Jay and the Wolf. A Saskatchewan Whitetail Hunt.
Q: Hi Jay, Welcome to Saskatchewan. Where are you from and how long have you been hunting?
A: I’m from Macomb, Michigan and I’ve been hunting basically 30 years.
Q: How did your hunting tradition start?
It was my dad that got me into Deer camp up in Kasa, Michigan. Going up for bow hunting. We weren’t allowed in, you know, at younger years for gun season because that’s not a place for a younger guy. But then when I hit 18, I joined Deer camp and and now I’ve got my own camp in Pigeon River near Gaylord, Michigan.
Q: What big game do you like to hunt?
Whitetail mainly. I’ve been to Montana one time for Elk and Mule Deer, but most everything has been Turkey and Whitetail.
Q: How’s the hunting back home?
Whitetail hunting in Michigan, I hunt state land most of the time, it can vary. There are some big bucks around, but you got to put in the effort where I’m at there. It doesn’t seem like Michigan woods in the Pigeon River where I go. It’s very thick, swampy. It can be real nasty, but there is good hunting if you put in the time and effort to get to where the big boys are.
Q: Who else made this hunting trip with you?
My buddy Mike invited me 6 months ago. I told him I couldn’t make it. Couldn’t get away from work and family. 3 weeks ago he called me and the guy he was coming with unfortunately, fortunately, dropped out and I was able to get on the trip, get permission from the wife and here I am 3 weeks later. So it worked out.
Q: Have you Whitetail hunted in Saskatchewan before?
This is my first trip to Saskatchewan, and I will be back.
Q: What do you think of Saskatchewan Whitetail hunting?
Night and day difference. I mean day one and two here I had 40 to 60 Deer in front of me the entire day. 97% of the day I had Deer in front of me. In Michigan it typically does not work that way at all. So you can go all day without seeing a Deer or you can see 10. I mean it’s much different. It’s better here. But you know, they’re both fun.
Q: Tell me about Day 1 of Saskatchewan Whitetail hunting, the first trip into the woods.
It was a long hike on the the side by side, which is good. The farther in you go the better I like it. We got out there during the dark so you don’t have any clue what is going to happen when the sun comes up. By the time the headlights were out of my sight, I had the crunching of the bait pile in front of me and Deer everywhere.
Q: Have you passed on any good Whitetail bucks?
I’ve passed of a few, not the caliber that are around, that I’m looking for, but I’ve seen bucks every day, big ones, small ones. Just not the the class that that I’m looking for, that Chaparral is looking for.
Q: How are you handling the weather conditions?
The weather here has been very very cold. Today was the coldest hunt of my life by far. We were negative 13. Had to buy some extra thick gear. Chaparral provided us with heater bodysuits and boot blankets which is basically the reason why I was able to stay out there from from dark till dark, for shooting hours. So without the gear that Greg provided, I would have been back in the warm hours ago.
Q: What is your weapon of choice for Whitetail Deer hunting?
I’m using a 7 mm Mag Remington. Love the gun. My dad bought it for me as my first rifle. So just waiting to shoot the big boy tomorrow. I’ve killed a lot of Deer with it.
Q: Have there been any surprises on this Whitetail hunt?
Yes. The most surprising thing I think it was, day two, I had probably between 35 and 40 Deer in front of me, some on the bait pile, some bedded down, sleeping, some playing, some fighting. I mean, I had Deer all around me. About 10:00 a.m. a Deer had come over the little ridge and everybody stopped. Everybody got up and all 40 Deer ran past me all at one time. The Deer that had run in to stir everything up was the last Deer that went by me on my right. He just he stopped before he went over the ridge and he had his tongue hanging out just breathing, just, he looked like he was sick. I didn’t really understand at the time what that was.
Q: What happened next?
Then that morning, Greg had said if there’s Deer in the bait pile and they just up and run, it can be either big huge buck or a Wolf. Well, when all 40 Deer got up and ran, I got my gloves off cuz I knew a Wolf was coming. And about 7 minutes after that, saw some movement far away and then out in front of me kind of a Wolf came around, did a nest, stopped behind a big tree. I got down on one knee in the in the ladder stand. Got my three points. Wolf came out, stopped broadside, and I was able to get my first Wolf. First Wolf I’ve ever seen. First Wolf I ever shot. It was very cool seeing it. You know, it’s not all about killing, but I’m happy to have that one going home. I’m going to get a full body mount. Yeah, I’m going to leave the Wolf up here. The taxidermy Greg uses, Orion Taxidermy, specializes in Wolves and since there’s so many shot up here, he’s really good at it. I’ve seen photos. It looks great. So, that’s where I’m going to take it. We’ll get it done the right way and take it home and see how much trouble I get in when that comes home.
Q: Any additional thoughts about the day?
So, with that Deer that had run in and spooked up the the big group of Deer when it ran to my right, with the tongue hanging out. And later on the way back after I shot the Wolf, I realized, that was the specific Deer that ran in and that Wolf was on that Deer track and would have continued to go after that Deer until the Deer couldn’t move. So, you know, it was pretty cool to see that and then realize later that that Deer would have probably had a problem very soon after that. And, I was fortunate enough to get a a trophy Wolf. And I can’t wait to see it once it’s done at Orion Taxidermy.
Q: What have been your thoughts about Chaparral Hunting Adventures?
I have been, this is my third outfitter, and, by far, this has been the best. Greg and Shelly have been, I’ve never met them before, up until four or five days ago, and they’ve treated me like family. They’ve got gear to borrow. The side by sides they take you out in the field with are unbelievable.
Q: How are the Accommodations?
It’s great. The cabin has got eight rooms. Two bathrooms that are, they look like they’re brand new. I don’t know when they did them, but they’re, just it’s everything is perfect. What we’re sitting in right now. All of our gear stays here so nothing gets smelly or stinky around food. There’s no complaint. I plan on coming again next year.
Q: Has there been anything you didn’t expect?
With Mike and I flying in from Michigan. You know, Greg had said it’s going to be some cold weather to bring a heated bodysuit. I don’t own one, but I was going to buy one, but he had told Mike, you know, don’t buy them. We’ve got them here to borrow. Cuz when you’re flying, that’s just extra weight and size that you don’t need to bring, and he’s got several. A lot of the guys are using them and I’m going to buy one as soon as I get home because they’re great. So, he’s let me use boot blankets, he’s offered hats, he’s just been, anything we need, he’s been able to provide.
Q: What are three things about your trip that stand out?
The accommodations are second to none. The bush we’re hunting in, we go so far back in there. We don’t hunt the the edge of of the bush, which I prefer. Deeper the better. Bernice has been doing a great job. Breakfasts have been great. She makes us lunch to put in our backpack for the field. We come home, half an hour, get ready, walk over to the cabin, met with a big warm bowl of soup. Every night’s a different flavor soup. It’s been great. Every night’s been a different main course followed by a dessert. I’m a cook and I like cooking at my Deer camp and this has been very very nice to be up here.