We are very excited to be able to offer this exceptional new hunt to our clients. Although it is new to Hunt Nation, this outfitter has been in business for nearly 25 years. They are located in WMU #10 in Northwestern Ontario, between Lake of the Woods and Rainy Lake. Besides offering great deer hunting, they are simply great, hard-working people. You will come as a client but leave as a friend!
What really excites us about this particular hunt is that it is ALL PRIVATE LAND – approx. 25,000 acres of it, owned or leased by this outfitter. This is very unusual for Northwestern Ontario, where massive tracts of “Crown” (public) land is the norm!
These rifle hunts start on the last Saturday in October and run through November 15. Although it’s a relatively short season, it falls during the pre-rut/rut period, when bucks are on the move and looking for does, so clients are encouraged to use rattle horns and grunt calls while on stand. Hunts are conducted over bait from 70+ ground blinds, ladder stands and shooting houses (they just purchased 30 new Banks “Stump” blinds for the safety and comfort of their clients), and guides use ATVs/4WD to drop clients off at their stand locations (guides do not sit with clients).
Since they hunt all private land, they are able to carefully manage and enhance it for the benefit of wildlife. Such efforts include establishing and maintaining food plots, mineral licks, and groomed trail systems. Properties consist of a combination of mixed agriculture/food plots and timber.
Due to light hunting pressure, whitetails in this area commonly live to 5-7 years of age. Combine that with ample food and cover, and the great genetics the area is known for, and you have a recipe for producing big-bodied, big-racked whitetails, and this outfitter has been doing just that for over 2 decades.
A multiple-time repeat client had this to say:
“I have been hunting with this outfitter now for roughly 18 years. I hunt every year. I really lucked out. They are truly amazing. The food is top notch and their lodge is real nice. I have taken clients, friends, and family with me at times. Over the years I have taken 6 deer over 150 and one at 170. I have passed many deer in the 140s. The men and women who run the outfitter are truly one of a kind. They are always upgrading blinds and leasing new land. Hunting there is always a blessing and knowing at any time a large mature buck could walk out at any time. This past year a gentleman was there for his first time. I even believe it was his first buck ever and he shot a whopping 185-inch deer. It was so awesome. That also shows that every hunter has the opportunity of killing a large deer, they do not prioritize spots for people who have been coming for a long time. Every stand is truly a good stand.” – Mitch Y.
This outfitter takes about 20 clients in total each rifle season (10-12 per week), and that is a drop in the bucket for the amount of land they have! Success rates are typically 50%-60%, with opportunity rates running more like 80%-90% (many clients are repeats and have taken good bucks there in the past and are now solely after really big bucks!). Bucks have averaged approx. 150” over the years, but they have taken some up to 190”, and although the area is known for mature bucks, the outfitter does not impose a minimum score requirement.
They had another good season in 2023. Despite some unfavorable weather and most of their biggest bucks going nocturnal, they still managed 12 deer harvested out of 20 hunters, with several other hunters seeing shooter bucks, but just couldn’t get a shot. The biggest bucks harvested were 150”-class, but several others up to 180” were showing up at night on cameras.
Two more repeat clients said this:
“I have been hunting with them yearly for probably 15 years. My Father and I for many years. Then my Son and I. My best bucks have been 175, 165, 162 several 130-140 class. My Father took 3 over 160. This is hunting. There can be lean years. However, one or more of the hunters in camp our week do take great bucks. The equipment, lodging and food is first rate. These are big deer. I have seen deer weighed at 300 plus lbs. The only one I weighed of mine weighed 265 field dressed with lower legs removed.” – Randy S.
“The deer hunting is fantastic! I have had the opportunity to shoot some of the largest deer I have ever seen. I really enjoy cold-weather hunting; to sit in the woods all day, and then have a delicious, home cooked meal at the end of the day. (Warning: you may leave a few pounds heavier than you came!) It is a place you can bring your family and friends without any worries of how they will be treated. Just about everybody wants to come back the following year, and most do.
Over the years I have brought many friends and they have all enjoyed themselves and shot very nice deer. Last season I talked my brother into leaving hunting in New York for 10 days. He shot a very nice 10 pt. buck that was nearly 300 lbs. and scored 150”. A great buck! Now he can’t wait to go back and possibly bring his sons.
I can’t say enough about the staff. They all make your time in Canada a memorable one. Over the years, we have all become good friends.” – Joe K.
2024 PRICES (subject to change without notice until deposit received; all prices in USD)
These 6-day rifle hunts are $3,900 USD per person, plus 13% sales tax. All meals and lodging are included. Field dressing is also included, but caping/skinning (suitable for crossing border) is $75 and meat processing is $0.50/lb. (clients are also welcome to handle these tasks themselves, using the outfitter’s facilities). An export permit for the trophy and meat is $35. Observers are $150 ea./day.
LICENSES
An Ontario deer hunting license and Outdoors Card is approx. $250. They are over-the-counter and can be purchased online in advance.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Their newly-renovated lodge has a new kitchen/bar facility, new dining area with large screen TV, media room with new furniture and large screen TV, as well as remodeled washrooms with large modern showers, toilets, washer/dryer, etc. Sleeping accommodations are also newly remodeled and set up for 2 hunters per room (they can comfortably accommodate up to 12 guests). Meat care facilities include a walk-in cooler, multiple chest freezers, 4 chain hoists with game hooks/scales, along with stainless steel and butcher block tables for hunters to process their own game if they choose.
All meals are provided and the food is fantastic. The menu can be accommodated to suit special needs.
GETTING THERE
Most hunters fly into International Falls, MN and drive from there (approx. 30 minutes). Some fishing opportunities may be available, if you tag out early.
GETTING YOUR WEAPON INTO CANADA ( NOTE: YOU MUST HAVE A CURRENT PASSPORT WITH YOU!!)
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 https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/wam/media/2347/original/d369a605ac3363b569af5ea5dc40c88d.pdf. Click on the link for 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. NO FORMS ARE REQUIRED TO BRING YOUR HUNTING BOW INTO CANADA! NO HANDGUNS, AR-15s OR SUPPRESSORS! IF YOU HAVE A DUI OR A CRIMINAL RECORD, CALL US! YOU MAY BE DENIED ADMITTANCE.
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.
IN GENERAL YOUR US PASSPORT MUST HAVE 6 MONTHS LEFT FROM YOUR ENTRY DATE INTO CANADA– BEFORE IT EXPIRES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
