The following is a list of the many common questions I get from hunters interested in Saskatchewn waterfowl hunts every year.
A. There is no best time, we hunt from early Sept. until late Oct every year and no matter when you come, rest assured we will give you the best waterfowl hunting opportunity available at that time. That being said historically there has been better times for specific species. For more information on the best time to come for specific waterfowl species CONTACT US
A. We are based in the small city of North Battleford
A. You will need to fly into Saskatoon International Airport: YXE
A. You will need to rent a vehicle at the airport and take highway 16 west to North Battleford, the drive will take about 80 minutes
A. You are able to bring a firearm into Canada if you wish, We will provide you with the required paperwork and instructions on how to fill it out, you will be charged $25/gun at customs and you will be asked to open your gun case so the serial numbers can be matched, then you will be on your way. The biggest thing is time, please allow extra time to clear both Canadian Customs and US Customs
A. Yes we rent Franchi (made by Benelli) semi-auto 12gauge shotguns for $50/day/gun, a rental agreement must be signed prior to using the firearm
A. It is an 80 minute drive on a good highway, no gravel or rough roads
A. We can book hunts from 1 single hunter to a maximum of 24
A. We generally hunt groups of 6-8 per guide per field, any groups smaller than 6 people will be matched up with other hunters to make a full group unless otherwise agreed upon
A. No we do not own the Gold Eagle Lodge, it is a professionally managed hotel, that has won multiple awards and has some of the best customer service in the industry
A. No you will only ever share a room with someone from your own hunting party, if you are an odd numbered group you may be put in a family suite which has an extra bedroom and 2 queen beds and 1 king. If you do not want to share a room with anyone from your hunting party there is a private room fee. If you are a single hunter you will be required to pay the private room fee as well
A. We provide 12 gauge, 3 inch, steel shot only in different sizes ranging from BB-#4 shot, any hunters that would like something different can stop at the Cabelas in Saskatoon before driving to North Battleford. Your firearms declaration is a license that allows you to purchase ammunition. Please double check your firearms to see if they accept 2 3/4 inch, 3 inch or 3 1/2 inch shells
A. Once you have confirmed dates and the number of hunters in your party, I will send you a welcome package with more information and a few forms to fill out, these forms will need to be mailed back to me along with a check for the deposit, your deposit is 50% of the cost of the hunt, your hunt dates will not be saved until a deposit is received. If and when you are ready to book a hunt follow this link: BOOK YOUR HUNT NOW
A. August 1st
A. Your deposit and final payments are non-refundable, for any reason, including illness, death, divorce, natural disasters etc. You are advised to purchase 3rd party trip cancellation insurance in the event you need to cancel your hunt.
A. The best gun to bring is a 12 gauge, however we will be more than happy to accommodate you no matter what you decide to bring
A. No you do not need waders the majority of our duck hunting takes place on dry fields and when we do hunt water, it is small, shallow, potholes
A. Our hunting for both ducks and geese is done out of 1 of 2 types of blinds, our very comfortable lay out blinds (also called coffin blinds) or A frame willow/brush blinds. Your guide will decide what type of blind to use based on the terrain and natural cover available, we will hunt out of whatever is going to give us the best chance of success
A. Tips are an important part of a guides living and is the main reason your hunting guides work so hard to make your hunt a success. Tips are not required of course and should be relevant to how hard your guides and scouts worked for you, not just the number of birds harvested. Industry standard is 10%-20% of the total cost of the hunt.
A. Yes 3 days limit of birds can be brought home as long as the hunter that shot the birds is accompanying them in transit, however shipping is illegal. We have coolers available for purchase and will pack them for airline transport at the end of your trip.
A. Yes, over the years we have developed relationships with many landowners and low income families in the area and have many people that are happy for the free meat, if there happens to be any ducks or geese left unwanted at the end of the season they are taken to the butcher and made into sausage and jerky. Nothing will ever be wasted
A. Yes, but be warned it can be rushed. We do not recommend a flight any earlier than 3PM. Depending on the time of year and the conditions that day, the morning hunt will be over sometime between 9AM and 11AM. We will have you checked out of the hotel by 1PM at the very latest and it is an 80 minute drive back to the airport. Another option is to check out before the morning hunt and bring your rental vehicle to the field, that way you can leave for the airport immediately afterwards. The last and possibly best option is to book a hotel room with airport shuttle service and fly out the next morning.
A. Yes, we drive the vehicle right to the hunting spot and the guides and scouts will take care of the set up and take down process. No hard labor or hiking is required
A. Yes, our guides are expert callers and you do not need to do anything except shoot. If you are an experienced caller and would like to bring your calls that is no problem, however in certain circumstances you may be asked by your guide to stop calling, if that happens please respect the experienced professionals opinion as it is nothing personal just a judgement call that needs to be made at that particular moment
A. We will travel up to 1 hour away if needed, while it would be preferable to hunt closer to town, our scouts travel far and wide to ensure the highest odds of success on each and every hunt. Bottom line we go where the birds are.
A. The only way you can bring your dog is if you book a private group, the reason for this is to avoid conflict with any other hunters that may have different ideas about dog handling. Also lodging arrangements will need to be discussed prior to the hunt.
If you have any other questions or would just like to chat feel free to CONTACT US or give Mike McLane a call at 403-807-9939
