Just a few weeks ago, the province auctioned off a handful of moose allocations to outfitters to conduct hunts in these newly opened zones for non-residents starting next year. These moose tags were so coveted at the outfitter auction that up to $8,500 was paid per allocation just to gain the rights to five years of future hunting. At press time, I talked with two outfitters who each obtained three allocations for these prairie areas. Nick Frederick of Battle River Lodge has been outfitting deer in this region for the past few years and regularly sees moose out in the buckbrush where you would expect mule deer. He says hunters can expect to see 50-inch bulls with any luck at all. He is currently charging $5,500 (US) for a six-day hunt. Hunters will stay in a brand-new, fully modern lodge. Deer can be added on for an additional charge.
Wendell Mann of Bucks `n Bears Outfitters has high hopes for this unique hunt. He reports seeing 50-inch-plus bulls while deer hunting, and says farmers are begging for hunters to shoot moose. He charges $5,500, which includes lodge accommodations. He commented that hunters will probably have an almost 100 percent chance of taking a trophy-quality bull. For........(continued)
