CANADA: WTA & Northway Outfitters Saskatchewan

[bashaw]

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

 

[ryno111]

I’ve had an amazing experience with a WTA outfitter in Africa, but a bad experience with one of their outfitters in Arizona (similar in some ways to yours).

Sorry for your experience. I think some outfitters who were once well-regarded have slipped. Maybe they were good in the past, but not today.

 

[bashaw]

I’ve had an amazing experience with a WTA outfitter in Africa, but a bad experience with one of their outfitters in Arizona (similar in some ways to yours).

Sorry for your experience. I think some outfitters who were once well-regarded have slipped. Maybe they were good in the past, but not today.

First time to use WTA, I like the guy I worked with, seemed like straight shooter, like you say Northway might've been a premier outfit at one time not sure about now

 

[bashaw]

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

I do realize it's called hunting not killing, but If the 9 hunters that killed Bucks and the smallest was a 140 then I'd say I was in the wrong place at the right time but the other 6 Bucks were not impressive to say the least

 

[Mekaniks]

Thank You for sharing

 

[Wade J VanGinkel]

I know WTA represents some very good hunts. But I've used them twice and both times were far less than represented. Admittedly these were low budget hunts as that's all I could afford.
Once a drop camp in Alaska that has since been sold. And a moose hunt in Newfoundland where my guide had never even been there before and mostly drove around road hunting.
I have far better results doing my own research now and finding my own references places like this forum.

 

[MontanaPat]

Sorry you had a crappy hunt, no excuse in my mind for that kind of outfitting. I hunted in 2022 with Buck Country Outfitters in Goodsoil Saskatchewan and would highly recommend them if looking for another outfitter for a deer hunt there

 

[62flint]

Damn, I just booked a pronghorn hunt for next october in wyoming with WTA, Hope it works out

 

[375Fox]

Sorry for the poor experience, but did you check references before booking the hunt? Regardless whether an agent represents them or not, there is a lot I’d want to know about booking a spot in a whitetail camp like the camp atmosphere, quality of guides, the food, number of hunters in camp, etc that I think I could only gathered by speaking to references. There are a lot of North American hunts I think I’d be very unhappy with because they aren’t as professional as I expect. Long seasons managed on quotas create a much more professional environment in Africa because PHs can do it as a nearly year round career.

 

[62flint]

Sorry for the poor experience, but did you check references before booking the hunt? Regardless whether an agent represents them or not, there is a lot I’d want to know about booking a spot in a whitetail camp like the camp atmosphere, quality of guides, the food, number of hunters in camp, etc that I think I could only gathered by speaking to references. There are a lot of North American hunts I think I’d be very unhappy with because they aren’t as professional as I expect. Long seasons managed on quotas create a much more professional environment in Africa because PHs can do it as a nearly year round career.

I would think . Booking through a group sucj as WTA they would vet the outfitters. But maybe not

 

[375Fox]

I would think . Booking through a group sucj as WTA they would vet the outfitters. But maybe not

Regardless whether or how they vet their outfitters everyone’s expectations of a quality hunt are different. Checking references can reveal a lot about an operation if you ask the right questions.

 

[62flint]

I suppose you are right. Myself I am a bit cautious. I booked a cheaper antelope hunt for my daughter and me with World wide trophy outfitters. What I did find intersting is I did not get the name of the outfitter until I booked. You could think they are trying to protect themselves so you would not bypass WTA. I elected to do a cheaper hunt to try them out so to speak. If I have a good hunt I will use WTA more if not I will go back to the old way.
Like many here, I am at the point in my life I would like to take a few outdoor trips a year. A agency like WTA would help me in doing that.

 

[Fatback]

I did an elk hunt with WTA in 2019. The hunt was in the Gila in New Mexico. I felt like WTA did a good job representing the hunt and the outfitter. I was able to kill a nice 6x6 bull on the first morning. I use them to help me apply for and build points in the western states.

 

[bashaw]

Sorry you had a crappy hunt, no excuse in my mind for that kind of outfitting. I hunted in 2022 with Buck Country Outfitters in Goodsoil Saskatchewan and would highly recommend them if looking for another outfitter for a deer hunt there

When I was researching a little over a year ago, it may have been you that recommended Buck Country Outfitters and they were high on my list .

 

[bashaw]

Regardless whether or how they vet their outfitters everyone’s expectations of a quality hunt are different. Checking references can reveal a lot about an operation if you ask the right questions.

The thing with references they're not going to give you the phone number of the guy or guys that were unhappy. Far as a low budget hunt $5400 plus license and tags is not what I consider low budget when I could draw a State that has Whitetails and possibly be more successful.