Tag-A-Long Newsletter:
Winter 2002-03: British ColumbiaTo continue to expand the number and type of quality offerings I represent to clients requires a lot of research, and several trips per year. Because I have another company to run, and spend over a dozen weekends away from home running archery tournaments, the amount of time I can be away hunting is very limited. For this reason it is especially important that I do my homework and only spend time with operations that I am pretty sure I will want to represent. In spite of all the research, I do not send clients to every operation I check out, some just do not measure up!
I am happy to say that the operation I checked out this fall in BC was everything I hoped and more! First, it is in a huge exclusive area that gets very little hunting pressure. Second, they have very good trophy quality on a number of species. Third, they are committed to the concept of hosting only minimal numbers of clients to assure both personal service and high success rates. Finally, they have a few "very special" bowhunting opportunities that they are willing to offer through Tag-A-Long Consultants. An important side benefit is that the owner of this operation (Mike Christensen) is a hard working guide who maintains a great attitude throughout the hunt. On to the report:
I chose to hunt in mid November for trophy mountain goat. This was planned as a ten day, 1x1 guided, trophy bowhunt for goats, which also included the possibility to hunt whitetail deer if/when a goat was taken. I booked this hunt with the understanding that it was an "experiment" as Mike had not taken anyone for goats at this time of the season or in the "special spot" where he wanted us to hunt. He had also never taken a bowhunter for whitetails, and admitted to knowing very little about how to go about it. We agreed to work on the whitetail portion together, time permitting.
I liked the concept of the late season hunt for several reasons, and Mike's general attitude and enthusiasm convinced me to select him from the over 35 other outfitters I researched in BC for a goat hunt. I liked the fact that by November the goats would have their full winter coats. The hair on a goat is 70% of the trophy, and the later season produces far better trophy quality than hunts in September. The late season fit better into my schedule and the idea of hunting goats at lower elevations during the rut seemed a lot better that hanging off some cliff by my fingernails trying to get above them in the high country. I must also admit that having the camp completely to myself was also an attraction! The hunt started with a plane trip to Kalispell, Montana where I rented a car for the three hour drive north to base camp. Earlier hunts would then involve a horseback trip into one of three remote wilderness camps, but I was to hunt from the main lodge at the lowest elevation of his territory. At least we started every day at a low elevation! The camp is comfortable, and Mike turned out to be a good cook, as well as a great hunting companion for the ten-day adventure. As hoped, we found goats in the "secrete spot" the first morning. This spot is a small system of ridges, along a creek, on the backside of a huge mountain. The goats like to drop down into this area for the rut, and they never seem to get bothered here. Access is by walking in an area closed to all motorized vehicles. We hiked up one side of the creek for about 1-½ hours to a vantage point where we could glass the opposite side where the goats were. Once confirming they were where we wanted them to be, we dropped off that side, crossed the creek, and climbed the other side to get above the bedded goats. This took about two hours. It pays to be in decent shape for this hunt! From here we had two options: we could try a stalk or set up on their exit trail and have Mike push them by me for a close shot. Mike had always seen them use the same exit trail when disturbed in the past, so we gave that method a shot. Hunting being the way it is, the four goats (including two real nice trophy billies) bailed off the ridge, crossed the creek, and exited on the trail we wanted them to, but only after they passed my ambush point. This confirmed that the ambush should have been on this trail, but on the other side of the creek!
Because we had "busted" our goats out of the spot we hoped to hunt, we spent the next few days hiking into higher basins looking at other bands of goats. We got a lot of good exercise, and saw dozens of goats, but could not find a good billy in a place we could get to. To be honest, a younger guy, in better shape, and less nervous about ice covered steep slopes, could have gotten on some nice billies almost every day. Unfortunately, I was saddled with all these limitations! We decided to spend the next few days scouting for good tree stand locations (to hunt whitetails) while we waited for goats to return to the "secrete spot". We managed to find a couple very promising locations and set two stands. We saw two 130 class ten point bucks, and lots of does, but the big bucks eluded us (not surprising given the limited time we spent, and the size of the area). I did sit the stands a couple times and had 14 different elk walk by at under 30 yards. This was a lot of fun!
By mid hunt we were able to spot goats back where we wanted them, and hiked in for a better look. There were only four goats and none seemed large, so we backed out and went whitetail hunting again. The next morning we hiked into the creek bottom for another look and found 10-12 goats where we wanted them. Things we looking up! We dropped off the side ridge, crossed the creek, and hiked up above the goats. They were on a gentle slope that did not appear to offer any decent chance at a stalk, so we circled around them and set up another ambush on the exit trail. This time we went way around the creek bottom to a place where the exit trail funneled down to one deep trail over the last ridge line before heading up to the mountain top where the goats summer for safety. After building a blind that would give me a good vantage point to see the goats coming, and also a 15-yard shot, we climbed higher on the ridge to put the spotting scope on the goats and check for size. There was only one mature billy, and he was only about two years old. He would make the record book (P&Y), but wasn't what we were after. We decided to back off and come back in a few more days.
Three days later, we tried again. This time we just hiked to the blind we had build "assuming" the goats would be in the right place for a "push" to the exit trail. Mike's father agreed to come and do the pushing so Mike could stay with me and help determine which was the best trophy in the group. We "assumed" there would be a better billy with the group of nannies given the onset of the rut and the sheer number of nannies in the band. It took better than two hours of steady hiking (mostly up hill!) to get to the blind. Once there we headed to the lookout spot to check the animals with the spotting scope. There was a good billy in the group, but the whole band was further west on the ridge than where we hoped they would be. It was too late to change the plan, we just had to hope that Mike's dad could push them east along the ridge before they bailed out of the creek bottom. You guessed it, it didn't work! The goats bailed off the ridge, crossed the creek, and went up a different trail on another drainage leading to the mountaintop. With only two days left to hunt the outlook for a goat was pretty dismal at that point! We never were able to find goats in a stalkable position for me the last two days and I came home empty handed.
We did learn a lot from this first late season goat bowhunt however, and I'm confident that things will turn out better next November (yes, I'm going back!). Both times we attempted to push the goats off the ridge we found it very difficult to get them moving. Both times the guide had to get with-in twenty yards and then yell and wave his hands before they left. This tells me that a careful stalk should result in some very close shooting! We also know exactly where to set up the ambush, and that the push will not work unless the goats are located at the east end of the ridge. We will hunt them every day next season, being careful to only approach them when things are perfect, and only do it in a way that won't run them up the mountain. Mike will only take one bowhunter per year on this hunt, and the next available opening is in November 2004.
During the ten days we ran into elk every day. Most mornings we saw 100 or more feeding in fields at the base of the mountain closest to the main camp. Although Mike takes a dozen or so rifle elk hunters each season, most of them pack into the wilderness camps to hunt elk that no one ever sees from a road. Occasionally he'll take an older hunter to the mountain close to camp, and they get into elk every day. This area is limited to 6x6 or better bulls during the gun season, and Mike averages better than 60% success year after year. This is a testament to the quality of the game and the ability of the guides. In the process of taking all these 6x6 elk every season they run into trophy class 5x5s that will never sport 6x6 racks. These elk are safe from year to year, unless they are hunted in the special early bow season (no antler restrictions for bowhunters during the first 10 days of September!). Because Mike wants to extend his season, and because there are so many trophy class bulls in pockets where he doesn't take gun hunters, Mike wants to start taking a couple serious bowhunters for elk each season. These hunts will be a full seven days, 1x1 guided, and include the tag and a cook. Hunting can be from the main lodge, or from remote spike camps by horseback (depending on client interest). Hunting can be from tree stands placed at funnels on active trails between feeding and bedding areas, spot and stalk, or calling, depending on the time of day, animal activity, and client interest. In any case, every client will have close encounters with trophy class bulls! Mike will only take two bowhunters for this hunt in 2003, and will expand to four for the 2004 season. He wants to go slow to assure customer satisfaction!
From what I saw this fall, I am convinced that the late season trophy whitetail hunting here could be incredible! Mike doesn't want to take any clients for the 2003 season however, because he wants us to fine tune the details and stand sites this year before taking regular clients. He will be scouting the area this winter in the snow, and again next spring and summer. If he feels confident in the sign he finds by mid summer, I may be able to convince him to try two clients in early December 2003, we'll see. If you have any interest in a trophy class Canadian whitetail, it would pay to get on the waiting list for these hunts when they come available.
Another special offering Mike has is cougar. He only takes one cougar hunter most seasons, hunts them with hounds, and has a very high success rate on trophy class toms. By hunting in January the cats are at the lowest elevations and where the going isn't very steep. The cats are usually on a fresh kill, and don't travel far once the race begins. This would be an ideal hunt for the hunter that isn't sure they are in shape for all day races in steep country! This lion hunt is gun or bow, but I recommend the bow for the increased challenge (and because I'm a bowhunter!).
Late season 10-day goat/whitetail hunt (next opening 2004) $ 5,250.00 Early season elk (Sept. 1-7) $ 3,950.00 Late season trophy whitetails
(Dec 3-9, 2x1 guided basis)$ 2,250.00 Cougar (Jan 6-12, 2004) $ 3,750.00 Note: The above prices will hold for the 2004 season if a partial deposit is paid this winter to reserve the hunt, and these hunts should be booked 1-3 years in advance due to the limited number of openings.
In addition to the above special bowhunting opportunities, Mike has some other hunts of interest. These hunts can be gun or bow. All Mike's hunts are very limited in number due his concentration on personal service and a quality experience. For that reason you should consider booking early if you have any interest.
Spring Grizzly (black bear included no additional charge), either May 15-24 or May 27-June 5. Most years Mike gets only one tag so the second client is booked "stand-by" in case the second tag becomes available. This year's "stand-by" hunter either gets a refund or the opportunity for first position the following year if the second tag doesn't come through. This is a rifle only hunt!
Other hunts include: Spring Black bear (June 13-17) bow or rifle, spot and stalk; Elk (Sept 9-18) bow or rifle, 1x1 guided , 6-point rule; Moose (Oct 27-Nov. 5), 1x1, gun or bow (post rut); Goat (Oct 27-Nov. 5), 1x1, gun or bow; Moose/goat combo (Oct 27-Nov 5), 1x1, gun or bow; Elk/goat combo (Sept- Oct 20), 1x1, gun or bow.
Spring Grizzly
(May 15-24 or May 27-June 5)$ 8,950.00 Spring Black bear (June 13-17) $ 2,250.00 Elk (Sept 9-18) $ 5,950.00 Moose (Oct 27-Nov. 5) $ 5,250.00 Goat (Oct 27-Nov. 5) $ 5,250.00 Moose/goat combo (Oct 27-Nov 5) $ 8,250.00 Elk/goat combo (Sept- Oct 20) $ 8,950.00 Note: Most of the above hunts have only 1-2 openings available. They all offer very high probability of success on good trophy quality game with rifle. The moose/goat combo will produce close shot opportunities on at least one species even for bowhunters.
For more information, or to book a hunt, contact me by email Tag-A-Long Consultants.
Good hunting,
Roy