Booking Your Hunt
For the Traveling Whitetail Deer Hunter
Text & Photos by Kevin Wilson
Traveling to hunt whitetails in different provinces and states is more popular now than ever before. Here’s what you need to know when booking your next hunt.
As a professional outfitter based in central Alberta, I frequently field questions from prospective clients. Over the last quarter century, I’ve guided deer hunters from all over the United States and Canada. During that time, I’ve had the privilege of watching guests achieve their goals, with many describing their experience as the culmination of all of their research and hard work. I’ve also heard countless stories of less than stellar outfitted hunts. Not because the client didn’t kill a deer, but because they simply didn’t get what they thought they paid for. Either that, or they didn’t go into the hunt with realistic expectations. If you regularly book outfitted deer hunts, or if you’re looking to schedule that trip of a lifetime, consider the following and you’ll be well on your way to a successful hunt.
Choice Destinations
As access to private and public land becomes increasingly scarce, many are now turning to professionally outfitted and guided hunts. Consider the cost of leasing land where deer leases are a way of life, and the expense of booking a hunt often becomes both economical and practical. If booking a hunt is in your future, the first and most obvious decision you need to make is where to go?
Consider the options for big buck destinations, and several choices come to mind. First decide whether you want to hunt big-bodied and big-antlered northern deer in Canada, or whether you’d like to hunt stateside. While Manitoba and Ontario are producing some really nice whitetails these days, Alberta and Saskatchewan continue to be the top producing Canadian provinces when it comes to trophy-class whitetails. In the U.S., most agree that Kansas still ranks as the number one trophy whitetail destination, with Ohio, parts of Iowa and Illinois following close behind. As far as sleeper states go, Indiana and Kentucky as well, are producing their share of giant bucks these days. I’d be remiss not to mention Texas as a go-to destination, but its buyer beware in this state, as this state now holds a mixed bag of genetic strains from indigenous to introduced whitetail subspecies throughout.
Beware of Lofty Promises
Researching outfitters can be a challenging ordeal. Outfitters want your business and,
sadly, many have learned to say exactly what you want to hear in order to get your business – regardless of whether it’s true or not. In other words, be sure to get the facts and beware of lofty promises.
Many of us start on the Internet, peruse the aisles at consumer hunting shows, watch commercials on our favorite hunting networks, and take notice when media personalities highlight an outfitter in their magazine articles or on their shows. These are all great ways to learn what’s out there, but remember its buyer beware. Just because an outfitter has an impressive booth or flashy website, doesn’t necessarily mean they can deliver at the other end. Its human nature to want to hear the good news, but surprisingly few like to hear about reality. Anyone guaranteeing a kill is probably either a pathological liar or an extreme sales person. It’s up to you, the hunting consumer, to weed through the chaff and find an outfitter with that unique combination of good ground, quality deer, sound ethics, and both the ability and desire to deliver on what they are selling. Remember, while some offer day rates, most whitetail deer hunts will run six days, with a few going to 10. If the outfitter is guaranteeing you a shot at a 190-class buck, my recommendation is to turn and run. Indeed, you may get that opportunity, but unless you’re hunting a high fence enclosure, that guarantee is simply unrealistic.
Big Bucks or Bust
Whitetail deer are the most prolific and accessible big game species on the continent. When I first began outfitting in Alberta, I remember acknowledging the growing trend of quality deer management. Many discussions focused on the movement toward growing big antlers and the science behind it. Indeed, over that time, thanks in no small part to mineral supplements, foods plots, and education, many hunters are now seeing bigger bucks on their home hunting grounds in the states and provinces that allow them, than ever before. For whitetail hunters, this is great news, but it comes down to what each individual deer hunter really wants. Unfortunately, along with the desire to hunt big racked bucks comes a lower demand for does. In some jurisdictions this is a negative. For instance, in states where deer numbers are so high that there are liberal allowances of one or two deer a day, and people are unwilling to shoot does, then this management strategy won’t work. While limited jurisdictions allow outfitted deer hunting to accommodate doe harvests, by in large, most professional outfitters serve trophy hunters only.
Most hunters book professionally outfitted and guided hunts to increase their odds of taking a trophy-class buck. So another important question to ask any prospective outfitter before booking a hunt is whether they have age or size restrictions on the deer that hunters can harvest. And, do they offer cull hunts for genetically inferior bucks? Do they focus on 4.5-year old and older bucks? Are most of the bucks that their clients take mainframe 8’s, 10’s, or larger? Do their bucks vary greatly in antler configuration, or do they all look fairly similar? In many states, antler configurations are quite similar, and those looking for unique, heavy, and often gnarly anters will travel north to hunt Alberta or Saskatchewan for instance.
In discussions with any outfitter, it’s always good to ask about realistic expectations and hunter effort. In other words, what can a guest expect to see during a typical hunt? Everyone likes to hear about high odds, but remember statistics are often twisted to make everything sound good. As a rule, I tell my guests that if they are looking for a guaranteed shot opportunity on a Boone & Crockett buck, I’m not the right guy. We’ve picked up deadheads that score well over 200 inches – bucks that simply die of old age, but realistically, almost everyone gets a chance at a 140 to 150-class buck or better during a six-day hunt. We take some giants but not everyone will get that opportunity. If you want to experience a 100 percent free range hunt with an opportunity to take a Booner, then we’ll take good care of you, but if it’s a guarantee you’re looking for, then lots of others are willing to oblige. It’s then up to the prospective client to determine whether or not they are willing to invest in that type of a hunt.
Along these lines, I also encourage folks to inquire about age-class structure and general population dynamics. With the wave of EHD, CWD, and other disease issues, not to mention cycles of harsh winters and high predator numbers, whitetail deer populations and trophy quality is highly variable across the continent. Understanding how the deer are doing in the area you plan to hunt will go a long way in instilling realistic expectations when you decide to lay down your deposit on an outfitted hunt.
Free Range or High Fence
It amazes me how many of my guests say they’ve booked trophy whitetail hunts at consumer shows only to learn when they get there, that it is a high-fence operation. Opinions on this are highly variable, but most traditional hunters hold a dim view of penned hunting. To avoid disappointment, three of the most important questions to ask pertain to how much ground the outfitter has to hunt, whether it is private or public land, and whether the deer are free range or behind a high fence. You’d be amazed how many shoot farms are selling their services without immediately disclosing this information.
The next time you’re at a consumer hunting show, pay close attention. You may be surprised by what you see. As a consumer looking to book a hunt, its important to recognize that there is simply no comparison between free range hunting and high fence shoot farms. Knowing which experience you want and determining exactly what the outfitter offers will go a long way in making your hunt a positive experience.
Bait or No Bait
With all the media hype around the big deer being taken in Saskatchewan, and even in Kansas for that matter, it’s interesting to note that, almost many outfitted hunts take place over bait. If you’re looking for a big buck and don’t mind hunting over bait, then these might be for you. If, on the other hand, you value the pure process of hunting free-range trophy whitetails as they move naturally, then Alberta is a better option north of the border as baiting is strictly prohibited in its entirety for deer hunting in this province. Most importantly, ensure that whatever hunt method the outfitter uses, it is in full compliance with local game regulations.
Timing Your Hunt
Another question that should always ask relates to timing. For instance, we generally host our bowhunters in early September when big deer are still in their relaxed bedding and feeding routines and often in velvet or just transitioning to hard antlers. I’m also a big fan of late October during the pre-rut, and of course mid-to-late November during the estrus cycles. Discussing peak season dates, inquiring specifically about when the outfitter sees the best success in their area can be invaluable. With the warming weather trends, in the central and eastern states in recent years, many hunters are finding daytime deer movement to be hit and miss during peak estrus periods and then again because of the mixed populations in Texas, rut activity can occur from November right through to January, depending on what subspecies you are actually hunting in that state. As far as northern deer are concerned the latter three weeks of November put hunters in the heat of the rut activity.
Travel
Big deer are found all over North America, but some jurisdictions have more than others and this sometimes means traveling to out-of-the-way places. Before booking your hunt, be sure to research flight costs, connections, licensing, any travel restrictions or requirements for firearms registration, ammunition, and transportation of antlers and meat. Oddly enough, as a Canadian resident, it is surprisingly onerous for me to register my firearms to bring them with me to hunt in Texas. At the same time, for any American resident to bring their firearms to Alberta, requires only the completion of a simple form and a fee paid at the border. In Canada, firearms import is a federal jurisdiction. In the U.S., each state has its own regulatory requirements, so its imperative to research this to learn about restrictions and allowances prior to booking your deer hunt.
Additional Considerations
As you contemplate your options, several other questions should also be raised. One of the big ones relates to trophy fees. On highly controlled ranches and in many unassuming locations as well, trophy fees are imposed when you kill a buck of a certain stature. For example, aside from the baseline price of the hunt, if you kill a whitetail scoring over 170 B&C, in some places, an additional trophy fee of several hundred dollars may apply. Nothing is worse than being surprised with additional fees that you weren’t aware of, so knowing all the facts before booking the hunt will help avoid conflict.
Another important one addresses hunt methods. For instance, does the outfitter hunt their clients from stands, blinds, doing deer drives, or do they road hunt?
Every reputable outfitter will use a hunt contract. Be sure to read it in detail to make yourself aware of details around inclusions and exclusions, as well as liability and responsibility. Make sure you are clear on what is expected of you as the hunter as well. It should also be clear as to how your antlers, cape, and carcass will be handled and packed for transport home.
Booking Your Hunt
In the end, booking your trophy whitetail hunt is about finding a suitable match between you and the outfitter. Learning what they offer, making a decision, and investing in an opportunity to tag a big buck is what booking a hunt is all about. Ask the right questions, use sound judgement, go with realistic expectations, and you’re on your way to bringing home a wallhanger.