One Hunt Two Tags

Caribou season is almost here and last years hunt is still fresh in  my mind; that’s why I featured this outfitter for the month of August.  For more details or questions call Greg Ray 918 407 2586 or email greg@outdoor-connection.com

Quebec Caribou – Two for the Price of One
If you enjoy hunting big game then the opportunity to hunt caribou in Quebec is a must stop on your tour. This is the
place where they hand you two tags when you book your hunt. No trophy fees or extra cost for the second animal, just
a two animal hunt for the price of one. What makes this so appealing? Well, for a guy like me who likes to pack the
freezer with meat, there is the obvious advantage. On top of that, we all head out on each hunt with the thought of
the Boone and Crockett trophy that we will be bringing back to town. Some where between that thought and the
thought of going home empty handed, comes the reality of sitting in our stand/blind or stalking up on an animal that is respectable but, will not put our name in any book. On a one animal hunt you are forced to decide – fill my tag and the
freezer or wait on the big boy that may or may not even be in the area. Here, you feel great in this situation in that you are filling a tag, putting some meat in the freezer and by afternoon will be back out looking for the Booner.
Our hunt started with a flight to Montreal and an overnight stay at the Hilton. That evening, our outfitter met with us and all other hunters heading into his camps. This was the perfect time to ask questions and get a general feel for what to expect the next week. After the meeting we ate dinner and headed to bed as our morning would be early.
The next morning we boarded a Calm Air flight bound for Kuujjuaq. The flight would take two hours. Once we landed
we boarded another for a short forty minute flight to our camp.

We met four other hunters who were on the last day of their hunt at our camp. They had all tagged out except for one
guy was was still holding out for the Booner – again a great feeling on a two tag hunt. Our bags were unloaded in our
quonset where we would call home for the next six days. Elvis, the head guide at our camp met and showed us around
the camp. A fully operational bathroom with hot shower was definitely a plus. The cook house was full of snacks and fresh baked cookies – this place was only getting better. Over the next five days our group would harvest nine caribou – one shy of our limit. Our hunting days consisted of everything from three mile hikes to pulling up on to shore and getting behind the nearest rock. Days ranged from 60 degrees and sunny, to 20 degrees and snow. On day three of the hunt, we literally lived through all four seasons every two hours. We watched in amazement as weather system after weather system moved through. This is a hunt you definitely want to wear layers. The migration was not strong through our camp. Our total caribou sightings was in the ballpark of 300 over the five hunting days. However, the caribou that did come through were very respectable bulls and each of us came home happy.

If you have not tried a caribou hunt yet, you need to. They are fun, exciting and hard work all at the same time. There is no telling how long the two tag hunts will be available, in fact the NWT dropped most of theirs to one this year. Caribou numbers in Quebec have been stable, but don’t wait too long. You will love this hunt.  One thing for sure I’m going back.

More Details About the Outfitter…

Our History

For over 24 years we have provided caribou hunters with the best access to North America’s most substantial caribou herds: the Leaf River and the George River herds. The Leaf River herd, with a population in excess of 550,000 and 450,000 for the George River herd, offer big game hunters a once-in-a-lifetime caribou hunting experience.

Seasoned hunters from around the world have sought after this majestic trophy. Few have afforded themselves the luxury of visiting Canada’s northern frontier to experience the joy of hunting this great migratory beast first-hand

The Team

In 2006, our hunters had again more than 50 potential record book entries during the course of this season of this season making it one of the best of our 25 year history.
For the 10th year in a row our hunters harvested 1.9 bulls per hunter.

However, due to weather conditions making movement impossible for some weeks. I am pleased to advise you that for the first time since we introduced the guarantee we will take hunters back for free next year. Unfortunately 6 of our guests were not given the opportunity to harvest anything during their stay; 3 of them being archers in August (which is a guaranteed hunt) and 3 rifle hunters in September.

This shows you how well our unique system really works. As you know when you book a hunt with us we do assign you a camp; we select your camp only the night before your departure to Kuujjuaq following Johnny’s advice, making sure I put you on the game.

This year we ran 11 sites at any given time.  We decided to move 20% of the hunters to a more productive site in order for them to complete their hunt; those that I couldn’t help due to the weather, are simply coming back for free.

Lodging

With over 32 well located camp sites throughout our hunting territory, we monitor the migration year after year. Only nine to twelve of our camp sites are in use at any given time. In this way we can offer hunters greater mobility and a wider selection of camps than any other outfitter in the region.

To make sure we send you to a place where there are caribou, we only assign you to a camp on the morning you arrive in Kuujjuaq. This is how we can back our hunts with the best guarantee in the industry. We’re not selling you a stay in camp – we sell you the ultimate hunting trip.

Experienced Guides

Guests are guided in their hunt by fully trained, experienced professionals. With a policy of 1 guide for every 3 hunters, our guides insure a pleasurable and successful hunting experience. Guides have worked with Safari Nordik for an average of 15 years.

The Game

Tourism Quebec, has included us among the Best Caribou product in the industry.

Why hunt with us?

• Number One success ratio in the industry (1.9 caribou per hunter) for the past 10 years.
• Best satisfaction rate in the industry.
• Success story year after year.
• Boone & Crockett and Pope & Young record racks every year.
• More than 32 sites to keep up with the herd.
• Six sites north of the Leaf River.
• The biggest hunting territory in Nunavik.
• More than 15,000 square miles of prime hunting grounds.
• No hidden costs.
• We only assign camps when you arrive in Kuujjuaq in order to select the best possible camp site for your hunt.
• Fair chase and ethical hunting.
• A Twin Otter plane with Instrument Flying Rules to get you to most camp sites.
• The Leaf River herd has a population in excess of 550,000 caribou.
• In business for over 24 years.
• Great accommodations.
• The same guide team with an average of 15 years of experience.
• One guide for every three hunters.
• Inuit partners.
• Member in good standing of: North American Hunting Club, Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, Boone & Crockett Club, Pope & Young, Rocky Mountain ELK Foundation, Safari Club International, QUEBEC Federation of Outfitters and Tourism Quebec.
• Best guaranteed hunt of the industry.

Itinerary

STEP 1: Get to Montreal

Packages either begin in Montreal or at any International Airport in the Continental USA.  Parking in a secure area is included in the package. If you fly, you can catch a free shuttle from the airport to the hotel.

The forms you’ll need to get the weapons across the border will be sent to you or you can also download it from the web: http://www.cfc-ccaf.gc.ca Your Outdoor Connection agent will work with you on this.

STEP 2: Hotel accommodation

Your first night will be spent in Montreal. We always use a first class accommodation to insure your first night is relaxing and enjoyable.

Say goodbye to civilization! The next morning you’ll head for your adventure in the tundra.

STEP 3: Flight to Kuujjuaq

From Montreal to Kuujjuaq, air transportation is provided by First Air, a Commercial airline service, offering regularly scheduled flights aboard a Boeing 737 on a two hour flight. The only way to get to Kuujjuaq is by air or sea.

STEP 4: Arrived at Kuujjuaq

From the air, you will see the rugged terrain of the tundra.  It will give you an idea of what lies ahead. Once in Kuujjuaq, you will be met by members of our team who will direct you to your next flight.

STEP 5: Flight to the Hunting Camp

Your flight to camp will take between 45 to 55 minutes either on a float plane or a Twin Otter.  Since most of our camps have landing strips, the probable choice will be on Air Inuits Twin Otters.

We decide on your destination camp only at the last minute to counter surprise moves from the migration.  That is how we have achieved the highest success rate of the industry.  Any outfitter boasting a 90% success rate on 2 bulls should have no problem offering you some type of  guarantee…

STEP 6: Arrival to camp

Finally…. The Hunting Camp.

Here we are! Your home for the next few days.  Not many outfitters have the level of equipment and organization in its camp. Most members of our team have been working with us for more than 10 years. What better testimony for a hunter than a team that works together to insure the success of your hunt.

One you’ve settled in, you will meet the camp manager, the guides and the cook. Once that is done, you will be ready for the hunt.

STEP 7: The Hunt

Trust your guide and camp manager! Take the time to talk to them! Tell them your expectations. Once you have covered the basics, you are ready to head out to the tundra. If this is your first time, trust the guide; he is there to help you enjoy your trip.

For those who have been to Alaska, relax, you can hunt small game, black bear or fish at no extra costs except for the necessary license.

STEP 8: Your game

The Leaf River Herd is now the largest caribou herd in the world! Hunting caribou is far different than hunting other big game animals.  The fact it migrates all the time can make this either an easy hunt or a tough one!  But it is a quite a hunt! You will enjoy every minute of it!

STEP 9: Back to Montreal
When back at the Montreal airport, recover your luggage and head for the hotel shuttle. Our personnel are already at hand to recover the caribou meat, antlers and capes from the cargo area.  Everything is brought back to the hotel where a refer unit provides the necessary cooling to protect the harvest of your hunt.

STEP 10: Heading home

Whether you’re flying or driving, leaving the same night or the day after, we will be there to make sure you get your game and trophies at the time you choose!

If you are flying, we will re-wrap your game to meet the airline’s requirements to insure a non-hassle check-in and return flight.

Caribou Guaranteed Hunt
In 2003, we proudly introduced the first fully guaranteed hunt in the caribou outfitting industry. As shown on the success ratio table, the our logistics’ team had no changes to make in their methods in order to guarantee the harvest of at least 1 adult bull caribou since our ratio table is the genuine portrait of each of our hunting seasons.

All these years of success were achieved without resulting to unacceptable tactics such as hunting from planes or helicopters and have always respected the fair chase principle. Every caribou was harvested sportingly in one of our camps while respecting the ethics by which we and hunters live by. We don’t sell you a camp; we sell you a caribou hunt. We assign camps to hunters according to how the migration is happening on the day you arrive in Kuujjuaq. Our many hunting sites spread over 250 miles from east to west and 125 miles from south to north cover approximately 15,000 square miles. In using this method, we have had to move less than 3% of our hunters.

Why do we guarantee our hunts?
Because WE can back up our harvest statistics!

As most hunters know, caribou outfitters in Quebec, like most outfitters, run very good operations of which they can be proud. On the other hand, there are a few that pretend they’ve had a success ratio of 95% or more over many years, even though this is COMPLETELY FALSE! Instead of pointing fingers at who may or may not be lying, we decided to back our advertised success rate with the best written guarantee on the market! Again, what did we change in our package in order to be able to guarantee our hunts? The answer is simple: NOTHING! It is still the same good hunt with the same method of fair chase. All this in the best caribou hunting grounds in North America and with an incredible group of dedicated guides and staff who have been with us for an average of 15 years! With us, whatever camp you are in, you should be able to harvest 2 mature bull caribou sportingly, making that trip of a lifetime a hunt to remember!

Our great success is largely due to our 24 year knowledge in organizing caribou hunts, but especially to the experience and knowledge of Johnny May. Johnny has been our partner since the beginning. He lives in Kuujjuaq year around. Johnny has spent all of his life in the tundra. He is among the world’s best bush pilot’s of his era with over 33,000 hours of flying over that magnificent country, watching and studying caribou behavior.

Following Johnny’s advice, I am able to select which one of our 36 possible camp locations I must open to put you on the migration to insure a successful hunt. At any given time we keep 8 to 12 camps running, deciding on your final destination only when you arrive. With our unique system, all of our hunters are able to harvest two mature bulls respecting fair chase! This is why we have decided to upgrade our guarantee to 2 MATURE BULLS!

So Come on and join us and witness first hand our first class hunt!

We’re waiting for you in Kuujjuaq!