Why the choice matters
Under provincial rules, non-resident big game licences (moose, black bear and caribou) are available only through licensed outfitters, and non-resident big game hunters must be accompanied by licensed guides supplied by the outfitter. The outfitter decides where you hunt, who guides you, where you sleep and how your meat is handled. Non-resident licence quotas are allocated to outfitters in particular moose management areas, so the outfitter also determines which area you hunt in.
Fishing works differently, but many non-resident anglers also need a guide or outfitter, especially on salmon rivers and remote water. See the non-resident hunting rules for details.
Start with the basics
Before comparing anything else, confirm:
- The outfitter is licensed for the species and area you want. Ask them directly, and check with the provincial wildlife division if you're unsure.
- They have non-resident licences for your year. Quotas are set each season, and caribou in particular can be limited.
- The dates work. Ask which weeks they have open and when the season opens in their area.
Questions to ask
The hunt itself
- Which moose management area(s) do you hunt?
- How do you hunt: calling, still hunting, glassing cutovers, boat, ATV?
- What is the guide ratio, 1:1 or 2:1?
- How many hunters are in camp each week?
- How much walking is involved, and what fitness level should I have?
The camp
- Is it a main lodge, a cabin, or a tent camp?
- How do we get there: road, boat, ATV or float plane?
- Is there a cook, power, and phone or satellite contact?
Money
- What is the total price, and what is it in (Canadian or US dollars)?
- What exactly is included, and what costs extra?
- What is the deposit, when is the balance due, and what is the cancellation and refund policy?
- What happens if I don't fill my tag? Is there any discount for a return trip?
What a moose hunt costs has a fuller list of what's usually included and excluded.
After the shot
- Who handles field dressing, quartering and getting the animal out?
- Who processes the meat, and what does it cost?
- Can you help with the game export permit, and with trophies going to a taxidermist?
Getting your moose home covers the export and border side.
Reading success rates
Outfitters often quote a success rate. It's useful, but only if you know what it means:
- Ask how it's calculated. Is it the share of hunters who took an animal, or who had a chance at one? Over how many years?
- Ask for numbers by year. One good year can make an average look better than a typical week.
- Compare with official figures. The provincial hunting and trapping guide publishes an overall success rate for each moose management area. These rates vary widely between areas and include resident hunters, so they won't match an outfitter's number exactly, but they give you a reference point.
- Bulls versus any moose. A rate for any moose is different from a rate for mature bulls.
A rate well above what the area normally produces deserves a follow-up question, not automatic suspicion. Some outfitters have good ground; ask what makes theirs different.
References
Ask for the names of recent clients, ideally ones who did not fill a tag as well as ones who did. Ask them about the guide, the food, the camp, whether the trip matched what was promised, and whether they would go back.
Online reviews help, but read for patterns rather than single comments.
Red flags
- Reluctance to confirm their licence or which area they hunt
- No written contract, or a vague one
- A deposit demanded in cash or by an untraceable method
- No clear cancellation policy
- Guaranteed kills
- Prices that seem far below other outfitters in the same area, with no explanation
- Pressure to book immediately
- Vague answers about the guide ratio or how many hunters share a camp
None of these alone proves a problem, but two or three together is a reason to keep looking.
Get it in writing
Before paying a deposit, get a written confirmation that lists the dates, area, species, licence, guide ratio, lodging, meals, transport, what's extra, the total price and currency, payment schedule, and cancellation terms.
Next step
Compare moose outfitters, black bear outfitters or caribou outfitters, browse by region such as Central or Labrador, or tell us about your trip and we'll help narrow the list.