower - like $900.00 plus expenses. There was one road that led up through this area were the bous wintered. The lodge was one that road. He just drove up that road until he saw a bou or fresh tracks. He then used a snow mobil to get around in front and shoot his animals. He too said that the hunt was too easy. He also said that in these heavily hunted areas, seeing large racked bous is almost impossible (remember, all hunting is done from a paved and plowed road). The outfitter cooks meals and tells you how far up the road you may need to drive everyday to find the migration. And who had better hope that the bous have made it to the area cause there is no flying out to them if they have not.

The only self guided bou hunt that I would go on now (knowing what I know) is one in Alaska. There a bush plane would drop you off on a migration route and pick you up in a week or two. There would be a lot of satisfation with this type of hunt.

[MooseJaw]

I have done the self-guided Alaskan bou hunt. Unless you are right in the middle of the migration, it can be a challenge to find and take down an animal. Lots of packing around, up and down mountains, glassing, etc. until you find animals, and then you need to figure out how to head them off, all the while carrying all of your gear.

Agree they are not smart.......probably would not be nearly as fun if you were dropped in the middle of the migration.

A very good trip. We had a great time.

[mich buckmaster]

On this note, who has gone on a guided hunt, and where would you go??

[jharris]

All of my caribou hunting is self-guided... well, I am learning from some friends who do quite well. Caribou is the meat that we live off of and so we shoot at least three or four a year... we're allowed five a day, but it becomes work after about one and a half. As for guides... I know of one that is almost guaranteed to be in the middle of the migration at almost all times during the winter. Bob Hannon runs an all around outfitter in Koyuk, AK. You should be able to find his website on the web. He guides everything from wolf hunts, to caribou hunts with his griz hunts being his biggest draw. Koyuk seems to hold a large number of the Western Arctic Caribou herd just after they start heading south around Thanksgiving every year. Hunting is generally pretty good all the way up to spring break up when people start hunting ducks and the trails turn to slop.
It is a family run business and he seems to have quite a few return customers. Caribou hunting would be done by using snow machines to get out to the animals though he does have a pilot that flies hunters around in a super cub part of the year. Send me a private message if you want a phone number.
I generally shoot cows as the meat is supposed to taste a little better from what most people from the village say, but there are some decent racks that I see from time to time. I wouldn't mind shooting one if they would just walk in front of my crosshares. Koyuk is not that hard to get to. Fly to Anchorage, then to Nome, catch a bush plane and there you are.

[Captain]

On this note, who has gone on a guided hunt, and where would you go??

Researching Quebec right now for either 2007 or 2008...Any recommendations without breaking the bank..........;)

[Moosekill]

Researching Quebec right now for either 2007 or 2008...Any recommendations without breaking the bank..........;)


I have used Carg/Air in Quebec. They have a web site with info. I'll fill you in on what I know.

For this years hunt I will pay Carg/Air approx $2,000. That includes a one night stay before they fly us out of the base camp which is located at LG4. LG4 is about a 22 hour drive from Port Huron. They fly us approx 170 miles north of the base camp. They have several outpost camps they maintain.

This is an unguided hunt, although Carg/Air does have a camp man at each outpost camp. His job is to keep the boats fueled and try to keep us all safe.
We have a group of twelve hunters that will be staying in two different huts. We bring everything we need for the week. We also take care of all the animals that are taken, which is usually 24.
The total cost from my door step and back ten days later will be approx. $3,000.
Also the fishing is amazing, with all the lake trout and pike you want.

That sounds like a bank breaker but it is less than half of the cost of guided hunts for poeple I know have been on.