Archery Elk season in Alberta spans from the beginning of September to mid October.  The first half of the season has Elk on a more predictable bed to feed pattern, while the second half of the season sees more bugle and rutting activity.

-Mule Deer & Whitetail Deer – Both species are available, quota dependant, and at times may be taken as targets of opportunity, with no size restrictions, for a flat rate trophy fee, payable upon successful harvest or mortal wounding/loss. Deer tags must be pre-purchased before hunting however. 

Mornings start early as guides position hunters to intercept the herds of elk as they begin exiting the fields, enroute to their bedding areas for the day. Usually hunts start from a vehicle, and then proceed on foot using spot & stalk or calling strategies. In the early season, thoughtfully positioned haybale blinds or tree stands along major natural travel corridors has proven brutally effective. As the season progresses and the rut intensifies, more glassing and calling tactics are used as bulls become more aggressive and less focused on feeding. Middays are normally spent back at camp with a hearty brunch and a nap. Head back out to the field for the afternoon hunts and stay out until dark. The terrain and hunting strategies are varied, and so, hunts can be tailored to accommodate a range of physical abilities.

This hunt occurs during an archery-only season, and so rifle/muzzleloader hunting is not available. 

Nearly all hunters bring their own archery equipment. A 60lbs draw weight bow or more (traditional or compound) is recommended, with multi-sight pins, and 8-12 arrows tipped with quality 100-125 grain 2-3 blade broadheads of solid construction. Crossbows are welcomed but require a medical or doctors note to be considered legal archery equipment in Alberta during an archery only season.

Hunt the fabled Alberta foothills, located at roughly 4000 feet elevation and hugging the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. This rolling agricultural fringe is a mix of crop fields, pasture and grazing areas, backing up to endless forests of, predominantly, spruce and fir. Aspen mark traditional areas, while cottonwoods dominate the bottoms, as small, beautiful, clear rivers carve through the region with thick brushy banks providing game excellent escape cover. It’s a sportsman paradise with Mule Deer and Whitetails in addition to Elk. But, Grizzly bears, Mountain Lions, Black Bears, Wolves, Moose, Lynx, Coyotes, Eagles, Beavers and migrating birds also share this landscape and call it home.

September is a beautiful time as quaking aspens change to their fall colors and the first snowy outlines of the mountains paint the western backdrop.  Mornings are usually crisp with frost carpeting the ground overnight, but the days warm up as the sun climbs higher in the sky. However, in the hunting areas, potential for significant weather change can occur on a dime, with occasional systems producing snow even in September.  Come October, the temperatures begin to drop more consistently and dustings of snow can linger for several days. A wide range of temperatures could be experienced over the course of a week, so hunters should plan for anything from below freezing to warm weather conditions.

These hunts are based out of a comfortable ranch house lodge located deep on private property, directly in the heart of the hunting area. It is not uncommon to hear bugling bull elk from camp, making for exhilarating and potentially sleepless nights! Enjoy amenities such as cell service and Wi-Fi, usually private bedrooms and shared bathrooms, a common dining and lounge area, as well as a fire pit, archery range, and skinning/butchering shack complete with a hydraulic winch, cutting tables, and big freezers. This is an exclusive hunt with max group size usually only 2-3 hunters per week. 

Home cooked country cuisine is the order of the day.  Piping hot meals with a variety of entries throughout the week find our hunters content and full. Breakfasts are quick to get hunters in the field before sun-up, with items like coffee, tea, juice, toast, baked goods, yogurt or fruit. After the morning hunt, hunters are treated to a hearty brunch with all the fixings, usually followed by a nap. Depending on the situation, lunches can at times be in the field as needed. Once back from the evening hunts, enjoy a big home cooked dinner with steaks, grilled chicken, elk burgers, ribs, lasagna or pasta dishes, complete with sides of potatoes, rice, soups or salads, followed by dessert.

Destination City: Hunters are asked to arrive to Calgary International Airport in Alberta. Complimentary round-trip airport shuttles to the lodge are always already included, with a short and scenic hour-long commute from the airport to the hunting areas. 

Travel Suggestions:  Calgary is one of Canada’s major airports, and can usually be easily reached from most major North American airports offered by a number of airlines, often with direct flights. Logistics and travel plans are usually quick and simple.

The Elk are carefully caped, labelled and hides are skinned, trimmed and frozen onsite. Clients are welcome to return home with their trophies and/or meat (usually more feasible if driving vs flying). Otherwise, periodically throughout the season, the outfitter delivers all trophies directly to a capable local taxidermist in the Calgary area who can either do the complete work, or simply prep, permit, crate and deliver trophies to an expeditor to be shipped nationally or internationally. Turnaround time ranges from 6-12 months, depending on the product. Meat can also be delivered to a local butcher for any specialized or detailed meat products or packaging, and can also be shipped if desired.