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Caribou Outfitter

6K views 19 replies 15 participants last post by  BlkKnt62 
#1 ·
Can anyone recommend a good outfitter.
 
#2 ·
I just returned from hunting caribou with Mirage Outfitters. It was my third time 2005, 2008 and 2011. My first time the meals were outstanding, the second time under management by Safari Nordik, not so good. Pancakes for breakfast and spaghetti for dinner. 2011 is back under the original ownership. WE had ham,sausage,bacon and eggs anyway you wanted them them for breakfast. Dinner was lamb, steak, meatballs, tilapia, salmon, chicken wrapped with bacon, Stew, dinner usually had 3 meats available, You could have one of each or whatever you wanted. Deserts included pies, puddings, cakes, jello. If you were hunting during the day you could pack a lunch with ham salad, egg salad, chicken salad, ham & cheese, granola bars, juice boxes, cookies or muffins. If you were at the lodge you could have a hot lunch. There were always lots of fresh fruits to choose from for all meals. The place is immaculate, hunters track snow in and its cleaned in minutes, restrooms are always clean, and this is tuff when some groups do some pretty heavy drinking. Lots of hot water for showers and warm environment for visiting.

Unfortunately the caribou had not migrated down this year due to warm weather. But Mirage did offer helicopter service for those that wanted to pay for it. The price was $1800 per hour for a group of 4. We drove north about 90 miles and then took the helicopter 12 miles NW. we hunted most of the day and then the copter picked up our caribou and then came back and got us. Individually we each paid $640 for this service. Considering we had already shelled out $2300, another 600 wasn't so bad.

I plan on returning again sometime. There are other outfitters in the area, and people complain about all of them. But as for travel time & accomodations I think Mirage is the best (again). In the event of a warm fall like this year, only Mirage and Kisky can provide helicopter service.
 
#4 ·
i went with safari nordik in 1989 (years ago)

bad trip, lied to, no caribou, never moved us as promised, bad food not as promised (cereal, hamburg, sloppy joes)

missing baggage when we arrived in camp, plane landed and unloaded so fast they forgot several of the hunters bags and flew off with them. had to wait 3 days for my buddys sleeping bag to get brought back.

dead caribou all over the place, shot and not claimed...just a horrible trip.

that was when henri poupart (sp) was running it.

i got a $3,000 baseball cap and coffee cup (i borrowed it)

both made nice targets when we got home.
 
#8 ·
Expeditions North for Quebec Labroder caribou, Westwoods Outfitters in Newfoundland for woodland caribou, and We Guide Alaska for barren ground caribou. I would hunt with any of these outfitters again. Caribou hunting is very tricky lately so do your research, best of luck!
 
#9 ·
bohunr said:
i went with safari nordik in 1989 (years ago)

bad trip, lied to, no caribou, never moved us as promised, bad food not as promised (cereal, hamburg, sloppy joes)

missing baggage when we arrived in camp, plane landed and unloaded so fast they forgot several of the hunters bags and flew off with them. had to wait 3 days for my buddys sleeping bag to get brought back.

dead caribou all over the place, shot and not claimed...just a horrible trip.

that was when henri poupart (sp) was running it.

i got a $3,000 baseball cap and coffee cup (i borrowed it)

both made nice targets when we got home.
I had just the total opposite experience with Safari Nordik in 2005... But I'd also look at Ungava Adventures.
 
#10 ·
Striker Overly owns Alaska Artic Adventures. One of his guides works for us during rifle season. The guide is a total pro, excellent hunter, and committed guide. He speaks very highly of Alaska Artic Adventures. I have not hunted with them but I am sure based on what I've heard that they are a solid outfit. Hope this helps.
 
#11 ·
ToothHunter said:
bohunr said:
i went with safari nordik in 1989 (years ago)

bad trip, lied to, no caribou, never moved us as promised, bad food not as promised (cereal, hamburg, sloppy joes)

missing baggage when we arrived in camp, plane landed and unloaded so fast they forgot several of the hunters bags and flew off with them. had to wait 3 days for my buddys sleeping bag to get brought back.

dead caribou all over the place, shot and not claimed...just a horrible trip.

that was when henri poupart (sp) was running it.

i got a $3,000 baseball cap and coffee cup (i borrowed it)

both made nice targets when we got home.
I had just the total opposite experience with Safari Nordik in 2005... But I'd also look at Ungava Adventures.
well...my trip was in 1989, when Henri Poupart ran the operation. very glad to hear you had a great time.
 
#14 ·
On my flight to South Africa this year I met a guy who guided up there (Quebec) for Caribou. He told me the Leaf and George River herds are a mess. Numbers are way down and movement is very different. I would be leary to go up that way right now. At least until you research with Game and Fish Departments in that Providence.
 
#15 ·
I hunted with Cargair Outfitters last year for a fall hunt and I would highly reccommend them. The biggest variable is the caribou, which were all screwed up because of a random warm spell that made the caribou turn around and head back north after they were within 10 miles of the camp we were heading to. Fortunately Cargair was able to move 4 of us per day, which they did for 2 days before the caribou finally showed up at camp. Overall I would label it as a great hunt and experience and Cargair was willing to do whatever it took to make sure that we were on caribou.
 
#16 ·
It depends upon what kind of caribou you want. The word out is that hunting for the Quebec/Labrador caribou is down. Still, if anyone has good hunting, Sammy Cantafio would know where it is (Ungava Adventures).
http://www.ungava-adventures.com/en/trip-packages/caribou-hunting/caribou-hunting-in-northern-quebec

Barren Grounds caribou (Alaska, the Northwest Territories, and the Yukon) are possibilities. I have never hunted them, but would like to someday. Here is an outfit you can check out:
http://www.petersonspointlake.com/

I have hunted mountain caribou in British Columbia, and you can combine that with moose and grizzly if you wish. Those are great hunts. This outfitter is top drawer, and I have hunted with them.
http://bcsafaris.com/

Newfoundland caribou hunting is interesting. There are a few great outfitters there, especially in the Long Range Mountain area. This one comes highly recommended by some friends of mine who have hunted with them:
http://www.tuckamorelodge.com/
 
#18 ·
Cant go wrong with Jack Hume Adventures. They actually leased other camps to get us to the caribou with no price increase. Lots of animals, good food, good guides. Was there this past september and 28 hunters in 5 camps, all but 2 hunters tagged out with bulls. I believe week before was same.
 
#19 ·
I would never recommend Mirage Outfitters. My husband and son-in-law just returned from there and did not have many positives to say. They felt it was very unorganized; the prices quoted changed upon their arrival. They did say the food was very good and they enjoyed meeting the other hunters-- but I would try one of the others recommended here.
 
#20 ·
I hunted with Ungava in 2004. It was a great hunt. Guides were excellent, and accommodations were good for being out in the middle of no where. After tagging out on Caribou we fished for Lake, and Brook Trout. You could toss out the biggest hunk of steel in your tackle box and rip it down stream, and catch Native Brook Trout bigger then you've ever seen. Ptarmigan hunting was lots of fun as well. They're just about everywhere. When you walk near the streams and lakes you will see them running in the underbrush ahead of you. Get ready when you force them to the end of the cover because you never know how many will flush.

If I ever go again, Ungava will be the first place I call.

A few pics just because I haven't looked at them in a while and this thread brought back memories! The trip was a present for my grandfather and the guides got him(73 years young at the time) tagged out on caribou as well.







 
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