A really big mule deer buck is one of the top hunting trophies in North America today, and Alberta is unquestionably one of the absolute best places on the planet to tag a monster buck.
This outfitter is part of one of the best-known outfitting families in western/northern Canada. He has guided for and with this family for many years in British Columbia and the Northwest Territories, but also outfits on his own. He has several ranches to hunt in Alberta (he also offers hunts for big mulies in Sonora, Mexico), and all produce big deer. He takes very few hunters per season, so you must usually book early or wait a year or more.
The deer this guy has been taking will blow your socks off. He doesn’t have a website, so the only real way to locate him is through us, but he is the real deal when it comes to big mulies (and good whitetails too). Expect to see several 170”-class deer, but he has the 180+” as well. He usually has a couple other guides out with him scouting and searching, to give you the best chance of bagging a whopper. These hunts are for diehard trophy hunters who are willing to pass up the big 170s to kill a brute, and are willing to eat “tag soup” if it doesn’t work out. Not everyone will succeed, but almost everyone will see some big bucks, and most will have a crack at one. Just take a look at some of the pictures in this writeup.
The style of hunting for these mulies is spot (mainly by vehicle) and stalk, with plenty of glassing. The whitetail hunts can include stand hunting, spot and stalk, and even “pushing bush”, sometimes all in the same day – whatever it takes.
He hunts both public “leased land” and hard-to-access private lands (including his own) in Zones 202, 203 (for combo hunts), and 232, and we believe it is reasonable to think you will have a chance to take a 180” or better muley buck. The gun season runs the month of November, with the better mulies usually taken a bit earlier in November, and the bigger whitetails later in November after most of the muley hunting is over. They don’t have a ton of whitetails in this area (mule deer dominate here), and they tend to be found in scattered pockets. They will be 140” and better with high end bucks into the 160s always possible. If you want to do a muley/whitetail combo, plan to allow extra days, or return later in the year for the whitetail portion of your hunt.
Due to the exceptional trophy quality, muley hunts in Alberta have gotten quite expensive in recent years (and they won’t be getting any cheaper, so there is no better time to go than now), and this outfitter’s hunts are no exception, but just take a look at some of these pictures! However, we think it’s actually an excellent value when you consider that he charges basically the same as other Alberta outfitters, but while some other outfitters’ hunts are as short as 4 days, and usually no more than 5 or 6 days, this outfitter’s hunts are up to 10 days (if the hunter’s schedule allows)! That really maximizes your chances of finding and tagging that buck of a lifetime. And if your schedule won’t allow 10 days in a row, he’ll even let you break up your hunt into two parts, subject to applicable hunting season dates.
ACCOMMODATIONS
You will stay in nice, heated cabins with running water, and meals will be served in a main lodge house.
GETTING THERE
Getting to your hunting destination is a breeze. You simply fly to Edmonton (which is served by most major airlines) and they will pick you up, or you can rent a car and drive about 2.5 hours. The nearest town to your hunting area is Hardisty.
2023 PRICING (subject to change without notice until deposit received; all prices in USD)
Archery hunts are typically the last couple of weeks of October, and rifle is throughout November. Check with us for specific available dates. Please note that this outfitter will generally allow up to 10 days for these hunts. If your schedule does not allow 10 days in a row, you can break it up into 2 parts! That’s how serious he is about getting you a big buck!
Rifle or Archery Mule Deer – $10,300 (trophy buck); $5,300 (management buck – great option for first-timers!)
Rifle or Archery Mule Deer/Whitetail Combo – $13,000
Winter Wolf Hunts – $4,750
Non-Hunting Observers – $600
A 50% deposit is required to book, with the balance due no later than 90 days before your hunt.
INCLUDED:
Guiding (usually 1×1), lodging, food, airport pickup.
NOT INCLUDED:
Travel to and from Edmonton, Alberta; overnight hotel accommodations in Edmonton inbound and/or outbound (if desired); licenses; 5% tax; taxidermy; meat processing; gratuities.
LICENSES
The outfitter will acquire your licenses for you ahead of time (at your expense) and have them waiting.
GETTING YOUR WEAPON INTO CANADA: You are allowed to bring your personal firearm with you. This includes your rifles, shotguns or muzzleloaders (NO HANDGUNS!). For your firearms, a simple one-page form is required to be filled out to obtain a temporary Canadian firearms permit. This form can be down-loaded or mailed to you well in advance from The Royal Canadian Mounted Police at www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca. Click on the link on the left hand side for visitors/non-residents, then download the NON-RESIDENT FIREARM DECLARATION (form RCMP 5589/CAFC 909). Completing this in advance should reduce your time clearing customs. DO NOT SIGN IT UNTIL YOU APPEAR IN FRONT OF CUSTOMS, but fill it out. A confirmed declaration costs a flat fee of $25, regardless of the number of firearms listed on it. It is only valid for the person who signs it and for those firearms listed on the declaration. It is a simple form to fill out. IF YOU HAVE A DUI OR A CRIMINAL RECORD, CALL US! YOU MAY BE DENIED ADMITTANCE. NO FORMS ARE REQUIRED TO BRING YOUR HUNTING BOW INTO CANADA!
TO PREVENT PROBLEMS WHEN RETURNING TO THE UNITED STATES, YOU MUST REGISTER YOUR FIREARMS AND RELATED EQUIPMENT BY TAKING THEM TO ANY CUSTOMS AND BORDER PATROL (“CBP”) OFFICE BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE UNITED STATES. THE CBP OFFICE WILL REGISTER THEM ON THE SAME CBP FORM 4457 USED TO REGISTER CAMERAS AND COMPUTERS. PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU OFTEN CANNOT SIMPLY DO THIS AT THE AIRPORT WHEN LEAVING THE U.S., SO YOU SHOULD DO THIS IN ADVANCE OF YOUR TRIP.
