Tag-A-Long Newsletter:
Winter 2003: Canadian Hunts

I am writing this as the season winds down, but before it is over, because I want all our clients to get the information on some real special hunts ASAP.

I just got back from a great hunt in British Columbia with a super guide in a huge and game rich area. He's a young guide, but has been at it for ten years and in this exclusive area for seven. His clientele has been mostly rifle hunters from the Midwest, but he has a few real special opportunities for bowhunters and I am hoping Tag-A-Long clients will get to take advantage of them. They are listed below under British Columbia.

Eric Frey (right) and guide Joe Gerard(left).

Before I get into the details of the various hunts offered, I want to discuss a concept. On many of the hunts you will notice comments like "limited openings" and "won't last long". These are not sales pitches! Here's the thing: there are hunts out there that cater to large numbers of clients to keep the costs down, but the success rates are usually also way down. Then there are hunts that are very special. Hunts that are offered to only a few clients each season. Hunts with great trophy potential. These hunts are limited in quantity and book early. It is not at all uncommon for some hunts to be booked 2-4 years in advance once the word gets out. (Note: I sent in my deposit last summer for a hunt in 2005 because that was the next available opening.)

Think about it this way: There are over 3,000,000 bowhunters in North America and another 15,000,000 gun hunters, how much demand do you think those numbers can create for an exceptional hunt with less than a dozen openings annually? Another thing to consider is that Tag-A-Long only books hunts with operations that we have hunted with and found to be honest, hard working guides in game rich areas. We research the places we check out carefully, and still reject two out of three camps we hunt. That means that if you go on one guided hunt per season, and check them out for yourself, you are apt to only have one good hunt every three years. With our help, every hunt should be a good hunt! That doesn't mean you'll kill the new world record on each hunt, only that you will get an honest hunt, as described, that caters to bowhunters like you every time you book through us. The best part is that booking through Tag-A-Long costs you no more than if you booked on your own (actually you'll save money in phone calls and postage while usually taking advantage of discounts offered through us). Enough about that, here are some great hunts to consider:

BRITISH COLUMBIA: The camp we represent takes only a few dozen clients all year, and repeat customers take 2/3 of those slots. They cater to 1X1 wilderness trophy hunts on horseback with full services, and maintain a high percentage of success. They have a few "special" opportunities for bowhunters that are being offered to Tag-A-Long clients first as follows:

Trophy elk: (1X1) the first seven days of the season (September 1-7). This area is restricted to six points per side during the rifle season, which assures a large percentage of trophy class bulls every year. There is an excellent chance to take a bull scoring over 300 P&Y on this hunt. They will only take two bowhunting clients in 2003! $3,950.00 each (includes tag).

Mountain goat: They will only take one client per season into this special area! The hunt is in November when the goats come down to lower elevations for the rut. The hunt is a full 10 days and includes the opportunity to hunt trophy whitetails once your goat is harvested. This offers a high percentage chance at a long-haired trophy billy without a lot of rugged mountain climbing. The next opening is in 2004, and can be held for a small deposit. $ 5,250.00

Whitetail deer: They have a great area for trophy whitetails that gets very little pressure. I will be up again next fall to do more scouting and to try to prove that 150+ bucks can be taken from the well placed tree stands. They will be ready to take the first two bowhunting clients (2X1) in the fall of 2004 (early December) $ 2,250.00 each.

Cougar: They only take one cougar hunter per season (next opening Jan. 6-12, 2004), but they get large cats in the low wintering grounds. By only taking one cat per season they maintain great trophy quality, and this hunt is not as strenuous as a hunt in the high country. If you ever want to get a good tom without being in "sheep shape", this is the hunt for you! $ 3,750.00

Other: In addition to these special offer bowhunts, this camp offers rifle season elk (bow or gun but 6 point rule applies), early season goats, rifle mule deer, spring black bear, and they have one 10 day hunt for spring grizzly that should be considered by anyone that wants a mature grizzly (a black bear can also be taken during the hunt at no charge).

For more information and prices on all these hunts, contact the office by phone or email.

ALBERTA: We have a few people every year that want a good chance for a true trophy class black bear. Some want to take advantage of the increased odds a baited hunt offers, but do not want to deal with the black flies. Others hope to get a color phase (brown, cinnamon, blond, etc). There is no place that offers all this better than Alberta! We represent an outfitter that has been baiting black bears successfully in Alberta ever since baiting was first allowed. He operates in one of the most remote areas, and takes no more than four clients per week to maintain a high level of service/satisfaction. Several of our clients have taken monster bears with him in the past. He books up quickly, as he has limited tags, but we have reserved four spots for clients to join me this spring. The hunt will be the end of May for a full six days. A second bear can be taken for a trophy fee ($250.00). The hunt is $2,400.00 (plus 3.5% tax and $120.00 license fee) to the first four people that act quickly!

(Note: There is also a decent chance to get a wolf on this hunt if you have the $20.00 tag in your pocket!)

NEW BRUNSWICK: We are working with a good outfit in this Province that offers reasonably priced baited bear hunts with a good chance of success. A few trophy class bears are taken every season from their active bait stations. This camp takes both gun and bowhunters, which makes it a great camp for friends that choose to use different weapons but like to hunt together. $ 1,100.00 (plus license)

OTHER: Just as all the details on these hunts is not included in this newsletter due to lack of space, there are also other hunts offered that didn't make the list. If you have anything special in mind contact me at my e-mail address (roygoodwin@comcast.net) for all the details. Some of the other hunts we have good contacts for are: Central Canadian Caribou (bowhunting only camp that dominates the record book!) Muskox (This outfit takes more trophy class muskox than any other each season) Alberta Whitetails (hunt 150+ class bucks in the bow zone) Brown Bears (on the Alaskan Peninsula with a guide that specializes in bowhunting). Long waiting list! Polar Bear (currently broking for spring of 2005 with a small deposit).

TAG-A-LONG HUNTS These are hunts where a few clients get to join Roy on special package hunts to try out new areas or promote "special" camps. Contact Roy for all the details: Alberta Spring Bear (2003) and South Africa (2004). Check the Tag-A-Long website for other hunts as they are arranged.

Visit the Trophy Room to see more shots from these and other hunts.

Good hunting,

Roy