dsinwi,
I can sum up this trip with one word, "mud". It got everywhere. In my ears, up my nose, even on my rifle scope when I had scope covers on it!
I was 15 miles from British Columbia and could see the mountains. We were in foothills. I'm 49 years old and am in good shape. There were some old timers in camp that just drove around with their guide on side by sides.
Wild Kakwa Outfitters. There are not enough words to express what a quality hunt I had. We had a choice between small cabins that sleep 4 (bunk beds) or a spike camp up in the foothills (where most of the big bulls were).
I logged about 50 miles in. My buddy logged in 66 miles of walking.
One guide per 2 hunters is what we signed up for but as it turned out, I had my guide, Rick, for the entire hunt.
It was a little more pricey than other moose hunts, but this particular outfitter is putting out the #1 or #2 bull in Alberta just about every year. I didn't even get the big one he had me chasing with the bow! My bull will gross B&C but not net due to many deductions.
I consider myself a pretty good hunter. My outfitter commented on it. Said it was refreshing to have someone willing to work hard and put in the effort to go after the big ones. He says most clients are in the 60s and up, and end up shooting the first bull they see. (Which was evident with 2 other bulls shot during my stay).
There were 8 hunters per week. They have a HUGE territory and don't even cover 10% of it. It's something stupid like 3,500 square miles.
Moose tags come with wolf tags. I also shot a large coyote. There are lots of bears. The guides respect grizzlies and avoid them at all costs.
There was no packing out of animals. They find a way to drive to them, typically using side by sides and chainsaws to cut a path right to the carcass.
If you want to bow hunt, they have archery only hunts. I made the specific request for both rifle and archery so I could try both. For ME, it was more important to get one that it was what weapon I did it with. I sat sun up to sun down for 2 straight days without seeing a mouse or bird! The stand I was at had trail camera pictures of a B&C class moose, huge, that visited 2 days before and 6 days before that. I was assured that if I sat there every day for the 8 day hunt, I would get a shot. That required a little more will power than I cared while my buddies were covered in moose elsewhere.
The food was excellent. The guides were excellent and awesome to hang out with.
Like you, I wanted to go on a trip before my health caught up to me. My good friend had already gone here twice and shot 2 bulls, saying this trip was worth it. He shot a 52"er this time. 3 trips and 3 bulls for him. 45", 50" and 52". Can't beat that.
We went 4 for 4 (with one lost due to a bad shot). We came home with a 38", 52", and 56". The lost one was in the mid 40s.
The weather changed per elevation. It would suck in one spot, and then 10 miles away it was nice out.
I made a 355 yard shot and dropped him in his tracks with a Ruger M77 .300 Win Mag, 200 grain Hornady Precision Hunter bullets.
Feel free to ask me anything you want. I will sing accolades about this place and experience.
