2011 Trophy Elk and Whitetail Hunts
Sept 2-6, 2011
Spirit of the North Elk and Whitetail Trophy Hunts are conducted on a large, wild, privately owned, enclosed estate near Spiritwood, Saskatchewan, Canada. Non residents are only permitted to hunt elk in Saskatchewan on enclosed estates. I have been organizing and hosting annual elk and whitetail hunts at S.O.N. since 2004 and never had a disappointed hunter!
Russell Thornberry
Accommodations: The 2011 hunt can accommodate 10 hunters comfortably in our fully modern lodge with toilets, showers, all bedding and towels furnished and all meals prepared by our expert cooks. NO tents here! By the way, lady hunters are welcome, too!
Terrain: The terrain is gently rolling hills and meadows with mixed aspen and spruce timber at a modest elevation of 2000 feet. Imagine that – a high quality elk hunt without mountain climbing or pack horses -- and with plenty of breathable air! Rifle shots are seldom over 200 yards as the timber is fairly thick.
Weather: In early September the weather can be as warm as 70 degrees and sunny to rain or snow and temperatures as low as freezing, so hunters should be prepared for all of the above. We suggest that you be able to dress in layers so that you can easily adjust to the conditions at hand. Good rain wear is a must as are good rubber boots. In all cases bring the soft and quiet camouflage hunting clothing made of wool or fleece. There are no legal color requirements so your choice of camo will be fine.
What to Bring: In addition to the clothing mentioned above, hunters need to bring their own toiletries. All towels and facecloths will be furnished. Bring your camera and/or video camera to capture the memories. Bring casual clothing to wear around the lodge. If you require special medications, be sure to bring them with you, and if you have specific dietary requirements, please let us know in advance of your arrival. There are electrical outlets in each bedroom for those who use CPAP breathing machines. Bring a good pair of binoculars, and if you’re a bowhunter, bring a good range finder. If you are bringing a firearm, you will be allowed to bring factory ammo in factory boxes with you. Canada customs will take handloads away from you at the border so do yourself a favor and bring only factory ammo.
Weapons: The hunter has a choice of hunting weapons, which include all archery tackle including crossbows, black powder arms and center-fire rifles. Only handguns are prohibited. We have an assortment of modern center-fire rifles available at the lodge in case you prefer not to travel with your own firearm. We recommend .30 caliber rifles from .30-06 to one of the .300 Magnums and some hunters prefer to bring larger calibers such as .the 338 Mag. or .375 Mag., which are also fine elk medicine.
Hunting Methods: Spirit of the North accommodates all practical hunting methods including box blinds, treestands, stalking and bugling. During this early season hunt the bulls will be bugling and you will thrill to the sound of elk music in the air. Guides will have calls so you don’t need to bring one.
Guide Services: For treestand and blind hunting, guides are not necessary, however, a guide is your best bet for stalking. One guide per two hunters is included at no extra cost. Should you wish to have you own personal guide, there is an additional charge of $150 (U.S.) per day.
Pricing: The price of your hunt is $2,500 (U.S.), plus your trophy fee, but the $2500 hunt cost is applied in full to your trophy fee (see schedule below).
Trophy Fees: You might be wondering how you match your trophy to your budget. Good question. You simply advise your guide of the maximum size elk you can afford and he will be responsible for putting you in the right place for the bull you want. This is one of the benefits of a government sanctioned and well regulated estate hunt.
Deposit Schedule: A deposit of $1250 (U.S) is required to confirm your booking. The balance of $1250 can be paid upon arrival with a cashiers check, credit card or cash. No personal checks please.
At the end of your hunt your trophy fee is due, minus the prepaid $2500.
Licensing: Your hunting license and export permits for your antlers and/or meat are provided by Spirit of the North and you need no other provincial licenses. These documents are covered in the price of your hunt.
Border Crossing: When coming into Canada either by ground or air, you will be required to present your U.S. Passport and to declare any firearms that accompany you. At this time the issue of Canadian firearms registration is in hot debate and expected to voted on by the Canadian government to see whether or not it will be repealed. We certainly hope it will be voted out but just in case, be prepared to pay a Canadian Gun Registration Fee of $25 (Canadian). If registration is required you will also be required to complete a gun registration form (CAFC 909EE & 910EE), which can be provided at the border, or which you can download it from www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca and have it ready to hand to the Canada Custom and Immigrations officer upon entry. This is a time saver for those flying into Canada. You will be asked by a Canadian Customs officer where you plan to go and why. The answer is: You are going hunting with Spirit of the North Outfitters at Spiritwood, Saskatchewan. You will not be allowed to enter Canada if you have a felony record in the U.S. and this includes a DUI record, which Canada Customs treats as a felony, even if the U.S. does not.
Travel: If flying, your final destination will be Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The Lodge is a 1 ½ hour drive from Saskatoon. You should make car rental reservations in advance at the Saskatoon airport and be sure you rent something adequate in size to transport antlers and/or meat back to the airport. Upon confirmed booking you will receive full driving instructions to the lodge from Saskatoon. If you are driving from the U.S. several internet map services can direct you to Spiritwood, Saskatchewan, and we can direct you from there.
Arrival and Departure Times: Plan to arrive at the lodge the afternoon before your hunt begins (Aug. 31st) and to depart from the lodge on the morning of Sept. 6th. You may leave early at your leisure if you bag your trophy early in the hunt.
Handling and Transport of Antlers and Meat: Antlers and meat are prepared for shipping by our staff. Skulls for European mounts can be boiled and cleaned for $200. Meat can be cut and vacuum sealed in heavy leak proof plastic and frozen -- ideal for travel for 80 cents per pound. If you do not wish to take your antlers and cape with you as you travel, arrangements can be made to ship them to you from Canada. Hunters often leave their trophy in Canada to be mounted and then shipped to them. We have an excellent taxidermist that will be glad to handle this process if you wish. Naturally, all taxidermy and shipping fees are the responsibility of the hunter.
2011 Pricing Effective Mar. 1, 2011
(All prices in U.S. currency)
ELK
300-330 inches: $3000
331-350 inches: $4000
351-360 inches: $4500
361-370 Inches: $5500
371-389 inches: $6500
390-405 inches: $9500
Over 405 inches - call for priices
Whitetail Deer
145-155 inches: $4000
156-165 inches: $4800
166-170 inches: $5500
171-180 inches: $7500
181-190 inches: $8500
191-200 inches: $12000
201 inches and above: call for pricing
Gratuities: Guides and Skinners: $150 minimum
For bookings and additional information contact:
Russell Thornberry
P. O. Box 5000
Woodland Park, CO 80866
(334) 590-5916 - C
Email: russell@russellthornberry.com
Web: www.russellthornberry.com
well this blog is great i love reading your articles.
Posted by: The Hermes Birkin | December 02, 2011 at 08:15 AM