CANADA: Saskatchewan Goose, Duck & Crane Hunt

NIGHTHAWK

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A week and half after getting back from my SA Safari, my good friend Mark and I went to Saskatchewan for a Combo bird hunt we booked at SCI in Jan. This would be the third time hunting with Duck Creek Outfitters.

We stayed 5 nights and hunted 4 Days. We had an extra leg on our flights through LAX, then on to Calgary, and finally landing in Saskatoon. Inconvenience, but not a big delay…

Canada still wants all visitors to show proof of vaccination, wear masks on their flights, and at their airports… If you are going to Canada and If it hasn’t changed since September 13th, prepare yourself and get familiar with the ArriveCAN App!

I also can’t say enough about traveling as light as possible! Mark’s checked bag was late and had to be delivered the second day in the late evening. Which meant a stop at Cabela’s for $500 worth of hunting gear! I carried on a standard roller bag and a backpack with medication and toiletries.

We did get a bonus upgrade rental -Thanks AMEX!

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Guides were great, food was great, hunting was great, and over all we had an amazing time. We made some new friends and told plenty of hunting and fishing stories around the campfire.

First Morning Sandhill Crane:
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Afternoon: Teal - hot about a dozen between 3 of us…

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Second Day: Mixed Bag of Ducks and Geess

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Day 3: Mother Load!
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Day 4: Ducks and Geese in the morning
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Just before dinner Mark and I went to a big slough near the club and shot about 8 passing mallards, had dinner, and headed to our Hotel in Saskatoon. We had an early flight the next morning.

We did have a flight cancellation the night before we were scheduled to fly home that caused some grief. However, I got us an alternate flight to Calgary and we stayed on track with the rest of our connections. I also got reimbursed from Delta for those flights along with an $150 extra for the trouble.

I also recommend Global Entry to those that travel in and out of the US. There were a lot of people trying to clear customs and Mark and I went to the front of the line and made it through with time to spare!
 

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Looks and sounds like a wonderful trip! The smiles on your faces really tell the story!
 
That brings back some great memories, have shot cranes, geese and upland birds along the Saskatchewan river around Outlook and ducks and geese around Indy lake around Dundern. Congratulations on a great and successful hunt!
 
Awesome thanks for sharing!
 
Looks like a great trip. I've wondered about doing a trip like that. Looks like Canada has finally dropped some of the travel mandates. If you took only carry on stuff you must of rented a shotgun and purchased shells there. Can you tell us about the rental options and costs associated with that? Were shotgun shells similar in price to the US? How was selection of what you wanted to hunt with? Congrats.
Bruce
 
Congrats and thanks for sharing!
 
I understand that as of October 1st, no vaccination status is required at the border, masking on airlines, trains and buses is voluntary for anyone entering Canada. As far as the ArriveCan app, it is not required to be used as you can use the older forms that may require a CBSC agent to think. Welcome to Canada and glad to hear that you had a great time.
 
Looks like you had a great hunt. Thanks for posting. Great weather as well.
 
Just so you all know. All Covid rules, regulations and mandates have been lifted in Canada!
 
We hunted about 2 1/2 hours east of Saskatoon. Nearest towns are Wadena and Kelvington. Ducks and Geese are thick!
That brings back some great memories, have shot cranes, geese and upland birds along the Saskatchewan river around Outlook and ducks and geese around Indy lake around Dundern. Congratulations on a great and successful hunt!
 
We used the Huderite community east of Saskatoon to process our birds, that was an experience in its self. I can’t wait to get back up there.
 
Hey thanks for posting on my home province. Love to see a happy visitor!
 
Looks like a great trip. I've wondered about doing a trip like that. Looks like Canada has finally dropped some of the travel mandates. If you took only carry on stuff you must of rented a shotgun and purchased shells there. Can you tell us about the rental options and costs associated with that? Were shotgun shells similar in price to the US? How was selection of what you wanted to hunt with? Congrats.
Bruce
Hi Bruce!

Rented Guns and Ammo were: $700 Total for 2 People for 4 Days of hunting. We either shot 7 or 9 boxes each. I also think it was $20/box for Faststeel 3”. A slight premium for ammo…

We had choices everyday of what we wanted to hunt. I prefer snow geese, because you’ll get dark geese, and ducks come in too. We also pass shot nearby sloughs and ponds in the afternoon/evening.

We hunt wheat, barley, and pea fields.

Blinds are set up in the morning and are brushed out. You sit in padded swivel chairs, guides sit inside and call.

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Hey thanks for posting on my home province. Love to see a happy visitor!
We love it up there! Nice people, great hunting, and beautiful country. Boreal forest is amazing too!
 
Looks like a great trip. I've wondered about doing a trip like that. Looks like Canada has finally dropped some of the travel mandates. If you took only carry on stuff you must of rented a shotgun and purchased shells there. Can you tell us about the rental options and costs associated with that? Were shotgun shells similar in price to the US? How was selection of what you wanted to hunt with? Congrats.
Bruce
I used a new left hand Benelli Auto in 12 Gauge. I think they have a little of everything in 12 Gauge. All auto’s. Winchester, Berretta, Benelli, and Browning.. They have 20 Gauge too.

Talk to Sykes at Duck Creek Outfitters. Tell him Roger sent you.

We are booked for 2023 for the whole camp. 10 of us. They can accommodate more!
 
Great report, looks like a blast.
 
We love it up there! Nice people, great hunting, and beautiful country. Boreal forest is amazing too!
Yes I consider myself fortunate to live here. Just wish I could see the ocean more often! Lol.
 
Yes I consider myself fortunate to live here. Just wish I could see the ocean more often! Lol.
Head over to Vancouver Island! I fly in to Campbell River then drive down to Tahsis for the best Salmon, Halibut, Rockcod and Lingcod fishing there is!
 
Head over to Vancouver Island! I fly in to Campbell River then drive down to Tahsis for the best Salmon, Halibut, Rockcod and Lingcod fishing there is!
In August of last year we had a half day of fishing at Gabriola Island which is just off of Nanaimo. Was really good. However it’s still a solid two day drive to get there. Among the fish we caught, the wife got the winner.
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