When we had an opportunity to hunt Saskatchewan this year, this was going to be one trip I was going to make sure I was on.  I have hunted Saskatchewan 6 years in a row in the past, but hadn’t been there in over 4 years, so I was really excited to get back.  This year we hunted with Jeff Smith of Kutawagan Outfitters.

Our new Remington’s showed up a week before the trip, we were quick to get our new Brunton scopes mounted, guns sighted and we were ready to head north.

The week started off at -18 F and was quick to test everyone’s endurance right away.  LTH guest, Tom Andes was about to find out what hunting Saskatchewan is all about.  The first few days found us seeing a lot of deer, but not the big mature bucks Canada is known for. Jeff had trail cameras out at each bait site and was trying to move everyone where he was seeing the best deer activity.

Day 3, Tom had his first opportunity at his first Saskatchewan bruiser.  He was quick to find out how difficult it really is with a camera over his shoulder and how everything has to line up perfectly for us to get the footage we need and the right shot.  To say Tom was disappointed that night after not getting a shot, would be a huge understatement.  He went back into that stand the next day, but the deer he saw on Wednesday didn’t show up again.  It was then, that he realized that he had his opportunity and it didn’t pan out.  But, they went right back into that stand on Friday again and the Lord blessed him with another opportunity on the same deer, but this time everything worked out and he was sitting over his first Saskatchewan bruiser.

I saw a lot of deer during the week and a lot of 2 and 3 year old bucks, but we just weren’t seeing those 4+ mature bucks that we should have been.  Again, Jeff was monitoring his sites and felt that I should go into this one stand that he had a good buck on a couple days earlier and felt that deer would show up.  Ed and I sat there all day Friday and saw a couple young bucks, but not the one he was hoping.  Last day and we go back to the same stand we were at the day before…9:15 am he makes a showing and the rest is history.

If you are looking for an outfitter that makes you feel a part of their family the week while you are there, then you need to give Jeff and Annette Smith of Kutawagan Outfitters a call.  The hunting, food and lodging is some of the best we have experienced.  If you love the cold and love seeing big deer, then you need to head to Saskatchewan.  You can count on us being back there again next year.

After getting completely shut down in October and not putting 1 kill on tape, November couldn’t get here fast enough.  This year we were hunting with Midwest Finest Whitetails in Kansas.  Sam Moore, is a very accomplished hunter and has had great success over the years, so we knew we were going to be in the right spot for the November rut.

Team member, Frank Fontanella, was very quick to show everyone how to get it done.  On the night of day 2, this Kansas giant came in and gave Frank a great broadside shot at 20 yds and ….well things didn’t go quite as planned.  Anyhow, the deer read the script and knew he wanted to be a movie star, so he gave Frank another chance.  This time Frank and the deer were on the same page and got it done.

Member, Brian Caliguri, from New York had a tough week.  It just seemed like the deer didn’t want to cooperate for Brian.  He sat from dark to dark each day and even through pour down rain, but the deer as they normally do weren’t on their feet as much as we were hoping for this time of the year.

Sam moved everyone around trying to get them on deer all week long.  Sam did everything he could to try and get everyone on deer, but as normal, you can’t control deer movement or the weather and both ended up being a factor.  Midwest Finest Whitetails runs a 5 star operation and without a doubt works hard and does everything they can to put you on deer.