Kevin McNeil and I just got off the phone as we have been friends for many years and he has one of the best waterfowl operations in the country and some pretty amazing moose, deer and bison hunts. I asked him to send me a write up on his bison hunts and if you are interested in a serious hunt for free ranging bison, this might be a great opportunity for you!!! Tell Kevin we sent you!!
http://www.blueskyoutfitting.com/
In Alberta, we have several free ranging herds of Trophy Bison, of which only one area that is hunted. It is a fact that the Wild bison have always existed in this range and man has never pushed them out of the area. We know of nowhere else in North America where you can hunt native, free ranging bison in their natural habitat.
Fortunately, these bison are not a pure wood bison. This allows us to export your cape and horns to the United States. Although not pure wood strain, a bull may weigh up to 2600 lbs. and cow 1500 lbs.
Generally, May or early June, expect temperatures ranging from (32 F – 70F). It will be the hunter’s responsibility to get to Fort Smith North West Territories. A guide will meet you and escort you to the camp. Most of the traveling from that point will be done on a quad, or agro. Each hunter will have a guide (1 on 1), although some traveling will be done in-groups. It is common to travel up to 80 km (50 miles) in a day.
The very elusive timber wolf inhabits the same vast Boreal forest region as the Bison. They can be hunted with fair success at any time during the hunt.
Your days will be filled with excitement tracking down the legendary buffalo. The hunt can be long and difficult but for the avid Trophy hunter it is the thrill of a lifetime.
The rewards for the dedicated hunter can be great however. Studies have shown that many of the bulls in this area are positively ancient, and trophy potential very high. As well, there is the satisfaction of having hunted one of the rarest and most awesome trophies, a true free ranging bison on its northern range!
No license is required to hunt bison in Alberta, and because they are not considered pure wood bison strain, a CITES permit is not required for export.
Wild Bison Hunts May-June)
2013 6 days $7,500.00 Canadian
2014 6 days $ 10,000.00 Canadian
Hunters may take a second Wild Bison for an additional $3,000 Canadian (to be paid before 2nd Bison hunt starts) plus 5% tax.
Deposit (50%) required to book hunt dates
REMAINING (50%) DUE March 1st, of hunt year
What do you get on a Wild Bison hunt with Blue Sky Outfitters?
- A fun, exciting hunt for the largest big game animal in North America
- An area that has a very high population of Bison
Cost of the hunt covers the following:
- Pick up at the Fort Smith airport.
- Hunter pick up is in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories (with daily airline service from Edmonton, Alberta)
- All vehicle transportation during hunt time.
- Guiding service for duration of hunt.
- Food and accommodation.
- Field dressing, skinning quartering, and caping of your trophy.
The following is “Not” included in the cost of the hunt:
- Shipping, crating, and handling of trophy or meat cutting and freezing.
- Taxidermy (We can provide taxidermy services at an additional cost.
TERMS, CONDITIONS and ADDITIONAL HUNT INFORMATION
These are all inclusive prices in Canadian funds with the license and taxes included. The wild Bison hunts are a 2 on 1 basis.
All bow hunts are one guide, one hunter for $11,000 Canadian plus goods and services tax. Archery hunting is one on one.
Wounded animals count as killed animals; one drop of blood means a wounded animal and it will likely die. Every effort will be made to recover every animal you shoot at, but should one be lost, it is considered dead, no matter where it was hit. Please note that if you shoot at and wound an animal efforts will be made to recover the animal, but your hunt is considered to be over.
Booking a hunt and payment schedule:
A deposit of 50% of the complete cost is required to book a hunt. Final payment 50% is required by March 1 of your hunt year. Once we receive a deposit then a hunt contract will be sent to you to be signed and mailed back. Except for transferring deposits to a friend, all deposits are fully non-refundable. The deposits cannot be transferred to a future year.
Please be advised that if you choose to hunt with a bow and arrow or even a muzzleloader, you are thereby also choosing to reduce your odds of getting a big bull. We will do our best; we are good at what we do, but that in no way guarantees you will take a big bull with a primitive weapon. Please seriously reconsider using primitive weapons if you are not in good physical shape or have problems such as bad knees that will affect your ability to hike
Additional Hunt Information:
It is your responsibility to make sure you will not be refused entry into Canada. Refusal of entry by Canada Customs and Immigration is not sufficient reason for a refund. If you have ever had any criminal charges, even a D.U.I., you might have difficulty-entering Canada and may need to clear it up months beforehand. We can help you to do this. Call if you have questions about it. If you are coming on a rifle hunt then you will need a firearms declaration form to clear your rifle through customs. We will send you one a month or two before your hunt starts. There is a $30 payment at the border to process this form.
Please be advised that if you choose to hunt with a bow and arrow or even a muzzleloader, you are thereby also choosing to reduce your odds of getting a big bull. We will do our best; we are good at what we do, but that in no way guarantees you will take a big bull with a primitive weapon. Please seriously reconsider using primitive weapons if you are not in good physical shape or have problems such as bad knees that will affect your ability to hike.
PASSPORTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO ENTER THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, STARTING IN JANUARY EVERYONE entering the United States by sea or air, beginning Jan. 8, 2007, INCLUDING US CITIZENS, will need a passport. All American hunters, planning to hunt in Canada or elsewhere in the future, should apply for a passport right away. The resultant rush for passports will possibly cause delays, so the sooner you apply, the sooner you will get your passport.
Please note that as of Jan. 1, 2008, the passport rule will apply at all land border crossings as well.
Extra Costs:
Besides the $30 gun, import forms the only other extra costs would be one or two night’s hotel upon arrival and departing in High Level or Edmonton (about $125 US). Meat processing and shipping or extra baggage (amount varies greatly depending on species of the animal and amount of meat, horns, cape you are taking home) and any tips for the guide and cook that you feel they deserve (standard total amount is approximately 5% to 10% of the hunt cost)
Getting your hides, antlers, and cape and meat home:
The easiest way to get your antlers and cape back home is for us to put the items in a thick cardboard box and for you to take it with you or your flight home. We put garden hose around the antler tips, clean, dry and then tape up the skull plate and we freeze the cape. Frozen meat can also be taken home with you in a cooler. Shipping meat back to your home is another possibility but it is an expensive, complicated, and time consuming task. Please call Kevin if you would like more information on the available options for both the Waterfowl and Moose hunts.
Your Bison will be given to the needy local families if you want to donate it. If you drive up, you can take your meat with you after we help you get the necessary permits, only available during workdays, during work hours. It is possible to fly home with your Bison, if you wait for the necessary permits to be filled as above, but please be aware, the cost will be extremely high in light of the new airline regulations regarding excess baggage and overweight baggage. In addition, you will have to wait until your Bison is butchered (at your cost) and frozen. This will delay your departure for some amount of time, perhaps days if the butcher is busy. The choice is ultimately yours, though, and if you want to pay, we will be more than happy to take your Bison to a butcher and have it cut, boxed and frozen, and we will help you apply for the export permits while you wait in Fort Smith for all of this to be done.
If you have, any questions please feel free to contact Patti or myself
Thank you,
Kevin & Patti McNeil
Hunting is an inferior method of treating extreme insecurity and powerlessness. God will have the last word.