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.

 

[375Fox]

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.

I won’t disagree from your description you received a substandard hunt, but references can give a lot of insight into an operation even if they only give out those who had a great experience. I can care less about their recommendations. I look for consistency in answers when I speak to references. References provided might have had a much better hunt but they likely had the same breakfast.

 

[wiltznucs]

I hunted with Northway every year for a decade. Circa 2002-2012. I love Buddy, Brenda and those boys of theirs. It was a pleasure to watch them grow up in some cases. It’s really a shame that the once vast property they hunted got taken from them due to tribal law.

I shared camp there with professional athletes, the entire RealTree team, Fortune 500 execs and a who’s who of television hunters and hunting magazine writers. For many of those years people couldn’t get in; the rebooking rate was very high. If you boarded your plane after the hunt without rebooking there wasn’t a place for you the next season.

It was positively magical for many, many years. The bucks killed at the Mosquito Rez and later in Glaslyn were huge. I don’t think a hunt went by in those early years where a 180+ buck didn’t come out during my stay. I saw a few over 200”. I was never so fortunate; I did get a massive 140” 8 point in Glaslyn. I electively ate tag soup my last two visits hoping for better. My last year there they had me hunt a private tract with a local; I took this as Buddy acknowledging that the quality had dropped and I was better off taking a chance elsewhere.

I remember many people telling them that the quality was declining. Begging him to impose a size restriction and penalties for shooting small. The challenge was people would save up the $4,500-5000 for the hunt; which was quite a lot back then and the prospect of going home empty-handed was simply not an option. This was truly a once in a lifetime hunt and they weren’t coming back. Something was gonna get shot; and by my last few years it was often a 120-130” deer.

I don’t know if it was the Native American in them; but, they seemed to have this belief that nature will just keep providing, and they can just keep shooting with reckless abandon.

I hate that you had a bad hunt; although, it checks out given the trajectory I witnessed a decade ago. I will say with absolute confidence; the only person who hates it more than you is Buddy. That man prides himself immensely on putting people on big deer. He absolutely lived for it for it when I was there. There’s no doubt in my that he dies a little inside every time a hunt like yours happens. For the better part of two decades he had what was without question the best whitetail outfit in the world and I’m sure he would do anything he could to get it back.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

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.

When I was vetting elk outfitters, one of them said “make sure you talk to so-n-so on my reference list because he hunted with me and didn’t get an elk.” I called that guy and despite not getting an elk, he was happy and already booked another hunt. I was impressed with that and booked my first hunt with that outfitters. That was 23 years ago and I have hunted about a dozen times with that outfitters.

 

[bashaw]

I hunted with Northway every year for a decade. Circa 2002-2012. I love Buddy, Brenda and those boys of theirs. It was a pleasure to watch them grow up in some cases. It’s really a shame that the once vast property they hunted got taken from them due to tribal law.

I shared camp there with professional athletes, the entire RealTree team, Fortune 500 execs and a who’s who of television hunters and hunting magazine writers. For many of those years people couldn’t get in; the rebooking rate was very high. If you boarded your plane after the hunt without rebooking there wasn’t a place for you the next season.

It was positively magical for many, many years. The bucks killed at the Mosquito Rez and later in Glaslyn were huge. I don’t think a hunt went by in those early years where a 180+ buck didn’t come out during my stay. I saw a few over 200”. I was never so fortunate; I did get a massive 140” 8 point in Glaslyn. I electively ate tag soup my last two visits hoping for better. My last year there they had me hunt a private tract with a local; I took this as Buddy acknowledging that the quality had dropped and I was better off taking a chance elsewhere.

I remember many people telling them that the quality was declining. Begging him to impose a size restriction and penalties for shooting small. The challenge was people would save up the $4,500-5000 for the hunt; which was quite a lot back then and the prospect of going home empty-handed was simply not an option. This was truly a once in a lifetime hunt and they weren’t coming back. Something was gonna get shot; and by my last few years it was often a 120-130” deer.

I don’t know if it was the Native American in them; but, they seemed to have this belief that nature will just keep providing, and they can just keep shooting with reckless abandon.

I hate that you had a bad hunt; although, it checks out given the trajectory I witnessed a decade ago. I will say with absolute confidence; the only person who hates it more than you is Buddy. That man prides himself immensely on putting people on big deer. He absolutely lived for it for it when I was there. There’s no doubt in my that he dies a little inside every time a hunt like yours happens. For the better part of two decades he had what was without question the best whitetail outfit in the world and I’m sure he would do anything he could to get it back.

I wish I had this message a year ago before I booked. Wish in one hand and @#%^ in the other & see what fills up quicker

 

[wiltznucs]

I wish I had this message a year ago before I booked. Wish in one hand and @#%^ in the other & see what fills up quicker

If the past few decades of traveling for hunts has taught me anything it’s that scarce few can maintain high quality for an extended period of time. Once the pics get out; the outfitter always blows up and get very popular and eventually the place gets shot out. Seen it time and time again.

Northway’s situation got complicated once they blew up. They basically had an entire reservation to hunt for many years. They did a good job managing it. It went basically unhunted for a long time. It was a land of giants and lots of them. Then Northway showed up and the Monster Bucks videos. All downhill from there.

After seeing that Northway was making money other natives on the rez wanted to guide too. So Northway’s footprint kept getting smaller and smaller as the council tried to appease other natives looking to open outfits. In no time flat; some of the areas they were giving up were being shot out. So the neighboring parcels got ruined in a hurry. Meanwhile; Northway has a list years deep of people booked to hunt.

Fast forward and they get a great section in Glaslyn. It was remarkable; the quality of deer coming out of Glaslyn was often better than the reservation. Problem is; like I mentioned earlier is that people started shooting small. It started with just a few and became an epidemic.

Believe me; the high quality genetic material is there. The only way it gets back to what it was is to greatly reduce the number of hunters and impose antler restrictions. That’s a hard sell when you have bills to pay.