The Outfitter:
 
I was born here in Grande Prairie on July 20, 1943 and raised on a farm 14 miles east of Grande Prairie, where I still reside.

My father was a logger, trapper, farmer, and hunter, so I guess I inherited the trapping and hunting from him. I now run two traplines, one is 175 sq. miles and is located in the lower Big Smoky River and Wapiti River Junction.  This area has a good supply of elk, moose, black bear, wolves and coyotes, plus a moderate supply of white tail and mule deer.   This area is WMU f356 with an elevation of 2380 ft.  The other 85 sq. mile trap line is higher in the foothills, a 2.5 hr drive south of Grande Prairie.  This area has good size moose, mule deer, elk, and black bear.  It is WMU f355 with an elevation of 4900 ft. and consists of sub alpine .  The 175 sq. mile line has 4 cabins and the 85 sq., mile line has 1 new cabin (20x24).

I got my start in British Columbia about 36 years ago with an outfitter named Tom Mould, doing horse wrangling, then guiding.  I then went to Great Bear Lake with Jennie Branson fishing lodge       (Branson's Cameron Bay Lodge).  After that, with Maurd McAuley from Fairview, Alberta on the Big Smoky River and the Peace River.

I started outfitting with my dad over 30 years ago and have had a very good hunter success ratio throughout the years.  We've taken moose with spreads of 50", elk with 7 x 8 and black bear 8 ft plus.  We specialize in moose and elk calling during the rut, and we are very successful at it; see success rate data.

I only take a limited amount of hunters each year.  This way you're not  hunting with too many hunters at a one time, 1 to 3 at the most.  You have a better and more successful hunt, and a better time.

Hunting Area:

The lower Big Smoky and Wapiti River area consists of sand ridges, river flats, swamps, beaver dams, blown down timber, spruce, alder, poplar areas, cut lines, and oil leases.  This is good elk, moose, black bear (black, caramel brown or, cinnamon) wolf and coyote habitat.

The two rivers are also excellent for spring black (cinnamon caramel brown) bear hunting.  When the grass starts to grow on the side hills and the poplar trees start the bud out in May, you will see bear feeding in these areas while we are running the river, and on cut lines and oil leases in the interior, while hunting with an argo (all terrain vehicle) or horses.

Temperatures on spring bear hunts varies: mornings cool, afternoons warm, 30 to 60 degrees fahrenheit, sometimes rain.

Fall hunts: (Sept.) mornings cool fair. Afternoons, warm, possibly rain. It gets cooler in the later hunts; Oct. - Nov., may get down to below freezing, with snow.

Camp and Equipment:

The base camp, which is located on the Wapiti River, close to the junction of the Big Smoky and Wapiti River, consists of 1 log cabin (kitchen facilities, wood and propane stoves), storage cabin, hunters frame tent with wood floor, 1 8x8 shower (c/w wood heater), oil heaters frame tent, spring beds and foamies.  There is plenty of cut wood for wood heaters.

The spike camp, (for elk) which is 6 miles from base camp, consists of 1 12x16 wall tent c/w floor, wood stove, propane 2 burner camp stove, cooking utensils; 1 10x16 wall tent c/w wood stove, floor, cots and foamies.

• Guide does cooking at Spike camp and outfitters wife or daughter cooks at base camp.

Transportation:

When arriving by air to Grande Prairie, I will pick you up at the airport and transport you to the Trumpeter Travel Lodge (or motel of your choice) for an overnight stay before the trip to the hunting area the next day.  If traveling by vehicle, you can drive right to my door on the farm, and depending on arrival time we can either go directly to the hunting area or you can drive on into town for an overnight stay at the Trumpeter Travel Lodge (or motel of your choice).  The Trumpeter Travel Lodge is located on the north end of Grande Prairie as you are driving in from Edmonton.  Grande Prairie is five hours driving time north east from Edmonton on Highway 43 and 34.

Equipment, Clothing, etc. hunter should bring:
 
 

2 pair boots (waterproof) 1 insulated	4 pair warm socks
2 Changes of clothing (both wool)	Camo outfit
Knife	Toque or camo hat
Waterproof matches (in waterproof container)	Wool or thermal underwear
Warm mitts and gloves	Blaze orange or red vest
2 coats (1 wool, 1 down)	Rain gear
Hip Waders	Camcorder or camera
Good pair of binoculars

 

Rifles:

The most popular rifles to bring are: 30-06, 7 mm, 270 and 300 win. magnum.

Spring bear shots range from 40 yd. to 300 yd..
Fall elk and moose shots from 60 yd. to 200 yd..

I recommend the hunter to practice shots ranging from 50 yd. to 300 yd., to minimize wounded game. Your gun will be tested on arrival at farm before going to hunt area, to make sure it is still on target.

You should be in fair to good health to hunt in my area.  Please let me know if you have any health problems, so I can adjust the hunting tactics to suit you.
 

Licenses & Allocations:

Allocation fee* per species that must be paid with deposit.

    Moose            $101.40
    Elk                  $151.40
    Black Bear      $76.40
    Mule deer       $76.40
    W.T. deer       $126.40

*The allocation fee is a fee that  the outfitter paid the Alberta government in order for you to buy a license to hunt the species above.
 

• All hunts in US funds
• All licenses, allocations and certificates in Canadian funds.

Booking Arrangements:
 
Should you decide to book a hunt with me, e-mail, phone or write to me by return and I will send a standard agreement and waver to you to be returned with your deposit.

• A deposit is required on each hunt, with the balance to be paid on arrival in cash or certified check.

• If hunter must cancel hunt, please notify outfitter within sixty days prior to hunt and your deposit will be applied to next years hunt, if so desired, otherwise it is non-refundable.

• If there are more than two hunters in a party, an extra guide will be available.

Average Success Ratios:
 
    Elk:          85% +,
    Moose:  100%,
    Bear:      150% +.