Canada Hunt Help

kstone803 · Mar 16, 2015

So a few friends and I are planning a DIY trip to Saskatchewan this Sep/Oct. The big sticking point right now is whether we drive or fly. I want to fly for obvious reasons. The problem is that if we fly we can't take decoys. Apparently we can rent decoys from an outfitter up there but they are around $1000 for a week rental. There is a Cabelas is Saskatoon so I was saying we should just buy shells when we get there and give them away/sell em cheap before we leave. Another possibility is shipping our decoys there via freight. This has its own set of logistics problems but I'm working to get some quotes. Anybody ever done a trip like this or have any ideas on how to get decoys there? Thanks

Options:
Drive Decoys - Free (but a 25 hour car trip

)
Rent decoys there: $1000
Buy shells there: approx. $400
Ship freight: TBD

inkd · Mar 16, 2015

kstone803 said:
So a few friends and I are planning a DIY trip to Saskatchewan this Sep/Oct. The big sticking point right now is whether we drive or fly. I want to fly for obvious reasons. The problem is that if we fly we can't take decoys. Apparently we can rent decoys from an outfitter up there but they are around $1000 for a week rental. There is a Cabelas is Saskatoon so I was saying we should just buy shells when we get there and give them away/sell em cheap before we leave. Another possibility is shipping our decoys there via freight. This has its own set of logistics problems but I'm working to get some quotes. Anybody ever done a trip like this or have any ideas on how to get decoys there? Thanks

Options:
Drive Decoys - Free (but a 25 hour car trip )
Rent decoys there: $1000
Buy shells there: approx. $400
Ship freight: TBD

As much as it sucks, I would probably drive. Unless I wasn't planning on bringing any game back home with me. If you can't bring game back, it would definitely be easier to fly and rent the decoys.

What would the estimated trip be for fuel and possible lodging against flying round trip, renting decoys and buying shells there?

Devonian · Mar 16, 2015

You really need to figure out how much freight will be before you can make a decision. What will you do with the shells if you buy them there? Still have to ship them home, unless you return them after useing them which is shady but would save you a ton of money.
I had to ship freight for work before and it's not too bad logisticaly. The freight terminal will probably be a short drive from the airport.

I've driven to colorado the past two years to elk hunt and it sucks. We drove straight through and it's exhausting. Fly or take your time getting there and you'll have a better time.

kstone803 · Mar 16, 2015

inkd said:
As much as it sucks, I would probably drive. Unless I wasn't planning on bringing any game back home with me. If you can't bring game back, it would definitely be easier to fly and rent the decoys.

What would the estimated trip be for fuel and possible lodging against flying round trip, renting decoys and buying shells there?

Figure 2 trucks for 4000 round trip miles each its about $1500 in gas. As for bringing game back I planned to just buy a yeti up there and pay to fly it back.

Devonian said:
You really need to figure out how much freight will be before you can make a decision. What will you do with the shells if you buy them there? Still have to ship them home, unless you return them after useing them which is shady but would save you a ton of money.
I had to ship freight for work before and it's not too bad logisticaly. The freight terminal will probably be a short drive from the airport.

I've driven to colorado the past two years to elk hunt and it sucks. We drove straight through and it's exhausting. Fly or take your time getting there and you'll have a better time.

We would likely just give them away or sell them for cheap before we left. I'm hoping freight comes in at a decent price so we can go that route.

inkd · Mar 16, 2015

kstone803 said:
Figure 2 trucks for 4000 round trip miles each its about $1500 in gas. As for bringing game back I planned to just buy a yeti up there and pay to fly it back.

I was going to suggest that if you do fly, mail your gear home and take coolers on the plane as checked bags.

When I went Elk hunting, the guide was telling us that he and his family would go to Alaska every year to Salmon fish with a buddy of his.

He said they would mail all their stuff back the cheapest way possible then load the coolers up with frozen fish and pay for it as baggage.

Not sure if they used dry ice or gel packs but I'm pretty sure they used regular coolers? I don't know if that would work for you guys if you fly or not?

I know those Yeti coolers are expensive as hell!!!

j_h_smith · Mar 16, 2015

Being the old grumpy guy that I am, I would fly. I would not be in a good way after that trip by car/truck. I would rather spend a few dollars more and arrive comfortable and refreshed than to drive and arrive tired.

Just my personal opinion. Whichever decision you make I hope you have a great time. Enjoy!

kstone803 · Mar 16, 2015

Anybody know of a freight company that I can contact and get quotes? So far the ones I have contacted haven't been much help on getting an estimate.

Devonian · Mar 16, 2015

Did you try DHL?

j_h_smith · Mar 16, 2015

I'm not sure you can ship the ammo via freight to Canada. You may have to ship to an address with signature, if it's at all possible. I've read on other forums about shipping ammo to and from Canada and I'm not sure it would pay to do this.

Good Luck!

kstone803 · Mar 16, 2015

Devonian said:
Did you try DHL?

Trying to.

j_h_smith said:
I'm not sure you can ship the ammo via freight to Canada. You may have to ship to an address with signature, if it's at all possible. I've read on other forums about shipping ammo to and from Canada and I'm not sure it would pay to do this.

Good Luck!

Not worried about shipping ammo. Just decoys. There is a Cabelas in Saskatoon so we will just buy ammo there.

tomandjerry00 · Mar 16, 2015

Personally, I'd first put a "wanted" ad on the Saskatoon Craigslist:

http://saskatoon.craigslist.ca/

To either rent or buy decoys for that time period. If that falls through, you can always buy some shells up there. I'd also post a wanted ad with these guys:

http://www.saskatoonwildlifefederation.com/courses-clubs/saskatoon-rifle-and-revolver/

See if you get any hits. Someone would probably be very happy to get $200 to rent their decoys for a couple days. A good buddy of mine is from Saskatoon, I'll ask him if he has any other ideas too.

kstone803 · Mar 16, 2015

tomandjerry00 said:
Personally, I'd first put a "wanted" ad on the Saskatoon Craigslist:

http://saskatoon.craigslist.ca/

To either rent or buy decoys for that time period. If that falls through, you can always buy some shells up there. I'd also post a wanted ad with these guys:

http://www.saskatoonwildlifefederation.com/courses-clubs/saskatoon-rifle-and-revolver/

See if you get any hits. Someone would probably be very happy to get $200 to rent their decoys for a couple days. A good buddy of mine is from Saskatoon, I'll ask him if he has any other ideas too.

I like the craigslist idea. Think I'll try that out. Thanks

Derwood · Mar 16, 2015

If I were you I'd get a couple books on how to do this off of Amazon. I plan all of my trips that way. It's all about working smarter, not harder. Someone has already figured all this out. Read what they did.

Marshmallow · Mar 16, 2015

Drive. Too many things to go wrong flying.

j_h_smith · Mar 16, 2015

Marshmallow said:
Drive. Too many things to go wrong flying.

Travelling by car/truck for 30 to 38 hours, crossing the border with firearms. Possibly coming home with wild game, crossing the border again with firearms. Another 30-38 hours to get back home. Yes, sounds like an easy time, not much could go wrong there.

tomandjerry00 · Mar 16, 2015

j_h_smith said:
Travelling by car/truck for 30 to 38 hours, crossing the border with firearms. Possibly coming home with wild game, crossing the border again with firearms. Another 30-38 hours to get back home. Yes, sounds like an easy time, not much could go wrong there.

Seconded

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

inkd · Mar 16, 2015

kstone803 said:
I like the craigslist idea. Think I'll try that out. Thanks

That's a damn good idea.

Klunatic · Mar 16, 2015

Not saying you or members of your hunting party will have any reason to worry about this but I do know of other hunters who's hunting trip was ruined. Canada is very strict about not letting in people with criminal records. Things that you wouldn't think would be problem. I know of one group where one of the members was refused entry into Canada due to a DWI. They drove so pretty much everyone got screwed and they ended up turning around and going home.

Good luck with the decoys, I would think you could get a guide to rent you decoys.

Clark W. Griswold · Mar 16, 2015

Make sure your ducks are in a row for bringing in firearms. As was already pointed out, make sure no one in your party has any surprises in their criminal record that will cause problems. DUI is a felony in Canada and will keep you out if you haven't requested a waiver in advance.

You may want to try asking for info on the Canadian hunters forum on the refuge. http://www.refugeforums.com/refuge/forumdisplay.php?f=12

fabsroman · Mar 17, 2015

j_h_smith said:
Being the old grumpy guy that I am, I would fly. I would not be in a good way after that trip by car/truck. I would rather spend a few dollars more and arrive comfortable and refreshed than to drive and arrive tired.

Just my personal opinion. Whichever decision you make I hope you have a great time. Enjoy!

Waterfowling is all about being tired and grumpy as hell. The drive would have you in the right mindset before you even had to get out in the cold rain/snow. lol

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