Detwiler says he began his hunt in early December of last year and managed to take a wolf, but due to poor snow conditions struck out on cats (he was seeking cougar, lynx and bobcat). He returned in February when snow conditions were better and proceeded to take a second wolf on day one, a bobcat on day two and a cougar on day three. Deep snow in the mountains prevented him from taking a lynx. Summing up his hunts, Detwiler says, "I found Ram Creek to be a first-class outfitter. Steven paid attention to details and worked hard to help me take my trophies. The guides at Ram Creek were hard-working and knowledgeable." Among the highlights of the hunt, he lists "traveling through beautiful country in southern BC and watching the dogs work, a new experience for me."
At press time, we talked to Steven Leuenberger, who explained that his wolf hunts ($4,000 US) are conducted from heated blinds over bait with hunters sitting early in the morning and again in the evening, leaving time mid-day to combine hunts for cougar, bobcat and lynx. He usually takes only two or possibly three wolf hunters per year. A cougar hunt alone is priced at $6,000, and he's sold out for the 2012-13 season. Bobcat can be added to either a wolf or cougar hunt for a $1,500 trophy fee. Leuenberger tells us that he has openings for wolf and bobcat right after Christmas, 2012, and again in late January/early February 2013.
As Detwiler discovered, lynx are the most elusive of the four predator species on offer. Leuenberger says lynx........(continued)
