General Hunt Information

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I book my Flights to?

Book your flights in to Edmonton International Airport (YEG).  Transportation is arranged from that point of your trip until you are dropped off there at the end of your hunt.

How do I book a hunt? What is the required deposit?

Once you have determined that you want to book a hunt with AWGS, just click on any of the You Bet! Book it NOW! buttons throughout the website and provide the details of what hunt and dates you are interested in.  We will get in touch with you to confirm availability, then send you an email to confirm your booking with us with a hunt contract.  You will then have to send a deposit of 50% of your hunt price and the signed hunt contract to our mailing address within 30 days to hold your spot.  More details can be found on the Archery Canada Moose or Rifle Whitetail-Wolf Dates & Prices section of our website.

How do I get my license? Are there draws I need to apply for?

We will procure your licenses in advance of your hunt and will give them to you shortly after you arrive in camp.  Any steps necessary on your part will be communicated well in advance of your hunt.

No, you don’t have to apply for any draws.  Our licenses are guaranteed.

Can I drive to the hunt?

Yes, arrangements can be made for you to drive to the camp.  Our Moose hunts are located in rugged areas and require 4-wheel drive trucks to get to camp.  Our Whitetail-Wolf hunts can be accessed with a car.  You can see the respective Camp & Area section of the website to get a Google map.  Specific travel arrangements for clients travelling by vehicle will need to be communicated and confirmed at least 1 month in advance of the hunt.

How difficult is it to enter Canada? Do I need a passport?

A valid passport is required to enter Canada.

Entering Canada is generally not difficult.  If you’ve ever had criminal charges, even a D.U.I., you may have difficulty entering Canada and may need to clear it up months beforehand. We recommend you visit this website for more info www.bordercrossing.ca . It is a good idea to bring a copy of your hunt contract when you enter Canada, as occasionally Canada Customs may ask to see it.  It is your responsibility to make sure you will not be refused entry into Canada.

How difficult is it to bring my gun into Canada?

It is relatively easy to bring your firearm to Canada for your hunt.

You will need a firearms declaration form to clear your rifle through customs.  We will send you the link to the form in your pre-hunt package. There is a fee that you will have to pay at the border to process this form.  This form can be found in our Hunting Links and Resources section of the website.

Is it possible to send my clothes, gear, and weapon to you prior to my hunt so I don’t have to clear customs with it?

No, this is not something we can do.

There would be issues with your firearm and Customs would send us a bill for tax and duty of the full value of your clothes and gear, as they treat is as a sale of the goods.

How do I get the antlers, cape, and meat home?

The best way to get this home is on your return trip.  We will prepare the antlers and freeze the cape, which will then be placed in a plastic tote and surrounded by your clothing and gear so you can take it as extra baggage on your flight home.  If you are travelling by vehicle, we recommend bringing large coolers on your trip, so you have a means of transporting any of these items back home.

Your hunting license acts as your Alberta export permit and we will send you home with a US Wildlife import/export form that US Customs will have you complete when crossing back into the States.

Meat CANNOT be shipped to you later. Any meat you do not take home will be donate to needy families at no cost to you.

Can I leave my animal with a local taxidermist?

We can arrange to drop your trophy at a local taxidermist if you choose.

All payments for the taxidermy service will be your responsibility directly with the taxidermist.

Please keep in mind that Canadian taxidermists tend to be much more expensive than US taxidermists, and there can be significant shipping fees.

We recommend you take these home on your return trip and have your local taxidermist prepare them.

Who should I tip and how much?

It is normal practice to tip your guide as well as the cook.

A standard tip amount for a guide is about 10% of the hunt cost and for a cook is $100.

Tips are completely discretionary on your part.  You should tip based on the things your guide and cook can control.  If they did a poor job, tip them less.  If they did a great job, tip them more.

Are there any hidden costs?

The following items are not included in your hunt price:

  • Firearm import fee
  • Hotel rooms pre/post hunt
  • Meals and miscellaneous spending prior to pick up and after drop off by AWGS
  • Liquor and extra snacks/soft drinks.
  • Tips or Gratuities (normally 10% of hunt price)
  • Cost of getting antlers, cape, hides and meat home. Amount varies greatly depending on species and how much you are taking home.

A $250 cash fee will be charged for a non-scheduled departure drive from the camp to Edmonton to pay for the fuel and mileage on the truck and lost guide time which takes about 7 hours round trip.

Archery Canada Moose Hunts

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the rut?

In Alberta, Moose undergo peak breeding between the 20th and 30th of September.  Our first rut hunt takes advantage of the “anticipation” phase of the breeding cycle and our second rut hunt takes advantage of the “desperation” phase of the breeding cycle.  Both have proven to be very effective timeframes to call in receptive bulls.

How many Moose will I see?

Due to the nature of the terrain and our calling set ups, Moose sightings are very limited during our hunts.  Most clients will see a handful of Moose on average over the duration of a hunt.  That being said, some clients have seen as many as 10 Moose in one day of hunting.  We strive to ensure that any sighting of a Moose in a calling set up will be an opportunity for our client.

Do you hunt public or private land? How much land do you have to hunt? Is there much hunting pressure?

We hunt public land and have hundreds of thousands of acres of land available to hunt.  Combined, our operating areas are so large that it would be nearly impossible to even scout all the area available to hunt.  It is highly uncommon to bump into other bowhunters during our hunts.  The overall hunting pressure is very small due to access restrictions, and the incredible Moose populations are the result.

What’s the country/terrain like? Do I need to be in good shape?

The terrain consists of large tracts of boreal forest, with significant water ways, swamps and higher ridges between all of them.  There are some old burned areas and logged areas, which help provide great food sources for the Moose.  It is an asset to be in good physical condition, but not a necessity.  The better condition you are in, the more hunting opportunities/options you will be able to participate in.  For example, we typically use ATVs to get to/from the areas we hunt each day.  If you can walk significant distances, we may walk from camp and hunt areas that normally don’t get hunted much.

What size of Moose do you shoot?

A legal bull Moose requires 4 inches of antler on one side.  We encourage the harvest of larger bulls (30” plus) but understand that taking a Moose with a bow can be a once in a lifetime opportunity for our clients.  We have great bull age class distributions in both areas, and there is potential for truly top end bulls.  Our camp record is a 193”, 56” wide bull and we’ve seen bigger in both areas.  Check out the Archery Canada Moose video gallery and photo gallery to see for yourself.

What is the average shot distance?

We cater the shot distance to the client’s capability by setting up to call in areas that will only present a shot opportunity within their effective range.  This being said, the average shot distance is around 15 yards.  Our closest shot was 2 yards and the longest shot was 55 yards.

What happens when a Moose has been harvested?

When a Moose hits the ground, we go into full recovery mode as a guide team.  The guide and client/s who recovered the Moose will take photos and video, then immediately field dress the Moose to get the meat cooling.  As soon as possible, all guides will extract the Moose via ATVs and get it to the butcher for processing.  Many successful clients have told us how amazed they were to see this operation in action!

Rifle Whitetail-Wolf Hunts

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the rut? When is the best time to come for a hunt?

In Alberta, Whitetail deer undergo peak breeding between the 10th and 21st of November.  More specifically, the 3-day peek breeding period where the most breeder bucks are tied up with receptive does will start between Nov 10th and 18th.  We refer to this 3-day period as “Lockdown” because the breeders, which are the shooters, are not moving as much as the rest of the month.  Shooter sightings and opportunity rates are very similar over the entire month of November, as we manage our tactics to align with the buck activity.  As a result, the best time to come is more a matter of personal preference and what fits with your schedule.

How many deer will I see?

Relatively speaking, deer densities in our operating areas are low compared to most American states. Average rule of thumb sightings are as follows: 0–10 deer/day, 0-4 bucks/day, 10-30 deer/week, 3-10 bucks/week, 1-5 shooter bucks/week

Do you hunt public or private land? How much land do you have to hunt? Is there much hunting pressure?

We hunt public land where we have hundreds of thousands of acres of land available to hunt.  Our operating areas are so large that it would take decades to fully develop the entire area for the best Whitetail hunting.  There is virtually no competition for our hunting method, and it is the best way to take a big buck.  Ambush hunting can be mentally tough, but that’s why there isn’t much competition.  Most local hunting pressure comes from road hunters, which is usually a hit and miss proposition.

What’s the country/terrain like? Do I need to be in good shape?

See our Rifle Whitetail-Wolf Camp and Area section for details on the terrain in both camps.

It is an asset to be in good physical condition, but not a necessity.  The better condition you are in, the more hunting opportunities/options you will be able to participate in.  For example, the further you can walk, the more locations there are available for you to hunt.  We have many options for clients of all physical abilities.

What is the average buck size, what is a top end buck?

An average mature Alberta Whitetail in our operating areas is normally between 250 and 280 lbs on the hoof and will carry a heavy, dark rack between 140 and 160 gross inches.  A top end buck must be defined by the hunter.  Some consider the oldest buck they can harvest to be the greatest trophy of all, while others rely on score alone, and others use some system that falls somewhere in between.  The good news is that we have all of them.

Check out our Rifle Whitetail-Wolf and Trail Cams photo galleries to see proof!

What is the average shot distance?

We place our clients in locations that align with their effective range.  The average shot distance is around 150 yards.  The further you can shoot, the more locations you will be able to hunt.  Refer to our Rifle Whitetail-Wolf What to Expect section for more details on weapons and shooting ability.

Can you bait the deer?

No, baiting is not permitted in Alberta.